DIY M shifter and M brake handle

OwnAge · 05-28-2009, 04:32 PM

okay i run to a few things, 1st its the shifter. I dont think it seats on the stick well. I can pull it out easily. I read a post that some1 had the same problem as well. Anything i can do about it? Glue it or something.
My second problem is: i bought the shifter form a member here and the plastic frame on the boot broken so the boot doesnt seat well. If I dont touch it its okay but if you do, it moves. I will contact the seller but my question. DO you think its possible to take that plastic frame and switch it with oem frame? Both frames are glued to the boot so i will have to tear it off and then glue it back. Think it will work?

MMAJNKE · 05-28-2009, 04:33 PM

i need to fix mine

khalidr · 11-05-2009, 10:53 PM

I have been debating whether i should do this b/c I'm afraid that it will become loose and come off- but, if you are still having issues, would you mind trying this suggestion and letting me know how it works? Try using some plumber tape on the metal part of the shifter (the part that sticks into the bottom of the knob). You can buy some at any hardware store for a dollar or so, and just wrap it around the metal part to make it verrryyyy slightly thicker- I think this might do the trick...any thoughts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OwnAge

okay i run to a few things, 1st its the shifter. I dont think it seats on the stick well. I can pull it out easily. I read a post that some1 had the same problem as well. Anything i can do about it? Glue it or something.
My second problem is: i bought the shifter form a member here and the plastic frame on the boot broken so the boot doesnt seat well. If I dont touch it its okay but if you do, it moves. I will contact the seller but my question. DO you think its possible to take that plastic frame and switch it with oem frame? Both frames are glued to the boot so i will have to tear it off and then glue it back. Think it will work?

votom808 · 04-22-2010, 12:46 PM

Installed both the knob and the ebrake handle today and everything went smooth. Thanks for the DIY.

If you're doing this mod, it helps to have a black cable tie. I initially did mine with a bright orange tie (all I had lying around) and I was able to barely see the tie when I was done through the stitching on the ebrake boot. A clear color would probably be fine but any bright color may show through.

StealYourFace · 05-21-2010, 06:51 PM

I bought a used one, but it's for a coupe and I have a sedan.

Any way to make it work without turning it into garbage?

Thanks.

StealYourFace · 05-21-2010, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealYourFace

I bought a used one, but it's for a coupe and I have a sedan.

Any way to make it work without turning it into garbage?

Thanks.

Nevermind- It worked like a charm!

Majikthese42 · 03-27-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OwnAge

okay i run to a few things, 1st its the shifter. I dont think it seats on the stick well. I can pull it out easily. I read a post that some1 had the same problem as well. Anything i can do about it? Glue it or something.

Has anyone tried tapping the knob into place with a rubber mallet? Or is this just a bad idea?

g20jprad · 04-02-2011, 10:35 AM

do you use a flat head screw driver to get the tabs out from all 4 corners of the brake handle boot? ... going to change out my shifter and brake handle in a couple days.

thanks!

Majikthese42 · 04-02-2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90jprad

do you use a flat head screw driver to get the tabs out from all 4 corners of the brake handle boot? ... going to change out my shifter and brake handle in a couple days.

thanks!

I used a long, flat-head screwdriver to pry.

tcc230 · 04-13-2011, 08:16 AM

Great DIY...Easy to do. I just pulled the boot up from the corners and it just popped off...

gdnyc · 07-21-2011, 01:14 PM

This a very easy DIY. Took me all of 2 min. The hardest part was pulling out the stock shift knob. The stock shift knob has a tab that fits into the top of the shifter. You just have to pull as hard as you can to pop it off.

The boot came off rather easily as well. Be careful because it has plastic tabs that attach to the bottom of the trim around the shifter. I used my fingers to push the boot in at the base. Once you have one corner out the rest is easy.

Installation of the new boot is reverse of removing the old one. Be careful not to bend too much incase you break the plastic that is holding the boot. Make sure you have the shift knob firmly into place.

121gtr · 06-01-2013, 05:26 PM

Installed mine today very easy.

One Tip: avoid removing the shift knob when the weather is really hot. Heat makes metal expand and plastic shrink. So its harder when its hotter :-)

FrankoQ · 01-18-2015, 09:14 PM

Old thread but update: after 100K, my M knob top perforated leather is all gone.
I just bought a replacement for another 100k.

ReeferCheefer · 04-04-2015, 09:53 AM

I did this on my e92 and its looks and feels great. One down fall is that the performance shifter boot has way too much extra sag. The oem boot is sleeker looking.

05-28-2009, 04:32 PM	#89
OwnAge Gourik 197 Rep 4,303 Posts Drives: Wrangler Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Innisfil Ontario. iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 328i [8.90]	okay i run to a few things, 1st its the shifter. I dont think it seats on the stick well. I can pull it out easily. I read a post that some1 had the same problem as well. Anything i can do about it? Glue it or something. My second problem is: i bought the shifter form a member here and the plastic frame on the boot broken so the boot doesnt seat well. If I dont touch it its okay but if you do, it moves. I will contact the seller but my question. DO you think its possible to take that plastic frame and switch it with oem frame? Both frames are glued to the boot so i will have to tear it off and then glue it back. Think it will work? __________________ Last edited by OwnAge; 05-28-2009 at 06:09 PM..
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05-28-2009, 04:33 PM	#90
MMAJNKE MMA Changed My Life! 340 Rep 6,627 Posts Drives: e92 m3 & f30 328i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: so cal iTrader: (48) Garage List "2006 sport bi ... [0.00] 2008 e92 coupe [0.00]	i need to fix mine
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04-22-2010, 12:46 PM	#92
votom808 New Member 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	Installed both the knob and the ebrake handle today and everything went smooth. Thanks for the DIY. If you're doing this mod, it helps to have a black cable tie. I initially did mine with a bright orange tie (all I had lying around) and I was able to barely see the tie when I was done through the stitching on the ebrake boot. A clear color would probably be fine but any bright color may show through.
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05-21-2010, 06:51 PM	#93
StealYourFace Lieutenant Colonel 270 Rep 1,794 Posts Drives: F30 328i M 6mt, E36 M3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shakedown Street, Buffalo NY iTrader: (1)	ARRGGG I bought a used one, but it's for a coupe and I have a sedan. Any way to make it work without turning it into garbage? Thanks.
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04-02-2011, 10:35 AM	#96
g20jprad Private 32 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2023 330i Phytonic Blue Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Yorba Linda, CA iTrader: (0)	do you use a flat head screw driver to get the tabs out from all 4 corners of the brake handle boot? ... going to change out my shifter and brake handle in a couple days. thanks!
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04-13-2011, 08:16 AM	#98
tcc230 Private 4 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 328 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London, Ontario iTrader: (2)	Great DIY...Easy to do. I just pulled the boot up from the corners and it just popped off...
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07-21-2011, 01:14 PM	#99
gdnyc Lieutenant 25 Rep 472 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Jet Black Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	This a very easy DIY. Took me all of 2 min. The hardest part was pulling out the stock shift knob. The stock shift knob has a tab that fits into the top of the shifter. You just have to pull as hard as you can to pop it off. The boot came off rather easily as well. Be careful because it has plastic tabs that attach to the bottom of the trim around the shifter. I used my fingers to push the boot in at the base. Once you have one corner out the rest is easy. Installation of the new boot is reverse of removing the old one. Be careful not to bend too much incase you break the plastic that is holding the boot. Make sure you have the shift knob firmly into place. __________________ 2006 330xi BMW, please get rid of the RFT's and give us a spare tire!
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06-01-2013, 05:26 PM	#100
121gtr New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2009 328i Sedan 6MT Join Date: May 2013 Location: charlotte iTrader: (0)	Installed mine today very easy. One Tip: avoid removing the shift knob when the weather is really hot. Heat makes metal expand and plastic shrink. So its harder when its hotter :-)
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01-18-2015, 09:14 PM	#101
FrankoQ Deny everything 234 Rep 11,378 Posts Drives: 2006 330i; 2015 X6, S1000RR Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Beautiful MD iTrader: (5) Garage List 2015 BMW X6 [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Old thread but update: after 100K, my M knob top perforated leather is all gone. I just bought a replacement for another 100k. __________________ I need a drink
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04-04-2015, 09:53 AM	#102
ReeferCheefer Private First Class 59 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 135i,335i,335xi,328dx, 535i Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 E90 Montego [0.00] 2022 s1000rr [0.00] 2016 S1000RR [0.00] 2011 535i xdrive [0.00]	I did this on my e92 and its looks and feels great. One down fall is that the performance shifter boot has way too much extra sag. The oem boot is sleeker looking.
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