WTB light up zhp shift knob

[JAIm255]

I'm 50/50 on whether I'd buy it atm because I have to look into the difficulty of installation, but I wanted to put an ad ouT there.

[BMWCurves]

I think your three options are a newer M5 shifter (ask BP about his installation), a light up ZHP knob which is expensive (one link: https://www.leatherz.com/products/illuminated-zhp-short-shift-knob?variant=20907147137), or retrofit an E46 M3 illuminated knob.

[az3579]

I think your three options are a newer M5 shifter (ask BP about his installation), a light up ZHP knob which is expensive (one link: https://www.leatherz.com/products/illuminated-zhp-short-shift-knob?variant=20907147137), or retrofit an E46 M3 illuminated knob.

In order of quality, highest to lowest:
1) F10 M5 knob
2) OE M3 shift knob (taller and more awkward looking, IMO)
3) LeatherZ



The F10 knob is the best quality in terms of light color, output, and aesthetics, but requires you to cut off the boot from the knob so you can use it with your existing E46 boot and frame.

The M3 one is OE quality lighting, but is a taller shift knob that, to me, looks out of place. Plus, it has an integrated boot.

The LeatherZ knob is both extremely expensive, and the lighting isn't as good as the OE knobs. The color is a little off (it's more red), and some of them have slightly uneven lighting from what I've seen.


I went with the F10 knob route. I ordered a connector repair kit that I used to splice into my ashtray wiring (repair kit P/N: 61132360043), so the connectors are nice OE-style connectors that can easily be disconnected. As far as the boot goes, I actually modified it so that I can glue it on to my existing E46 shift boot frame, since the F10 frame is a different shape. It doesn't quite fit perfectly, but it's passable, for now. I will later buy a proper E46 boot and frame to replace the boot, at which time I'll cut off the boot from the knob.

The lighting matches the switch panel where the heated seats, DSC, etc. are. Oddly the color is a little off the HVAC and window switch controls, but it's really close (closer than the pics show).

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7348/26990633783_33fddcd5be_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/H8545T)0610162140b (https://flic.kr/p/H8545T) by botond.pal (https://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/), on Flickr

https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7384/27565641356_1ed973dc97_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/HZT7Ny)0610162120 (https://flic.kr/p/HZT7Ny) by botond.pal (https://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/), on Flickr

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7392/26990628523_584ac5c53b_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/H852wc)0610162140 (https://flic.kr/p/H852wc) by botond.pal (https://www.flickr.com/photos/65070296@N06/), on Flickr

[ELCID86]

I have this one (and don't use it)...

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161019/6a0034c7e93913a7fa4a05cfdae264a7.jpg


Sent from my iPhone with TaT.

[JAIm255]

Thanks for the feedback! The first seems like the best yet the most complicated. What would you sell that for, elcid?

[az3579]

The first seems like the best yet the most complicated.


It's only complicated if you decide to retrofit the boot onto the E46 frame, like I did. Otherwise, you just cut the boot off and the wiring is the same as any lit shift knob.

[BMWCurves]

It's only complicated if you decide to retrofit the boot onto the E46 frame, like I did. Otherwise, you just cut the boot off and the wiring is the same as any lit shift knob.

Why did you decide to do that over just cutting off the boot and sliding the knob on like any other replacement knob?

[az3579]

Why did you decide to do that over just cutting off the boot and sliding the knob on like any other replacement knob?

Since I was buying the shift knob/boot combo with credit card rewards cash, I didn't want to have to spend an additional $85+ of my own money on a new leather boot. My old one had rock hard leather so it needed to be replaced. Doing it the way I did it, it was almost a free upgrade. All I had to spend money on was the connector repair kit for about $10 and a few more bucks for a terminal crimp tool.

[BMWCurves]

Since I was buying the shift knob/boot combo with credit card rewards cash, I didn't want to have to spend an additional $85+ of my own money on a new leather boot. My old one had rock hard leather so it needed to be replaced. Doing it the way I did it, it was almost a free upgrade. All I had to spend money on was the connector repair kit for about $10 and a few more bucks for a terminal crimp tool.

Gotcha, totally reasonable. How much was the M5 shifter?

[az3579]

Gotcha, totally reasonable. How much was the M5 shifter?

If you have to ask. lol

I bought it from BMW of Morristown for $169.86 + shipping. I think the price on these varies, because I remember reading posts from a while ago where they bought it for less than $140. The price probably fluctuates.

If the darned boot wasn't attached, it would be a lot cheaper. :(
The problem with the lit shift knobs is that they're incredibly expensive to begin with. These are the ZHP style knobs I'm referring to. I'm not a fan of the M3 style knob - it's taller and I don't think it's weighted as nicely, so the options for lit ZHP style knobs aren't that plentiful. LeatherZ's prices have gone through the roof! They start at $172 for a 5-speed emblem version. The 6-speed version (if I'm choosing the correct dropdown options) appears to be $312!!!