Retrofitting Paddles

[skmattwell]

So I'm looking to retrofit paddles and multi function buttons to my steering wheel. Paddles being an option only for auto transmissions, it seems the only place I can get a wheel with both paddles and buttons is to import from the US.

I have found a reasonably priced one (even taking into account import taxes) what has it all, but the leather is in really bad shape.

My question is, would I be able to simply transfer the paddles from that steering wheel to my current one (which has much better leather). I know there was a retrofit kit with the buttons, so I'm pretty sure they are plug and play, but im not sure on the paddles

[patriot66]

SMG equipped cars have flappy paddles also, the same ones as on later autos. The paddles are just individual switches that bolt to the steering wheel. I bought a spare steering wheel from a non-SMG car to send away to Royals for re-covering and the only difference is there are pre-drilled holes in the metal for the paddles on the SMG wheel. IIRC there are circular marks in the metal of the standard wheel showing the position of the required holes. The trim on the rear of the boss also has cut-outs to accommodate the switches

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BMW-Original-Z4-E85-Sport-Lenkrad-SMG-Getriebe-Chrom-Line-steering-wheel-volant-255266174523-5.jpg (133.78 KiB) Viewed 551 times

03-06-BMW-Z4-E85-Leather-Multifunction-Paddle-Shift-Steering-Wheel-Black-0823-324129801270-2.jpg (163.55 KiB) Viewed 551 times

[patriot66]

Just been out in the garage and got some photos of the standard E85 steering wheel that I bought some time ago now. The marks for the bolt holes that secure the gear change paddles are circled in red.

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You can see the holes on this diagram on www.realoem.com

diag_3n3c.png (185.04 KiB) Viewed 523 times

The reverse side of the hole location

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The part number for a pair of gear change 'rocker switches' is 61316926212. Found these photos on t'internet

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286373-0b1b054541d38edb9a412d580478f697.jpg (13.07 KiB) Viewed 523 times

Hope this is useful

[skmattwell]

Just been out in the garage and got some photos of the standard E85 steering wheel that I bought some time ago now. The marks for the bolt holes that secure the gear change paddles are circled in red.
20230219_115729.jpg20230219_115810.jpg
You can see the holes on this diagram on www.realoem.comdiag_3n3c.png
The reverse side of the hole location20230219_120124.jpg
The part number for a pair of gear change 'rocker switches' is 61316926212. Found these photos on t'internet286372-40bbcdce9c08501aa057c877188e55de.jpg286373-0b1b054541d38edb9a412d580478f697.jpg
Hope this is useful

Wow thanks mate, all the info I needed to know! Thanks so much.

Do you think drilling out those holes would be fairly straightforward or would getting the wheel that has paddles from stock reupholstered be the way to go?

[patriot66]

No problem Not sure how technically minded you are ? Maybe you fancy a bit of a project or if not then maybe take the opportunity to send the wheel with paddles away to Royals for a nice new cover and save a bit of bother drilling holes etc. Your wallet, your choice
Not quite sure it's a case of plug'n'play though. I remembered I watched a video on YouTube a while back and it's basically a guy doing what I think you have in mind. He does a bit of wiring/tapping into the auto selector loom and soldering etc, but it does seem fairly straightforward. I did notice though that on his test drive he seems to push the paddles away to change up gears which is back to front Worth a watch, it may help
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yQlL5htuY7k ... IECMiOmarE

[skmattwell]

No problem Not sure how technically minded you are ? Maybe you fancy a bit of a project or if not then maybe take the opportunity to send the wheel with paddles away to Royals for a nice new cover and save a bit of bother drilling holes etc. Your wallet, your choice
Not quite sure it's a case of plug'n'play though. I remembered I watched a video on YouTube a while back and it's basically a guy doing what I think you have in mind. He does a bit of wiring/tapping into the auto selector loom and soldering etc, but it does seem fairly straightforward. I did notice though that on his test drive he seems to push the paddles away to change up gears which is back to front Worth a watch, it may help
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yQlL5htuY7k ... IECMiOmarE

That's the video that inspired me to go ahead with this! Am aware of all the other bits that need doing and as you said, looks fairly straightforward. He needs to swap the polarity of the wires going into the slips ring, unless that's how he likes it!

Think I'm going to try and drill holes into my existing wheel, especially as the hole seems to already be tapped from the back. If that fails I'll admit defeat and get it reupholstered.

Thanks again!

[patriot66]

No problem Not sure how technically minded you are ? Maybe you fancy a bit of a project or if not then maybe take the opportunity to send the wheel with paddles away to Royals for a nice new cover and save a bit of bother drilling holes etc. Your wallet, your choice
Not quite sure it's a case of plug'n'play though. I remembered I watched a video on YouTube a while back and it's basically a guy doing what I think you have in mind. He does a bit of wiring/tapping into the auto selector loom and soldering etc, but it does seem fairly straightforward. I did notice though that on his test drive he seems to push the paddles away to change up gears which is back to front Worth a watch, it may help
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yQlL5htuY7k ... IECMiOmarE

That's the video that inspired me to go ahead with this! Am aware of all the other bits that need doing and as you said, looks fairly straightforward. He needs to swap the polarity of the wires going into the slips ring, unless that's how he likes it!

Think I'm going to try and drill holes into my existing wheel, especially as the hole seems to already be tapped from the back. If that fails I'll admit defeat and get it reupholstered.

Thanks again!

Definitely has his polarity arse about face...pull up for up, push down for down
Nice little project. Hope it works out well. Keep us posted. Si

[Zedebee]

SMG equipped cars have flappy paddles also, the same ones as on later autos.

Word of warning, this is not correct (sorry patriot66, you probably did not know this).

Auto paddles - 61319173460
SMG paddles - 61316926212

The SMG paddles have different electronics. The auto paddles consist of a simple grounding switch (ground one wire for up, the other for down), whereas the SMG provides a more complex signal to the transmission control. The SMG paddles do not work with a regular auto.

[patriot66]

SMG equipped cars have flappy paddles also, the same ones as on later autos.

Word of warning, this is not correct (sorry patriot66, you probably did not know this).

Auto paddles - 61319173460
SMG paddles - 61316926212

The SMG paddles have different electronics. The auto paddles consist of a simple grounding switch (ground one wire for up, the other for down), whereas the SMG provides a more complex signal to the transmission control. The SMG paddles do not work with a regular auto.

Fair does Zedebee. Every day's a school day. Electronics jiggerypokery wise I wouldn't have a clue but my assumption was based on the fact that physically the paddles themselves are identical to look at

SMG Paddles

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Auto Paddles

0UAAAgL4w-A-960.jpg (87.4 KiB) Viewed 371 times

[skmattwell]

I got lucky, bought a steering wheel with paddles not knowing this and it was steptronic. The easiest way to tell between the two is that the steptronic paddles have four wires coming from them (two for + and - signals and two for ground) whereas the SMG ones only have the two + and - signals that send specific currents.

Any luck with programming them Zebedee?

[Zedebee]

I got lucky, bought a steering wheel with paddles not knowing this and it was steptronic. The easiest way to tell between the two is that the steptronic paddles have four wires coming from them (two for + and - signals and two for ground) whereas the SMG ones only have the two + and - signals that send specific currents.

Any luck with programming them Zebedee?

Nope, I don’t think they are programmable. The circuitry is pretty simple, just two resistors on one side and one on the other. I’d be really interested to see what the chips in yours look like.

[skmattwell]

I got lucky, bought a steering wheel with paddles not knowing this and it was steptronic. The easiest way to tell between the two is that the steptronic paddles have four wires coming from them (two for + and - signals and two for ground) whereas the SMG ones only have the two + and - signals that send specific currents.

Any luck with programming them Zebedee?

Nope, I don’t think they are programmable. The circuitry is pretty simple, just two resistors on one side and one on the other. I’d be really interested to see what the chips in yours look like.

Not sure how to open them to be honest, must be clips of some kind but s*** scared of breaking them trying to open. I think the best case scenario is to try and sell your smg paddles for steptronic ones, as annoying as it is. What I did was bought a steptronic steering wheel, removed the paddles and resold it as a standard steering wheel