"Tripper" (tripe46)
12/30/2019 at 11:05 • Filed to: None
4
15|
"Tripper" (tripe46)
12/30/2019 at 11:05 • Filed to: None | 4
| 15 |
Normally when you say Black Forest, I think “ Gummy Bears”. However there is this company “Black Forest Industries” that make really fancy shift knobs and boots for Euro whips. Anyway, my Mother texted me while we we’re away for Christmas and said that she had forgotten a gift for me. I thanked her but didn’t think much of it as Christmas isn’t about us anymore now that we have our little girl.
!!!CAPTION ERROR: MAY BE MULTI-LINE OR CONTAIN LINK!!!
In addition, we were in a winter paradise on Lake Champlain. A house way up on a bluff over looking the water...a little wood fire place...couple of cups of coffee...our dogs...and our little girl. There was one point where all 5 of us were either asleep or reading in front of the fire place. So needless to say I was distracted. It was the nicest Christmas that I can remember since my own childhood.
This picture does not do the size of this chair and thus the size of this dog justice.
The day after we got back, we stopped at my parents to help out with a few things, and my mom handed me my gift which is, you guessed it...the shift knob pictured above. I said “Fuck, mom! This is tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!” I try
hard not to curse around my mother she as she is just about the sweetest most sensitive person you will ever meet, but it just came out,
haha.
She says, “Oh yeah! I got that for you when you first bought the Volkswagen. I wanted one too, but not for that kind of money!”
Funny how we will do more for the ones we love than for ourselves. I’ve wanted a pair of Bose noise canceling headphones since they debuted 15 odd years ago. My wife had expressed interest in them as well, and even though we “weren’t exchanging gifts this year...” I got her a pair thinking, “as much as I like these, I’d never go $300 on a pair of headphones for myself.”
...Guess what she got me...
Needless to say. I’ve ordered a BFI knob and boot for my mother’s GTI. Black w red alcanta ra, and a black alcanta ra boot with red stitching . Her birthday is in March. I’m going to sneak attack install it the night before.
I installed mine yesterday . I started my career in car stereo. I can rip out the plastic panels in any car in no time flat without breaking anything all the while making sounds that would make you cringe if it were your car. I’m not just tooting my own horn here, I’m really good at it.
So naturally I broke every clip on the shifter trim. That trim is only available as part of the manual shifter and boot assembly from VW for $150. So right now it’s held in with sticky tack until the new one arrives. I also destroyed my factory knob separating it from the boot so at least I will have a “back to stock” option”
razorbeamteam
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 11:26 |
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How heavy is that knob? I’ve looked at the Black Forest kn obs before, but yeah they are pricey. Does it make the shifting noticeably better?
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 11:28 |
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Why do you hate my money?
Looks like it is still in development, but I’d buy one
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Tripper
> razorbeamteam
12/30/2019 at 11:30 |
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It’s heavy! Not quite as heavy as the weighted ZCP knob I have on the M3 but nearly. I set it at it’s lowest point which is only slightly lower than stock. I like it better but it doesn’ t feel dramatically different the way an SSK does.
Honestly the best thing I did for shifting feel on this car was to yank out the clutch delay valve.
CalzoneGolem
> razorbeamteam
12/30/2019 at 11:31 |
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I think it’s mainly for looking at.
I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 11:32 |
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I have
never
bought something from BFI and regretted it. Everything they sell is of impeccable
quality and reasonably priced to match the quality. Enjoy!
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Tripper
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/30/2019 at 11:32 |
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They’re really super nice! The way the shifter screws on to the set base is machined bliss. I have one for the 02 also, but I haven’t installed it yet because it’s to go on the next transmission haha.
412GTI
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 11:33 |
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Always loved the look of BFI knobs. That’s so cool your mother got one for you. That red one will look great in her GTI!
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Tripper
> I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
12/30/2019 at 11:33 |
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I must have screwed the shifter onto the base 100 times lol
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I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 11:38 |
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Did you get thread locker for it?
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Tripper
> razorbeamteam
12/30/2019 at 12:31 |
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Ok so I just drove home for lunch and maybe it’s just because you asked but it does seem to require slightly less effort to change gears. I feel myself letting go of the shifter a split second sooner than I did previously. Probably all in my head but it is seemingly a lot heavier than the stock knob.
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Tripper
> I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
12/30/2019 at 12:34 |
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Haha, yes. Blue loctite and I are bro’s.
CB
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 12:41 |
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That vacation spot looks deluxe. And the shifter knob is sweet.
wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 12:42 |
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thoughts on the BFI knob? Been thinking about it for my GTI... I like the stock golf ball knob tho. Since I don’t have the plaid seats (#AutobahnLyfe) I like to keep at least a little retro reminder.
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Tripper
> wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
12/30/2019 at 13:37 |
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Heavier, better feeling, and far prettier than stock. Cool that you can switch out the “coins” if you want too. I was able to get a 4 speed coin for the BFI shifter I bought for the 02.
If you want to stick with the golf ball, BFI has that too in lots of color combos !
MiniGTI - now with XJ6
> Tripper
12/30/2019 at 16:17 |
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I’m going straight to BFI to see if they make one for MINI. I love my MINI but the stock knob is absolutely dreadful.
EDIT: THEY DO!! Ordered.