Manual gear knob removal

[Space1999]

Hi guys - I'm looking to change my gear knob, and am new to this car.

How does the existing gear knob come off - is it just pull upwards, or twist?

 

[enuff_zed]

Pull straight up. Do NOT twist or you will break the locating bar in the top of the knob.
Assuming a roadster, easiest done with the roof down and straddling the seats. A cricket box may be a wise choice, along with a full face helmet as they can sometimes be hard to shift. :rofl:
Do not stand on the seats as you could well damage heating elements or passenger occupancy mat.

 

[AveZ4coop]

Definitely a roof down job. I have a coupe, so my face had nowhere to go. 1 nosebleed later I had fitted my new knob.

 

[pvr]

I always aim at my stomach rather than my face :lol:

 

[Mr Tidy]

It definitely needs a good tug, but I've managed it on most of my BMWs.

Just be careful of the direction you pull it in as someone on here managed to smash his windscreen.

 

[Pondrew]

I've read these threads for years, so when it came to getting my Z3 knob off (same as the E85/86), I was a bit nervous.
I had everything ready, got hold of the thing and it just pulled straight off with very little force at all.
Don't know what all the fuss is about TBH! oke: :lol:

 

[enuff_zed]

I've read these threads for years, so when it came to getting my Z3 knob off (same as the E85/86), I was a bit nervous.
I had everything ready, got hold of the thing and it just pulled straight off with very little force at all.
Don't know what all the fuss is about TBH! oke: :lol:

Kind of a fitting euphemism methinks. :roll:

 

[Space1999]

Thanks guys, very helpful.

3 weeks into Z4 ownership and I love it.

 

[firefoxchris]

Some of the chrome-colour plastic on mine has cracked so I need to change it. Does anyone know the part numbers for genuine BMW gear knobs for an E86 coupe?

Theres a lot of rip-off ones on ebay and wanted to know what genuine ones are compatible.

Is the one with the M-Sport logo always an illuminated one?

 

[enuff_zed]

Some of the chrome-colour plastic on mine has cracked so I need to change it. Does anyone know the part numbers for genuine BMW gear knobs for an E86 coupe?

Theres a lot of rip-off ones on ebay and wanted to know what genuine ones are compatible.

Is the one with the M-Sport logo always an illuminated one?

Google ZHP

 

[Mr Tidy]

Some of the chrome-colour plastic on mine has cracked so I need to change it. Does anyone know the part numbers for genuine BMW gear knobs for an E86 coupe?

Theres a lot of rip-off ones on ebay and wanted to know what genuine ones are compatible.

Is the one with the M-Sport logo always an illuminated one?

The BMW Part Number for a genuine ZHP 6 speed is B25.11.7.896.886. If you want to be sure it is a genuine one it might be worth paying a bit more and getting it from Cotswold BMW or Sopers of Lincoln who give a discount if you mention the forum. The fake ones tend to be lighter, which is the whole point of a ZHP.

That part comes with the M logo but is not illuminated. Only the M models have an illuminated one which isn't a weighted ZHP. You need to buy one from an F10 M5 to get weighted and illuminated which will cost over £150, then you need to find a power feed.

 

[firefoxchris]

Google ZHP

Thanks, I had not heard of that.

The BMW Part Number for a genuine ZHP 6 speed is B25.11.7.896.886. If you want to be sure it is a genuine one it might be worth paying a bit more and getting it from Cotswold BMW or Sopers of Lincoln

Great, I've emailed for a price. I currently have the silvery chrome/black one. Is it just the same process of carefully pulling the old one off the stick without injuring yourself :rofl: and then pushing this one on?

 

[pvr]

Yep, without the careful bit :rofl: