Installed MZ3 shifter in my 99-528. I am kicking myself not doing it earlier. The 528 is my first manual transmission, and I took it as granted that the rubbery long throw shifter is "normal".

It reduced throw by 2-1/4 inches ( shifting from 3rd to 4th), reduced shifter height by about 1 inch. It has a very positive feel. I replaced the plastic cup and the little yellow washers. After engaging a gear, the shifter now has no play at all, before, there were about half inch play left-right. I worried the shorter shifter will take great effort to engage reverse gear, it actually turned out to be very manageable.
Changed tran-fluid last week for the first time, using mobile 1. I don't think it made that much difference at all. The old fluid was very clean and clear. The car has almost 60K on it.

I bent the MZ3 shifter a little bit and it fit in the correct position in the first try, stay in original position when in neutral. The whole thing took me about 2.5 hours, including an oil change. Most of the time spent was on figuring out how to remove the rubber boot and retaining clip. I think it can take about 45 minute if I had to do it again.

One thing I could not figure out, is how to re-install the lower lip of rubber boot back on to the carriage piece. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.