Storm Motorwerks weighted gear knobs

[BGarside]

Considering buying one of these to smooth out the notchy shift of my E36 328's ZF 'box (just filled with Redline D4 ATF too).

Has anyone used one of these and do they make a noticeable difference?

[Sf_Manta]

I've got one on my E46 330i with a Z4 shifter conversion. it definitely made the shifting a easier thing once the box is warm. (5 speed with the sticky bit when cold).

Still get a bit of notchy feeling when cold, but it smooths out when warm, nice short shift with little effort. Only downside is that it can get DAMNED cold in winter to touch.

[BGarside]

Sounds like it could be worth a try then cheers.

The Redline D4 fluid has made shifting quite a bit smoother too.

[HugoFastmann]

ZHP-style weighted shifter is also a good option. Cheaper and OEM+.

[BGarside]

Looked at the ZHP but seems to be available in the US but not here? Also quite a bit lighter than the Storm knob and still costs about £65 I think vs. £75 for the Storm...

[g3org3y]

I had one years back on my old E36 328. Very good build quality and it did indeed improve the feel of the shift imo.

bdingly cold in the mornings in the winter though!

[e21Mark]

Lovely knobs.

+1 for how bloody cold they get in winter though!

[selym]

Great for a notchy change, and I agree on the cold issue - wait until one gets really hot though!

[HugoFastmann]

BGarside said:

Looked at the ZHP but seems to be available in the US but not here? Also quite a bit lighter than the Storm knob and still costs about £65 I think vs. £75 for the Storm...

I ordered a ZHP-style one from BMW earlier in the year. I can assure you they're available here. Gear knob was £54, and it's got enough weight to get the job done without a problem!

[helix402]

I think this is what the Americans call the ZHP knob:

[BGarside]

Looks like it. Doesn't seem to list the E36 as a compatible model though unfortunately...

[helix402]

Google tells me it fits!

[Dannbodge]

Pretty sure all BMW gearknobs fit all the BMWs.
Looking at the shaft (lol) they all look the same.

I made my own stainless storm style gearknob. It weighed about 600g and made shifting feel amazing, especially after fitting the Z3m short shifter and a 'box oil change.

[HugoFastmann]

Yup, that's the "ZHP-style" gearknob I bought. It doesn't weigh 600g, but it's definitely nicely weighted and has made a huge difference after I fitted the E60 545i short shift to my E46. To my knowledge, they fit the E36's, as BMW has kept the same shifter shaft in their manuals for years.

[julian64]

are these for people with very light hands?

[BGarside]

So a bit of research suggests the ZHP knob weighs about 150g whereas the Storm knob is about 500g, so although I prefer the OEM look it seems the Storm knob will make the shifting smoother although at £20 more than the ZHP at around £75.

[helix402]

You could use these!

[markoc]

I had a Storm gearknob waaay back in the day, I think when he first started out. Back then it was superb, and improved the shifting action in my E36 318is. I'd have it again today - in fact went to his website to see if he had anything that would work on my Boxster - so with likely continuous improvement of the product over the last 10+ years I can't see any reason why not to have one.

[julian64]

When you are changing gear in a car the lever you are holding has a spring and a small ball bearing under it which is travelling in a groove with some indents in it.
The pivot on the level stops you applying a greater downward pressure on the spring, but if a heavier gear nob did that it would make the ball bearing harder to move than easier.

I would suggest a heavier gear knob is therefore doing nothing to help you, and the reports of it transforming the gear change is simply a placebo effect.

I would be convinced otherwise if someone could explain why?

[e21Mark]

As someone with about as much engineering expertise / knowledge as a daffodil I can assure you the difference is way more than placebo. I had assumed the only difference would be aesthetic and tactility. I was wrong.