I Saved a Small Piece of My e30's Originality Today

[KI4UJO]

After reading Panici's thread in the Project section, one thing stood out to me: his e30's shift knob. I had never actually seen that knob anywhere else besides my own car. However, it was long replaced with a ZHP knob. To make a long story short, my e30 cracked its block and my dad needed a shift knob for his z3, so I let him use the ZHP one. Now that I'm getting closer to running mine again,it seemed like a good time to make the original knob usable again.

(Sorry about the photos, they were taken in a rush while I was building the knob)

I started with this. All of the leather has long been disintegrated. The wood has a rough appearance, but is actually rather smooth from years of use.

The real problem with it, however, was that all of the plastic internals disintegrated several years ago. My solution to this was to modify some 1/2" PVC pipe by slotting and heating it until it would slide into the knob.





Next up was recreating the tab at the top of the knob intended to prevent the knob from turning. For this, 3/4" wide flat stock was used.





Finally, we have the finished product. I decided not to reupholster the knob as I like the worn look of the wood. Besides, it is one of the few remaining pieces on my car that is actually still original. Just thought I would share this with the community.

(I'll get better photos of the knob in the car tomorrow)

[colorado_cabrio]

FYI that never had leather; was always wood. The ones with leather are plastic underneath.

That one isn't original it was either aftermarket or taken from an earlier car e21 etc.

[KI4UJO]

FYI that never had leather; was always wood. The ones with leather are plastic underneath.

That one isn't original it was either aftermarket or taken from an earlier car e21 etc.

Interesting. It did have leather on it at one point, I personally pulled the last remnants of it off. However, it also had the snap-on internals that all e30 shift knobs have, rather than the older screw-on internals of the 2002 knobs. It's been in the car since at least 1994 (When my dad bought it). Anyone have an idea of what its out of?

[noE30]

My e30 also had a wooden knob with leather wrapped around it, it was peeling so I removed it and refinished the wood underneath.

[KI4UJO]

A (slightly) better photo:

[stonea]

Sweet job, now I want to find a wooden knob like that and try fixing it.

[pilotskillse30]

I had one on my 325es. I loved it

[KI4UJO]

One other thing to add: The PVC & flat stock internals have given it a weight similar to the ZHP knob. Now I just need to actually make the car run...