Gear knob replacement
- Thread starter Ianano
- Start date
Hi Mr Tidy,Mr Tidy said:
Just been following this post...I'm after a genuine ZHP but struggling to find a new one. Are they still available new...even from Cotswold or Sopers? I've not phoned them yet. I've researched most of 'em and decided the ZHP is the one I want...it's for my 2.5Si soft top. I'll put the top down before I try pulling off the old one
speedyzee said:Hi Mr Tidy,Mr Tidy said:
Just been following this post...I'm after a genuine ZHP but struggling to find a new one. Are they still available new...even from Cotswold or Sopers? I've not phoned them yet. I've researched most of 'em and decided the ZHP is the one I want...it's for my 2.5Si soft top. I'll put the top down before I try pulling off the old one
Ebay is your friend. I’m going to change my Stormwerks one for a ZHP as I fancy going back to something more OEM. They’re about £62 or so.
Though it’s worth saying I never really had a problem with heat or cold with the Stormwerks.
speedyzee said:
I’ve got one I haven’t got round to advertising. Genuine ZHP bought from BMW £61.98 IIRC
Was on the car less than a week for one journey and then I traded the car in £55 posted
Maybe too late to suggest if Oliver (Buckley06) is considering another run of his most excellent knobs!
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=104671
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=104671
speedyzee said:Hi Mr Tidy,Mr Tidy said:
Just been following this post...I'm after a genuine ZHP but struggling to find a new one. Are they still available new...even from Cotswold or Sopers? I've not phoned them yet. I've researched most of 'em and decided the ZHP is the one I want...it's for my 2.5Si soft top. I'll put the top down before I try pulling off the old one
Yes they're still available new from the dealers. Got one for mine a few months ago.
Just been following this....am I right in saying that you have to pull the knob off (stop giggling at the back :lol: ) - and it’s a case of lots of swearing until it suddenly gives way? Any other helpful hints to prevent nosebleeds or broken windscreens?
Hm. Disadvantage of a coupe I guess...still, maybe it’s better to tug at your knob with the privacy of the roof rather than for the whole world to see! Ha! 
When I did mine I selected 2nd gear first so the thing would hit me in the shoulder rather than the face!groovy_hippy said:Hm. Disadvantage of a coupe I guess...still, maybe it’s better to tug at your knob with the privacy of the roof rather than for the whole world to see! Ha!
From memory my ZHP cost less than £60 from Sopers although that was a year or two ago now.
Just out of interest, does the SMG knob come off in the same way? Anyone swapped out one of those?
The "Haynes" Guide to Changing Your Knob.
Well, I've finally done it guys - and it's definitely worth it
Here's a heads-up, with no personal injury and I left the top up too!
I'm only small and light (5'7" and 10 stone) so I straddled the console, and placed the lever in 4th gear.
If you're larger you could stay in the driver's seat but I'd place the lever in 6th - it's closer to you.
Grip the knob with both hands. Now the important bit - tense your biceps and shoulder blades, as though you're going to lift a heavy weight.
This will give you best control over both pulling the knob and controlling the sudden movement when it unhooks from the lip (see pics).
With biceps and shoulders tensed, apply lifting effort to knob. A small amount of twisting left and right may also help to initially free the recessed location tang (in the knob) from the slotted end of the lever (see pics). It's not glued on but its age may be working against you - mine had been on 14 years!
It will take a fair amount of applied lifting effort - I had thoughts of the lever coming out of the 'box!
Gradually increase the applied effort, mindful of keeping your biceps and shoulders tensed, and the 4 plastic lugs will eventually spring out of the groove at the lower end of the lever. The tension in your shoulders and biceps will now stop you hitting yourself in the face with hands and knob - job done!
Clean up your lever, apply a small amount of lithium grease around the lever groove (to ease future knob removal) and slide on your new knob, ensuring alignment of the recessed tang in the lever slot.
Job's a good 'un!
No personal injury, roof stayed up (it was a cold day!) and, most important, no damage to the car
The ZHP was 60 quid, including p n p, with forum discount from Cotswold Cheltenham - who actually sold the car when new 14 years ago!
I'm well pleased with it and wish I'd changed it sooner. It's a good inch shorter than the original (see pics). Unfortunately I forgot to weigh them both, but I'd say it's about 3 times the weight of the stock knob.
The increased weight and shorter throw makes a huge difference, enabling much snappier gear changes. I love it. It feels nice too :wink:
Well, I've finally done it guys - and it's definitely worth it
Here's a heads-up, with no personal injury and I left the top up too!
I'm only small and light (5'7" and 10 stone) so I straddled the console, and placed the lever in 4th gear.
If you're larger you could stay in the driver's seat but I'd place the lever in 6th - it's closer to you.
Grip the knob with both hands. Now the important bit - tense your biceps and shoulder blades, as though you're going to lift a heavy weight.
This will give you best control over both pulling the knob and controlling the sudden movement when it unhooks from the lip (see pics).
With biceps and shoulders tensed, apply lifting effort to knob. A small amount of twisting left and right may also help to initially free the recessed location tang (in the knob) from the slotted end of the lever (see pics). It's not glued on but its age may be working against you - mine had been on 14 years!
It will take a fair amount of applied lifting effort - I had thoughts of the lever coming out of the 'box!
Gradually increase the applied effort, mindful of keeping your biceps and shoulders tensed, and the 4 plastic lugs will eventually spring out of the groove at the lower end of the lever. The tension in your shoulders and biceps will now stop you hitting yourself in the face with hands and knob - job done!
Clean up your lever, apply a small amount of lithium grease around the lever groove (to ease future knob removal) and slide on your new knob, ensuring alignment of the recessed tang in the lever slot.
Job's a good 'un!
No personal injury, roof stayed up (it was a cold day!) and, most important, no damage to the car
The ZHP was 60 quid, including p n p, with forum discount from Cotswold Cheltenham - who actually sold the car when new 14 years ago!
I'm well pleased with it and wish I'd changed it sooner. It's a good inch shorter than the original (see pics). Unfortunately I forgot to weigh them both, but I'd say it's about 3 times the weight of the stock knob.
The increased weight and shorter throw makes a huge difference, enabling much snappier gear changes. I love it. It feels nice too :wink:
