Help: I need to remove STEPTRONIC gear knob

[Ale_72]

Hi,
I was wondering how to take out the gear knob of my 2004 Z4 steptronic.
By lurking e46fanatics it seemed to me that you have simply to pull it by I couldn't find any details on:
a. do I have to press the button while pulling it out?
b. in which "gear" (sorry for my poor English) shall I put it (P, N, D...)?

If you could provide me some links on BMWTIS it would be perfect.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Jackcat5]

1-make sure the car is turned off
2-the car needs to be in park with the emergeny brake on
3-keep the button depressed and pull up



Do this at your own risk! I am not responsible for any srew ups.

 

[Ale_72]

Perfect!
Many thanks.

 

[Shipkiller]

Real stupid question. What is that damn button for on the Steptronic shift lever?

 

[Wondermike]

Isn't it just a lock-out to stop you from shifting to say R from D by accident whilst on the move? You shouldn't need to use it when shifting fron N to D.

 

[cj10jeeper]

The knob will actually come out in any position, engine running or not with or without pressing the button (not that I advocate that). Just take care you don't hit yourself in the face when it comes out. I find it easier to twist clockwise and counter while pulling up and out it comes with a sharp tug...(There must be a double entedre in that lot)

Interestingl I have been working on my steptronic electronics and you can change gear. PRND sport or sequential even without the knob attached

 

[ovrkll]

I know from experience, that the shift knob for a manual will come off with "spirited" shifting

 

[Anonymous]

This may sound over the top, but I'd actually endorse the use of a face shield when removing shift knobs. When changing out a shift boot on my wife's e36, it took so much force to budge the thing that once it came off, there was no way to stop it from banging into my forehead.
I even had an imprint of the stitches on the knob! :dizzy:

The next time we had to remove a shifter knob, I retrieved a face shield from the workbench. Good thing, too, because guess where the knob landed again!

Good luck!