MFSW with Paddle Shift - A brief Project Write up
- Thread starter cj10jeeper
- Start date
Z4play said:
That's because you turned the ignition on without the airbag connected correctly. If you left the battery connected then either you did it while the airbag was disconnected, or if the battery was disconnected then it's not correctly connected now.
As Andy notes needs specialist resetting
I had the battery disconnected while I completed the project. Went back and double checked the connections, all good. I had the centre console out for a different project and the airbag light on the centre console wasn't connected when I reconnected the battery. Maybe that's what created the trouble light.
Sounds like you just tripped it. No worry - in all my mods I did it twice :thumbsdown: Each time requred a delaer trip. Thankfully the second time they did it FOC.
Enjoy the MFSW and paddle shifts
Enjoy the MFSW and paddle shifts
Ok so long as the airbag is reconnected before you reconnect the battery else you throw a warning light
Ok, its mounted and none of the buttons are working. I have to order the 2 cabel kit for the MF buttons and A reset cabel for the gear shift right?
When I pulled off the wheel, the left connector for the paddel gear shift was without pins. Is it still enough with this reset pc cabel? Theresno pins going in to the stearingwheel...
When I pulled off the wheel, the left connector for the paddel gear shift was without pins. Is it still enough with this reset pc cabel? Theresno pins going in to the stearingwheel...
Hosse said:
Well if it has no pins in the mount how were you expecting it to work???
It sounds like you have an older Zed and need to buy the later mount with extra pins for the paddle shift connector
Hosse said:
I'm pretty sure all the later ones all came with the extra pins so they don't have to stock more parts. You'll be fine.
Hosse said:Im doing this tonight. I got all the parts, except the reset cabel. Its impossible to buy in any store here in norway. This is the only ones i found. Think they will fit with a little modification?
I used a reset cable simply as it was exactly the right size, pin spacing and readily available in the UK. There no reason why you cannot use modified connectors you have or simply buy 2 individual connectors with pig tail wires already attached and extend them.
Info in this thread http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=16422
Hi. New to the forum and not sure if I should post a question on this old discussion or should start a new one.
Fantastic write up by cj10jeeper on paddle shift retrofit, which I recently found on the forum after picking up what appears to be a genuine Z4 E85 steering wheel with paddles on eBay. This followed a decision to see if it was possible to retrofit paddle shift on my recently purchased 2003 Z4 E85 3.0i (I think similar to cj10jeepers own). I was delighted to find he had already proved that it is possible and followed the installation to the letter, after purchasing a new slip ring with the 2 pins included (now over £100 from BMW). I Went on the test run (in step mode), no shifting with the paddles! I had established before connecting to the back of the slip ring that grounding each wire did achieve an up and downshift, so the fault must be with the paddles. After removal of the wheel and paddles, I checked the wiring on the paddles and the small internal pcb and all was fine. Using a spare 12v car battery on the bench and establishing a circuit from the negative through the steel mounting boss of each paddle, with a test meter in the loop, I obtained some strange readings. All I expected to see was a continuity reading to one pin, as I pushed the paddle and continuity to the second pin, as I pulled the paddle. I stand to be corrected but, if a simple grounding is all that is needed, the paddles should surely be a simple make and break switch (x2 for push and pull)
I am a bit lost with all of the differences but further reading causes me to think that I may have a wheel with SMG paddles (mine don't have a + and -). I have looked at the mrpaddleshift.com site where they state that paddles require mechanical alteration to work with Z4 steptronic.
I am willing to purchase a different steering wheel with paddles ( I have emailed mr paddleshift to ask if I can purchase their system by sending my steering wheel for alteration, but no reply, perhaps because I am in the UK.) so would welcome any suggestions to make my existing paddles compatible or recommendations as to exactly what steering wheel I need to look for as a replacement(preferably with Multi Function buttons as well as paddles)
Hoping that members are not so bored with this old topic that no one posts any guidance, thanks in advance for any replies.
Fantastic write up by cj10jeeper on paddle shift retrofit, which I recently found on the forum after picking up what appears to be a genuine Z4 E85 steering wheel with paddles on eBay. This followed a decision to see if it was possible to retrofit paddle shift on my recently purchased 2003 Z4 E85 3.0i (I think similar to cj10jeepers own). I was delighted to find he had already proved that it is possible and followed the installation to the letter, after purchasing a new slip ring with the 2 pins included (now over £100 from BMW). I Went on the test run (in step mode), no shifting with the paddles! I had established before connecting to the back of the slip ring that grounding each wire did achieve an up and downshift, so the fault must be with the paddles. After removal of the wheel and paddles, I checked the wiring on the paddles and the small internal pcb and all was fine. Using a spare 12v car battery on the bench and establishing a circuit from the negative through the steel mounting boss of each paddle, with a test meter in the loop, I obtained some strange readings. All I expected to see was a continuity reading to one pin, as I pushed the paddle and continuity to the second pin, as I pulled the paddle. I stand to be corrected but, if a simple grounding is all that is needed, the paddles should surely be a simple make and break switch (x2 for push and pull)
I am a bit lost with all of the differences but further reading causes me to think that I may have a wheel with SMG paddles (mine don't have a + and -). I have looked at the mrpaddleshift.com site where they state that paddles require mechanical alteration to work with Z4 steptronic.
I am willing to purchase a different steering wheel with paddles ( I have emailed mr paddleshift to ask if I can purchase their system by sending my steering wheel for alteration, but no reply, perhaps because I am in the UK.) so would welcome any suggestions to make my existing paddles compatible or recommendations as to exactly what steering wheel I need to look for as a replacement(preferably with Multi Function buttons as well as paddles)
Hoping that members are not so bored with this old topic that no one posts any guidance, thanks in advance for any replies.
Update.
I contacted the UK company listed on mrpaddleshift.com's site as their UK agents. They looked into this and told me they have not been given the info to convert SSG paddles and they would have to be sent to the USA to be modified. Not wanting to go through this hassle I decided to have a look myself.
I took the SSG paddles apart. They are fairly complex with a small pcb containing what looks like a couple of tiny resistors or capacitors and a modest circuit (I understand that the SSG box is basically an electronic manual so requires complex signalling). As the steptronic only requires a basic make and break to ground for each of the two wires, I removed the board from each paddle and made up my own from a blank pcb board(cost £2.00 for enough to make about 20 pcb's). It took several attempts to etch out the copper face to leave three separate pads required (one for permanent earth connection and the other two going to each steptronic wire). The movement of the paddle is so small that if a single pad is a fraction out, the connection will either be permanent or not make at all. I had to make 6 boards up before I had two that lined up perfectly. I soldered in 3 wires per shift, reassembled, installed on the wheel, replaced the wheel in the car, connected up and I now have fully operational paddle shift. I wired as standard, ie both paddles work identically, push for downshift and pull for up. However it would take a simple wiring change for push to be redundant leaving drivers right to upshift on pull and left to downshift on pull, ie as SMG11 + and -. It takes patience and intricate but straightforward work to convert SSG paddles to steptronic operation but it can be done and is not some mystical secret. I took photos so if anyone wants info please ask.
I contacted the UK company listed on mrpaddleshift.com's site as their UK agents. They looked into this and told me they have not been given the info to convert SSG paddles and they would have to be sent to the USA to be modified. Not wanting to go through this hassle I decided to have a look myself.
I took the SSG paddles apart. They are fairly complex with a small pcb containing what looks like a couple of tiny resistors or capacitors and a modest circuit (I understand that the SSG box is basically an electronic manual so requires complex signalling). As the steptronic only requires a basic make and break to ground for each of the two wires, I removed the board from each paddle and made up my own from a blank pcb board(cost £2.00 for enough to make about 20 pcb's). It took several attempts to etch out the copper face to leave three separate pads required (one for permanent earth connection and the other two going to each steptronic wire). The movement of the paddle is so small that if a single pad is a fraction out, the connection will either be permanent or not make at all. I had to make 6 boards up before I had two that lined up perfectly. I soldered in 3 wires per shift, reassembled, installed on the wheel, replaced the wheel in the car, connected up and I now have fully operational paddle shift. I wired as standard, ie both paddles work identically, push for downshift and pull for up. However it would take a simple wiring change for push to be redundant leaving drivers right to upshift on pull and left to downshift on pull, ie as SMG11 + and -. It takes patience and intricate but straightforward work to convert SSG paddles to steptronic operation but it can be done and is not some mystical secret. I took photos so if anyone wants info please ask.
Excellent research to get there and have it working.
Reminds me of when I first did this and folks said it can't be done
Just requires a bit if thinking, improvising and head scratching
Reminds me of when I first did this and folks said it can't be done
Just requires a bit if thinking, improvising and head scratching
