All and all the whole diy went pretty smooth. I bought dot 4, two wrenchs, c-clamp(didnt use)...Jacked the car up got underneath there and was a lil pissed that the hose for a 2001 540i is metal and wasnt able to be clamped off..

So i unscrew the thing..Brake juice starts streaming down my arm..Hits my head, im chewing my nicorette gum(quitting dipping), so I have oil trying to get into my mouth, some does.. I cant bend the damn metal hose to get the threads to line up..Probably lost about 4 oz of brake fluid..I finally get it in there screw it on...

I had alot of bleeding to do, my cluth was totally limp and I am cheap college kid so I didnt have a pressure bleeder. Me and my mate are outside pumping the clutch while I make the girlfriend keep an eye on the brake fluid resevoir ahha, she did a good job.

Prob took 80 pumps of the clutch to get it finally pressurized where it would pop back out. Cleaned the mess up and took the car for a test drive.

At first I didnt notice that much but when I got on it I could really feel the car engage alot faster and my acceleration was more smooth and quick. No lag from 1 to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. Def. the best 25 dollars, for parts, Ive spent on my car yet.

Next is short shifter...Is it as messy as a job as the CDV? If you like the long throws of the stock 5s shifter would you still recommend this upgrade? I personally like the feeling of long throws but I hear so much good things about the short shifter that I think it might be worth it..

Ever miss the row boat action from your stock shifter?

i love SSK...
snick snick aktion!

You might consider looking at the bargain shifter from understeer. It is a BMW OEM M3 shifter which they have modified (bent) to fit properly in an e39. It would cost $45 unmodified from BMW. They modify it, add the washers, pivot cup and clips you need to install it and charge $85. It sets a couple inches lower than the stock one. It works as well as the Rogue and cost a hell of a lot less. If you like the idea of the weighted shift link, they even show you how to make your own for $5.

I'm using the Rogue in my car, but drove a friend's w/the understeer and was impressed. You also want to change your trans fluid to Royal Purple Syncromax. Two quarts will do it at $9 each. It will make a big difference.

Shifter here:
http://www.understeer.com/onlinestore-shifters.shtml

Weighted link here:
http://www.understeer.com/cheapwsr.shtml

Installation instructions here:
http://www.understeer.com/shiftlever.shtml

A SSK and doing the CDV delete will transform any manual trans e39 for about $100 total cost.

Already did the transfluid to royal purple...helped alot with 1 to 2nd shift. Lot less force needed to slip into 2nd..

Ive seen the SSK link to that shifter that seems like the best deal on the market.

Have you ever changed your power steering fluid? I dont know if i need to but i doubt its ever been changed before and the steering could be a little bit more nimble (less force needed to spin the wheel. The tight steering might just be the car because Im comming from a toyota 4runner which had really light nimble, almost shaky steering and the 540 is much more tight, requireing more effort to spin the wheel quick.

You might consider looking at the bargain shifter from understeer. It is a BMW OEM M3 shifter which they have modified (bent) to fit properly in an e39. It would cost $45 unmodified from BMW. They modify it, add the washers, pivot cup and clips you need to install it and charge $85. It sets a couple inches lower than the stock one. It works as well as the Rogue and cost a hell of a lot less. If you like the idea of the weighted shift link, they even show you how to make your own for $5.

I'm using the Rogue in my car, but drove a friend's w/the understeer and was impressed. You also want to change your trans fluid to Royal Purple Syncromax. Two quarts will do it at $9 each. It will make a big difference.

Shifter here:
http://www.understeer.com/onlinestore-shifters.shtml

Weighted link here:
http://www.understeer.com/cheapwsr.shtml

Installation instructions here:
http://www.understeer.com/shiftlever.shtml

A SSK and doing the CDV delete will transform any manual trans e39 for about $100 total cost.

This is great info..thanks!