M5 Shift Knob Oct 22 – Nov 3, 2014

This project is to swap out the Z4M's stock shift knob with that from the M5. The reason is shorter quicker throws and smoothing out some of the notchier shifts. Nice side benefits are that the M5 knob just looks cool and is better illuminated at night.
M5ShiftKnob-001 This is the stock Z4M shift knob. The goal is to replace it with the knob and boot from the F10 M5. This will provide shorter quicker throws and the slightly...
1 This is the stock Z4M shift knob. The goal is to replace it with the knob and boot from the F10 M5. This will provide shorter quicker throws and the slightly…
M5ShiftKnob-004 The stock shift knob from above
2 The stock shift knob from above
M5ShiftKnob-010 The Z4M's stock shift knob illuminated at night. Although hard to tell from this photo, the LED color is rather reddish compared to the amber control lighting...
3 The Z4M's stock shift knob illuminated at night. Although hard to tell from this photo, the LED color is rather reddish compared to the amber control lighting…
M5ShiftKnob-015 The first step is to pop up the shift boot. It is simply latched into place at the four corners and can be easily pried up with a nylon trim tool or something...
4 The first step is to pop up the shift boot. It is simply latched into place at the four corners and can be easily pried up with a nylon trim tool or something…
M5ShiftKnob-016 Next, disconnect the cable that illuminates the shift knob.
5 Next, disconnect the cable that illuminates the shift knob.
M5ShiftKnob-021 Finally, remove the knob completely by giving a hard yank on it. I found it easiest to put it into 2nd or 4th gear first.
6 Finally, remove the knob completely by giving a hard yank on it. I found it easiest to put it into 2nd or 4th gear first.
M5ShiftKnob-023 Here is the stock shift knob and boot removed from the car. We will need to reuse the plastic rim from the stock boot with the new shift knob since the shape of...
7 Here is the stock shift knob and boot removed from the car. We will need to reuse the plastic rim from the stock boot with the new shift knob since the shape of…
M5ShiftKnob-024 The stock boot is glued rather securely to the plastic rim. We will have no use for the old boot, so there is no concern about damaging the leather while...
8 The stock boot is glued rather securely to the plastic rim. We will have no use for the old boot, so there is no concern about damaging the leather while…
M5ShiftKnob-026 This is the shift knob and boot from the F10 M5. I purchased mine from Tischer BMW . Notice how in this case the boot is stapled to the plastic rim.
9 This is the shift knob and boot from the F10 M5. I purchased mine from Tischer BMW . Notice how in this case the boot is stapled to the plastic rim.
M5ShiftKnob-029 This picture gives you an idea of the trapezoidal shape of the F10 boot vs. the more rounded egg shape of the Z4. It is very easy to separate the M5 boot from...
10 This picture gives you an idea of the trapezoidal shape of the F10 boot vs. the more rounded egg shape of the Z4. It is very easy to separate the M5 boot from…
M5ShiftKnob-031 You might think that you could simply staple the M5 boot to the Z4's plastic rim, but you would be wrong. Instead, glue's the thing and here is what I used. It...
11 You might think that you could simply staple the M5 boot to the Z4's plastic rim, but you would be wrong. Instead, glue's the thing and here is what I used. It…
M5ShiftKnob-032 I went slowly around the M5 boot and incrementally glued it to the Z4's plastic rim. I used binder clamps from my office to hold things in place for the 30...
12 I went slowly around the M5 boot and incrementally glued it to the Z4's plastic rim. I used binder clamps from my office to hold things in place for the 30…
M5ShiftKnob-034 Once the boot was glued solidly completely around the rim, I trimmed the excess leather and created slotted tabs to fit over the rim latches.
13 Once the boot was glued solidly completely around the rim, I trimmed the excess leather and created slotted tabs to fit over the rim latches.
M5ShiftKnob-040 The final step was connecting the illumination cable, pressing the knob until it clicked solidly onto the shift lever, and then pressing the boot rim into place...
14 The final step was connecting the illumination cable, pressing the knob until it clicked solidly onto the shift lever, and then pressing the boot rim into place…
M5ShiftKnob-041 The illumination of the M5 shift knob is more even and also matches the amber color of the instrumentation better.
15 The illumination of the M5 shift knob is more even and also matches the amber color of the instrumentation better.
M5ShiftKnob-047 Here you can see the shorter throw of the M5 shift knob at the bottom vs. the taller stock shift knob above. The M5 knob is also weighted heavier so that some...
16 Here you can see the shorter throw of the M5 shift knob at the bottom vs. the taller stock shift knob above. The M5 knob is also weighted heavier so that some…