Have you tried pulling REALLY REALLY hard? (don't hit yourself in the face if it flies off). if its really glued on there you'll just have to cut it off

 

How do you know that an adhesive of some sort was used? It's incredibly unlikely that one would be used simply due to the way the clip works (it's capable of holding the knob in there very securely).

You may just need an incredibly strong pull on it.

Mine was near impossible to remove, the way I was able to finally do it is standing outside of the car and pulling on it through the window. Nearly broke my arm but got it done!

 

yeah, or straddle the center console and pull w/ both hands using your knees for extra leverage on your arms.

again, DON'T HIT YOURSELF IN THE FACE

 

Park under sun. Heat up.
Pull

 

@ShepsBMW - Yes, I've put everything I have on it. I've also had my mechanic (who's worked on BMWs for a decade) give it a shot; he's convinced it's stuck on with an adhesive.

@Tutankhamon - The previous owner was not exactly tactful in using the adhesive and got a bit on the surface of the knob.

 

I managed to make the shift knob fly off on my brand new 2006 E46 coupe before by doing an aggressive shift. It was very embarrassing and surprising. I shift gentler since then.

 

@MercForHire - The sun hasn't helped (even hot nasty Florida sun); though I've been told I should try a heat gun.

 

@E46Mango - I offered it a nice dinner and a drive along the coast, but it's still stuck.

 

maybe get a dremel and cut that bish off (if you really hate the original shift knob)

 

I don't hate it; I hate the fact that it doesn't match the trim. The replacement knob is stock, but black. The one attached is Myrtle.

 

dremel! dremel! dremel!

 

Try twisting it to break the adhesive.

 

In that case you gonna have to break it (dremel out)

 

You mean a ZHP interior trim kit? I paid $100. No, it's not a ZHP kit.

 

The shift knob on the E36s just pulls straight up.

If your knob is affixed by any non-standard means, then you just have to deal with it ... It's supposed to come off by pulling it straight up.

 

Any worthwhile solution to this since then? I have to replace my window switches, meaning I have to remove the knob, but I remember the dealer mentioning that they had glued it on when they replaced it previously.

 

Great opportunity for a short shifter kit.

 

Had the same issue - 2001 330Ci.
Ended up using a hammer and chisel.

The shift knob is keyed to the arm so twisting will not help.

 

have you tried turning it off and on again?

 

Have you tried going to the gym?







j/k. It's on there ridiculously tight. Another one of those "what idiot came up with this" car moments

 

Have you tried going to the gym?

j/k. It's on there ridiculously tight. Another one of those "what idiot came up with this" car moments

And if it was made easier to come off, you'd say "what idiot came up with this" as you threw the knob into the back seat during a normal shift.

 

Take it off a few times and it will start doing that.

 

i just tried taking it off and i straddled that b***h and i didnt give

 

On any of them, you have to pull *really* hard. My stock wood 5 speed knob was on there pretty good. I thought I was going to pull the ball cup bushing apart yanking the knob off. Just lots of steady force will do it. Straddle the seats and pull towards your stomach. Do NOT pull towards your face. People have actually broken their noses trying to get a BMW shift knob off.

 

will try again in the morning

 

so i pulled the seats all the way back planted my self pulled it hard (in -4 Celsius) and it came off. Figured since last night was in colder than -12 would have been a factor lol

 

Nice job. Yeah, you have to get rough with them, that's for sure. Haha


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Hi, i am new here so i dont know how this forum work. So i am sorry if i do something wrong.

Btw, i get a used e46 last year and i have this woodtrim e46 auto knob. That thing is stuck and what weird is i can twist the knob. However i cannot pull it to remove it. i have use extreme force from two people. My mechanic also tried it. So I think maybe i will just destroy it because I already buy another knob.

My question is,
If I want to use dremel it, how should i dremel it? Photo attach below

A

B

I heard that i can use hammer and chisel also, is it a good idea?

Thank you.

 

you're fine reviving a 7 year old post, since u somehow actually acknowledge it. i would guess u read the whole thread about just pulling out really hard without hitting your face. try some more. mine was stubborn but i manage to get it out. FWIW, i think your shift knob doesn't look bad, to me anyways.