A great shift knob option

[slowdown_dan]

I got this installed a few days ago and just wanted to put this option out there for my fellow bmw owners.

It's from Function First and being the thing you touch the 2nd most in your car (after the round thing between your legs) it's a real change you can both see and feel. I went from the factory knob to the zhp knob to this. Needless to say my mint zhp knob will be sale as soon as I finish this post.

It came from Function First, which seems to be a Porsche focused company (found them on Rennlist) but the knobs fit our BMW's perfectly, and I learned after getting mine that the owner actually dd's a 6mt e90 M3.

If your car is a garage kept 2nd car like mine, the aluminum knob is ideal. The added weight, even over the zhp knob seems to blast through the inherent notchiness and smoothed the selector transitions out a bit. The grip position is so awesome in that it's a beautifully simple design that happens to feel most effective, (short of a full blown extended race shifter). If you daily your car and it sits in the sun (or extreme cold) you might opt for the delrin knob (which I also have and like a lot).

Anyway, bump for a cool company with a lot of positive reviews over on Rennlist, and at least one (mine, I haven't looked for others) on here.

[Throatpunch]

Thats a beauty! I would do it but i have an e93 and a metal knob sitting in the sun sounds painful 😂

[slowdown_dan]

Originally Posted by Throatpunch

Thats a beauty! I would do it but i have an e93 and a metal knob sitting in the sun sounds painful 😂

I've got a delrin knob in the same design from this company as well. As you would expect it handles heat much better.

[MisterClutch888]

wish they are a tad taller, but awesome knob.

[slowdown_dan]

Originally Posted by MisterClutch888

wish they are a tad taller, but awesome knob.

It's at least as tall as the factory knob. The difference was noticeable going from my ZHP knob to this one.

[derbo]

I dig it!

[slowdown_dan]

[IMG][/IMG]
I just picked up a black delrin knob from Function First, this one with red paint fill. Better for the hot summer days when the car has to sit in the sun.

[skyrider1977]

Originally Posted by butte2butte

[IMG][/IMG]

I just picked up a black delrin knob from Function First, this one with red paint fill. Better for the hot summer days when the car has to sit in the sun.

That is a really good looking knob. What kind of shift boot do you have? I was debating on doing the illuminated M5 knob conversion, but it just seems like a lot of money plus I'd have so switch the shift boot frame anyways.

[slowdown_dan]

Originally Posted by skyrider1977

That is a really good looking knob. What kind of shift boot do you have? I was debating on doing the illuminated M5 knob conversion, but it just seems like a lot of money plus I'd have so switch the shift boot frame anyways.

I got the Alcantara boot from Coby Wheel. You have to re use your existing boot frame, but it took less than ten minutes to peel off the crapped out oem boot and reglue the new boot to the old frame.

[derbo]

I like the black delrin knob for sure! 🤔

[MisterClutch888]

Have any measurements of the knob?

[//steve\\]

I actually really like this. It seems like no one really ventures far from the OE options and while they look fairly clean they are also a bit boring.

I've been tempted by some of the Raceseng stuff too but it's pricey to gamble on. I know their stuff is top notch quality, just not convinced I'll love it.

[slowdown_dan]

Originally Posted by MisterClutch888

Have any measurements of the knob?

The knob itself is a 2" sphere, and it's top to bottom height with including shaft is 3.5". The shaft has an inset adjustment bolt using allen key adjustment to line up the shift pattern the way you want.

[slowdown_dan]

Originally Posted by //steve\\

I actually really like this. It seems like no one really ventures far from the OE options and while they look fairly clean they are also a bit boring.

I've been tempted by some of the Raceseng stuff too but it's pricey to gamble on. I know their stuff is top notch quality, just not convinced I'll love it.

I looked at the Raceseng pieces as well. Certainly nice stuff but not the aesthetic for me. A little too "tuner" for my taste. I was going for a vintage/classic look. Not the first thing someone notices when they get in the car (I dont need my shift knob to be the statement piece of the interior) but also something that once noticed is appreciated. I think understated is the word I'm looking for. Aside from the aesthetic that I like it's got a great feel in the hand. The place where the sphere meets the shaft offers a positive, repeatable grip.

[//steve\\]

Originally Posted by butte2butte

I looked at the Raceseng pieces as well. Certainly nice stuff but not the aesthetic for me. A little too "tuner" for my taste. I was going for a vintage/classic look. Not the first thing someone notices when they get in the car (I dont need my shift knob to be the statement piece of the interior) but also something that once noticed is appreciated. I think understated is the word I'm looking for. Aside from the aesthetic that I like it's got a great feel in the hand. The place where the sphere meets the shaft offers a positive, repeatable grip.

This is exactly how I feel. I want something pretty basic and simple. Only other challenge is finding something just the right height. I don't like super short knobs.

I actually used to have a tall CAE shifter in the car and it felt perfect from a functional standpoint but started to feel the look was a bit much so I have an Autosolutions setup now.

Any more pics that show the entire interior with the Function First?

[slowdown_dan]

Originally Posted by //steve\\

This is exactly how I feel. I want something pretty basic and simple. Only other challenge is finding something just the right height. I don't like super short knobs.

I actually used to have a tall CAE shifter in the car and it felt perfect from a functional standpoint but started to feel the look was a bit much so I have an Autosolutions setup now.

Any more pics that show the entire interior with the Function First?

I'd ask how you like the AS setup but I'm pretty sure I know the answer. Feel free to elaborate if in me assuming you love it, I'm wrong. What knob are you running on that shift kit?

My office is in my garage so I just snapped a quick pic for you. The interior could use a good wipe down as it was my daily for a week while the police were recovering my stolen DD so disregard the fact that it's not 'gram quality atm.

[MisterClutch888]

any pics of your AS setup? did u ask to raise the shifter?

Contemplating on chassis mount shifter and AS at the moment. I always like the shifter being tall and close to the steering wheel.

Originally Posted by //steve\\

This is exactly how I feel. I want something pretty basic and simple. Only other challenge is finding something just the right height. I don't like super short knobs.

I actually used to have a tall CAE shifter in the car and it felt perfect from a functional standpoint but started to feel the look was a bit much so I have an Autosolutions setup now.

Any more pics that show the entire interior with the Function First?

[MisterClutch888]

BUMP

[Bashar368]

do you know which knob i need...i checked on their site it gives a few different options for a 991 or 968

[Max@NRP]

Originally Posted by Bashar368

do you know which knob i need...i checked on their site it gives a few different options for a 991 or 968

I was just about to ask the same question LOL. I need to get rid of my RTD and this seems to be a great option!

[leftfootbr8king]

I know Luka with Function First. I can reach out and see if he still has any bmw mandrels around and report back.

[1FastSicilian]

love that shift knob.. very Porsche-ish.