- 08/02/2014
- 3 Min Read
- By: Alex Fiehl
VW CC 6MT Euro Short Shifter Review & DIY Install
Nothing is inherently wrong with Volkswagen's 6-speed manual - I think it's one of the slickest, smoothest manual transmissions I've ever driven. But it's not the best. The late, great Honda S2000 holds that coveted title in my book. The S2000 has the tightest, most perfectly spaced gears, and makes your arm feel like it is connected to the transmission's internal shift forks. A shifter should make you feel like you have this direct connection to the gearbox, and Honda nailed it. Why do I bring this up? Well, the throws in my 2013 Volkswagen CC are a bit long. It's got all of the qualities that made the S2000 great, but with a bit of extra work required.
Short shifter kits are a hugely popular modification because most cars are designed with the average driver in mind. Your mother has no interest in short, crunchy shifting with quick 0-60 times in mind. This is why factory shifters often have a long throw - it's all about leverage. The further your arm is from the fulcrum point, the less effort the shift will take. Some short shifters replace the lever inside the cabin by using a piece with a modified fulcrum point. But on a Volkswagen, we aren't changing the fulcrum point, we're actually changing the geometry of the shifter mechanism on the transmission using a part from the European-only Audi S3.
It's a slight change, but does wonders for shift quality and throw. Reducing throw while remaining buttery smooth is the sign of a quality short shifter, and this Genuine part from overseas does the job flawlessly. This part applies to most, if not all VW 6-speed manual transmissions produced in the last ten years, including the GTI, Jetta, Passat, etc. Here's how to put it on:
Tools required:
- Flathead screwdriver
- Pliers
- 13mm socket
- 5mm Hex Socket
- European Audi 6MT Shift Kit - VW P/N: 8J0711046E
The Victim:
Procedure:
- Unplug the Mass Airflow Sensor by pushing in the tab and pulling up on the connector. Remove accordion hose from MAF sensor.
- Unclip the lid of the inlet box near the radiator and detach the inlet tube from it
- Remove the 5mm hex bolt securing the airbox to the car
- Remove the air injection hose from the front of the airbox lid by squeezing the sides and pulling straight out.
- Gently pull up the airbox near the fusebox side, and remove it from the car.
This reveals the shifter assembly on top of the transmission. We will be dealing with the shifter cable with the blue painted dot on the clip.
Note and mark how many threads are showing between the white plastic spacer and shifter cable end. This is crucial for shift lever alignment when installing the new shifter. Maintain this distance with a photo prior to removal, or with a paint pen!
- Remove the metal clip holding the cable end onto the shifter by prying up on the tab so it slides over the center pin. The end will lift off of the shifter mechanism.
- Remove the cable-end from the threaded shift cable by compressing the spring with your fingers, opening the jaws and allowing it to release from the cable.
- Remove the white clip holding the side-to-side mechanism, and slide the mechanism to the right. (May be a metal clip on some vehicles)
- Unbolt the shifter mechanism using a 13mm socket, and remove it from the vehicle. Yanking it upwards may be necessary.
With the old shifter removed, let's compare it to the new one.
Not much changed. I figured the whole geometry of the piece would be different, but it turns out the locating pin is the only item that varies between the two. Notice how on the S3 shifter, the pin is closer to the splined shaft. This is where the shorter throws come from. It's subtle, but works, and works very well.
Grease the channel that the side-to-side lever rides in. My car is relatively new, so I just transferred the grease from the old lever to the new one. There was plenty of excess to go around.
The new shift arm is keyed and splined, so it can only go on one way. Replace the nut you removed and torque it snug, nothing more.
Re-clip the side-to-side lever to the transmission, re-install the shift cable to its prior adjustment using the mark you made on the cable, install the airbox, plug in the air-injection hose, plug in the MAF, check your work, and go for a drive!
My Verdict:
Short shifters have always been a great way to drastically reduce throw if you're willing to make compromises elsewhere. Ask me to find a Honda Civic short throw shifter on eBay, and I can show you hundreds of results that increase shift effort yet somehow find a way to make the overall experience worse. There's only one way to describe how good this VW 6MT shifter is: It shortens the shifts perfectly like a poorly crafted aftermarket part, but has none of the trade-offs. Shift effort is identical to the original piece, as well as keeping the precision and smooth nature. This is a must-have modification if you drive your car in any sort of spirited fashion, don't want to put your warranty into question, and don't want to spend $100-200 on an aftermarket shifting system.
If you never drove the car prior to installing the short shifter, you'd think the car was stock. It's that good.
