[mjposner]

leesat, did you switch knobs? Is the boot attached to the knob as well? alz0rz, what the the issue with installation?

Anyone know of other options that fit?

[Silvermike]

Can the shift knob be changed without changing the boot as well?

[The Ching]

Originally Posted by abirmaher

Anyone who has installed themselves, how hard was it to do?

I have the part and want to do it but I want to know what Im getting myself into. Seems like the boot is easy to get off but then I've read mixed on what to do to pull it off? Just pull straight up?

Then when reinstalling will it click in or something? I don't want to accidentally pull off the new shifter or anything like that.

Thanks in advance.

My friend told me he chin-checked himself putting one on his 335. I put it on 2nd gear just like I read online somewhere and just pulled towards me. It came off quite easily.

[akuan99]

Don't pull it straight up.
It is much harder to do it that way.
I sat on passenger side, put it on 6th gear and pull knob.
It came off easy.

[mazerrackham]

Do you pull straight up from the shift lever or toward yourself at an angle?

[akuan99]

Originally Posted by mazerrackham

Do you pull straight up from the shift lever or toward yourself at an angle?

When shifter is on 6th gear it points to your stomach area sitting on passenger side.
Just hold knob with both hands and pull it out toward you using your body.
It will be slightly off angle and this may be the key for it coming out easier.
I tried putting on neutral and pull it straight up and did not come up even though it was about 5x force used.
I've removed it and installed it twice it was super easy that way.

[tke743]

Originally Posted by akuan99

Don't pull it straight up.
It is much harder to do it that way.
I sat on passenger side, put it on 6th gear and pull knob.
It came off easy.

Or driver side and 2nd. Be careful, takes some force so when it comes off I've known people to hit themselves. Hard.

[TiM235i]

I have always used second gear from the driver's seat to remove shift knobs.

While my M235i is an auto, I just traded in a 2014 335i MT and had put the M Performance shift knob on that car. To confirm what others have said -- shorter and heavier is usually better. The M Perf knob is both of those things, so it improves feel a lot. It did take a little bit of getting used to due to the cylindrical shape, but it feels great in your hand after the adjustment period.

Total install time include removal of the old knob -- less than 5 minutes.

[mazerrackham]

Apparently I have the upper body strength of a young child, because my shifter is NOT coming off.

[akuan99]

M performance knob is about 1/2" shorter and 0.5oz lighter than the M-sport knob.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by akuan99

M performance knob is about 1/2" shorter and 0.5oz lighter than the M-sport knob.

Just to confirm what I've found, the only version of this is alcantara and carbon fiber at this point? I can't find any shorter, weighted knobs in simple leather, aluminum, etc. for our car....just one for the 1 Series which supposedly does not fit an F22.

[BMW335iOn18s]

Interesting....Since the ZHP knob came out over 10 years ago, everyone and their mom wanted one. Now people are replacing the stock ZHP knob with this cheesy thing?

[F80_M]

So what is the verdict? Is this making the shifts shorter or is it the same from those who have just recently installed it.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by BMW335iOn18s

Interesting....Since the ZHP knob came out over 10 years ago, everyone and their mom wanted one. Now people are replacing the stock ZHP knob with this cheesy thing?

I guess we're trying to find shorter and weighted. Do you know of something desirable to suggest?

[akuan99]

Originally Posted by YOLO89

So what is the verdict? Is this making the shifts shorter or is it the same from those who have just recently installed it.

I replaced mine a week ago.
The shift is just noticeable shorter but it feels crispier and less rubbery.
I believe the boot contribute to it as it provides much less resistance as it is softer and more flexible.
The performance shift knob also looks much nicer so I ordered matching brake handle

[F80_M]

Originally Posted by akuan99

I replaced mine a week ago.
The shift is just noticeable shorter but it feels crispier and less rubbery.
I believe the boot contribute to it as it provides much less resistance as it is softer and more flexible.
The performance shift knob also looks much nicer so I ordered matching brake handle

Ooooo I see that's some good feedback. Got any pictures to share?

[akuan99]

Originally Posted by YOLO89

Ooooo I see that's some good feedback. Got any pictures to share?

I don't have picture of the knob installed but I took picture of it along with the original knob for comparison.

[akuan99]

I installed performance brake handle and I took pictures of it with the performance knob.
This will give you an idea on how this carbon fiber combo looks with the aluminum trim.

[rjsrealtor]

I have one I'm selling for $175 pm me

[esp260]

Are these 2 more or less the only options for shift knobs? Are there any other good aftermarket ones?

[redontheline]

Originally Posted by mazerrackham

Apparently I have the upper body strength of a young child, because my shifter is NOT coming off.

An employee from some retailer at bimmerfest '13 swapped my friends knob for him at the event. He went in the back and put it in 4th. Seems like that is the most leverage you can get for alignment of force.

[Hellrot]

I love my BMW M Performance Carbon Fiber Gear Shift Knob with Alcantara Boot. It's nice and soft. It made me want to get the Alcantara arm rest.