Your loss? An e36 to an e39 540 is no loss… It’s a gain if anything…
You went from a 240 horsepower inline 6 with a wack ass 225 foot pounds of torque to a big boy 290 horsepower v8 with 324 foot pounds of torque, not to mention pure luxury with those numbers… Do you actually KNOW anything about cars or just see the “M” badge and think you got something special?
After a comment like that I almost dont want to give you advice, but no, the short throw shifter wont make a difference.
Coming from a previous dumpy 540 owner as well as several e36 m3’s