Alcantara brake handle.....

[MrMaico]

We are finally getting some nice weather so I took the opportunity to install my Alcantara parking brake handle that I've had sitting around for a month or so. A fair bit of work involved in getting it installed but this was the first time I've had my console area apart at all so it was nice just to learn my way around to see what's involved in taking off these things. Had to remove the shift knob, armrest and center console to install it. You're actually replacing the whole park brake assembly. Would be nice if you could just replace the handle itself. I've read you can pull it off with force but it felt way too tight to do it that way.

Looks sweet if you ask me.:biggrin Can't wait to get my steering wheel back now from getting it re-wrapped in Alcantara with tri-color stitching.

Barry

http://mrmaico.smugmug.com/Cars/BMW-ZHP-misc/IMG0723/1184536363_hCcCi-XL.jpg

http://mrmaico.smugmug.com/Cars/BMW-ZHP-misc/IMG0722/1184536260_MLbQM-XL.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Looks good. I like the way everything is tied in.

[kayger12]

I like it.

Nice job.

[danewilson77]

Yeah....That looks pretty sweet.

[MrMaico]

Thanks guys. As soon as I noticed that 'drool' stain in the first pic I had to go out to the garage and clean it off.:drool LOL

Hoping I don't need to borrow your Peake SRS tool when I reinstall the wheel Dane. I should be ok since I unhooked the battery before I took anything apart but it still makes me nervous having it unhooked for 2 or 3 weeks. He received the wheel today so I'm hoping he can get it done this weekend and if he sends it out by Monday I'd have it next Friday. With the nice weather we're having I'm hoping I can get out for a drive sometime in the next few weeks.

[MasterC17]

Nice job! It looks very nice, definitely better than the factory handle. You can remove the factory leather piece without taking anything apart. Basically you need to twist left and right and pull over and over again and it will eventually come off. I think it took me about 20 minutes to do. It also won't hurt the handle.

[MrMaico]

Nice job! It looks very nice, definitely better than the factory handle. You can remove the factory leather piece without taking anything apart. Basically you need to twist left and right and pull over and over again and it will eventually come off. I think it took me about 20 minutes to do. It also won't hurt the handle.

Thanks! Ya, that's what I had read but I wasn't about to go twisting that hard on that nice new Alcantara. Leather would be a different story.

[MasterC17]

Thanks! Ya, that's what I had read but I wasn't about to go twisting that hard on that nice new Alcantara. Leather would be a different story.

Hmm, are you saying you bought the whole assembly and the handle came with it? Is so I understand - I wouldn't want to hurt the Alcantara either :rofl. If so is it factory?

[MrMaico]

Hmm, are you saying you bought the whole assembly and the handle came with it? Is so I understand - I wouldn't want to hurt the Alcantara either :rofl. If so is it factory?

Yup, it's OEM for the M3 Competition Package and CSL. The only way they sell (sold?) it was as a complete assy. I just tried to look up the Realoem page and couldn't find it so I tried by searching the part number but it just brings up the page with the leather ones now. I wonder if their going to discontinue it? Part # is 34412282661 and it still shows at Tischer though but it's strange that it's no longer on Realoem. It also still shows up at
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E46/Coupe/USA/M3-S54/2005/april/browse/brakes/handbrake_lever/

I think if anyone is considering one I'd get it ordered just in case they ARE going to discontinue it. I got mine in late Dec.

Barry

[danewilson77]

How much?

[MrMaico]

How much?

About $72. Kinda expensive for what you're getting but I just couldn't resist.

[danewilson77]

For a new whole assembly? Thats not bad at all imho...

[MrMaico]

For a new whole assembly? Thats not bad at all imho...

That's true when you look at it that way but when it comes right down to it all you're really buying is that 5 inches of Alcantara. Unless a person would try and sell your old one, maybe make at least some of your money back. Anybody need a park brake handle assy.? :whistle

[iZHP]

Wow this looks great. I want to do this now!

[gr330zhp]

Wow looks really good! Mine has a carbon fiber one, which looks very OE and matches the "cubed" trim very good I think!

[04ZHP_PDX]

Wow. Looks really great! Like Marcus said - really brings it all together. That wheel will look awesome too...Alcantara w/tri-stitch will be savage!!

[MrMaico]

Thanks guys, now I'm thinking I need one of these........

http://mrmaico.smugmug.com/Cars/BMW-333Ci/bmwzhpalc/1186074598_wpEMG-L.jpg

$65 if you send in yours for wrapping or $145 for a new one wrapped in Alcantara.

http://www.jpmcoachworks.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=24_55

Or one of these wrapped......

http://leatherz.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Code=IllumZHPShiftKnob&Category_Code=E46_Shift_Knobs

Too bad that lighted knob has to be so expensive.:blink

[kayger12]

Thanks guys, now I'm thinking I need one of these........

http://mrmaico.smugmug.com/Cars/BMW-333Ci/bmwzhpalc/1186074598_wpEMG-L.jpg

$65 if you send in yours for wrapping or $145 for a new one wrapped in Alcantara.

http://www.jpmcoachworks.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=24_55

Or one of these wrapped......

http://leatherz.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=01&Product_Code=IllumZHPShiftKnob&Category_Code=E46_Shift_Knobs

Too bad that lighted knob has to be so expensive.:blink

If I had an Alcantara wheel and shift boot, I'd be all over that.

[MrMaico]

If I had an Alcantara wheel and shift boot, I'd be all over that.

Yes, that would look great. I found info on another guy that was doing lighted ZHP knobs for (supposedly) less than Leatherz is charging. I just PMed him about doing a lighted and or wrapped one. I have a feeling the lighting will be more than I want to spend just for a little nighttime bling though.

Barry

[iZHP]

http://mrmaico.smugmug.com/Cars/BMW-333Ci/bmwzhpalc/1186074598_wpEMG-L.jpg

:blink: that's awesome. I want that too! Only thing I'd be worried about is how wear would play a roll. My steering wheel already had to be re-wrapped in leather because the alcantara wore off.

[MrMaico]

:blink: that's awesome. I want that too! Only thing I'd be worried about is how wear would play a roll. My steering wheel already had to be re-wrapped in leather because the alcantara wore off.

I know what you mean but in a thread on M3forums a few guys that had them on for a while said they were wearing great. If it were any more expensive I doubt if I'd want to take the chance. You can always get a new ZHP knob for around $60.

http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=236619&highlight=alcantara+zhp

[pyreguy]

I can't imagine wear being an issue compared to the steering wheel. You're constantly touching the wheel and only use the ebrake handle when you start and stop your journey. Unless you love in a video game and ebrake around corners :biggrin


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[MrMaico]

I can't imagine wear being an issue compared to the steering wheel. You're constantly touching the wheel and only use the ebrake handle when you start and stop your journey. Unless you love in a video game and ebrake around corners :biggrin


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Agreed, but (I think) we're talking about the shift knob now Lance.:biggrin

I heard back from the guy that wraps ZHP shift knobs in Alcantara and he charges $100 for a new wrapped ZHP knob or $35 to wrap yours.

If anyone is interested you can PM me and I will give you his e mail address.

Barry

[pyreguy]

Ah. Got my knobs mixed up again....


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[gr330zhp]

That knob is sexy! I may pick one up

[MrMaico]

I sent mine in today. In a week or so we can see how it looks.

[MrMaico]

Ah. Got my knobs mixed up again....

Dontcha hate it when that happens?:)

[pyreguy]

It can be both embarrassing and fun at parties.


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