Adding Paddle Shifters?
 

I’ve seen this discussed on occasion and searched around a bit but haven’t seen a definitive answer...has anyone successfully retrofitted and if so how hard was it? I would never have sought this out, but I’ve come across a nearly new X5M wheel that has paddles. It looks like virtually the same wheel I have but is in better shape, and all else equal the paddles seem like a neat, albeit frivolous in this car, feature. Any input appreciated.

I'm also curious to know if this has ever been done on a 35d.

I think it's been done on 35i's before successfully..

I'm sure you can.

I did this on my E39......was a good fun factor when shifting thru winding roads.....otherwise the novelty wears off after awhile.

Still a GREAT mod.....imo.

Coming from an SMG M3, I would love to add this even just for the familiarity.

What year/model X5 do you have? That will determine if it can be done on your vehicle. At least with a direct steering wheel swap, which is very simple.

If you have a 35i or 50i LCI model with either Sport or M Sport package that did not come with paddles (all 2011's, most 2012's except for later builds) then yes, you just need a steering wheel w/ paddles and you're set. I did this on my 2012 50i M Sport, mine is a 6/2011 build, and paddles were not added to Sport and M Sport 35i & 50i models until 11/2011 builds and later.

35d models never got the paddles from the factory, regardless of year or packaging. I've read posts from several 35d owners who added steering wheels with paddles - they didn't work. Perhaps if you did some DIY wiring you could get them to work?

LCI 35i/50i base & premium trims - same as 35d above.

Pre-LCI models, regardless of trim, I don't believe it will work, but not 100% on that.

FWIW, the paddles aren't that great on the X5, I don't think. I was excited to add them but they don't do it for me on this vehicle. On the 50i at least, with the linear power/torque delivery, there's no performance advantage to them. And they aren't entertaining at all like they are on my M3. Just my own .02.

The X5M wheel with paddles is mostly the same steering wheel as the M Sport wheel - same diameter, style, ergo bumps, lower trim piece, etc. The only differences are different color/style paddles, ///M tri-stitching instead of black, and slightly different button configuration (M mode button). If you have a Sport model, the wheel differences are much greater.

Doesn’t work on the 35d.


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This is great feedback, thanks. I have a pre-LCI 48i, so sounds like maybe it won't work at all. It does have the sport package but not Msport. I agree that the paddles in this car aren't all that compelling, and the wheel is the same size and shape as I already have, but I could grab it for cheap and the leather is like-new compared to mine which is a bit worn. And I figured all else equal I might as well add the paddles.

I realize it won't be like the M3 at all, but out of habit (owned the M3 for 7 years) I go to grab a paddle once and a while. I always thought it might be useful at times, or just useful for me honestly. I feel weird grabbing the alien penis we have for a shifter.

I however do not have the sport package. I have an LCI 35i from 2012, but no sport anything. I want the sport wheel because I hate the elephant man airbag. I know that I can swap it out for the cost of the airbag cover and wheel, but the only one I found that is heated at the time was from an X6 with paddles.

I might just fo for it. Wiring should be simple if I have to do it. Just wiring the paddles to the shifter. The buttons that shift in manual mode are like paddles, but on the shifter. EZ.

These both says pre-LCI:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0PDsQQ5teM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdeuslS9dQw

Looks like these guys carry the kit. I have heated and unfortunately, I will lose it so I may have to think about it.

https://www.motivemods.com/BMWRetrof...-p/mm-pa-8.htm

I've swapped out the steering wheels on all my BMW's, it's one of the best mods you can do IMO. I love a new steering wheel! So yah, if it's newer condition, I'd go for it too. What steering wheel is it? If it's an X5M or M Sport wheel, it would be different shape/thicker than your Sport wheel.

Also, I don't believe you can typically add the paddles to a steering wheel that doesn't already have them. You would need a steering wheel that already has/had them as the paddles fit into cutouts on back of steering wheel (paddles are a different/separate part # from the actual steering wheel). Unless somebody has retrofitted that too?

I'd go for it too just for the better looking/thicker steering wheel. I know a few members on xBimmers that swapped in new steering wheels with paddles knowing the paddles wouldn't work, they just found a good deal on a better steering wheel.

Yah, I think I should have differentiated plug 'n play vs. full retrofit...I only briefly mentioned this when I said 'direct wheel swap.'

I only clicked on the 1st link above, but it says 'retrofit requires new wiring harness installation and re-coding of several ECUs.' My post above and what vehicles it would work on was specific to direct wheel swaps, no other work required.

I have a 2012 LCI X5 x35i with the Premium trim and no Sports Package. I can confirm a WORKING retrofit of a Sports steering wheel with paddle shifters.

I had previously completed the heated steering wheel retro fit (see my post on Mundo74's thread), and while I was doing it, I confirmed that I had 5VDC across pins 4 and 6 of the X01003 connector in the steering wheel. The steering wheel I purchased for this retrofit came with a post-recall airbag.

I bought a really nice heated Sports steering wheel with paddle shifters off a 2013 X6 from eBay for $245 including shipping. I'm pretty sure the BMW part number for this steering wheel is 32306797911.

I also purchased a cheap ($38) Chinese knockoff airbag cover and swapped it onto the extra airbag from my heated steering wheel retrofit. The quality of the cover is a little lower than OE. The plastic is slightly stiffer and the finish is a little duller--though a hit of Armor All helped with the finish. I will be replacing it with an OE airbag cover as soon as I can.

I had read that this retrofit required shifters with resistors (as opposed to simple open/close switches), and I checked as soon as it arrived. In the "open" position the left switch measured 6550 ohms and the right switch measured 6170 ohms. When closed, the left switch measured 345 ohms and the right switch measured 1171 ohms. These numbers might be slightly off because the probes on my multimeter were larger than the openings in the connectors, so it was difficult to get a good connection. I took several readings and these were most common results.

With that, I popped the old steering wheel off and put the new one on. Then I used NCS Expert to add $2XA to the VO in the CAS and FRM modules and took it for a test drive. The paddles worked exactly as expected. I don't know if the VO update was required, but it worked with it, and I see no reason to remove it now.

Thanks to everybody who has tried this retrofit and documented their results.