Gear shift replacement

NY908K · 04-01-2021, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickatnite54

Soledoc...
I will have some answers for you this Saturday.
The weather here is snow flurries today.
What you seen in the picture is a bmw ashtray
that fits inside the cup holder, that I just purchased for looks.

Def interested in any feedback you can give on how it functions vs factory shifter.... Sport mode to left, reverse is different, park, etc
Thanks!

nickatnite54 · 04-02-2021, 03:53 PM

Update:
When moving shifter to the left, it does not put the car in sport mode...just allows manual shifting of gears.
The (^up) and (down) buttons have to be pressed while moving the shifter forward or reverse to put the car in either drive or reverse.

gugin · 04-02-2021, 08:24 PM

So how do you put the car in sport mode? Can you use the shifter at all or the only way to do it is by pressings the SPORT button to the left of the shifter (the one next to COMFORT).

nickatnite54 · 04-03-2021, 07:05 AM

The only way to put into sport mode is by pressing the sport mode button.

gugin · 04-03-2021, 08:43 PM

That's unfortunate. It seems like you ended up with reduced functionality after you replaced the shifter. What was your motivation to do it? Better looks?

NY908K · 04-04-2021, 07:50 AM

It seems like if one wants the OEM functionality you would have to retrofit the shifter assembly from X3M. I would have guessed since the eBay one replaced just the knob part that the left position would preserve Sport trans mode... Thanks for being guinea pig Nickatnite
I'm after just a better looking shifter, the factory functionality would be fine. X3M unit is too expensive for me...

nickatnite54 · 04-04-2021, 10:21 AM

Thank you NY908K!

Happy Easter!

soledoc · 04-11-2021, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickatnite54

Thank you NY908K!

Happy Easter!

I'm still very hesitant to do this. Wonder if it would void the warrant my. Wonder if the dealer would replace it with an X3M shifter?

soledoc · 04-11-2021, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickatnite54

Soledoc...
I will have some answers for you this Saturday.
The weather here is snow flurries today.
What you seen in the picture is a bmw ashtray
that fits inside the cup holder, that I just purchased for looks.

Where did you get the cup holder ashtray?

nickatnite54 · 04-11-2021, 04:09 PM

Ali express

Auricom · 04-11-2021, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soledoc

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickatnite54

Thank you NY908K!

Happy Easter!

I'm still very hesitant to do this. Wonder if it would void the warrant my. Wonder if the dealer would replace it with an X3M shifter?

Short answer is "no" to your later question on dealer replacing it with a X3M shifter.

freshxdough · 04-11-2021, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soledoc

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickatnite54

Thank you NY908K!

Happy Easter!

I'm still very hesitant to do this. Wonder if it would void the warrant my. Wonder if the dealer would replace it with an X3M shifter?

Non OEM parts can affect warranty. Also why would they replace with with an X3 M shifter? I don't understand

Douggie · 04-11-2021, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gugin

That's unfortunate. It seems like you ended up with reduced functionality after you replaced the shifter. What was your motivation to do it? Better looks?

I heard it also adds 15hp at the wheels!

MidnightRiderM · 04-16-2021, 07:21 PM

I wonder if the shifter from the new 3 series would work.

freshxdough · 04-16-2021, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidnightRiderM

I wonder if the shifter from the new 3 series would work.

Honestly not sure if it will swap over but this shifter is a big downgrade in my opinion. It's far smaller and really just doesn't sit well in your hand whenever you're shifting to D or R or when you're manually shifting up and down. Also the P button is down below and it's kind of awkward to press it. I highly recommend you try driving and feeling it for yourself before investing in retrofitting it. That's if you haven't already driven a car with that new smaller shifter.

MidnightRiderM · 04-16-2021, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidnightRiderM

I wonder if the shifter from the new 3 series would work.

Honestly not sure if it will swap over but this shifter is a big downgrade in my opinion. It's far smaller and really just doesn't sit well in your hand whenever you're shifting to D or R or when you're manually shifting up and down. Also the P button is down below and it's kind of awkward to press it. I highly recommend you try driving and feeling it for yourself before investing in retrofitting it. That's if you haven't already driven a car with that new smaller shifter.

I've driven a few cars with the shifter, you're right that the P button is too low and it's not great for manual shifting. I guess I just like the look of it better than the current one.

fsugatorbait2 · 07-22-2021, 04:00 PM

I just installed one bought here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384193440564

Operates just like stock. Hold the up or down button to switch into drive or reverse and moving the stick to the left puts the car into sport mode. It's a nice addition to the interior.

dinan5m3 · 07-22-2021, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsugatorbait2

I just installed one bought here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384193440564

Operates just like stock. Hold the up or down button to switch into drive or reverse and moving the stick to the left puts the car into sport mode. It's a nice addition to the interior.

Any picture to share?

Isn't this the x3m replica?

If so, then during test drive of F97 last year, i didn't notice much issue with it, granted i wasn't focusing on the knob...

fsugatorbait2 · 07-22-2021, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

Any picture to share?

Isn't this the x3m replica?

If so, then during test drive of F97 last year, i didn't notice much issue with it, granted i wasn't focusing on the knob...

Yes, it's the replica.
Here are a few pics...

dinan5m3 · 07-22-2021, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsugatorbait2

Yes, it's the replica.
Here are a few pics...

That's it, i'm doing this mod...

Quick question:

I can't recall and looking closer at the real thing, there's some leather? Or, all plastic?

What's working and what's not working, if you know, after the mod, compared to before the replacement?

In other words, lost anything? Or, happened to retain them all?

The eBay pages says the installation is made simpler from the seller providing some sort of wiring harness/adapter. Was that the case?

dinan5m3 · 07-22-2021, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NY908K

It seems like if one wants the OEM functionality you would have to retrofit the shifter assembly from X3M. I would have guessed since the eBay one replaced just the knob part that the left position would preserve Sport trans mode... Thanks for being guinea pig Nickatnite
I'm after just a better looking shifter, the factory functionality would be fine. X3M unit is too expensive for me...

As said above, if the eBay one just replaces the knob then besides the buttons on the knob, why would the eBay shifter prevent the stick moving to the left to going into the Sport mode?

I can understand certain combination of buttons on the replica shifter and stick motions may be different from the stock knob just because of different button layouts, but just moving the stick to the left alone will not cause change to Sport mode?

dinan5m3 · 07-22-2021, 09:12 PM

Interesting differences...

I wonder whether the labels copied from F97 shifter knob would confuse others (other than the car owner) from using it correctly, eg. valet, (dealer) auto service, etc, without first telling them about how to change gears.

So, according to others the gear lever lock is using either the ^ (up) "OR" \/ (down) buttons.

Still don't understand why the stick moving to the left with the eBay knob would prevent changing drive mode to Sport, if all one is doing is using the stick motion.

04-02-2021, 03:53 PM	#24
nickatnite54 Nikko 22 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40I Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: INDIANA iTrader: (0)	Update: When moving shifter to the left, it does not put the car in sport mode...just allows manual shifting of gears. The (^up) and (down) buttons have to be pressed while moving the shifter forward or reverse to put the car in either drive or reverse.
	Appreciate 1 NY908K48.50 Quote

04-02-2021, 08:24 PM	#25
gugin New member 318 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	So how do you put the car in sport mode? Can you use the shifter at all or the only way to do it is by pressings the SPORT button to the left of the shifter (the one next to COMFORT).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-03-2021, 07:05 AM	#26
nickatnite54 Nikko 22 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40I Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: INDIANA iTrader: (0)	The only way to put into sport mode is by pressing the sport mode button.
	Appreciate 1 NY908K48.50 Quote

04-03-2021, 08:43 PM	#27
gugin New member 318 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40i Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	That's unfortunate. It seems like you ended up with reduced functionality after you replaced the shifter. What was your motivation to do it? Better looks?
	Appreciate 1 BMWZ41909.50 Quote

04-04-2021, 07:50 AM	#28
NY908K Private 49 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	It seems like if one wants the OEM functionality you would have to retrofit the shifter assembly from X3M. I would have guessed since the eBay one replaced just the knob part that the left position would preserve Sport trans mode... Thanks for being guinea pig Nickatnite I'm after just a better looking shifter, the factory functionality would be fine. X3M unit is too expensive for me...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2021, 10:21 AM	#29
nickatnite54 Nikko 22 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40I Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: INDIANA iTrader: (0)	Thank you NY908K! Happy Easter!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-11-2021, 04:09 PM	#32
nickatnite54 Nikko 22 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 M40I Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: INDIANA iTrader: (0)	Ali express Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-16-2021, 07:21 PM	#36
MidnightRiderM Second Lieutenant 723 Rep 298 Posts Drives: 2020 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	I wonder if the shifter from the new 3 series would work. Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-22-2021, 04:00 PM	#39
fsugatorbait2 Private 57 Rep 60 Posts Drives: BMW X3 M40 Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I just installed one bought here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384193440564 Operates just like stock. Hold the up or down button to switch into drive or reverse and moving the stick to the left puts the car into sport mode. It's a nice addition to the interior.
	Appreciate 1 dinan5m34232.00 Quote

07-22-2021, 09:12 PM	#44
dinan5m3 Colonel 4232 Rep 2,060 Posts Drives: e39 m5 e46 m3 g01 x3m40i Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: RTP NC iTrader: (0)	Interesting differences... I wonder whether the labels copied from F97 shifter knob would confuse others (other than the car owner) from using it correctly, eg. valet, (dealer) auto service, etc, without first telling them about how to change gears. So, according to others the gear lever lock is using either the ^ (up) "OR" \/ (down) buttons. Still don't understand why the stick moving to the left with the eBay knob would prevent changing drive mode to Sport, if all one is doing is using the stick motion.
	Appreciate 0 Quote