[nearwater4me]

Probably the majority wouldn't care less about it, but I always thought the lighted MT shift knob was a cool BMW feature and missed it dearly in the M2.

I might've tried the Silver/Alcantara M Performance knob, but it was way overpriced for its design.
I bought this F80 6MT shift knob/boot from a forum member and had it installed.

Things to note :

1. Although the center console design is very similar, the shift boot bracket is slightly different in design between the F87 and the F80/F82

2. You need to transfer over the shift boot bracket/trim to the new knob/boot.
Use glue and/or staple to secure the leather to the new trim piece.
I just used electric tape to hold them in place (Didn't have glue in my garage )

3. Cut off the connector from the F80 knob, splice the red/grey wire to red/grey,
brown wire to brown/white wire in the Drive mode selector harness

4. Test it lights up before reassembling, and you're done!

Total time wouldn't take more than 1/2 hour.

[M Fifty]

How does the leather gaiter look with the dry carbon and alcantara theme of the rest?

Alternatively, is the boot attached to the knob the same way as the M2 item, allowing a swap?

[VisualEcho]

Always wanted to do this.

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by M Fifty

How does the leather gaiter look with the dry carbon and alcantara theme of the rest?

Alternatively, is the boot attached to the knob the same way as the M2 item, allowing a swap?

I didn't mind losing the blue stitching. My car came with the dealer-installed Alcantara armrest that had white(!) stitching anyways, so it wasn't like my stitchings were color-matched in the first place.
I honestly don't think it looks out of place. All black interior with no sunroof... not too much lighting to make it stick out like a sore thumb.

As for switching out the boot itself,
the part where the knob attaches to the boot looked like it was held with glue plus a white plastic ring/shim popped into place.
But that's where the wiring for the LED was protruding out of, so I didn't feel like risking damaging the wires.

I might try to disassemble the original M2 knob to see if it's an easy job...
If it's easy enough, I might give it a try.
But for now, I'm happy with the leather, black-stitch boot.

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Always wanted to do this.

Do it! Just have to find a mint used F80/F82 knob plus 15-20min of your time!

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

Do it! Just have to find a mint used F80/F82 knob...

That might be the hard part.

[M2OG]

I did this a few years ago and also retained the stock M2 boot/stitching. You can get the knob here.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...d/25112284205/

[ashtaron14]

I transferred the knob from an F10 M5 Shifter to the OEM boot so I got to keep the alcantara and orange stitching.

A bit more cutting and splicing and some hot glue later...

[nearwater4me]

Nice!
How involved was getting the boot off the knob?
Does the white plastic ring pop out easily?

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by M2OG

I did this a few years ago and also retained the stock M2 boot/stitching. You can get the knob here.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...d/25112284205/

This is what I want to do.

[ashtaron14]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

Nice!
How involved was getting the boot off the knob?
Does the white plastic ring pop out easily?

You need a drill with a tiny drill bit , and a flat head screw driver.

The main issue is that you need to avoid the wiring while drilling, and to transfer the wiring of the knob to the stock boot. I decided that the best way was to cut off the wiring, and then reconnect them after I figured out how to loosen the know and put it back onto the stock boot using a wire stripper and those wire wrap that shrinks when you heat them.

[nearwater4me]

Thanks for the tip.
I guess it’s not an easy pop-out/swap modification.
I’m pretty happy with the leather boot though.
It attracts less dust than the alcantara

[SpencerC_6MT]

Sorry to revive the thread, but this idea has been living in the back of my head for a while now. How possible might it be to DIY an illuminated shift knob instead of buying one that comes that way? I'm not much a fan of the ZHP knob, and I've come to really like the carbon/alcantara M Performance shifter. I'm tempted to try taking it apart and seeing exactly how it's made so I could sneak some LEDs in there, or take the lighted elements out of a lighted ZHP. Has anyone done this?

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by SpencerC_6MT

Sorry to revive the thread, but this idea has been living in the back of my head for a while now. How possible might it be to DIY an illuminated shift knob instead of buying one that comes that way? I'm not much a fan of the ZHP knob, and I've come to really like the carbon/alcantara M Performance shifter. I'm tempted to try taking it apart and seeing exactly how it's made so I could sneak some LEDs in there, or take the lighted elements out of a lighted ZHP. Has anyone done this?

My guess is the gate pattern badge on the CF/Alcantara knob wouldn't be translucent, but I could be wrong.
Let us know what you find out!

[Pani]

LeatherZ sells such shift knobs, but getting an ///M branded 6-speed shift pattern is a bit more involved and expensive.

https://www.leatherz.com/collections...ort-shift-knob

https://www.leatherz.com/products/bm...nt=32740146881