BMW M Performance Shift Knob (Manual) Installed

After some thoughts and hesitations, I finally pull the trigger and bought the M Performance Carbon Fiber shift knob! Let do some before and after pictures, feel free to comment =)

OEM Shift Knob:


M Performace VS. OEM (top view)



M Performace VS. OEM (side view)



M Performace VS. OEM (bottom view)
Note that the OEM connecting tube is made with plastics, and M Performace's is made with metal.



Done!! M Performance Carbon Fiber Shift Knob:



After thoughts:
If you own a manual, BUY IT!!!!!! Not only it looks pretty in my eyes, it gives me a better driving experience!!

Weight: OEM shift knob is very light, it is also hollow in the center as far as I can feel it. The M Perfermance is about 2 times heavier than OEM, and it's SOLID.

Driving: Definitely a huge improvement over the OEM. When you shift with the M Performance knob, the weight of the knob is also helping you to switch in/out of gear with ease. Unlike the OEM, it felt like I have to push harder to get the same job done. The knob is also smaller and a little shorter than OEM, but it doesn't take away the grip.

Look: LOVING the M PERFORMANCE everyday =)

Leave comments!

Love the redd!!!!

sweet

Knob looks good. But won't the suede get dirty quick?

I never got to try the stock MT shifter, but I've driven the M Sport shifter, and that one was pretty good; it was very, very comfortable. Not sure if the M Performance shifter is that much different than the M Sport shifter. Thoughts?

I like the small Teddy bear hung in effigy.

Looks good. Other really good ones, the ZHP shifter and the M Sport shifter from the E90 (maybe the current F30?).

Interesting. Easy to change?

Originally Posted by windsor027

Interesting. Easy to change?

Yeah I'd like to know this as well

Typically the shift knob simply screws off, although there can be a set screw which needs to be loosened first on some cars. The boot just clips on and easily removed by gently pulling inward toward the shifter. Once you buy the parts and receive them it will be obvious.

Originally Posted by 328i2013

Knob looks good. But won't the suede get dirty quick?

Alcantara does attract dust, but it's pretty easy to clean as well.

Originally Posted by johnofcross

I never got to try the stock MT shifter, but I've driven the M Sport shifter, and that one was pretty good; it was very, very comfortable. Not sure if the M Performance shifter is that much different than the M Sport shifter. Thoughts?

I have not had a chance to try the M sport shifter yet, and so I have no comparison between the two.

Originally Posted by Elk

I like the small Teddy bear hung in effigy.

haha thanks, the bear is actually a nittany lion from Penn State =), I've had it since my first car from 2005!!

Originally Posted by windsor027

Interesting. Easy to change?

It's pretty straight forward. Unclip the boot, and pull the shift knob upward.
However, most likely you will have open up your sunroof, stick your head out, sit on your center console, and pull your shift knob out. Of course I was really careful trying not to break the console lol and don't hit your head with your shift knob..please! no screws.

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Looks good. Other really good ones, the ZHP shifter and the M Sport shifter from the E90 (maybe the current F30?).

I think those are more than cosmetic, though. They are supposed to have shorter throws. This one seems to be cosmetic only.

Originally Posted by Elk

Typically the shift knob simply screws off, although there can be a set screw which needs to be loosened first on some cars. The boot just clips on and easily removed by gently pulling inward toward the shifter. Once you buy the parts and receive them it will be obvious.

Screw off? Are you sure you are not misinforming people?
On e90 I've changed them a few times. All BMW OEM knobs were snap-on. You pull them up (hard) to remove them, and snap-on a new one.
Is it different on F30?

Originally Posted by mr_clueless

I think those are more than cosmetic, though. They are supposed to have shorter throws. This one seems to be cosmetic only.

The knobs are totally interchangeable.

Originally Posted by mr_clueless

I think those are more than cosmetic, though. They are supposed to have shorter throws. This one seems to be cosmetic only.

This shift knob is not for cosmetice only as you have mentioned. This knob is also weighted and sit lower than OEM, giving a shorter throw when shifting.

Originally Posted by AWJCF20

This shift knob is not for cosmetice only as you have mentioned. This knob is also weighted and sit lower than OEM, giving a shorter throw when shifting.

I don't doubt that it looks and feels better than the stock one, but I find it hard to believe that just changing a shift knob would yield shorter throws.

I came across this:
http://www.twmperformance.com/short-shifter.html

"A common misconception in the tuning world is that a short shifter is just a chopped off version of the stock shifter. In fact, chopping your shifter has no effect on the angle that your shifter shaft travels through between gears and therefore does not reduce the shifter's angular throw."

basic laws of physics dictate that a shorter rod (ie, a bmw performance shifter vs the taller stock piece), when connected to the same joint (the shift linkage) would travel a shorter distance when that difference is measured st the top of the rod (the top of the shift knob, in this case). so the OP is right. A true shirt-shift kit will generally shorten the linkage as well, but the OP is correct in his contention that a shorter lever will require more effort (it has less leverage) and effectively shorten the throw somewhat.

Sent from my KFTT using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by fahrhaus

basic laws of physics dictate that a shorter rod (ie, a bmw performance shifter vs the taller stock piece), when connected to the same joint (the shift linkage) would travel a shorter distance when that difference is measured st the top of the rod (the top of the shift knob, in this case). so the OP is right. A true shirt-shift kit will generally shorten the linkage as well, but the OP is correct in his contention that a shorter lever will require more effort (it has less leverage) and effectively shorten the throw somewhat.

Fahrhaus, Thanks for clarifying my point.

Matter of fact, if people are talking about Angular Throw (that is, the angle the shift rod makes), it will stays the same if you are only swapping shift knobs. The only way to decrease the Angular Throw is to raise the shifter's pivot point and thus that requires changing the whole shifting unit.

In my case, the decreased "shift throw" is the distance the knob traveled from gear to gear. You can imagine yourself looking down (Aerial View) on the shift knob, and like fahrhaus said, it shorten the distance you have to move the shifter. The distance difference is small, but you can definitely feel it when you try the knob yourself =).

Originally Posted by AWJCF20

After some thoughts and hesitations, I finally pull the trigger and bought the M Performance Carbon Fiber shift knob! Let do some before and after pictures, feel free to comment =)

After reading this I pulled the trigger myself and got the m shifter. Happy with the results. It's got a nice heft to it, and looks great against my black and red sport line interior.

Originally Posted by tturedraider

The knobs are totally interchangeable.

That's what she said.

A little off topic, but for reference the zhp had a much tighter box/throw...IMO. As for the knob, zhp and m-sport are about the same.

OP, do you think an m-perf boot would work with the stock knob? I like the m-sport knob (for now), but the alcantra boot feels so much better on the hand.