Heavier knob

I

IanJ

Member
 Kent
Like many I wanted a heavier knob and went down the ZHP route. I think it looks nice and certainly is heavier, but I preferred the feel in the hand of my original standard knob. So I had a look at it and thought maybe something could be done, as it's taller than the ZHP and must be hiding a secret.

Before I go on I apologize if this has been done before.

Taking off the top was the hardest bit without marking anything, but once off all that remains is a torx screw to undo. Underneath you'll find there is plenty of space to add some weight.
IMG_20200725_164337264.jpg
I chose to use lead as it's heavy and very easy to work with, plus I had some laying around. With a bit of trial and error I cut it into small pieces and crammed in as much as I could. It may look a bit Heath Robinson but it did the job.IMG_20200725_155515998.jpg
As you can see, my old standard knob now weighs more than a ZHP.
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That's an original solution you've come up with there, I like it.

You'll have to report back with the difference it's made :thumbsup:
 
That's a brilliant solution if you prefer the look and feel of the OE part. :thumbsup:

Although I prefer the look and feel of my ZHP. :D
 
That would be a good solution for a few E89 where the sift knob cannot be replaced so easily as it comes up with the boot and all :o . Ask me how I know :oops:
 
The OE knob on our cars weighs 158 grams as I recall. For what its worth, not sure why people bang on about more weight on the knob being such a good thing?
 
IanJ said:
Like many I wanted a heavier knob and went down the ZHP route. I think it looks nice and certainly is heavier, but I preferred the feel in the hand of my original standard knob. So I had a look at it and thought maybe something could be done, as it's taller than the ZHP and must be hiding a secret.

Before I go on I apologize if this has been done before.
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Oh, my, God. This is weird. I did exactly the same thing a couple of weeks ago and was going to upload my photos when I completed the project. Congratulations on getting the emblem off. I resorted to drilling from underneath and popping it off. I intend to re-cover the lower portion perhaps in alcantara and since my upper chrome portion is looking a bit shabby so I was going to wrap it.
I found that there is extra room for weight in the upper portion as well, just in case you want to add extra (shown with blu-tac).
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BTZ461 said:
The OE knob on our cars weighs 158 grams as I recall. For what its worth, not sure why people bang on about more weight on the knob being such a good thing?
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Ask your partner :wink:
 
BTZ461 said:
The OE knob on our cars weighs 158 grams as I recall. For what its worth, not sure why people bang on about more weight on the knob being such a good thing?
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Someone's given you duff information there.

My standard knob weighed 84 grams and the ZHP 180 grams. That's a big difference and it's really helped the gear change in mine :thumbsup:

See here... https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=109346&hilit=Zhp

Also, don't dismiss the difference in height. The shorter throw with the ZHP is another benefit.

And like Mr Tidy says, the shape of it and the feel of the leather just feels nicer in the hand :D
 
Nothing duff about the information. It weighed 158 grams. And with all the coupes we have around us all with manual transmissions and Getrag gearboxes all of them change gears up and down, hot or cold perfectly. :!:
 
BTZ461 said:
Nothing duff about the information. It weighed 158 grams. And with all the coupes we have around us all with manual transmissions and Getrag gearboxes all of them change gears up and down, hot or cold perfectly. :!:
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What? Are you saying my scales don't work? :rofl:
 
BTZ461 said:
Nothing duff about the information. It weighed 158 grams. And with all the coupes we have around us all with manual transmissions and Getrag gearboxes all of them change gears up and down, hot or cold perfectly. :!:
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Also, are you suggesting the OP added a load of lead to his knob and it only increased the weight by 26 grams?

Seriously, think about it!
 
Correct. The original knobs weight is 152gms. My mistake at 158gms. Call it a senior moment, it was some time ago when, for want of something to do we weighed it. :roll:
 
BTZ461 said:
Correct. The original knobs weight is 152gms. My mistake at 158gms. Call it a senior moment, it was some time ago when, for want of something to do we weighed it. :roll:
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Then I can only assume that we're talking about two different knobs!

Here's a picture of mine after I just weighed it again because I thought I was going mad! :lol:

IMG_20200726_125419474_HDR.jpg
 
Can you just go through how you got the top cap off.. just went and pulled mine off as I've wanted a bit of extra weight for a while and don't really want to drill it..!,?
 
JamieZ4C said:
BTZ461 said:
Correct. The original knobs weight is 152gms. My mistake at 158gms. Call it a senior moment, it was some time ago when, for want of something to do we weighed it. :roll:
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Then I can only assume that we're talking about two different knobs!

Here's a picture of mine after I just weighed it again because I thought I was going mad! :lol:

IMG_20200726_125419474_HDR.jpg
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Yes, you have the common lightweight or replica version. :D We bought another from a EBay seller, and when the original was removed the weight discrepancy was immediately noticed. Like you, out with the scales, and a quick check on realOEM revealed the recently purchased item was a knock off, or replica, as the originals come in at 152gms. So back on with the original :wink:
 
Now for a massive thread hijack OP, as we have put the weighty issue of knobs to rest, JamieZ4C tell me the specs of your style 32's please. Thanks, may be better moving to wheels section ?
 
BTZ461 said:
Now for a massive thread hijack OP, as we have put the weighty issue of knobs to rest, JamieZ4C tell me the specs of your style 32's please. Thanks, may be better moving to wheels section ?
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Put to rest? I'd say the mystery has deepened! If your original knob and realoem are correct then how do you explain this forum having countless accounts of owners changing their knobs and reporting the significant weight increase of the ZHP? Why are you the first person to question whether the small increase in weight is worth it? Why has the OP added a load of lead to his original knob and it's weight is not much more than the realoem figure? Something's not stacking up here.

As for the wheels they're off an E46 and are the exact same specs as standard staggered MV2s or 108s. Only a lot lighter - but let's not go there :rofl:
 
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