New Gearknob and Gator....

PNH80

PNH80

Low life livin' the high life.
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Alright lads and lasses. When i mentioned i was getting the solid alloy gearknob a while back there was a bit of interest on how it would look in the car. So.... i've taken a couple of very rough and ready comparison shots along side the existing S-line stick (sorry for the size and quality of the photos!)

SP_A0492.jpg


SP_A0491.jpg


I think it could look a little OTT if you've got the aluminium surrounding trim but with piano black i think it'll look superb installed. A very nice modification i hope you agree!

Obviously i haven't fitted it yet. I posted a thread on here a while ago asking for fitting advice but there wasn't much forthcoming! You have to remove all the surrounding trim which is a ball ache and i don't fancy snapping any clips! So if anyone has first hand experience at swapping gear sticks let me know!

I'll post better photos when it's fitted.

Cheers.

Paul.
 
I like it. My only concern is will scratch easily.
 
I hope you like a cold knob in the morning :whistle2:
 
Friend of mine has one of those alloy momo knobs installed in his car, those things get hot when the car is parked (i.e. baked) under summer sun.
 
I'll be honest with you.... I'm happy to trade off practicality for looks. I think it looks really good with the piano black. The fact that it's a satin, not brushed finish helps for scratches too.
I don't mind having a cold knob in the morning or in fact, a hot knob in the sun either, it's aluminium so hots up and cools down pretty quick to the touch. Same problem faced with leather seats though isn't it really...There's always a bit of a trade off.
 
N8KOW said:
Looks great lad! A great improvement!
Click to expand...

Cheers i'm fitting it this weekend and giving the motor a proper clean so i'll get some decent pics up next week.
Looking for some S3 air vents, aluminium pedals and aluminium trim for the door panels (keeping piano black around the gearstick) if anyone knows where i can find them!

Paul.
 
Hi Paul,

Matt got his trim from vag parts I believe. I've got the alu pedals, great buy! What do they S3 vents look like and how much are they?

Cheers Nath!

(I finally know your name now Paul) Ha Ha, where you based?
 
audi upgrades
I'm Chesterfield area in Derbyshire. Not too far from you if you're up cheshire way. Just over the A6.

S3 vents don't just have a little aluminium strip around the vent, the whole rim/case of the vent (twisting part) is aluminium. Think it'd be a nice mod in an A3. No idea how much they are, couldn't find any on Vagparts. Same with the pedals, not expensive but look brilliant.
I've looked at trim on Vagparts but it's only sold in the full kits. I only want the trim for front doors and back seats. Keeping the center console piano black with everything else aluminium (as the new RS6 :eyebrows:)
 
Not yet mate, but i will do early next week... Fitting the gearknob, quattro badge on the grill and 10mm rear spacers this weekend as well as a good cleaning inside and out... so i'll be busy lol
 
audi upgrades
Not sure you can get the S3 vents (well not just the metal surround anyhow). I looked into this myself - threads on here somewhere.

Pedals can be found on vagparts - bought and fitted mine a few weeks back.
 
I'mRonBurgundy? said:
Not sure you can get the S3 vents (well not just the metal surround anyhow). I looked into this myself - threads on here somewhere.

Pedals can be found on vagparts - bought and fitted mine a few weeks back.
Click to expand...

Vents come as a whole unit and just push into the dash then twisted to secure (correct me if i'm wrong anyone)
 
audi upgrades
Well if you look at this photo you'll see the rings around the vents are aluminium and not plastic...

audis3interior.thumbnail.jpg
 
I am amazed nobody offers those - looked on plenty of website and cannot find a thing. I'm certainly not gonna by the whole unit (x4) from a dealer.
 
boggysv said:
Friend of mine has one of those alloy momo knobs installed in his car, those things get hot when the car is parked (i.e. baked) under summer sun.
Click to expand...

I had one of thsoe in my R32 and never had a problem, I've got a solid Ally one in my Coupe now and again it's been fitted for a year and never had any problems with it getting to hot or being too cold.

Perhaps your friends has girls hands :)

J.
 
No idea of part numbers or anything... I'd be amazed if they didn't offer them as replaceable parts. I want some anyway so if anyone finds out...let me know!

P.S. My shiny, smooth new knob is fitted. I was expecting alsorts of problems but it went in a dream. Well chuffed.
 
Look quality dont they. I'm so tempted to do the FBMFSW mod like you N8, then it's just the pedals, door trim.... then on to the exterior....
 
PNH80

Obviously i haven't fitted it yet. I posted a thread on here a while ago asking for fitting advice but there wasn't much forthcoming! You have to remove all the surrounding trim which is a ball ache and i don't fancy snapping any clips! So if anyone has first hand experience at swapping gear sticks let me know!
Click to expand...

Sorry I haven't any pics but I managed mine in about an half an hour this week. It is an easy process you need to get hold of a small jubilee clip (re-useable hose clamp) to refasten the knob on the gearstick.

Remove ashtray with a gentle upward pull.
Using gentle pressure from the front where the ashtray was the panel surrounding the gaiter can be sprung from its mounting clips
lift panel and gaiter up over the gearstick as far as you can turning the gaiter inside out
Just under the top of the gaiter you will find an annoying single-use crimped hoseclamp that secures the gearknob to the gearstick it clamps a four legged white nylon bush fitting that forms the lower part of the hollow gearknob assembly. Don't waste any time trying to re-use this is futile ( I tried and failed ) just use a pair of side cutters to crop it off.
With the hoseclamp removed the gearknob/gaiter/gaiter surround panel assembly can be lifted off the gearstick.
Unclip the gaiter panel surround and install on your replacement gearknob/gaiter assembly
Pull gaiter assembly up to expose lower part of the knob and loosely fit jubilee clip on legs of the nylon bush fitting then push gearknob as far down the gearstick as you can and ensure the knob is orientated on the gearstick to your satisfaction. carefully tighten jubilee clip. The four legs clamp on a knurled section of the gearstick shaft.
lower panel surround and re-locate in transmission tunnel
Refit ashtray

HTH Sand:blackrs4:
 
like the gearknob mate very smart,im thinkin the same thing,mind me asking how much it cost you for the gator and knob and anyfin alse that come's with it?
 
Sand said:
PNH80



Sorry I haven't any pics but I managed mine in about an half an hour this week. It is an easy process you need to get hold of a small jubilee clip (re-useable hose clamp) to refasten the knob on the gearstick.

Remove ashtray with a gentle upward pull.
Using gentle pressure from the front where the ashtray was the panel surrounding the gaiter can be sprung from its mounting clips
lift panel and gaiter up over the gearstick as far as you can turning the gaiter inside out
Just under the top of the gaiter you will find an annoying single-use crimped hoseclamp that secures the gearknob to the gearstick it clamps a four legged white nylon bush fitting that forms the lower part of the hollow gearknob assembly. Don't waste any time trying to re-use this is futile ( I tried and failed ) just use a pair of side cutters to crop it off.
With the hoseclamp removed the gearknob/gaiter/gaiter surround panel assembly can be lifted off the gearstick.
Unclip the gaiter panel surround and install on your replacement gearknob/gaiter assembly
Pull gaiter assembly up to expose lower part of the knob and loosely fit jubilee clip on legs of the nylon bush fitting then push gearknob as far down the gearstick as you can and ensure the knob is orientated on the gearstick to your satisfaction. carefully tighten jubilee clip. The four legs clamp on a knurled section of the gearstick shaft.
lower panel surround and re-locate in transmission tunnel
Refit ashtray

HTH Sand:blackrs4:
Click to expand...


I actually fitted the stick yesterday in literally about 10 minutes (no need to remove the ashtray, just flip it up, there's enough leverage to pop up the trim around the gearstick. BUT.... I haven't fully secured the clip yet. Couldn't actually figure out the best way of tightening it... How should it be done properly?
 
AudiLad said:
like the gearknob mate very smart,im thinkin the same thing,mind me asking how much it cost you for the gator and knob and anyfin alse that come's with it?
Click to expand...

I was pretty lucky with mine and managed to pick it up off Ebay from a guy who bought it and decided not to fit it. So still brand new in packaging...
If you buy one off vagparts.com you're looking at £162-ish including VAT. No idea what it's cost from Audi.

Mine was £60 including postage so i'm well happy. Looks brilliant now it's fitted. I'm actually surprised at how much of a difference it makes to the cabin.

Paul.
 
PNH80 said:
I actually fitted the stick yesterday in literally about 10 minutes (no need to remove the ashtray, just flip it up, there's enough leverage to pop up the trim around the gearstick. BUT.... I haven't fully secured the clip yet. Couldn't actually figure out the best way of tightening it... How should it be done properly?
Click to expand...

It's ok, i've looked at an online PDF manual and i need some proper hose clip pliers. I'll get some cheapos from wilko or something.
 
I just used a small jubille clip in the past. Makes removal come sale time a lot easier. Plus it's easy to adjust than those use once clips.

J.
 
marriedblonde said:
I just used a small jubille clip in the past. Makes removal come sale time a lot easier. Plus it's easy to adjust than those use once clips.

J.
Click to expand...

I don't mean to sound thick but... You mean the metal 'ribbon' type clips which twist with a screwdriver to tighten?
 
PNH80 said:
I'm Chesterfield area in Derbyshire. Not too far from you if you're up cheshire way. Just over the A6.

S3 vents don't just have a little aluminium strip around the vent, the whole rim/case of the vent (twisting part) is aluminium. Think it'd be a nice mod in an A3. No idea how much they are, couldn't find any on Vagparts. Same with the pedals, not expensive but look brilliant.
I've looked at trim on Vagparts but it's only sold in the full kits. I only want the trim for front doors and back seats. Keeping the center console piano black with everything else aluminium (as the new RS6 :eyebrows:)
Click to expand...

Not far from you Paul im in Tideswell, I am in chezie quite a bit. Ive got all the partnumbers for the trim as i only fitted doors front and back(3 door) I can get discount at audi, pm me if you want a price and we can sort something out.
 
PNH80

Check out this link you need to find a smallish one so that it fits under the funnel of the Knob sleeve as marriedblonde says they are a better solution if you plan on swapping your gearknobs come sale time

http://www.jubileeclips.co.uk/

Sand
 
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