Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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Seeker
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Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by Seeker »

Hi, I need help with a question, are the shifter boots for an 528e the same as for a 535is or a M5, part# 25-11-1-208-772 says it fits 528e, 533i, M5 but says it doesn’t fit the 535is... is this correct?
Last edited by Seeker on Oct 17, 2020 4:27 PM, edited 4 times in total.
cek
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by cek »

I'd be surprised if they are different.
Mike W.
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by Mike W. »

I doubt Realoem says it doesn't fit. More likely it says what the original or perhaps replacement part is/was. Meaning the is option on 535i's was really an option package, with some special parts, but it doesn't mean those parts don't fit other cars, it means they didn't come on them. And most, if not all of the is parts fit any US spec 535i.

Specifically, search Realoem to find out what the console part the shift boot fits on to, and perhaps the shift lever itself. If it goes onto the same part and attaches to the same part, that says to me it fits.
Boneyard Dynamics
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by Boneyard Dynamics »

They are from '81 to '88 all interchangable, they only differ in color and material.
BMWCCA2
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by BMWCCA2 »

They all fit the same console lip but the M5 came with a one-piece knob-and-boot made of buffalo leather. I know because it was extremely expensive as a part when we had to replace them under warranty when the "catch" inside the knob broke and the knob would fly off on those 2nd to 3rd shifts. I kept at least one intending to cut the knob off and use the nicer leather boot on my E28s. I'll find it some day.

The 535is was no different than the 535i,533i, 528i with respect to the boot. Of course there were different colors of leather or vinyl.
Seeker
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by Seeker »

Thank you everyone for the replies, it is interesting that some of the parts are listed as not fitting on some sites, Pelican says “cannot confirm fitment” but FCPeuro says it fits everything but the 535i or “is”.
RealOEM say this: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxr ... series=E28
RealOEM says that the part was used on all e28 from 09/80 until 12/87
Also thank you for confirming that the shift boot is the same for all the cars, hopefully this helps other people as well when looking for a shifter/boot.
BMWCCA2
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by BMWCCA2 »

I think your problem in looking the part up is that even RealOEM knows the 535i/s never came with vinyl seats so it never had a vinyl shift boot. The boot/knob combination for the M5 is listed under knobs.
Blue Shadow
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by Blue Shadow »

Using a generic euro car will open the realoem info to crap that will fit the car. If the vindescribed car series did not come with vinyl as stated it will not show up. But a euro car could have had paper mâché for that part and it will show up in realoem along with the vinyl leather and any other options.
I keep a couple euro vins available to plug in when needed. I do the same for ///M5 specific parts, use an M5 vin.
Ju@n
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Re: Are all e28 shifter boot/gaiter 82-88 the same?

Post by Ju@n »

To realoem a 535is is the same as a 535i, in fact, if you check into a vin decoder, the only difference between one and the other are the options and a "package" (can't remember the code right now).
I think all the boots are the same, at least I haven't seen any difference between available ones, except color and material
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