Removing illuminated gearknob?

inkey$

inkey$

Lifer
 Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Fancy a change and want to replace my factory illuminated ///M gearknob with the 500g titanium Storm Motorworks V1 I bought a while back. Is this any trickier than a standard non illuminated gearknob? Just pull off and replace? What about the illumination power source, are there wires etc I need to watch out for?
 
I believe you need to remove the gator first (by pulling on it) thats held down with plastic clips. Disconnect the connector for the power to the gear knob, then pull on it with all your might. Job done.
 
twist944 said:
I believe you need to remove the gator first (by pulling on it) thats held down with plastic clips. Disconnect the connector for the power to the gear knob, then pull on it with all your might. Job done.
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x2 - if not you will break the wires with a potential for a short and blown fuse :thumbsdown:
 
Once unplugged, the short lead can just be left in there as it is all soft material there. I have a Storm fitted as well on mine.
 
Biggest tip of the day... don't have your face anywhere near the gearstick while you're pulling. Teeth have been lost this way by many.
 
Maniac said:
Biggest tip of the day... don't have your face anywhere near the gearstick while you're pulling. Teeth have been lost this way by many.
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A lesson learned when I swapped it before on my roadster!
 
I'm looking forward to putting this into my next M;
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My gf bought it for me for christmas, since then I have had a number of funny references regarding it;
"Stop playing with your knob"
"That's quite a big knob you have there"
"Why would you try and fit your knob in a car??"

...the list goes on. :roll:
 
I found on my 320d that twisting left and right whilst pulling helps loosen the knob but also introduces slack somewhere at the bottom of the of the stick beneath the gaiter. Now the knob is firmly attached to the stick but the whole assembly has perhaps an eighth of a turn rotational play from neutral in either direction :headbang:
 
Were illuminated M knobs standard, an option or aftermarket? My new one has one (although at this rate I won't be seeing it for a while)
 
The standard M knob it to long and slim. I'd like to swap mine for a dumpy, I'm not even bothered whether or not it lights up.

I could try to pry the sticker off the 5speed dumpy I have and do the same on the illuminated one and swap them around. Has anyone dismantled the illuminated gear knob before?
 
Light is never visible anyway when you are driving, so the Storm knob was a major improvement in feel to me.
 
pvr said:
Light is never visible anyway when you are driving, so the Storm knob was a major improvement in feel to me.
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Who needs to see it? Even at night I know where it is, don't need a light to remind me! :D
 
This is the thing. The idea of it is cool and straight out of my childhood car spec dreams (along with mirrored windows, roof chop, flame exhaust and HUD), but I never look at it as I drive so its a bit pointless. The Storm is great on the change and is ultra tactile too.
 
Herminator said:
Standard on the M :thumbsup:
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Humm - mine does not light up, is that true on all model years?!! Need to investigate - and it makes fitting the new Illuminated ZHP easier!
 
jamiez said:
Herminator said:
Standard on the M :thumbsup:
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Humm - mine does not light up, is that true on all model years?!! Need to investigate - and it makes fitting the new Illuminated ZHP easier!
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Probably just unplugged. Did either of the previous owners have a different knob?
 
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