E53 steering wheel conversion to E46 SMG M3 Paddle shift wheel--Instructions and pics

[mrbmwx5]

Clicking the paddle is no difference then moving the joy stick .
No lag due switching to sport mode. It just cool mod and I do like and had enjoyed it .
.... The wheel does fit and direct swap to all E53 from 2000-2006 ...

[g300d]

Is the e46 M3 wheel the only way to get paddles on?

I have a facelift and think the M3 wheel looks pre-facelift (nitpicking, I know), just curious if there are other ways to put the paddles on.

[mrbmwx5]

Originally Posted by g300d

Is the e46 M3 wheel the only way to get paddles on?

I have a facelift and think the M3 wheel looks pre-facelift (nitpicking, I know), just curious if there are other ways to put the paddles on.

You can buy the paddle kit from ECStuning.com and add them to your old wheel plus you need new clock spring.

[bcredliner]

When I was searching for instructions Helmuth was nice enough to send me this link. It is for a MB but a combination of the two instructions should get you there.

HowTo-> Paddle shifters from Mercedes on a E38 and yes it works! (long)

[bcredliner]

The four wires that are shown unconnected after paddle install--two would go to ground and each of the other two wires would go to the 2 prong connector that goes to the front of the steering wheel switch unit or as MRBMWX5 references as the clock spring. You would need the same harness as in the directions I posted which would go to the back of the SWSU. I could certainly test it before final assembly at least by continuity as you have two chances to get the wires in the wrong side of the connectors going to the front and back of the SWSU.

[g300d]

Awesome! Now to catch up on maintenance so I can start putting money on mods lol!

[oodathort]

I recently carried this mod out and can confirm that a E46 steering wheel with paddels and airbag fit with NO ERRORS

[fmcfad01]

bcredliner, I tried to catch up with you in the sport mode thread where you posted most recently, but I'll try here too...here is what I asked:


Hey bcredliner, sorry this is a little off topic, but I don't post on this forum and I'm having a hard time trying to contact/PM you.

I saw this thread:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ions-pics.html

and all I really want to know is, are parts 61136925611 and 61138380696 mates? That is, do they snap together? Said another way, are they identical to the opposite sides of the pink/purple connectors in this picture? I need an affirmative on this for a project on my 2001 Z3 M Coupe.



Said another way, if 611 fits into one half of that connector and 696 fits into the other, it makes sense that they would fit into each other. I just want to verify if that is true.

Thanks so much,
Scott

[z168]

great writeup.

how near is the paddle to the turn signal stalk? anyone got a pic?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by fmcfad01

bcredliner, I tried to catch up with you in the sport mode thread where you posted most recently, but I'll try here too...here is what I asked:


Hey bcredliner, sorry this is a little off topic, but I don't post on this forum and I'm having a hard time trying to contact/PM you.

I saw this thread:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ions-pics.html

and all I really want to know is, are parts 61136925611 and 61138380696 mates? That is, do they snap together? Said another way, are they identical to the opposite sides of the pink/purple connectors in this picture? I need an affirmative on this for a project on my 2001 Z3 M Coupe.



Said another way, if 611 fits into one half of that connector and 696 fits into the other, it makes sense that they would fit into each other. I just want to verify if that is true.

Thanks so much,
Scott

611 and 696 connect to the corresponding pink connectors. Male to female