New Shift Knob

Got my new shift knob from LeatherZ (very helpful and highly recommended from 3-series forum) Knob is about an inch shorter than stock X3 knob. Weighted (5.4 ounces) and all leather. A little hard to get the original knob off -- sitting in drivers seat put tranny in 2nd, release hand brake, lean over and lift hard using your legs and back. 2 hands needed and it pops off. New one goes right on and does not leave a gap at the boot. Very smooth, positive shifts. Really like it.

Very nice, I'll have to look into that

You never mentioned how much?

And once it was on was it secure or loose?

Thought you'd never ask! (is it the holidays? things seem unusually dead around here???)

The standard ZHP short knob (thats what it is called in 3-series speek) is 65 bucks from LeatherZ. 75 if you want an "M" insignia. Mine has an M-stripe on it and it was 75 plus shipping (surprised I didnt get any grief yet for this as I remember someone got grief for putting an M insignia on a non-M car) I like the litttle splash of color and my feeling is that any manual BMW has some M-car in it. whatever -- its my car!

At first I was bummed because the knob was sitting about 1/2 a centimeter above the boot-top. But then I remembered how hard it was to get the original off and over its securing flanges. So I put on a fleece glove and banged on the knob -- sure enough it clicked right on to the flanges and it is very secure with a meaty feel to it. Its definitely smaller in terms of height and overall diameter. Gives shifting a much more precise feel. The extra weight is a good thing. IMO.

I have the same nob on the M. Love it. You might also think about a short shift kit, an excellent mod, if one is made for the X3. Throws are a little long in stock BMW manuals. Our X is AT.