How do I replace Gear shift nob?

waytogd · 03-07-2008, 02:43 PM

New to the site, but one question lingers on my mind. I need to replace my factory gear shifter with a new one and I have no idea how. Any thoughts?

CirrusSR22 · 03-07-2008, 03:12 PM

Pull it straight up with no twisting. It takes a lot of force.

mmm def · 03-07-2008, 03:12 PM

And don't hit yourself in the head. Mine wouldn't come off, so I pulled harder.

am_ver · 03-07-2008, 03:19 PM

Mine came off VERY easy. Put car in 2nd gear. Put left foot against dead pedal (use that to gain force) and then pull up. It will just come off.

omg516 · 03-07-2008, 03:20 PM

Don't smack your face son!!

txusa03 · 03-07-2008, 03:30 PM

You will need the followingtools.

1) both your hands and brute force
2) a legit football helmet (optional).

slide both font seats towards the back (this give you plenty of room in the front to stradle the center console. Put your left foot on the driver side and your right foot on the passenger side, put the car in 4th gear, now pull up real hard, it you get a bloody face, we know you did not do the optional helmet.

goodluck.

Joonsup · 03-07-2008, 03:41 PM

opening the sunroof might help as well

200Duece · 03-07-2008, 06:37 PM

Nice work. Not a single search smiley!

johnnymu · 03-07-2008, 07:33 PM

Instead of pulling the knob toward your face try it at a semi-standing position depending if you are right handed or left, i'm right handed so i'm position on the passenger side with my left arm comfortably stable on the passenger seat while my right arm pulling the knob toward the side of my body at a backward motion, if you workout it's kind of like a reverse one-arm tricep extension but without extension and instead of pulling it at one motion try it in small multiple thrust. This worked the easiest for me. Plus, this is a lot safer.

Vickyy · 03-07-2008, 09:35 PM

just dont forget to pull straight up, you dont want to break anything

UdubBadger · 03-07-2008, 10:24 PM

yeah i just switched mine out... pop the boot off (i think the easiest place was right in front of the ash tray). it will pop out right away. the shift knob could come off easy or like me and others... really hard. I did mine from the passanger side and it made it a little easier on the 2nd try.

GL

(I want 2 see pics of the bump on your head if u end up hitting yourself)

waytogd · 03-08-2008, 03:27 PM

thanks for the responses, just wanted to be sure there was nothing to it.

mrvuml · 03-08-2008, 04:01 PM

IIRC, the shift knob is not attached to the boot so you shouldn't need to remove the boot first. I think the biggest problem is the "vacuum" created inside the shift knob that creates suction and makes sliding it off the shaft very difficult, kinda like trying to pull back the handle on a bicycle pump with your finger over the nozzle.

03-07-2008, 02:43 PM	#1
waytogd New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2006 bmw 330i 6 speed manual Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Atlantic City NJ iTrader: (0)	How do I replace Gear shift nob? New to the site, but one question lingers on my mind. I need to replace my factory gear shifter with a new one and I have no idea how. Any thoughts?
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03-07-2008, 03:12 PM	#2
CirrusSR22 Major 342 Rep 1,325 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (0)	Pull it straight up with no twisting. It takes a lot of force.
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03-07-2008, 03:12 PM	#3
mmm def Colonel 144 Rep 2,610 Posts Drives: 21 330, 19 ND2 RF, 11 RX350 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	And don't hit yourself in the head. Mine wouldn't come off, so I pulled harder.
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03-07-2008, 03:19 PM	#4
am_ver Lieutenant 37 Rep 587 Posts Drives: Audi A6 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area (Woodside) iTrader: (2)	Mine came off VERY easy. Put car in 2nd gear. Put left foot against dead pedal (use that to gain force) and then pull up. It will just come off. __________________ 2006 A6 3.2 Quattro 2008 e93 335i, 6sp MT, Montego Blue, Saddle, Burl, ZSP, Bluetooth, iDrive, PDC, V1+CD 2007 e92 335i coupe, 6sp MT, Montego, Beige, ZPP, iDrive, PDC 2006 e90 325i, ZPP, iDrive, Arctic, Xenon
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03-07-2008, 03:20 PM	#5
omg516 Lieutenant 18 Rep 572 Posts Drives: 07 e90 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Don't smack your face son!!
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03-07-2008, 03:30 PM	#6
txusa03 Major General 548 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	You will need the followingtools. 1) both your hands and brute force 2) a legit football helmet (optional). slide both font seats towards the back (this give you plenty of room in the front to stradle the center console. Put your left foot on the driver side and your right foot on the passenger side, put the car in 4th gear, now pull up real hard, it you get a bloody face, we know you did not do the optional helmet. goodluck. __________________ under construction!
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03-07-2008, 03:41 PM	#7
Joonsup Lieutenant General 322 Rep 17,316 Posts Drives: E92 M3, E30 325i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (8) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [9.50]	opening the sunroof might help as well
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03-07-2008, 06:37 PM	#8
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	Nice work. Not a single search smiley!
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03-07-2008, 07:33 PM	#9
johnnymu Warranty Killer 126 Rep 1,015 Posts Drives: Nike shoe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: cincinnati, OH iTrader: (4)	Instead of pulling the knob toward your face try it at a semi-standing position depending if you are right handed or left, i'm right handed so i'm position on the passenger side with my left arm comfortably stable on the passenger seat while my right arm pulling the knob toward the side of my body at a backward motion, if you workout it's kind of like a reverse one-arm tricep extension but without extension and instead of pulling it at one motion try it in small multiple thrust. This worked the easiest for me. Plus, this is a lot safer. __________________ EUROPROJEKTZ Midwest Member 08 335i Jet Black \| too much to name....
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03-07-2008, 09:35 PM	#10
Vickyy Colonel 69 Rep 2,385 Posts Drives: 2006 AW 325i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: walnut, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	just dont forget to pull straight up, you dont want to break anything __________________ E90 06 325. AW. BEIGE. CF WRAP. SMG KNOB. BLACKLINES. MTECH. HARTGE JAPAN REP LIP. ACS CF ROOF SPOILER. CSL TRUNK. KWV2. LE37.
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03-07-2008, 10:24 PM	#11
UdubBadger Banned 633 Rep 24,685 Posts Drives: '04 330i ZHP Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (22) Garage List 2004 BMW 330i ZHP [9.50] 2011 135i [7.46] 2008 328xi [8.76]	yeah i just switched mine out... pop the boot off (i think the easiest place was right in front of the ash tray). it will pop out right away. the shift knob could come off easy or like me and others... really hard. I did mine from the passanger side and it made it a little easier on the 2nd try. GL (I want 2 see pics of the bump on your head if u end up hitting yourself)
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03-08-2008, 03:27 PM	#12
waytogd New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2006 bmw 330i 6 speed manual Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Atlantic City NJ iTrader: (0)	thanks for the responses, just wanted to be sure there was nothing to it.
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03-08-2008, 04:01 PM	#13
mrvuml Lieutenant 19 Rep 459 Posts Drives: E90 335i w/ZSP Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SLO, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 335i Sedan [0.00]	IIRC, the shift knob is not attached to the boot so you shouldn't need to remove the boot first. I think the biggest problem is the "vacuum" created inside the shift knob that creates suction and makes sliding it off the shaft very difficult, kinda like trying to pull back the handle on a bicycle pump with your finger over the nozzle.
	Appreciate 0 Quote