Gearknob removal, help!

[DBaldwin]

Hey guys, my gearknob is looking a bit tatty so have bought a replacement. Thing is i cant get the old one off, im guessing it should just pull off looking at the old one but its not budging! Any help or ideas? Or should i just pull harder with both feet on the dash!

[Deano_BMW]

Twist and pull mate,they are glued on.

[DBaldwin]

Cheers!!! I'll go and try again

[DBaldwin]

Ok, having hurt my back im still unsucessful! It seems BMW didn't want them falling off. Any reccomendations for helping ease it off apart from getting mariusz pudzianowski to give me a hand? Have twisted the gknob as far as i could (just beyond 90 degrees) and pulled like a mad man

[Z4monster]

On my Z4 it was a case of Pull, Pull, Pull and watch your face as it came off. It had a flange underneath which locks it on.

Put the gearstick in 2nd gear and pull like fk! Eventually it will let go and you'll probably smack yourself as it does so.

Great fun!

[soda]

Mine was a pig to change as well.

+1 on watching your face too.

Edited by soda on Thursday 16th June 02:01

[AliMc99]

I asked my dealer how to get it off and they said just pull very hard- no twisting needed and it worked..... I still ended up hitting myself in the face though!

[croyde]

Mine finally came off the other day (E36), only took 7 years.

[DBaldwin]

Finally managed to get it off and yes, I did smack myself in the face! Hehe...

[soda]

DBaldwin said:

Finally managed to get it off and yes, I did smack myself in the face! Hehe...

Happens nearly everybody doing this.

Musn't hit myself in the face. Musn't hit myself in the face... Whack!

[Z4monster]

That was the benefit of the Z4. Roof down, one foot in each footwell and puuulll!

Nearly fell out of the back when it came free but no smack in the face for me!

[4rephill]

DBaldwin said:

Finally managed to get it off and yes, I did smack myself in the face! Hehe...

Been there, done that! (looked like this for a while: , smack bang on the nose!)

I think they're designed to only come away once your face is directly in the firing line! (no idea how BMW managed to design it like that though!).

[AliMc99]

I asked my dealer how to get it off and they said just pull very hard- no twisting needed and it worked..... I still ended up hitting myself in the face though!

[4rephill]

There should be an official badge of honour for all those owners who have smacked themselves in the face whilst removing the gear knob!

[croyde]

4rephill said:

There should be an official badge of honour for all those owners who have smacked themselves in the face whilst removing the gear knob!

The Knob Suckers!

[4rephill]

croyde said:

The Knob Suckers!

Ooh err Missus!


Having been advised By the service department of My BMW dealership as to the best method to remove the gear knob, the next time I went in they asked how I'd got on so I told them I'd smacked Myself in the nose and their response with a big smile was:

"Welcome to the club!"