Lazy Man's Shift Knob Removal Method

MNTim · 03-28-2010, 01:00 AM

Okay so if you've ever tried to pull off the original factory-installed shift knob, you know it's not easy. On my E46 I damn near got a hernia doing it, and almost a black eye. I think the factory does more than just jam it on the post -- they probably use adhesive as well to make sure they stay on for many years. So when my new M shift knob arrived for my E90, I thought I'd try using a lever to pry off the original knob. See pics. Worked great! No damage (to me or the car), and I barely had to push on the pipe before it popped off.

Note: If you don't have large crescent wrenches and pipes and hunks of scrap wood laying around in your garage, you'll need to devise your own leverage system

Showsol2211 · 03-28-2010, 01:48 AM

lmao, this is great! pulled mine off the other day and I was suprised with how easily I got it off. One good tug and it was loose. I read some threads before hand and made sure not to jab myself in the face!

ska///235i · 03-28-2010, 11:21 AM

LOL nice

fdriller9 · 03-28-2010, 12:18 PM

Nice. Different, but nice. Once you get it off the first time, the second, third and so on is easier.

sethmo · 03-28-2010, 12:26 PM

lol. I just pulled mine off. Took me less then 5 minutes. I guess this works too.

fisherbln · 03-28-2010, 12:38 PM

Wow! Pulled mine off the other day and it gave me a little trouble, but not much. I wonder if some knobs are stuck on better than others.

G35to330i · 03-29-2010, 06:38 AM

I never thought to do this, I just put a pillow on top of the shifter and had a friend put a little bit of pressure down on it while I pulled. It worked, no black eyes and it was pretty simple. Great job man!

jonerik26 · 03-29-2010, 12:23 PM

nice, wish i had thought of it, although i was able tricked my brother into doing all the work for me, that was my "lazy man's shift know removal" technique...LoL

OlivaresAnthony · 03-29-2010, 11:11 PM

lol...very resourceful

330MX · 03-29-2010, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takashi

It seems like you used a cannon to kill a mosquito.

MNTim · 03-29-2010, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takashi

It seems like you used a cannon to kill a mosquito. Nevertheless, it is a good idea and thanks for sharing. That shift knob is stuck there very tightly.

lol....yeah, the pipe looks bigger than it really was in that pic, camera distortion I guess. and yes it was longer than it needed to be, but hey, that's what was laying around!

well, it was an experiment. I like to experiment. but unlike the usual result this one actually worked! so I thought I'd share.

there are many forms of leverage...and most of them are good!

AllydNYC · 03-30-2010, 12:00 AM

Lmao, good thinking!

MNTim · 03-30-2010, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OlivaresAnthony

lol...very resourceful

Thanks!
You know, I'm probably twice the age of most members here. I've seen quite a few friends get hernias and ruptured discs from doing things you never would have thought would result in major surgery. Not pretty.
Sure, some knobs pop off easier than others, and most probably aren't that hard at all. Maybe my E46 was the exception, who knows. But the older I get the less I like to chance it. Let the tools do the work! More brain, less back.

Figure807 · 04-04-2010, 03:34 PM

I opened the sunroof, sat on the center armrest, and pulled up on the knob. Good use of mechanical advantage though...

guerilla twang · 04-11-2010, 03:38 PM

The name of this thread should be "The easiest/smartest/safest way to remove your shift knob."

Hasek9339 · 04-12-2010, 09:25 PM

a bit excessive don't ya think! I just yanked mine off no problems!

catch · 04-12-2010, 10:21 PM

a lot excessive id say but i agree, that stock one was REALLY on there!
Id hardly call this lazy though, seems like a lot of work compared to just pulling really hard
nice work!

spdy330 · 04-12-2010, 11:43 PM

Too funny!!!

jonni44 · 07-02-2010, 05:59 PM

No word of lie I just actually broke my glasses punching myself in the eye taking the OEM shifter off. That fuckers on there good!

eastondle · 07-06-2010, 11:37 PM

its a shift knob...not a bomb

TwinTuning · 11-12-2011, 09:43 PM

You are good. Thanks

ENINTY · 11-13-2011, 07:44 AM

The proper technique from the E30 Bentley manual (I haven't looked at the E90 manual) is to push down first, then quickly pull up. Works like a charm.

03-28-2010, 01:00 AM	#1
MNTim Enlisted Member 9 Rep 43 Posts Drives: 2013 X1 x35i xLine Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (2)	Lazy Man's Shift Knob Removal Method Okay so if you've ever tried to pull off the original factory-installed shift knob, you know it's not easy. On my E46 I damn near got a hernia doing it, and almost a black eye. I think the factory does more than just jam it on the post -- they probably use adhesive as well to make sure they stay on for many years. So when my new M shift knob arrived for my E90, I thought I'd try using a lever to pry off the original knob. See pics. Worked great! No damage (to me or the car), and I barely had to push on the pipe before it popped off. Note: If you don't have large crescent wrenches and pipes and hunks of scrap wood laying around in your garage, you'll need to devise your own leverage system Attached Images Last edited by MNTim; 09-18-2017 at 11:49 PM.. Reason: Pics wer lost. Replaced.
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03-28-2010, 01:48 AM	#2
Showsol2211 Blacked out 9 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330xi Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (3)	lmao, this is great! pulled mine off the other day and I was suprised with how easily I got it off. One good tug and it was loose. I read some threads before hand and made sure not to jab myself in the face! __________________ E90 330xi Sedan SOLD 2008 Evo X GSR SSS - Daily Driver - 407hp/434tq 1997 Eclipse GSX - Project Car - 601hp/475tq
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03-28-2010, 11:21 AM	#3
ska///235i ***** noob 1368 Rep 10,479 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	LOL nice __________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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03-28-2010, 12:18 PM	#4
fdriller9 Banned 252 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Nice. Different, but nice. Once you get it off the first time, the second, third and so on is easier.
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03-28-2010, 12:26 PM	#5
sethmo Private 4 Rep 52 Posts Drives: e92 6MT / e30 ATurd Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Keokuk, IA iTrader: (1)	lol. I just pulled mine off. Took me less then 5 minutes. I guess this works too.
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03-28-2010, 12:38 PM	#6
fisherbln Captain 12 Rep 859 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	Wow! Pulled mine off the other day and it gave me a little trouble, but not much. I wonder if some knobs are stuck on better than others.
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03-29-2010, 06:38 AM	#7
G35to330i Private First Class 11 Rep 139 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	I never thought to do this, I just put a pillow on top of the shifter and had a friend put a little bit of pressure down on it while I pulled. It worked, no black eyes and it was pretty simple. Great job man! __________________ 2006 330i. Intake, PBX, iPhone + LiquidAUX + vent mount, LOC + JL10w1 + Rockford 250a2 (yeah, it's old) Bethany: What gear are you in? Jay: "Gear"?
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03-29-2010, 12:23 PM	#8
jonerik26 Lieutenant Colonel 58 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: black 335i e90 PRE-LCI Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: somewhere iTrader: (23) Garage List 2007 335i [8.00] 1998 Acura Integra [8.50] 2006 325i [8.00]	nice, wish i had thought of it, although i was able tricked my brother into doing all the work for me, that was my "lazy man's shift know removal" technique...LoL __________________
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03-29-2010, 11:11 PM	#9
OlivaresAnthony Colonel 101 Rep 2,095 Posts Drives: 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD OR 4x4 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2019 Toyota Tacoma ... [0.00] 2015 BMW 535i [0.00]	lol...very resourceful __________________ E90 325i\|Sparkling Graphite Metallic\|Steptronic\|Black Leatherette/Dark Burl Interior\|OEM Alarm\|35%Front/5%Rear Tint\|RD LED License Plate Lights\|Rear Fogs Activated\|Debadged\|Smoked Sidemarkers\|Blacklines\|Depo P90v2\|Matte Black Grille\|BMS PBX\|AFE Drop In\|Charcoal Filter Delete\|Air Scoops\| RM Silicone Intake Hose\| Magnaflow 14815\| 19" Avant Garde M310\|Continental DWS\|M3 Lip Spoiler
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03-30-2010, 12:00 AM	#12
AllydNYC Loading... 341 Rep 2,187 Posts Drives: 91' E30 318is Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Location iTrader: (15) Garage List 1991 BMW 318is [0.00]	Lmao, good thinking!
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04-04-2010, 03:34 PM	#14
Figure807 Power without control is no power at all... 15 Rep 190 Posts Drives: 335i 6spd Blk/Blk Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii iTrader: (1)	I opened the sunroof, sat on the center armrest, and pulled up on the knob. Good use of mechanical advantage though... __________________ 2009 335i Coupe 6MT Blk Sapphire / Blk Leather 2007 328i Coupe 6MT Blk Sapphire / Blk Leather Sold 1985 Toyota Corolla GTS 5MT 1.5-way Slvr / Blk Sold 1987 Toyota Corolla GTS 5MT KAAZ 2-way Blk / Blk *Sold
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04-11-2010, 03:38 PM	#15
guerilla twang I do my crosswords in pen. 17 Rep 751 Posts Drives: OEM+ 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: KCMO iTrader: (6)	The name of this thread should be "The easiest/smartest/safest way to remove your shift knob." __________________ GRUPPE TITAN Midwest
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04-12-2010, 09:25 PM	#16
Hasek9339 Lieutenant 48 Rep 569 Posts Drives: 2009 328i Montego Blue Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Buffalo NY iTrader: (2)	a bit excessive don't ya think! I just yanked mine off no problems!
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04-12-2010, 10:21 PM	#17
catch Major General 668 Rep 7,148 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Thornhill iTrader: (27)	a lot excessive id say but i agree, that stock one was REALLY on there! Id hardly call this lazy though, seems like a lot of work compared to just pulling really hard nice work! __________________ 2016 F80 M3 Mineral White/Sakhir Orange 2013 BMW S1000RR Flat Silver <stolen> 2007 BMW E92 335i Jet Black/Jade Grey <sold>
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04-12-2010, 11:43 PM	#18
spdy330 Major General 530 Rep 6,149 Posts Drives: 05 Tundra, 15 FIT, 17 CRV Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA iTrader: (163)	Too funny!!! __________________ If you will be purchasing ANY AT&T services online or in store could you mention that you were referred by me? My Employee Referral ID is eo4489. This would be a great help and it costs you nothing, thank you!
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07-02-2010, 05:59 PM	#19
jonni44 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 275 Posts Drives: i8 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chestermere, AB iTrader: (4)	No word of lie I just actually broke my glasses punching myself in the eye taking the OEM shifter off. That fuckers on there good!
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07-06-2010, 11:37 PM	#20
eastondle Deuce 16 Rep 245 Posts Drives: M Sport Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: So So CAL iTrader: (6)	its a shift knob...not a bomb
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11-12-2011, 09:43 PM	#21
TwinTuning Captain 19 Rep 712 Posts Drives: E90 335I Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: HERE iTrader: (7)	You are good. Thanks
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11-13-2011, 07:44 AM	#22
ENINTY Banned 173 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	The proper technique from the E30 Bentley manual (I haven't looked at the E90 manual) is to push down first, then quickly pull up. Works like a charm.
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