A4 Shift Knob Conversion Review
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 490
Likes: 10
From: Macon Georgia
St. Jude Donor '08
A4 Shift **** Conversion Review
After using for a couple weeks I wanted to give my review of the conversion kit and the shift **** on my 2005 A4. First a picture:
Both items were purchased from Southern Car Parts, $50 for the conversion kit and $135 for the **** plus shipping. Both items arrived quickly but separately. Southern is a terrific CF vendor.
Install took all of 10 minutes. I have had the old ugly **** off a couple times.
The good:
Works well, as advertised. You have to push down on the entire **** to shift. The mechanism is smooth and easy to use. I had an oil change done this past week and two people who had never seen it before used it with no issues and were able to figure it out on their own. The service writer and the tech both thought it was a very nice change from OE.
The ****:
The **** is a two part custom piece. The top half is a polymer that is smooth to the touch and, here in Georgia, is heat resistant. The bottom half is stainless steel and did get very hot. I love not having a button on top. I can rest my hand or wrist on the ****. The weight of my arm does not engage the switch.
Issues:
It is taller than stock, about 1/2 inch, but it does not interfere with the operation of any items on the A/C or radio. If fact I can rest my wrist on it to operate the radio.
Concerns:
I have had one problem. The spring that operates the mechanism and comes with the kit does not push the **** all the way back up to disengage the switch. This creates a problem when going into park. I get a warning message on the DIC and the car stays on in accessory mode when I hit the off button. I have to pull up slightly on the ****. This is not the fault of the spring or the mechanism. It is designed for the OE thin leather shift boot to go UNDER a flange on the bottom of the mechanism. The DSV thick leather boot I have would not fit under the flange so I removed the flange and pulled the leather up over the bottom of the stainless steel portion of the ****. I think this gives it a much cleaner look but reduces the ease of travel and creates the problem. I think as I continue to drive it I will get some more flex in the boot. Either way I would not change anything after finally getting rid of the ugly OE ****.
Sorry for the long review but I want to give my fellow A4 brothers an incentive to make the switch.
Here is the beauty part, once you install the mechanism there is a HUGE selection of shift ***** on the market that will just screw right on. From the classic Eight Ball to some very colorful glass shapes and colors to match any mood or interior.
The Tire Guy
Both items were purchased from Southern Car Parts, $50 for the conversion kit and $135 for the **** plus shipping. Both items arrived quickly but separately. Southern is a terrific CF vendor.
Install took all of 10 minutes. I have had the old ugly **** off a couple times.
The good:
Works well, as advertised. You have to push down on the entire **** to shift. The mechanism is smooth and easy to use. I had an oil change done this past week and two people who had never seen it before used it with no issues and were able to figure it out on their own. The service writer and the tech both thought it was a very nice change from OE.
The ****:
The **** is a two part custom piece. The top half is a polymer that is smooth to the touch and, here in Georgia, is heat resistant. The bottom half is stainless steel and did get very hot. I love not having a button on top. I can rest my hand or wrist on the ****. The weight of my arm does not engage the switch.
Issues:
It is taller than stock, about 1/2 inch, but it does not interfere with the operation of any items on the A/C or radio. If fact I can rest my wrist on it to operate the radio.
Concerns:
I have had one problem. The spring that operates the mechanism and comes with the kit does not push the **** all the way back up to disengage the switch. This creates a problem when going into park. I get a warning message on the DIC and the car stays on in accessory mode when I hit the off button. I have to pull up slightly on the ****. This is not the fault of the spring or the mechanism. It is designed for the OE thin leather shift boot to go UNDER a flange on the bottom of the mechanism. The DSV thick leather boot I have would not fit under the flange so I removed the flange and pulled the leather up over the bottom of the stainless steel portion of the ****. I think this gives it a much cleaner look but reduces the ease of travel and creates the problem. I think as I continue to drive it I will get some more flex in the boot. Either way I would not change anything after finally getting rid of the ugly OE ****.
Sorry for the long review but I want to give my fellow A4 brothers an incentive to make the switch.
Here is the beauty part, once you install the mechanism there is a HUGE selection of shift ***** on the market that will just screw right on. From the classic Eight Ball to some very colorful glass shapes and colors to match any mood or interior.
The Tire Guy
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
Looks good and nice review. I was going to go that route but wasnt sure I'd like how it sticks up higher than the factory one. Instead I cut the leather off the factory **** and sent it out to have it hydrocarbon dipped to match the console. Its still the outdated **** but looks much better than it did covered in leather.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,579
Likes: 87
From: Chester County PA
Looks good and nice review. I was going to go that route but wasnt sure I'd like how it sticks up higher than the factory one. Instead I cut the leather off the factory **** and sent it out to have it hydrocarbon dipped to match the console. Its still the outdated **** but looks much better than it did covered in leather.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 490
Likes: 10
From: Macon Georgia
St. Jude Donor '08
Looks good and nice review. I was going to go that route but wasnt sure I'd like how it sticks up higher than the factory one. Instead I cut the leather off the factory **** and sent it out to have it hydrocarbon dipped to match the console. Its still the outdated **** but looks much better than it did covered in leather.
Thanks.
