Came up with a way to remove shifter knob easily

[Jim128i]

So I just changed out my MSport shifter knob for a new one as mine had started to deteriorate. I read everywhere online that people have smacked themselves in the face pulling up on it to remove it. People breaking front teeth, windows/sunroofs getting cracked because how tight they are stuck on..... What I did was took off the trim and lifted up the boot like you're supposed to. I tried pushing down, then quickly up a few times and it wasn't budging, so I took a wood file (10" long?), you could use a large flathead screwdriver I suppose, put the end of it under the flipped up boot where the head meets the shaft and tapped with a hammer 3 times fairly gently actually. So your hammer is near your carpeting by where your leg would be and the file/screwdriver is against the central tunnel on an angle. (oh, i'm in 2nd gear). I then tried pulling up on it and with moderate force....off it popped! No problem. Thought I'd share as I've heard literal horror stories about trying to get the old shifter/boot off! Hope it helps someone.

[fast1eddy]

That’s an awful lot of work for a knob that just pulls off.

[ShocknAwe]

It just pops off... I really hope no one has actually somehow broken their sunroof or teeth pulling a shift knob off

[WrathOTM]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

It just pops off... I really hope no one has actually somehow broken their sunroof or teeth pulling a shift knob off

Heh...well, I didn't break nothing but I smacked myself in the forehead the first time I took mine off.
Sat there for a second or two thinking did I just punch myself?

[BMWCCA1]

Hmm. I've been popping these knobs off since they stopped the screw-on knobs around 1980. I've yet to injure myself or cause any damage by just pulling them off.
I suppose it's easier after you've done it the first time, but . . .

[HappyDuck]

What did you replace it with?

[Jim128i]

I have the 1 piece perforated MSport shifter. I replaced it with the same 1 piece unit. What do you mean an awful lot of work?? All I did was tapped up twice with a hammer more than the usual work to get it off...?? My knob doesn't just pop off without the boot coming off too. The new unit is knob and boot all attached. Anyways, in theory they pop off once the trim is removed from the tunnel and you can yank on them to get the unit off, but the few taps really loosened it up compared to just yanking on it.... I know there are different knobs, but if you are having problems, this seems to really do the trick!