Automatic Shift Boot/Knob switch?

[AudiA4Turbo22]

Looks great, thanx for the info.

[tjleviste]

Any updates to this mod? Has anyone actually finished it?

[Kittrell]

No I gave up. I looked for 6 months and I couldn't find an A3 DSG knob for cheap enough just to test it. And I wasn't going to spend the cash on a new perforated leather one if it wouldn't work. I just sold the spare trim plate I was going to use for that purpose. So someone else is going to have to be the guinea pig.

[underground6t9]

No I gave up. I looked for 6 months and I couldn't find an A3 DSG knob for cheap enough just to test it. And I wasn't going to spend the cash on a new perforated leather one if it wouldn't work. I just sold the spare trim plate I was going to use for that purpose. So someone else is going to have to be the guinea pig.

I was getting excited reading this thread to find out that nothing got done

[AndrA4]

Well guys I got some hope for you... My cousin let me borrow a C4 shift boot he had and in ~20 minutes I mocked up this:

Best part is, all you have to do is add a shift boot. No need for modifying or dremeling anything. Even better part, it's fully functional:

[Kittrell]

If you had a custom boot made the wasn't all bunched up that could actually look pretty decent.

[AndrA4]

If you had a custom boot made the wasn't all bunched up that could actually look pretty decent.

True, but it just goes to show it is possible with no modification outside of a custom shift boot...

[Kittrell]

Well the trim ring is meant to sit snug on the chrome bezel. I'm sure you had to give it some love to get it to seat again? The thinner your boot the easier to do.

[AndrA4]

Well the trim ring is meant to sit snug on the chrome bezel. I'm sure you had to give it some love to get it to seat again? The thinner your boot the easier to do.

It was actually a lot easier than I expected. I took the chrome bezel off and then wrapped the boot around the white plastic housing. I then used the trim ring to wedge the leather boot into place.

[Chrisseault]

It was actually a lot easier than I expected. I took the chrome bezel off and then wrapped the boot around the white plastic housing. I then used the trim ring to wedge the leather boot into place.

Ok, so I'm late to this party but I'm looking for the end to the story. What parts did you use for this conversion?

Did you simply remove the shifter gate and fit the boot into that space or did you replace the entire mounting piece around the shifter? I very much want to do the same thing on my car so am wondering what I need to source, just a boot or the boot and something else?

[AndrA4]

Ok, so I'm late to this party but I'm looking for the end to the story. What parts did you use for this conversion?

Did you simply remove the shifter gate and fit the boot into that space or did you replace the entire mounting piece around the shifter? I very much want to do the same thing on my car so am wondering what I need to source, just a boot or the boot and something else?

I did this a few months ago, and only mocked it up so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. What I do remember is that it was a shift boot off a manual C4 A6 (found off a parts A6 in a junkyard). In an earlier post I stated

"It was actually a lot easier than I expected. I took the chrome bezel off and then wrapped the boot around the white plastic housing. I then used the trim ring to wedge the leather boot into place."

So all I did was remove the chrome shift piece (not exactly what is looks like, but closest thing I could find)


I then wrapped the shift boot to the white plastic housing(basically held on by tension) and then I used the shift plate (this piece)


and "wedged" the shift boot in place. I then reattached the shift knob back. So in the end, the only part I needed was a shift boot. I did NOT dremel anything or modify anything. All you had to do was remove the chrome shift surround, and install a boot in its place. If you have any further questions, ask away.

[widgget]

not reading though this whole thread right now, but i did try this, like the photo above it was all bunched up, kept hearing it "looks like a ball sack".
if the chrome plate could be removed it would be better since the boot wouldn't be pushed up and filled out but with the way everything is connected in there i don't think that is possible, didn't bother looking to much further into this since there was no way to have the boot recessed like on a manual.

[Chrisseault]

Ok, that's great. If I'm reading you correctly, all I really need to find is a boot that fits. Do you know or remember if there were any size/dimension issues with the boot you used? Do you think an aftermarket 'universal' boot would fit, particularly if you trimmed it so that it wasn't bunched up so much?

[Chrisseault]

since there was no way to have the boot recessed like on a manual.

It won't look like a manual but it would still look better than that shift gate. my volvo wagon has a leather boot and a slim gearlever and it just looks better as well as being more appealing in a tactile way

[AndrA4]

not reading though this whole thread right now, but i did try this, like the photo above it was all bunched up, kept hearing it "looks like a ball sack".
if the chrome plate could be removed it would be better since the boot wouldn't be pushed up and filled out but with the way everything is connected in there i don't think that is possible, didn't bother looking to much further into this since there was no way to have the boot recessed like on a manual.

The chrome plate is removable?

Ok, that's great. If I'm reading you correctly, all I really need to find is a boot that fits. Do you know or remember if there were any size/dimension issues with the boot you used? Do you think an aftermarket 'universal' boot would fit, particularly if you trimmed it so that it wasn't bunched up so much?

It was bunched up because the boot was too "tall" for the automatic shifter. I didn't want to go about trimming the boot I had since it wasn't mine. Ideally, you would need a boot that is fairly short, and wide at the bottom. That's about all I remember. I mean I would buy an aftermarket boot and just test it out. Since you don't have to modify any existing parts, if all else fails you can just go back to stock without any repercussions. All you have to lose is the cost of a boot.

[widgget]

no, i was saying i don't think it is removable since some of the mounting points rely on it for the circuit board, not to mention i think it helps guide the shifter (maybe not tho).

I did have to dremmel the inside of the surround plate out in order to fit the boot between the surround plate and the chrome cover. i used a normal 5spd shift boot.

i removed mine since i didn't like the way it looked at all.

[Chrisseault]

so (and sorry for all the questions) what are the steps for taking out and taking apart the shift surround?

[AndrA4]

Removing Shift knob:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...16#post2466916
(Post number 14)

Removing Shift plate:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...B6-Quattro-TIP

[AndrA4]

no, i was saying i don't think it is removable since some of the mounting points rely on it for the circuit board, not to mention i think it helps guide the shifter (maybe not tho).

I did have to dremmel the inside of the surround plate out in order to fit the boot between the surround plate and the chrome cover. i used a normal 5spd shift boot.

i removed mine since i didn't like the way it looked at all.

Oh, well I didn't need to dremel anything, but I used an Tip surround plate. The chrome surround does keep the circuit board held down more securely, but its mostly for aesthetics I think. As long as you have the circuit board and magnets(all of which is housed in the white plastic assembly) the shifter should operate fine. I'm going off of memory, so I might be wrong.

[EvanB6]

I am looking at doing the same thing with my new B6 1.8T! I am going to throw this boot on: http://www.andysautosport.com/audi/2...r00000621.html just straight over top of the old one and instead of drilling screws or something stupid just double sided taping it. And to go with that will be this knob conversion kit: http://www.supremepowerparts.com/11/..._FWD_2.0T.html so I can put a nice stick shift knob on there! Good luck!

[lencho1500]

^^^
Huh, I want so see some pictures, I might be interested in doing this :) I mean not exactly but similar

[Kittrell]

That is going to look horrible. That is a generic rubber shift surround.

The circuit board interacts with the magnets. So while you have can take chrome cover off, it acts to secure the board in place. (you can removed the board, but you lose manumatic functions and your DIS will not show which gear you are in) So without the chrome over you will need to devise a way to keep the board in place. (something like kapton tape could be sufficient)

[Lusticles]

You can just use a manual shift boot and swap it in place of the PRND-TIP boot you already have. May be more difficult on the B6 than it was on my E46 but it should be possible.

[Chrisseault]

Removing Shift knob:

Removing Shift plate:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...B6-Quattro-TIP

Awesome thanks. this says it is not for the CVT but they look identical. Are there differences to be concerned about?

[Kittrell]

Awesome thanks. this says it is not for the CVT but they look identical. Are there differences to be concerned about?

No difference.

[AndrA4]

Awesome thanks. this says it is not for the CVT but they look identical. Are there differences to be concerned about?

I'm not too sure, I just posted some quick search results. Another search brought up this thread which states that they should be identical (TIP vs. CVT) There's also some instructions on how to get it off too further down the thread.

"should be exactly the same as the tip. just rotate the chrome cuff counter clockwise, depress the shift button and pull up slightly but firmly. the easiest way to do it is start the car and shift into S then turn off the car then try and remove the knob. you can pull it a bit easier that way."

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t-knob-removal

[S14Tan]

I just got my manual trim piece in the mail a few days ago, just waiting on my boot to get here so I can do some trimming to get it to fit.
It looks kinda tacky without the finishing ring on there. Looks too cheap and rigged.

I might actually just wait till I order my spp tip mod adapter thing so I can swap the knob out to complete the whole effect.

I for one never use the manual feature, the car's slow anyways, not really worth it IMHO.

I'll get back to you guys unless someone does it before me.

[Chrisseault]

I just got my manual trim piece in the mail a few days ago.

where'd you get the trim piece?

[S14Tan]

where'd you get the trim piece?

I managed to get mine on vortex for 20 bucks shipped from a part out. (trim and ring)
But you can find one brand new on eBay for around 50 bucks, which was my first plan until I stumbled upon the thread on vortex.

I'll see if I can read the part number or find one off of it if you would like me to.

[S14Tan]

Don't mean to double post, iPad is being dumb.
But does anyone know of a different shifter adapter besides the spp tip mod?
60 bucks is steep for a little aluminum trinket.

[Chrisseault]

I'll see if I can read the part number or find one off of it if you would like me to.

that'd be great, thanks

[S14Tan]

that'd be great, thanks

Here is the part number for the manual trim, I'm sure it will change a little depending on if its wood grain etc.


8E0 864 261 D


Hope that helps,


Tan

[Chrisseault]

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/show...=70578&cat=500

[Chrisseault]

So, i took the very simple route. used a boot and shifter knob found on ebay and the supreme power shifter adapter.

All I did was remove the the chrome shift gate and set the boot over the rest of the shifter mechanism. Then set the black surround over it.



trying to post pictures, I'm not 100% satisfied with the shifter knob i purchased but it was only 12 bucks on ebay. So far in driving the loss of lights on the shifter is not noticeable, between the dashboard indicator and the instinctive knowledge of where D or S are it works fine.

[ENV²]

What is the part # for that piece with the magnet that tells the car it is in TIP mode? I need that. The one in my car is demolished

[customa4]

What is the part # for that piece with the magnet that tells the car it is in TIP mode? I need that. The one in my car is demolished

Same part # for FWD and Quattro.
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...fter/ES441656/