Hi. I recently joined and read everything I could find of previous discussions on retrofitting paddle shift to E85's, found a huge amount of help, particularly the posting by cj10jeeper. In need of some further advice as, after installing everything and my paddles would not operate the gear change, I posted some questions to the end of this old discussion. I now realise this was probably not the best thing to do, hence this new posting. I also sent a couple of emails to mrpaddleshift.com and received replies advising that I need to send my recently purchased (used on eBay)Z4 sport steering wheel with SSG paddles to the USA for modification(to the paddles) which they would carry out and send back with a loom for the installation. I appreciate that mrpaddleshift (VS) has spent a great deal of time and money researching this retrofit and I would not ask (or receive) hints and tips, but at the $400 + postage 2 ways, quoted to me and, as I am 3/4 of the way through this job, I would really like to finish it myself. I have built my own loom using the BMW connectors that I found listed on another site as follows (my thanks to the author-prices are now higher if anyone else is interested in these)
6x B61.13.0.006.663 - Bushing Contact - £1.10 each
4x B61.13.0.006.664 - Pin Contact - £1.14 each
1x B61.13.8.380.696 - 2 Pin plug- £0.57
1x B61.13.6.925.611 - 4 Pin plug - £0.74
1x B61.13.6.925.634 - 4 Pin Socket - £1.02
This custom loom is made with 4 short (50mm-75mm long) wires between the new connector plug and socket and two additional long wires which go on up to the slip ring (paddle connection). The red connectors at the steptronic shift(held in the white plastic clip) are pulled apart and the loom connectors plugged in, thus remaking the circuit. The two long wires are also joined to the two inners of one new connector(as per cj10jeepers splicing)
All identical to the splicing installation described by cj10jeeper but, by using a loom, it could all be removed at a later date (why would anyone want to?), the two original connectors plugged back together, and the steptronic wiring returned to original with no cutting/soldering of the car loom involved. It is just an alternative to splicing in.
Forgive me if this is old news to lots of you but I just need to be sure that this is probably very similar to the loom on offer from the USA as, if it is, there is no point in me paying for another one to be sent at great cost. I would be grateful for any advice on this. The only other question remaining is the modification of the paddles. Although I understand the differences of SMG (1&11) SSG etc, I know nothing about the internal configuration of the various paddles standard on later BMW's. I am confused that many members have fitted M sport steering wheels(and others) on to Z4's, carried out cj10jeepers wiring to the steptronic and the paddles have worked when mine do not! I assume that this means that the Z4 SSG paddles do not simply make a ground contact when pushed or pulled, why would mrpaddleshift.com state that they need modifying otherwise? can anyone please comment on this. If there is a significant difference between my paddles and later ones I would be willing to purchase another complete steering wheel with paddles and would be grateful for recommendations listing exactly which wheels will work. Thanks in advance for any advice given.
6x B61.13.0.006.663 - Bushing Contact - £1.10 each
4x B61.13.0.006.664 - Pin Contact - £1.14 each
1x B61.13.8.380.696 - 2 Pin plug- £0.57
1x B61.13.6.925.611 - 4 Pin plug - £0.74
1x B61.13.6.925.634 - 4 Pin Socket - £1.02
This custom loom is made with 4 short (50mm-75mm long) wires between the new connector plug and socket and two additional long wires which go on up to the slip ring (paddle connection). The red connectors at the steptronic shift(held in the white plastic clip) are pulled apart and the loom connectors plugged in, thus remaking the circuit. The two long wires are also joined to the two inners of one new connector(as per cj10jeepers splicing)
All identical to the splicing installation described by cj10jeeper but, by using a loom, it could all be removed at a later date (why would anyone want to?), the two original connectors plugged back together, and the steptronic wiring returned to original with no cutting/soldering of the car loom involved. It is just an alternative to splicing in.
Forgive me if this is old news to lots of you but I just need to be sure that this is probably very similar to the loom on offer from the USA as, if it is, there is no point in me paying for another one to be sent at great cost. I would be grateful for any advice on this. The only other question remaining is the modification of the paddles. Although I understand the differences of SMG (1&11) SSG etc, I know nothing about the internal configuration of the various paddles standard on later BMW's. I am confused that many members have fitted M sport steering wheels(and others) on to Z4's, carried out cj10jeepers wiring to the steptronic and the paddles have worked when mine do not! I assume that this means that the Z4 SSG paddles do not simply make a ground contact when pushed or pulled, why would mrpaddleshift.com state that they need modifying otherwise? can anyone please comment on this. If there is a significant difference between my paddles and later ones I would be willing to purchase another complete steering wheel with paddles and would be grateful for recommendations listing exactly which wheels will work. Thanks in advance for any advice given.
