Has anyone changed out the manual shift knob on the 550i and replaced it with a lighted M knob? if so how difficult is it? Is there a wire for the lighted knob that is already there?

Thanks

if its the LCI i havent seen anyone do it yet.

I'm interested in doing this too...seems so wrong that the 6-speed shift knob is not illuminated! Can someone confirm that the 6-speed manual in the M5 does indeed have an illuminated shift knob? I've not seen one yet.

Yes the six speed M5 has had an illuminated knob for years and continues to do so. I know my 91 and 2002 did, and it looks really nice and is very functional.
Has anyone replaced their 550 with an M5 knob? I would think that their might be wiring for the lighting there just unused.
The next nice thing would be to have the know in the same wood/bamboo material that is in your car...Wonder if anyone creative has done this.????

Funny you should mention that. I was actually considering doing that very thing, but it seemed like it would throw off the other black leather trimmed items (iDrive knob, radio knob, etc.), so I decided against it for now. It would also take away from the sporty look, I think. I may do it in a year or two after I'm bored with the looks. The wood knob does look nice, though.

Thanks for confirming the lighted knob. I'll look up the part number and try to sort out the power info when I have time in the next couple weeks... The cigarette lighter is nearby and may be the source to tap into.

- Jeff

My 525i 6 speed has long shift knob.

Does 550i have entirely differnt shifter (shorter shifter)?
Or is it just the knob that is shorter?

Is it possible to change my shift knob with illuminated knob like the one in M5?

The part number for the shift knob is 25112283080. BMA quoted it at $199.00 and it's a special order part. I saw in the ETK that there is a plug housing part number 61133333333 (it's about $12.50 also from BMA). Any idea if that is needed? I decided not to buy the shift knob yet. Next time I feel I have $200 laying around I may do it :-)

If anyone does it, please post your results here.

Thanks, Jeff

putting the shift knob is simple...pull out old one, push in new one...


as for getting it illuminated, you need a special wiring harness from our member my530i on this forum


some of us in the forum have done it, here's andy545's one...


http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=53397&hl=

Personally I have never appreciated ///M logos on anything that is NOT a M car. It is as if you are trying to make the car come across as something it simply is not, or you are advertising for another vehicle all together. Just doesn't make sense. :nono: