[Steevo]

Hey everyone, I've been looking into buying an E90 335i. I'm looking for a manual but I am struggling to find the right one, however I found the perfect car today besides the fact that its automatic.
I've gotten past the automatic part through a lot of pro's vs the manual and I am okay with the idea now, but I have been looking at shifter options because the stock automatic one is ugly as crap.
I know everyone has the "don't fake the funk" idea and I totally agree, but has anyone changed to the newer updated auto shifter like this:

with a manual shift boot?

I don't want to look like a wannabe manual driver but I think it would be a much sleeker look with just a shift boot and the shifter has the shift pattern on it. Has anyone done this/know if it can be done without any error codes/lights or anything?
Still may keep waiting for the right manual car, but this is a strong possibility at the moment.

[E90joee]

I was running this,

https://bimmian.com/Accessories-for-...ic-Shift-Knob/

with the alcantara shift boot. The shifter isn't OEM but it is great quality and its plug and play.

[NYBulldog]

Absolutely the pre-LCI stock shifter is an ugly piece of crap. I was going to retrofit the original LCI one but I didn't like that there were too many issues especially with the lock-in. I got luck with a local seller who was selling his aftermarket LCI-style knob from ChromiumTech. I believe Bimmian sells the same one but its back-ordered. I also installed the manual knob Performance Alcantara shifter boot. The electronics get pryed off the original plate and tucked underneath this new boot. Looks so much more modern and clean.

[1QuikWS6]

ChromiumTech Shift Knob available here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E90-E92-...hXiQHE&vxp=mtr

[Wolf 335]

I just put semi-gloss vinyl wrap over the fading grey part of the stock automatic shifter and the unit now looks brand new. All black look gives it really nice esthetical touch.

Try it before you replace. It will cost you $5 for a piece of wrap from a local shop.

I don't have manual boot but I'm sure it would look even better with it.

[NYBulldog]

I'm going to say that at least by changing the boot its a major improvement. The shift knob still sucks but updating one or the other already is an improvement. There is also different pre-LCI knobs but the Performance one is a little pricey IMO. If you at least have the silver trim on it its not terrible. The cheap and easy update is switching to a manual boot. I have a black leather 335i one laying around BTW.

[Steevo]

Originally Posted by NYBulldog

Absolutely the pre-LCI stock shifter is an ugly piece of crap. I was going to retrofit the original LCI one but I didn't like that there were too many issues especially with the lock-in. I got luck with a local seller who was selling his aftermarket LCI-style knob from ChromiumTech. I believe Bimmian sells the same one but its back-ordered. I also installed the manual knob Performance Alcantara shifter boot. The electronics get pryed off the original plate and tucked underneath this new boot. Looks so much more modern and clean.

That is exactly what I was looking for, thank you!! It looks great and I definitely will be doing this and getting rid of the ugly stock shifter.

[Cgmillen]

Any idea if these newer style shifters work with the xdrive models? I heard they don't. Apparently the wiring is different or something.

Bimmian says they won't.

Motive mods says they will.

Confused

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by Cgmillen

Any idea if these newer style shifters work with the xdrive models? I heard they don't. Apparently the wiring is different or something.

Bimmian says they won't.

Motive mods says they will.

Confused

My Chromiumtech one works perfect on my wagon, its an xDrive.

BTW pretty sure Racing Dash and Chromiumtech sell the same product.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Shift-Ge...tSjzW0&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E87-1-Se...pXiQMC&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-LED-...lTvQDb&vxp=mtr

[1QuikWS6]

Yes, the ChromiumTech shifter = Racing Dash (RDash)

[delmarco]

Originally Posted by Cgmillen

Any idea if these newer style shifters work with the xdrive models? I heard they don't. Apparently the wiring is different or something.

Bimmian says they won't.

Motive mods says they will.

Confused

When they say it doesn't work with XI I think they ran into a problem that the Motive Mod group solved earlier on in their developments. For some odd reason the SPORT D/S + - on steptronics seem to ONLY operate via the wiring harness under the shifter. It is not the physical shifting up and down that changes the sports mode gear but rather the wiring- I.E. it is all electronic instead of physical. If something is not connected properly or the wrong wire harness is used then sport mode does not engage at all and the car remains in D.

Now this begs the question what is the difference, if any, between xDrive and XI beyond both cars having an all wheel drive system? Would the wiring schematics in the transmission be somehow different?

On XI cars there maybe one extra wire or one less wire in the shifter assembly harness. The Steptronic Shifter Assembly funny enough is PART NUMBER specific to xDrive (2009-2011), XI (2006 - 2008) and RWD (2006 - 2011) Steptronic E9x Cars. So there HAS to be some inherent differences between these cars.