Let's Install Alcantara Tricolor ///M-stitch Boots

[JonM]

Start with the shift boot. To remove it, pull up by pinching the leather along the 2 longest sides. The boot is snapped into the console and it will come up when you pull.



Once the boot is unsnapped, reach in and disconnect the wire harness that powers the lighted shift knob.



Pull the shift knob straight up. Use 2 hands. Be careful not to hit yourself in the face when you do this, or hit your knuckles on the rear view mirror. Remember: do not twist the knob as you pull. It will unsnap from the selector rod.



If you are re-using your stock shift knob, you will need to cut it off of the stock boot and glue the exposed leather onto the rim of the shift knob. Use a good contact cement for this like 3M Wedgewood that you can buy at Lowes stores. Turn your aftermarket or replacement boot inside out. Feed the wire harness for your lighted knob (if you are using one) through the neck opening of your new boot. Slide your new boot onto the selector rod. Line up your knob and snap it onto the selector rod.



Connect the wire harness. Turn your boot right side out and snap the new boot onto the center console.



Then move on to the e-brake boot. To remove the stock boot, pull up at the back of the boot by pinching the leather with your fingers. No tools.



Turn the boot inside out over the e-brake handle.



Cut the factory tie wrap off at the neck of the boot and slide the boot off of the e-brake assembly. Turn your aftermarket boot inside out and slide it back onto the e-brake assembly. Re-install a new tie wrap and make sure you line it up to the groove in the brake handle. Take care to make sure you secure the entire neck of the new boot, all the way around the handle.



Turn the boot right side out. Snap it back into the console.



Good job. Remember to use genuine Alcantara and not Ultrasuede or a lower grade product. BMW always uses real Alcantara which is actually a very dark gray.

[Straz M3]

Looks great...going to order mine now from LeatherZ. I've done this so many times in my old cars but I've never reused the stock knob. Was it hard to cut the leather and glue it down? I feel like it won't look flush if I do this. Any pics of exactly how you did it? Thanks!

[MDCTFTW]

Nice writeup! Not sure I like the look over stock though.

[Seth_Horwitz]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but can the DCT boot be swapped as well? Nice install.

[Speedtrap]

Thanks for sharing..a great mod

[Big Windy]

would probably fit well if you had an alcantara wheel, but it seems a bit out of place to me.

[bmstyle71]

It's nice but doesn't completely blend in with the rest of the interior around it. The shift knob is black then all of a sudden it gets to a brownish color.

[mvagusta]

I have a stock m3 knob for sale pm me..... Since i changed mine for a issota...I'll put pictures when i'm done with the interior...

[JonM]

Originally Posted by Seth_Horwitz

Sorry if this has been asked before, but can the DCT boot be swapped as well? Nice install.

Yes.

Originally Posted by bmstyle71

It's nice but doesn't completely blend in with the rest of the interior around it. The shift knob is black then all of a sudden it gets to a brownish color.

I hear you. Black leather with M stitching is my personal choice. Or, if it must be alcantara, then the knob should/could be upgraded to alcantara too.

[JonM]

Originally Posted by Straz M3

Was it hard to cut the leather and glue it down? I feel like it won't look flush if I do this. Any pics of exactly how you did it? Thanks!

It is easy. Be careful not to cut the wire harness. Leave about 1/8" leather from the bottom of the shift knob. Paint the inside of the leather and the end of the knob with contact cement. Wait 10 minutes, then press the leather in place. You can clamp it for an hour if you want, or hold the knob with some pressure for a few minutes.

[youyou]

I would definitely get this in black leather with ///M stitching.
Is it available?
Thanks

[dar2008]

This just looks SO wrong! The sort of thing my 12year old would put together in needlework classes,... nice, but not in a 70k sports car

[watrob]

Man, why would'nt just take off these covers, take it down the cap shop that embroiders caps and ask them to sew a Red & Blue stitch down each seam. This way you still have the nice leather and end up with the BMW look stitching.

It would probably cost $10.

My $0.02

[JonM]

Originally Posted by watrob

Man, why would'nt just take off these covers, take it down the cap shop that embroiders caps and ask them to sew a Red & Blue stitch down each seam. This way you still have the nice leather and end up with the BMW look stitching.

It would probably cost $10.

My $0.02

If you think that would look good, you are welcome to do that.

[Eurotrash8]

Nice DIY..........is that a civic or a Neon?

[watrob]

Originally Posted by JonM

If you think that would look good, you are welcome to do that.

At least it would match the steering wheel!

[!Xoible]

i have a shift boot and ebrake boot for sale btw.... PM me guys... i bought them and changed cars and never had time to do it....
oh they're leather, not alcantra btw

[watrob]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

i have a shift boot and ebrake boot for sale btw.... PM me guys... i bought them and changed cars and never had time to do it....
oh they're leather, not alcantra btw

Got some pics?

[Blip Bavarian]

I always love your DIY's, and think that this looks pretty good. But shouldnt the stitching be red purple and blue, instead of red white and blue?

keep up the great DIY's

[TTG]

Sorry, stock looks so much better IMO......

[Saturn]

Nice DIY.

I'm wondering if it is possible to get shift/ebrake boots in CF leather? Is the material flexible enough?

[ersin]

I've seen some Alcantara boots. They look better in person, but I think I would like plain stitching on Alcantara better. What looks very high class is Alcantara roof lining like in the E39 M5.