Shift Knob

[Ron B]

I'm a new Z3 owner, 2001 Z3 3.0. We also have a Z4 that my wife drives. The ship knob (Z3) came right off while I was backing out of the garage. Part of the plastic liner is chipped away at the bottom. What's the best way to secure it? JB Weld, wrap the shaft with electrical tape?

Thanks for any help.

 

[hard top]

Welcome on the forum, sorry that I can not be of help, as mine was an auto box.

 

[Ron B]

Thanks Hard Top!

 

[hard top]

No probs, @t-tony should have a fix for this I would have thought.....?

 

[oldcarman]

Welcome from Canada! Personally I'd buy a new one but wouldn't think JBWELD would be a good choice. Pics and location are mandatory so when you get a moment, or they'll send someone to take care of that for you!! lol JIM

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hi from Truro. As Jim said, I'd buy a new one

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome

I would personally wrap some form of tape around the metal shaft, and try see if that stops it from slipping. If you start gumming it up with glue you may struggle to remove it if you decide to replace it in the future. I've seen people having to destroy theirs to remove them after the previous owner has glued it on. It's a solution, but I'd catergorise it as a bodge.

Alternative would be to buy yourself a replacement, and there are some really nice aftermarket ones out there. I personally replaced mine with a Storm Motorwerks. It's shorter and heavier so it improves the gear change - bit expensive at GB£90 but it's a thing of beauty! It has a locking collar inside which you tighten with 2 grub screws.

BMW Z3 Storm Motorwerks V1 Gear Knob

• GazHyde
• Jul 8, 2014

OEM leather knob on left, showing the difference in height between the two.

BMW Z3 Storm Motorwerks V1 Gear Knob

• GazHyde
• Jul 8, 2014

Locking collar. Has two allen key grub screws to hold it in place. Both located at the back of...

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[t-tony]

No probs, @t-tony should have a fix for this I would have thought.....?

Sorry mine are both auto's but in general if a gear knob has started to come to bits I would replace it with a new one, and as Gaz said there some very nice after market ones available to give your car the special look.

Tony.

 

[Ron B]

Sounds best to get a new gear knob. Thanks for your advice!

 

[t-tony]

@Ron B I think you will be @FRANKIE closest member maybe.

Tony.

 

[Rha]

Hi Ron B and welcome from me in Hertfordshire UK. Rha, Roy.

 

[Mint]

Hi @Ron B, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire, UK. As said before a new knob is required

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hello and

 

[FRANKIE]

I'm a new Z3 owner, 2001 Z3 3.0. We also have a Z4 that my wife drives. The ship knob (Z3) came right off while I was backing out of the garage. Part of the plastic liner is chipped away at the bottom. What's the best way to secure it? JB Weld, wrap the shaft with electrical tape?

Thanks for any help.

Hi, Ron, and welcome from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. I'd have to look up where you are in New York. I live at the intersection of the Atlantic City Expressway and the Garden State Parkway. A really GREAT bunch of guys here on the forum. Just came baclk from my second visit over there to see them last September. I bought a '96 Z3 1.9 a few years ago. On my first visit to the UK, a guy from Wales, @miller1098, drove me around for the first few days in his Z3 ///M and I liked it so much, I searched around for several months and found one in California. I told the guys on the forum I was going out to buy it and drive it home and @miller1098 flew into Philly where I met him and we both went out to the west coast to get it and drive it back. The photos and videos are archived here. What a blast it was driving in the UK for the first time. I think the guys in the forum were making bets to see if I could do it without getting into a wreck.
There is a great wealth of knowledge on this forum and its free for the asking. Everyone is willing to help if you have ANY problem. It doesn't take long to get to know the guys and we have a lot of fun here as its not all cut and dry about cars. Frankie

 

[Ron B]

Thanks hard top, oldcarman, Jack Ratt, GazHyde, DavidM, t-tony, Rha, Mint, Eddir Zedder and Frankie for the warm welcome.

We visited the UK, Ireland and The Isle of Mann (for the TT) a couple of years ago and had a great time.

I tried to remove the inner plastic portion of the gear knob and totally messed it up. I ordered a new knob and I temporaryily have a carbon fiber nob that I had on a Mini Cooper, installed on the Z3. So all is well.

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[littlefeller]

hi welcome, carbon knob eh, mine just made of skin, who do i need to bribe to get a carbon one