Bespoke Paddle Shifters

Marcoose said:
Boomshakalaka !

I'll take a pair in black, no need to even put + and -

Is there another way to follow your progress ?
Unfortunately I can't respond to your PM. I don't meet the minimum post count yet.
 
Whilst exchanging WhatsApp messages with Asmo, he OKed me to copy and paste the following text and photos.

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So, people asking about availability:

This is a custom Project which I've been working since almost 2 years with on and offs. The actual product is 99% ready as a prototype, but has not been mass produced. I would need to figure out how many people would be interested in such a product as manufacturing cost is high on these so the first batch would require me to showcase the paddles first.

About price, without an approximate number of potential buyers I am not able to define the price precisely. But it should be in the range of 250-300€ depending on the option chosen.

What are the options? Standard M4 style, aluminium (multiple colors) large size, carbon fiber large size.

I am expecting to proceed with the mass production within 30-40 days.

The adapter kit is consisted of:

- Steering wheel adapter to make the F series paddles physically fit the E89 steering wheel.
- Custom plug and play wiring harness.
- Custom PCB inside the paddles.
- Paddle shifters according to the option.
- New torx screws.

We are not reusing any part of your old paddle shifters, so you can put them aside or sell them with no issues.

Please comment any question you may have.
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I applaud and am genuinely jealous of this level of ingenuity. I’m really rooting for him.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
Silverstar said:
Marcoose said:
I mostly miss longer paddles on left corner exits, when it's time to upshift and the right hand is holding the wheel farther down, and the right fingers cannot reach the right OEM paddle. On right bends, even if I hold the wheel farther up, the fingers often reach the paddle.

I am going to ask a stupid question but could you not just use the gear stick as you can with the ZF 6 speed to change gears as well as the paddles? In which case in those difficult turns you can just change gears using the stick rather than the paddles?
yes you can
 
Bump and update.

Asmo is finishing another project, so this one may jump farther up the priority heap. Woo-Hoo !

As I understand it, you’ll get a pair of paddle adapters, and if desired, a pair of paddles in either carbon fibre (above) or aluminium (below). Alternatively, it seems you can buy any aftermarket paddles for the f3x or f8x. (I’m going with Asmo’s aluminium matte black.)

That’s all I know for now. I’m stoked about this mod.
 

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They look great but personally the issue I have with the paddles is they don't protrude far enough outwards, I like paddles that are pretty much in line with the outer edge of the wheel. I've just bought a set of F355 paddles 2nd hand off the bay which I'm modifying to fit.
 
john-e89 said:
They look great but personally the issue I have with the paddles is they don't protrude far enough outwards, I like paddles that are pretty much in line with the outer edge of the wheel. I've just bought a set of F355 paddles 2nd hand off the bay which I'm modifying to fit.

Hey John, there is a flaw with your plan. Ferrari doesn't attach their paddles on the steering wheel as the BMW, they are fixed in position which makes such option viable as you don't have to guess where the paddle is at any time. It's possible (and quite easy for me) to make a different adapter to place the paddles way outwards, but it's not the better option.
 
Asmo said:
john-e89 said:
They look great but personally the issue I have with the paddles is they don't protrude far enough outwards, I like paddles that are pretty much in line with the outer edge of the wheel. I've just bought a set of F355 paddles 2nd hand off the bay which I'm modifying to fit.

Hey John, there is a flaw with your plan. Ferrari doesn't attach their paddles on the steering wheel as the BMW, they are fixed in position which makes such option viable as you don't have to guess where the paddle is at any time. It's possible (and quite easy for me) to make a different adapter to place the paddles way outwards, but it's not the better option.

Yep I get that Asmo, what I'm doing is attaching the fezz paddles to a pair of OEM paddles cut down and shaped so you won't be able to see them, it's a bit of a one off.... :lol:

However, if you can extend the paddles you use outward I'd 100% buy a set, no issue with your work whatsoever. :thumbsup:
 
This all seems a lot of fuss about not much.

My 35is has an up/down paddle on each side of the wheel. In use, this means you hold the wheel naturally and change up with your fingers around the wheel and down with your thumb through it.

You can also use either or both hands.

Actually, I use only my right hand, because my left is busy doing other things - in a RHD car, almost all the other controls are used by the left hand.

Having to use the left hand to change down would just be a nuisance.
 
Busterboo said:
In use, this means you hold the wheel naturally and change up with your fingers around the wheel and down with your thumb through it.
In certain long tight bends that you need to upshift whilst turning, you may be holding the wheel at 1 and 7 or 11 and 4, and you may not reach the stock paddles. Hence the extended ones.
 
Marcoose said:
Busterboo said:
In use, this means you hold the wheel naturally and change up with your fingers around the wheel and down with your thumb through it.
In certain long tight bends that you need to upshift whilst turning, you may be holding the wheel at 1 and 7 or 11 and 4, and you may not reach the stock paddles. Hence the extended ones.
True, but only on a car with high-geared steering (and a reduced-size steering wheel), neither of which the Z4 has. :)
 
Not the best positioning, counter intuitive too. Much better to have behind the wheel right for change up, left for down.
 
2.5si to me it makes more logic to have the change down behind the wheel, to use the front paddle you have to reposition your hand. Having said that it’s a nice gearbox and suits the car, for most drivers better than the manual
 
Sometime around 2011 they changed the z4 paddles to be single function - so down on the left / up on the right.

The dual function paddles were a failed experiment & soon abandoned.

Luckily, the newer style paddles are a direct swap out for the old style - but cost a few quid from BMW.
 
matsmith749 said:
Sometime around 2011 they changed the z4 paddles to be single function - so down on the left / up on the right.

The dual function paddles were a failed experiment ...

Who told you that?
 
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