Any compatible "shorty" shift knobs?

[Green Dragon]

Jay, I vote keep the stock knob and give it a face lift. Matched to your new trim with a new insert would be the dogs bone. That ZHP knob has got to be pretty dang good though. I've heard it's pretty nice piece. Also, you can buy a new real Italian leather shift boot and ebrake boot to compliment your recent new mods. There is a company from GB that sells these on eBay specific for the e53, and I'm pretty sure you can specify the tread color(s). Maybe a nice titanium color to tie everything in. For the whole set it's like 30 bucks or so shipped. I getting a set for me and the wife.

As for a illuminated shift knob, I'm not gonna lie. I absolutely love the idea. I test drove an e39 ///m5 when they were new with a hot sales woman, (think stiffler's mom), and she totally thought I was looking at her skirt/legs as I was putting the M5 through a spirited set of twisties. Nope! It was that f*******g shift knob all glowing and calling my name. I have loved it ever since and have plans for one soon. Since I'm on a engineering kick as of late, there is a DYI on another forum if you want to make your own. I'll find it and post it should you be intrested. It was pretty simple and looked really good. Good luck buddy.

As for the small ///m badge in the insert, honestly, it's preference, but I think is tasteful and embodys the true sporty nature of your manual X5. Not saying plaster your car, for hells sake. But a nice touch of flair. Since about about 2006, BMW began branding most of the sport packages as M package and added a few splashes of color to spice things up. What ever you decide, enjoy dude.

[Ricky Bobby]

Ryan -

You really know how to make me crazy while awaiting a purchase! If this damn Titan Silver CD player trim was in stock in the country, and not on backorder (needing to be ordered from Germany so 2-3 weeks in transit), I'd already have the ZHP knob and know whether I like it or not. I know it's 3/4 shorter than stock, I'm gonna mark the stock knob height at 3/4 lower tonight with painters tape, then go in the drivers seat and row the gears with my hand at the side of that tape line, being 3/4 lower. I shift more from the side of the knob than with my hand completely on top of it.

If its still a comfortable shifting action at the ZHP height, ergonomic wise, I'll keep my order in for the ZHP. If it makes my shift too much of a downward reach, I already emailed Tischer to see if I have the option to change the order while I wait for backordered parts LOL.

Ryan, that illuminated knob is all you dude! cheap too, at 70 bucks! I decided against it because of the M badge, I know its no biggie, but its just my preference. You're right though, no matter what the naysayers tell you, its a cool feature, one I loved on my '99 Jetta, got compliments all the time about it. Would like to see you install one and post up about it, with the boots you're talking about should be "the ducks nuts" as the Brits say.

Copied from the "other" shifting thread, my current UUC Evo3 and stock shift knob, shifter is in neutral





Will update after I check the ZHP height with the ergonomics of my shift action.

[Riggodeaux]

RB, I seem to recall that you might be hot to swap out your wood trim. Looking at these pix, I can't see it - yours [is the light poplar?] looks great, better than my darker wood trim. And yes, eyeballing the pix, my UUC round aluminum knob appears quite a bit shorter. GD, as for Stiffler's Mom in the passenger seat - if she were as hot as you suggest, I know I wouldn't be eyeballing the shift knob, no matter how tastefully illuminated ....

[Ricky Bobby]

Thanks for the compliments Riggo, yes I did get a pretty hot deal on Titan Silver trims, so the wood will be removed soon.

You know what to be honest some days I do enjoy the wood, but it will be nice to have true "sport line" silver trim on the inside. Which is what attracted me to ZHP.

I'm gonna keep the order alive for ZHP (with plain insert), if the off chance that I don't like it in conjunction with the Evo3, I'll get the Titan knob at that time and sell ZHP on bimmerforums.

For some reason though I don't think I won't like the ZHP, everyone is telling me to just relax as I'll love it lol!

[Ricky Bobby]

And yes Riggo my wife aka stiflers mom is as hot as I suggest, she is always eyeing my knob!!

[Green Dragon]

Originally Posted by Riggodeaux

GD, as for Stiffler's Mom in the passenger seat - if she were as hot as you suggest, I know I wouldn't be eyeballing the shift knob, no matter how tastefully illuminated ....

Touche. In hindsight, it was most definitely the wrong time to geek out..... and regardless, I'm sure she had no problem with getting the type of attention she deserved/commanded/or wanted from twenty-somethings. The dealership knew perfectly why they hired her..... Milf, Milf, Milf.......

[Ricky Bobby]

oh god I got confused. I thought he meant stiflers mom was my wife bc of her pocketbook in the front seat in the first pic. I didn't put it together it was GD's "client advisor" from the dealership LOL