Illuminated ZHP knob for $99!

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by Apex_L8

Decent price but I wouldn't want to take a chance on getting one that doesn't light up properly.

The seller (spitzbube) told me that he can no longer source the knobs where the ///M lights up, so it sounds like none of the new ones will at this point.

I was pretty pissed because I was told the one he sent would have the ///M light up.

[davem3fan]

Just jumped in. Will report my results, and I plan to modify the OE boot.

[ottoblotto]

Originally Posted by urBan_dK

The seller (spitzbube) told me that he can no longer source the knobs where the ///M lights up, so it sounds like none of the new ones will at this point.

Replace it with the one from your OEM. :

Some pix. Day and garage door closed simulated night. Keep in mind, I used the OEM cap. The one it came with would not have had the lit ///M.

[dom_cmh]

Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver

I also purchased mine from leathers a couple of years ago.

It looks OEM. It made such a difference in shifting. The shorter shifter and it's weight makes rowing through the gears a lot more enjoyable. No more rubbery feeling.

I felt it was such an improvement, I decided not to go with a SSK.

FWIW

Totally agree. Also for all you ZHP knob fans I highly recommend the Increased Clutch Stop mod. That combined with the ZHP knob make shifting much better and enjoyable.

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by ottoblotto

Replace it with the one from your OEM. :

Some pix. Day and garage door closed simulated night. Keep in mind, I used the OEM cap. The one it came with would not have had the lit ///M.

OK. Care to tell me how you were able to accomplish that? And if you switched the cap from your stock knob, why didn't you just buy the non-illuminated OEM ZCP knob and replace the cap on one of those for 60 dollars instead of 100?

Also - your shifter is LOW! I'm assuming you have an SSK as well?

~Brad

[ottoblotto]

It was easy. I just used a small screwdriver and pried the cap off the oem. Did the same on the replacement and swapped them. And I wanted the illuminated knob.
Have you seen the DIY for making a Non-illum into an illum? The cap is just a cap. LEDs sit further down.
And no SSK. Just the replacement knob.

[Fab_vr6]

Originally Posted by ottoblotto

It was easy. I just used a small screwdriver and pried the cap off the oem. Did the same on the replacement and swapped them. And I wanted the illuminated knob.
Have you seen the DIY for making a Non-illum into an illum? The cap is just a cap. LEDs sit further down.
And no SSK. Just the replacement knob.

Hi ottoblotto, can u share a bit more info on how you cut the stock boot? Did u take any pics while you were cutting it? Any advice?

Also, did u have to order the wiring ?

Thanks

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by ottoblotto

It was easy. I just used a small screwdriver and pried the cap off the oem. Did the same on the replacement and swapped them. And I wanted the illuminated knob.
Have you seen the DIY for making a Non-illum into an illum? The cap is just a cap. LEDs sit further down.
And no SSK. Just the replacement knob.

Oh ok! Thanks. I figured the cap/LED were a single unit. I guess I will be moving my stock cap over since the M doesn't illuminate on my eBay lighted ZCP knob.

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by Fab_vr6

Hi ottoblotto, can u share a bit more info on how you cut the stock boot? Did u take any pics while you were cutting it? Any advice?

Also, did u have to order the wiring ?

Thanks

I didn't cut my stock boot, I ordered a new one from Leatherz. However, if you go this route you will still need the ring from the stock boot which was glued on pretty tight.

The eBay knob comes with two wires you have to splice to your stock harness, no connector.

[zhangzeyuandss]

Anyone had problem tracking their shift knob.. I ordered from the same seller. He gave me a deutsche post tracking number. I tried using it to track my shipment because it was long overdue. I got nothing show up. Hopefully just the custom delay or something. Would hate to wait all over again

[dom_cmh]

Originally Posted by zhangzeyuandss

Anyone had problem tracking their shift knob.. I ordered from the same seller. He gave me a deutsche post tracking number. I tried using it to track my shipment because it was long overdue. I got nothing show up. Hopefully just the custom delay or something. Would hate to wait all over again

Yea I couldn't get the tracking number to work either. It took a good 2+ weeks to arrive so just be patient. He seems like a reputable seller from the feedback and others experience so I wouldn't worry.

[davem3fan]

Ordered mine 5/3/12 and the knob arrived perfectly in a padded mailer on 5/23/12.
... I guess I'll order the harness connector to put on the bare wires.

[RedlineTuning]

I purchased the ZHP knob a while back from Tischer - used it for 5 seconds and knew it wouldn't ever be coming off. Then I discovered the whole thread on DIY ZHP (swapping the LED board from your hollow stock knob and putting it in the ZHP). I was then at the end of that thread where someone mentioned the German ebay seller who mod's the ZHP's...

Trust me, for $30 more than Tischer, you get the exact same ZHP knob, but lit.

Pull off your stock knob and boot, cut the leather off up near the knob. Reinstalling takes minutes, just wire up the new knob (being careful to leave a bit of slack in the wires inside the knob so that when you pull it off it doesn't rip the wires off the LED board. To me, not having the lit M logo is fine for nearly $100. It takes 15 minutes and looks just like the photos above.

I wouldn't go back.

[Snig]

Just installed this, great deal. Wasn't too hard to install. Would highly recommend ordering the spare wires and swapping the pin connector.

[RuthlessE90]

I can vouch for the ebay version & seller very official learned of it from a friend with an e46 who had it. I got mine the other day before i saw this thread and its top notch even came from germany lol. Love it later for paying $175 from leatherz


untitled shootMay 25, 2012-IMG_0404 by cthorpe2010, on Flickr
Oem shifter on the left ebay shifter on the right

untitled shootMay 25, 2012-IMG_0403 by cthorpe2010, on Flickr

untitled shootMay 25, 2012-IMG_0401 by cthorpe2010, on Flickr

untitled shootMay 25, 2012-IMG_0406 by cthorpe2010, on Flickr

[youngnastyman]

wow i'm stupid. just picked up a regular zhp knob from the dealer and found this thread while looking for a diy...

should i return? nah f' it. lol

[dom_cmh]

Originally Posted by youngnastyman

wow i'm stupid. just picked up a regular zhp knob from the dealer and found this thread while looking for a diy...

should i return? nah fuck it. lol

Don't return it or f-it. Mod it! There is a DYI on here to mod it yourself and make it illuminated.

[youngnastyman]

lol i dont think i have the skills for that

[youngnastyman]

so i used a zip tie to attach the modified boot from the stock shifter onto the metal rod - but i'm not like how the connector piece of the zip tie makes the leather boot stick out. any ideas?

[dom_cmh]

Originally Posted by youngnastyman

so i used a zip tie to attach the modified boot from the stock shifter onto the metal rod - but i'm not like how the connector piece of the zip tie makes the leather boot stick out. any ideas?

I know exactly what you mean. I found a smaller zip tie that had less plastic where it zips. This way it doesn't bulge as much. I then rotated it around so that it was at the front of the shifter where I was less likely to see it.

[GregW / Oregon]

Just installed mine - 15 minutes, no problem. Replaced the shift pattern insert with the stock one so the M lights. I normally don't buy no name parts, but this is a nice piece.

[dom_cmh]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Just installed mine - 15 minutes, no problem. Replaced the shift pattern insert with the stock one so the M lights. I normally don't buy no name parts, but this is a nice piece.

Awesome! Don't think of it as a no-name part. It's a Genuine OEM knob that's just been modified. You're installing what BMW should have been doing from the start on all 3 series manuals.