If a knob is stuck, I like to shift into fourth gear. If you are tall, open the sunroof for more headroom. Next, straddle the middle console and pull back straight with two hands.
You should be advised that it is not unusual for your hand to fly in your face and give you a great shiner as a result. Once the knob is removed, it is easy to reinstall by placing the new OEM knob atop the gear lever and pressing down with your fist. Be aware that installing an aftermarket knob and lever, which the OEM BMW knobs do not, may call for a set screw.
In This Article...
Okay, so if you’ve ever attempted to remove a factory-installed shift knob, you know how difficult it can be. On my E46, I came dangerously close to developing a hernia and getting a black eye. To ensure they remain on for many years, I believe the factory uses more than simply jam to attach them to the post. I believe they also employ glue. So, when my new M shift knob for my E90 arrived, I considered trying to pry off the old knob with a lever. See images. Great results! No harm was done to me or the vehicle, and the pipe came off with almost any effort.
If your garage doesn’t have large crescent wrenches, pipes, and pieces of scrap wood, you’ll need to create your own leverage system.
LOL, this is awesome! I recently ripped my off and was surprised by how quickly I was able to do so. It was released with a solid tug. I took sure not to poke myself in the face by reading several threads beforehand.
I merely placed a pillow on top of the shifter and had a friend apply little pressure as I pulled because I never thought to do this. It worked, there were no black eyes, and it was rather easy. Great work, dude!
Nice, wish I had thought of that. However, I was able to use my “lazy man’s shift know removal” approach to deceive my brother into performing all the work for me.
LoL
It appears as though you shot a mosquito with a cannon. Nevertheless, I appreciate you sharing; it’s a nice thought. That shift knob is firmly pressed into place.
Yeah, the pipe in that photo appears to be larger than it actually was due to camera distortion. and although it was longer than it needed to be, it was what was available.
It was a test, after all. I enjoy trying new things. But this one actually worked, unlike the usual outcome! therefore I decided to share.
I’m probably twice as old as the majority of the group here, you know. Many of my friends had ruptured discs and hernias as a result of actions you never would have imagined would necessitate serious surgery. not appealing
Certain knobs can be removed more easily than others, but the majority certainly aren’t all that difficult. Who knows, maybe my E46 was the exception. But as I get older, I’m less inclined to take a chance. Leave the labor to the tools! Less back, more brain.
Though it sounds like a lot of labor compared to simply tugging extremely hard, I wouldn’t call this lazy.
Could you please let them know that you were referred by me if you decide to purchase ANY AT&T services either online or in person? Eo4489 is my employee referral number. It costs you nothing, therefore I really appreciate you doing this.
According to the E30 Bentley manual (I haven’t looked at the E90 manual), the correct procedure is to immediately lift up after pushing down. Works perfectly.
I’ve read that it will pop off if you just lift it up with some force. I lifted so firmly that I believed the shift lever would come free from the tranny, but nothing happens to the knob.
If I can’t get rid of the old knob, the new one I want will merely be a pricey paperweight.
Make sure the boot is first unclipped. Put it after that. Push up against your chest. NOT IN YOUR FACE Shut your eyes. Feel the power moving through you. It’ll just pop off.
I recently watched STAR WARS, so I am acquainted with the Force. However, because this is my first BMW, nothing is evident. Thanks.
To get it off for the first time, you have to use a lot of force. Many people have hit themselves in the face. The shift lever won’t be broken. Simply prepare for the “pop” when the knob releases.
I discovered that straddling the tunnel, opening the sunroof, standing up, and pulling with it in neutral is the greatest way (keep your knees bent and back straight, or you could injure yourself). It took some work the first time, but it pops off easily now.
To avoid breaking the clips, unclip the shift boot first by working a flathead screwdriver or something similar around the boot’s base before pushing on the knob.
The boot’s edges are covered in clips. To detach them from the frame, pull inward and press down on them.
The shifter itself is just frictionally attached. It will require a LOT of force to get it off, but once it’s off, attaching and removing it will be much simpler.
You can see how it clips in if you simply move the boot inward toward the base of the shifter.
The knob should not be removed by steadily tugging as if performing arm curls or something similar. It can be snapped off with a forceful upward pull or yank. However, as everyone cautions, be certain you are aware of where your hands will be when it pops off. It’s not challenging.
I recently replaced my shift boot and knob. As others have stated, unclipping the boot is as simple as pinching the boot’s base inward. Put the vehicle in second gear and pull firmly after the boot has been unclipped.
Once more, simply be aware of where it is aimed. Avoid placing your face above it because if it were to pop off, you might unintentionally bash your face. It will come off if you pull toward your chest.
I’m not very powerful or anything; I’m only 5’8″ and 150 pounds. The swap just took me a few minutes to complete.
Procedure
- To remove the boot surround from the center console, use a Trim Removal Tool (or something comparable).
- If available, carefully remove the tiny white plug from the housing on the underside of the driving mode switch.
- Once the OEM shift knob has come off, invert the shift boot and use an 11/16 socket to pinch the connecting clip to release the collar holding the boot on. (The tip was provided by CobraBob on NAM.)
- You can set the shifter ring and boot back down onto the console now that the OEM shift knob and boot have been entirely removed from the car, but don’t clip it down just yet.
- The shift lever should have the o-ring on it.
- Over the boot, slid the stainless core.
- Put the shift lever’s Knob Adapter Collar on. The adapter has a little lip on one end; this lip serves as the adapter’s bottom and should be facing downward when you slide it over the shift lever and firmly press it into the grooved area. (As shown below)
- Shift Knob should be placed over the core while aligning the cutouts on the knob with the slot on the shift lever.
- Check to see that the (6) holes on the knob and core are aligned (you can grab the bottom of the core and spin it to accomplish this). Put the Shift Knob Cap on the Shift Knob and use your 5/64 hex driver to insert the (6) Hex Cap Screws.
- Turn the boot inside out by lifting the shift boot surround UP and OVER the knob. Bring up the o-ring you previously fitted to tighten the top of the boot around the groove in the Shift Knob Base’s bottom.
- Push hard across the edges to pop the shift boot casing back into position after lowering it and reconnecting the white plug.
How do you take the Mini Cooper’s automatic shift knob off?
- The shift boot trim ring can be removed with a plastic trim panel tool. Pry up by simply sliding the tool between the ring and the central console. Till all the clips have been released, make your way around the ring.
- Locate and detach the shift knob wiring plug by lifting up the shift boot. Unplug the driving modes ring/switch if it is part of your surround ring.
- We must put the lever into drive in order to make removing the knob little simpler (D). To achieve this, depress the brake pedal and hit the yellow shift lock release button simultaneously. Put the transmission in drive after that. Simple friction holds the factory knob to the shifter. Grab the knob firmly with both hands and pull straight up to remove it. Never turn the knob. Keep the space above the knob clean because it requires a little bit of force to remove the knob! Be warned that the OEM knob will come with a lengthy lockout rod; take care not to damage it.
- We need to detach the OEM shift knob from the shift boot after it has been disconnected. The boot collar is secured to the OEM knob by a few clips. Since they are quite sensitive, push them gently toward the center of the collar until they separate from the knob. Now the collar ought to simply lift up and detach from the boot.
- The major challenge is getting the wiring plug and lockout rod out from under the shift boot connector ring. Although this ring is not necessary for this installation, you should save it in case you ever decide to go back to stock. You should have it off in no time if you gently pry around the ring with your little screwdriver and work the plug through it.
Can you change the knob on an automated shifter?
The methods below will show you how to install a new automatic shift knob if you want to replace your old one. Automobiles with manual transmissions frequently have customized shift knobs as well. Many are worn out and need to be replaced, while others are just too dull to be used repeatedly.
How is a Momo shift knob removed?
At the base of the shift knob, where it connects to the shift lever, there is a metal collar. Three set screws are visible when the collar is unscrewed and threaded. To remove those, you’ll need a 2.5mm Allen wrench, and the knob should then come loose.
All cars can have shift knobs, right?
Many shift knobs fit all vehicles. They can be installed in a variety of vehicles and shifters. If the shift knob you receive does not, however, fit the shaft properly, you will want an adaptor. It’s crucial that you do your homework on the item to ensure that it is compatible with your car.
How much does a new gear shift knob cost?
You should expect to pay between $10 and $75 only for the parts for a new aftermarket shift knob. On the other hand, an OEM gear knob may cost you $50 to $150.
How much does a gear shifter cost to replace?
Although every car has a transmission, few people are aware of what it accomplishes. Simply said, the transmission modifies the ratios in your car so you can accelerate and decelerate properly. The gear shifter cable is a crucial part of the transmission system in your car.
You will need to replace this component if it breaks. An typical gear shifter cable replacement will run you about $300.
The normal price range for repairs is $200 to $600, while the cost of repairs may be higher for particular car brands. For about $100, you can tighten and service a slack shifter cable.
The age of your car and your mechanic will also affect these costs. We put together this extensive resource on gear shift cable replacement costs to assist you in locating the best offer.
We’ll look at the cost of replacement for a number of well-known car models, as well as the cost of any related parts.