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

Hello SoCal friends!

A tuner located in Thousand Oaks is asking for a volunteer who owns a X5 (E70) to help him develop the paddle shifters harness for the X5 using the parts now available in the X6.

Please send me a PM if you are located in SoCal and you are interested to be the first X5 to have paddle shifters installed in the U.S. :cool:

Attachment 27250

I'm interested...

But from Belgium...

I SERIOUSLY want to do this!

Doesn't the X6 already have the sport steering wheel with the paddle shifters? Why can't it just be swapped to the X5?

I will be able to very soon once the kit is available. Jason wants to test the harness to ensure it works before putting it for sale. If you have a 3 or 1 series you already can buy one at http://burgertuning.com/paddleshift.html

Yes the X6 has the wheel with the paddles, but it can not simply be swapped to the X5. The X5 does not have the wiring from the transmission to the wheel built at the factory, so you will need one harness built exclusively for that purpose.

It is the same issue with you have a 1 or 3 series without the paddles. You will need the harness to be able to activate the paddles in the steering wheel.

Help me find a volunteer in SoCal and we will be able to install one in our cars pretty soon. ;)

Do I need to change the steering wheel ?

What about an airbag?

Yes. You will need the X6 steering wheel with the openings for the paddles. As long as you have the sport steering wheel you will not need a new airbag.

It depends. If you have the sport package you will not need a new airbag. If you have the X5 without the sport package, you will need the X6 steering wheel and a new airbag.

Hi, I will keep an eye on this as I am interested in putting the paddles on my sports X5.

An update: Tuner has ordered the parts necessary for the retrofit and should be working on the harness soon. Thank you all who sent me PM offering to test it. I will post it again once the Tuner has complete the project and ready to be sold. :thumbup:

WOW thats the best news for tonight :D please inform us ASAP :D I'm here ready to order :D

thanx :D

if they work anything like the ones on my 335i they should be a good mod.

Anymore word on this?

I am Very Interetsed. I am in SoCal in the Riverside Area.

yea, im interested....but one thing, this pic is the wheel from the X6 3.5.... looks exactly the same as the sport wheel for the 4.8i... why is it necesary to change the steering wheel?

and if so, how much will that cost @ dealers?
:D

Because on the X5's sports steering wheel does not have the paddle shifters like the one on the X6, that's why.

The shifter is built on the steering wheel.

Is this to go from P to Drive / Reverse / Nuetral too? Or just to shift gears when driving?

How much would that cost...?

Just shift gears up and down. You will need to use the lever for reverse, park and neutral.

The steering wheel is about $800. The issue with non-sport package X5s is the fact you will also need a new airbag, which will fit in the sport steering wheel. The cost of the airbag is another $600.

ready for order now ?

So, since I have a Sport X5 4.8, would I need a new steering wheel? I believe anyone that did this would require a new steering wheel as the standard wheell (sport or not) doesn't have slots for the paddle shifters. I would be interested in this mod, but not is it is more than $1200 or so.

J

You are absolutely right. You will need the a new steering wheel with the slots for the paddle shifters, but you will not need the airbag since yours will work with the new steering wheel.

The tuner in SoCal is still testing the harness. According to him it is still a couple of months away to put in his website for sale. I will keep posting updates on the development of the harness.

I have the sport steering wheel, but I wanted to order the M-sport steering wheel. However this wasn't possible without the M-package which I dislike.

The question is: is it possible to have this upgrade and at the same time upgrade to an M-sport steering wheel to?

I am not sure, but I believe the M-sport steering wheel is available for the X6 too. If it is you will be able to install the M-sport steering wheel in your X5 with the paddle shifters. The key here is to have the slots for the paddles behind the wheel.

Any word on the wiring harness yet for the paddle shift steering wheel?

Hey, Senna!

It this wiring harness available yet!

What's happen here, has the harness been developed?

Any word!

+1 here. It is one of the reasons I did not get my X5 yet. I love the X6 paddle shifters, but hate the styling. I wish the X5 would offer it as an option as part of the sport package. Hey Barcius, any news on this retrofit?

I received an email from them, they have abandoned the project.

:wtf: Are they stupid? I think it is the greatest mod. Maybe Vinny @ mrpaddleshift.com may be able to do a retrofit for us.

The problem they face it the X5 must have the module 255, which is a paddle shift steering wheel. Even if you put the module in from the X6 plus the X6 paddle shift steering wheel the X5 does not know what do do with it.

When you replace even a faulity module of any type in a X5 the whole X5 must be reprogramed. That is done via your VIN number code, they enter your vin number and all the programs that your car has are downloaded from BMW to match your X5 and it's options.

Now, with the X5 M V8 coming in Oct it will have option code 255, Paddle Shift, then we might have a chance of buying the steering plus module and getting the code!

reviving an old thread..... any new developement on this? I would love to have the x6 shifter paddles.

Why cant we just wire the paddles in parallel with the limit switches of the step up/down on the shifter on the console? Anyone have schematics of the sensors of the step up/down shifter? The only thing I can think of why this mod isnt possible is that the limit switches are not mechanical switches and are more proximity type switch that steps the signal down to low voltage.....

Would be a sweet mod to have for the e70 folks...

Hi Redridge,

Read my thread above yours, it answers the question. When the X5 M comes out you may have a chance then to put paddle shift steering wheel on then!

Dont know about the M in OZ, but its already here in the states.... I think utilizing the shifter in the x6 would be the same as using the M.... its prob the same setup w/o the M logo on the wheel.

Once the M was released that meant the software code is now available for the X5 to have a paddle shifter. Not only do you deed the steering wheel with paddles but you need the steering wheel module as well so in has physical connections to the paddles.

Then you have to upload the software code for it to know it has a steering module 255 and not the other standard steering module.

So now you can buy the steering wheel, the module to connect the steering wheel and the code is available. The problem is now is how are you going get the code for it to be uploaded. When ever your X5 gets re-coded they enters your VIN number into the computer which is connected to BMW direct, the computer knows what software codes to upload as it corresponds them to your VIN number when your car was manufactured.

This mean someone has to manually add the code for 255 to your upload, I don't think your average BMW service tech will have the clearance to do this or even have the brains to do it.

Unless this becomes a spare parts option or an upgrade that the dealer can install I don't think its going to happen real soon.

wow, thats alot of work...

The funny thing is... the steptronic is already there on the center column. All you really need to do is to duplicate the sensors the the shifter has that tells the tranny to step up/down.... gonna look into this further. Im sure there are simpler way to do this besides adding modules and reflashes.... There should be a way to do this mod the same/similar way the E53 guys are doing it.

Any updates? I had the M3 paddle shift tri color steering wheel in my E53 4.8iS. I miss it.

I had this in my 4.8 and loved it to. I would do it in a heartbeat for my E70

Anyone got the partnumber for this 255 module?:-) Got the stearingwheel in place, but the paddles doesnt work offcourse..

Does anyone know if its the same problem with heating? If the car doesnt have heating, will it work if I retrofit a wheel with heating? This is on an 2009 30DA pre-facellift.

Even if you get the part number & install the module how are you going to code it to work. The X5 does not have the code in its firmware to be activated, only the X6 has it.

When they hook you X5 onto the computer they put the Vin number in and the firmware is downloaded from the mainframe computer into your X5. So you have to get someone who is very, very smart to get the module code and download it and then upload it into your X5,

Not even the major tunning companies of X5's have even done it, I have checked about a year ago. You will need to have a dealer onside who is willing to have one of their Techs spend some time on it and try to incorporate the module code.

The X5 M has paddles, and getting the module code may work as it still has the same gearbox as your 2009 model.

Any news about this retrofit?
If someone could give me the partnumber for Module 255, I got a man at BMW that will help me retrofit this.
Anyone?:-)

FYI, my 2012 X5 50i with sports package came with paddle shifters. Might be easier to retrofit it now... :dunno:

bump

any update to this? any one retrofit this on? I have a x5d and i miss those paddles!

I have just started using the bmwcoding website to change settings on my car. Actually I think in part it will have to do with the new software coming from BMW that can handle the fact that the 2012 has paddle shift. This should be doable but will require a guru from bmwcoding to help (I am a newb at this). Given what I see, it would need to be an option that can be set using INPA EDIABAS - something like "lenradshaltung = aktiv" (just guessing so please dont assume this exists)

hope you can figure it out! Maybe contact some of the coding guys here on the forum? This would be awesome!!!!

I will try to look for an article that teaches you how to retrofit paddle shifters to the x5 and i don't think you need to code it. The only thing you have to do first is move the gear shift leaver to the sport mode and then it's equivalent to upshifting and downshifting with the lever but with the paddles. I read it a long time ago and considered it. let me do some digging and get back to you guys.

The module will have to be coded for the paddle shifts to work. The code will not be in your X5 as they only just started to come with paddle shifts. If you have added the module and it is wired correctly then the module will need to be added to you VO, then the code download and then activated.

You may even need a FSC to activate it also - not sure?

is there any reason why this Coding customization would be any different then the other mods out there? Ex. on my E53 4.8is i had the coding updated to remove the air ride suspension.
on my E60 550i i was going to add paddles, but ended up selling it first. but it was feasable. I have the X5M steering wheel, i liked the look better, so it has paddles already, so i'd like to activate them if possible.

on this subject the Steering wheel subjet, i had the steering wheel on my 07 E70 X5 4.8 and recently purchased a 11 X5 50i Msport. According to BMW, the Msport = htd steering wheel delete, even though i have cold weather package. so i'm hoping when i install the X5M wheel with htd option that it will just work, or is coding required?

I also have Lane Departure, so i have to tackle that too, the steering wheels are different, not sure whats different/where the vibration feature is located. The X5M does not have Lane departure.

Would be nice if there was a sticky on the forum for factory added Mods and how to's in this regard. So we don't have to read through pages and pages of post to get to the point.

so did anyone manage to get paddle shifter retrofitted to the X5 E70?

I mean especially since the paddle shifter is a factory option.

I have the M steering wheel without paddle shifter (2011) and would have love to have the paddles.

If only the gear level did not feel like a cheap piece of plastic about to break each time I use it, I'd be fine without the paddle but I hate using the flimsy plastic gear lever for manual shifting. Even better I'd love to have an M button :) To get a stage higher than the DS mode, which shift a little early to my taste.

Was doing some coding yesterday and noticed that my 2008 X5 EGS module has a line of code for paddle shifters. Same as my 135 which does have paddle shifters.

The only difference was that the X5 option was wert_00 whereas 135 was wert_01

hummmm I would LOVE to retrofit the paddle shifter on my 2011 5.0 :)

please tell us more... are you trying to do the retrofit ?

May be you can try the whole thing as you also have the whoel steering from the 135 :) :) :)

I was only giving my 2 cents although I would like the paddles I am not actively trying to perform the mod.

Never thought about swapping the wheel over actually to test this theory!

Will the wheel fit on the X5 and secondly how difficult would it be to remove from 135 and install onto X5?

Almost done...
 

I spent about 6 months on this project last fall.

I bought 2 used gear selectors so I didn't have to use the one in my 4.8i. After verifying that they both worked in place of my original, I started reverse engineering the circuits in the selector. They use magnets and hall effect sensors to sense the movement of the gear selector...

My thought was to fool the computer in the selector into believing that the gear selector was moved by closing the switches on the paddles...

I rewired the slip ring in the steering wheel to pass the switch closure of the two paddle shifters instead of the heater option (which I ditched for my M wheel) so I have a cable run to the base of the shifter with the two paddle signals and ground.

I was however unable to correctly tap into the circuits for the hall effect sensors and fool the shifter computer into thinking I moved the gear shifter... What I really need is a schematic for the internal circuits for the shifter, or a theory of operation.

This would be very similar to the E53 mod, but would require modification of the shifter itself.

I'm 90% done, any help would be awesome, and I can publish a DIY if I can get this done for us! No coding needed, just some wiring...

Thanks.

I have a 2011 X5 50, and i have the X5M steering wheel with paddles. i used the wheel in my 07 X5 4.8, paddles did not work obviously, but its an easy swap. a 135 steering wheel is not going to fit in the X5.

Is there a module for the paddle shifters? i have not installed the X5M wheel in my '11 X5 yet.

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.

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.......:dunno:

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?

Working Out Of The Box?
 

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!

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.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Any update on this? I have a 2012 X70 (no cold weather package) and I'd love to have paddle shifters

dont have the e70 anymore, got t-boned and moved onto a jeep GC. but if your ecu compartment is missing the paddle module, you cannot retrofit steering wheel paddles.

I assume the dealer can tell me if I have the module. Is there any other way to find out, before I spend money at the dealer?