Be the 1st X5 in the U.S. to have cool paddle shifters installed

[Wienaren]

I, too, have a 2011 X5 50 (prod. date 07/2010), and a steering wheel from the X5M. The paddles worked "out of the box", no coding required.

[NY-4.8IS]

Originally Posted by Wienaren

I, too, have a 2011 X5 50 (prod. date 07/2010), and a steering wheel from the X5M. The paddles worked "out of the box", no coding required.

I also have a 2011 X5 50i with a build date of Oct, 2010. Are you saying your car was prewired for the paddles? I havent removed my airbag yet to see.

[Wienaren]

So it seems. (Unlike the steering wheel heating, which is defunct due to a lack of wiring and other electronics.)

[NY-4.8IS]

Originally Posted by Wienaren

So it seems. (Unlike the steering wheel heating, which is defunct due to a lack of wiring and other electronics.)

Im still not so sure... I put the M paddle wheel in my E70 2007 X5 4.8i and it was not prewired... so the paddles did not function.
From what i've read previously on the forum... nobody has mentioned the newer X5s' having the existing module and wire connection.......

[Singh97]

i have an 35i with dame build date.. I will be interested in knowing the same as well. It would be great if the paddles can work without any modifications.
can anybody confirm?

Originally Posted by NY-4.8IS

I also have a 2011 X5 50i with a build date of Oct, 2010. Are you saying your car was prewired for the paddles? I havent removed my airbag yet to see.

[zhiwoo]

Originally Posted by Wienaren

I, too, have a 2011 X5 50 (prod. date 07/2010), and a steering wheel from the X5M. The paddles worked "out of the box", no coding required.

Wow that's really good to hear! Been dying to do it to my 2011 30d (prod. 01/2011). Could you provide us with some photos of the steering area with the airbag removed so we can see which wires we need to have "PRE-wired" for it to work straight away?

It would be much appreciated =) thanks!

[Wienaren]

Sorry, haven't got any photos. Anyway, there were no visible extra wires, the steering wheel is simply plugged into the steering column ( RealOEM.com * BMW E70N X5 50iX Switch cluster steering column )

I discussed this matter back in 2010 or 2011 with some guy from Norway (IIRC), and the paddles didn't work in his non-50, probably diesel. Seems the 50 is differently equipped in this regard.

Here is the (probably not really helpful) thread: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...mount-e70.html

I had the wheel installed by a dealer; I didn't dare to unplug/remove the airbag myself. Also, the airbag allegedly requires some sort of reboot procedure which I wasn't prepared to do myself either.

(PS: Don't even think about the heating, this is a no-go if your vehicle isn't already equipped with steering wheel heating. This requires not only new wires to some control box, but also a new steering column, exchanging the "switch cluster" isn't enough, because the plugs don't fit. BMW refused to install the missing parts due to complexity.)

[NY-4.8IS]

Originally Posted by Wienaren

I, too, have a 2011 X5 50 (prod. date 07/2010), and a steering wheel from the X5M. The paddles worked "out of the box", no coding required.

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Originally Posted by Hosse

Done! Really easy DIY!

Looks wounderfool!

Wieneren: sorry, but I disconnected the battery under the operation..

I got pictures of everything. PM me for any extra pics.

Before:


During:


After:


Everything work, except the gearing + and -.. Any tips?

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According to the thread in the link you provided.... the paddles (gearing + / -) don't work.