[ironic]

UPDATE: Off-site, extended information located here:
http://www.aw-industries.com/Shift-Knob/


MODERATORS: Please, I'm simply gauging interest. I've been a part of this forum for a very long time and wouldn't dream of not supporting it if there is enough interest in this kit. Feel free to check my PMs, I'm simply ball-parking and seeing if it would be worthwhile to become a vendor. If there are any issues please feel free to PM me.

A little background:

There's a lack of nice auto knobs out there for the e9x platform as of current, and some very creative members, one of them being Ryan - Kaji, has taken the time to R-and-D a retrofit of the SMG shift knobs from the m5/m6 onto our cars. What I've done is incorporated that information into a full plug and play (harness) kit.

I'd like to see if there's interest on the forums for this kit, and for now I have two version pretty well outlined. If there is enough interest I'll produce the kits and apply for vendorship.

The first PNP kit / kit info:

Photos from my install today are attached below. The process took almost the entire day between the stitching, soldering, and running back and forth to Radio Shack.

With that said the kit came together very well and all the connections are rock solid. I unfortunately didn't have any of my cameras on me so my cell phone pics will have to do for now, sorry for the lame photos - but they should be good enough to give you an idea of the kit.

The final kit will be a plug and play kit, meaning you will not need to cut any of your OEM wiring. All the end user will have to do is unhook the existing plugs and plug in mine. There will be 1 set of 6 pins that will have to go in pin by pin, similar to what you have to do on your JB or Procede < v3 tune. It will also consist of a set of 3 male and female power pins that also go in rock solid and very simply. The remaining 3 or 4 connectors will be straight plug and play. Also all the wires will be soldered with computer grade solder and heat shrink wrap to yield connections that are durable while looking clean and professional - you won't see any electrical tape here. .

Beyond the wiring, you'll also need to sew/stitch the smg knob to your shift boot and fit the knob yourself because the SMG knob comes with its own boot which is incompatible with the e9x platform.

Production kit info:

Again, IF there is enough interest I will manufacture these kits and apply for vendorship. I AM NOT TAKING ORDERS RIGHT NOW. The two versions of the kits that are planned right now are as follows:

Kit A: Plug and Play Harness roughly $65 - will include
1x PNP Harness
*You'll need to sew and fit the SMG knob to your shift boot yourself
~1-1.5 hours on your part if you're handy with needle and thread

Kit B: FULL Plug and Play UNIT roughly $299 - will include
1x PNP Harness
1x SMG Shift Knob pre sewn and fitted to your shift boot
*You'll need to ship me your shift boot to be modified, but your car will be fully operational for that time period it would simply be missing the shift boot for a few days.
~5 minutes

Please note the kit is only for automatics and should work for the 335i, 328i, 330i, 325i coupe and sedans

Please reply if you're interested and with which kit you'd be interested in.

Thanks,
Alex

White connector and Separate PINs for Blue Connector



Close up of PINs for Blue Connector


Plug and Play White Connector


Harness Plugged into Trim


Plug and Play Blue Female Connector


Plug and Play White Female Connector


Building the PNP Power Connectors



Connectors for the Power are Crimped on AND Soldered for maximum contact


Finished Plug and Play Power Cables


Completed Plug and Play Harness


Installing the Power Connectors, notice the heat shrink wrap - NO exposed wires, NO electrical tape


Female Power Connectors in


White connectors snap into place


Blue Connector Pins plugged in


P


P


R


N


D


DS


Alex

[Kev]

Nice, looks like you got it figured out. Mine works exactly like yours.

[ironic]

Originally Posted by Kev

Nice, looks like you got it figured out. Mine works exactly like yours.

yeah the entire process wasn't too bad, just took a long time to solder all the wires and do the heat shrink wrap, etc

[Kev]

Originally Posted by ironic

yeah the entire process wasn't too bad, just took a long time to solder all the wires and do the heat shrink wrap, etc

It looks like a quality product. Congrats on getting it all sorted out.

[ironic]

Originally Posted by Kev

It looks like a quality product. Congrats on getting it all sorted out.

Thanks haha, I just feel like I need to lay down for a bit. Lead based solder FTL lol. Thanks for the kind words though

[808E90]

Wow nice ... so you already have an extra smg knob to make this kit?

[ironic]

Originally Posted by 808E90

Wow nice ... so you already have an extra smg knob to make this kit?

I would have to order it, and it takes about a week and a half to get here from Germany

[cyba]

very nice... how hard is it to sew the knob?

[ironic]

Originally Posted by cyba

very nice... how hard is it to sew the knob?

It's not too bad but it was time consuming for me because I haven't done very much sewing before, but I was able to put together some good straight passes on the shift knob. I basically would sew it in this pattern (x denotes in and O denotes out).

X
X........O
X.....X.O
X.....X.O....O
X.....X.O.X.O
X.....X.O.X.O....O
X.....X.O.X.O.X.O
....

If that makes sense.

[KkSc]

wow..nice..i m interested !

[LaYzEe]

dude, that looks sooooooooo sweet! i might be interested for a local buy if you're selling a kit

[ironic]

I'm gauging interest at the moment, the mods edited my post. But I'll be applying for vendorship if there is enough interest. Hang tight as I edit my post.

edit:
I edited my original post to be more explicit. Right now I'm simply gauging interest. If there are enough people I'll become a vendor and start producing the kits in bulk. Otherwise, I'll be honest, it's a paint to make the kit. I had to solder at least 2 dozen wires with brain melting lead based solder and I probably went a little cross eyed trying to get the heat shrink wrap tube on every single connector and solder point.

[Kit523]

interested!!!!
but can i fit this in a manual boot???

[ironic]

Originally Posted by Kit523

interested!!!!
but can i fit this in a manual boot???

It should be possible, I'd have to check fitment to verify though. I can research this if you're interested.

[Kev]

Originally Posted by ironic

It should be possible, I'd have to check fitment to verify though. I can research this if you're interested.

It'll fit. As far as the boot goes, I just cut the M5 knob at the end to leave a little "tail". Then, I zip-tied the based of the knob to the top part of the boot.

[murphy]

I would definertly be interested in this kit would you send to the UK ?

[absix]

Originally Posted by murphy

I would definertly be interested in this kit would you send to the UK ?

+1

Would you ship internationally?

[murphy]

Also does anyone know if you can get this knob in any other color ?

[Saigon]

whats that silver thing in your ashtray?

[pdjafari]

just out of curiousity, why would you guys want an SMG knob on a 6MT car?? Is it just b/c you like the look of the knob?

Great product, if I had an AT I would def. get this mod, looks great!!

[phattbam]

Great work Alex, I'll PM you some questions later one. give you some time to get some fresh air.

[Alpine]

Looks pretty sweet. Congrats on the successful mod!