Paddles to facelift steering wheel

[x5e53]

Has anyone added e46 smg paddles and slip ring to a facelift e53 x5 steering wheel. I know you can swap the steering wheels, but i prefer the look of the standard facelift x5 steering wheel.

[X5Sport]

Raj did the E46 one but I don't think you can do it to the E53 wheel itself.

[nice1guv]

Well, someone had a go!

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BMW-X5-E53-S ... SwhDdXDyho

[X5-D-Sport]

Hell,.... I want one of these paddle wheels...
Is there a bit if wiring loom that is available for the paddle steering wheel ??

i worked out I can get the bits I need from another cheaper steering Wheel, & put my 3D printers to work & print the add on Mounts to fit the levers & switches to the existing E53 D Sport steering wheel...

Any one got any answers or suggestions ?

[chelsea]

surely tho, the idea of having paddle shift is to shorten the time to change gear when in manual, all the paddle shift cars that allow quicker shifting with paddle shift wheels are actually much quicker at changing, I also dont think it would benefit the 3.0d e53 because of the weight to power ratio.....they are a very slow change at best.

[X5Sport]

The idea behind the paddle shift is not to make things quicker, but to manually determine the change point (up or down) and execute it without taking your hand off the wheel.

Automatic gearboxes are good, but only as good as the pre-programmed shift controller permits and are a compromise.  Sometimes - actually quite frequently - we the driver's know better and can tell the box when to shift.

I've got them on two cars now (both autos) and although I rarely use them on the X6, I use them every day on the Superb because the DSG programming is so poor - aimed at economy not drivability! - and need to get it in the right gear, not what its program thinks is the right gear, or when it is too slow to select the gear on its own.

[lezmtaylor]

I did the E46smg wheel change a few years ago, all you are doing is changing sports mode gear stick manual movement to one on the paddles, you have to select sports  mode and then play with the paddles.
To be honest I have used the paddles about 3 times in 8years.

Lez

[X5-D-Sport]

Re wiring up added paddles to an X5 steering while that already has "cruise & Volume" buttons on it...

Is the loom already in the vehicles for paddle additions, or does it need hooking into the "UP/Down" switches some place... and where are the switches.... in the console, or in the gear box.

Presumably a modded slip ring is required too ?

Any info appreciated.

[Horizon]

Mines got paddles, in my view not worth the bother, it switches back into D at inappropriate moments,
2 minute wonder  >:(

[mogsyman]

[quote="Horizon"]
Mines got paddles, in my view not worth the bother, it switches back into D at inappropriate moments,
2 minute wonder  >:(
[/quote]

Can you shift the gearstick to the left and therefore hold the gears in manual?

[Horizon]

[quote="mogsyman"]
[quote="Horizon"]
Mines got paddles, in my view not worth the bother, it switches back into D at inappropriate moments,
2 minute wonder  >:(
[/quote]

Can you shift the gearstick to the left and therefore hold the gears in manual?
[/quote]
Once out of the parameter of the gear, the box reverts back to drive, if you slow too much for the selected gear it automatically reverts to drive, or at the red line switching point, either in Manual stick shift or using the paddles.
Mine will switch to manual at the operation of. The paddles.
Also I've driven a Lamborghini with paddles and that used the left paddle for down shifts and the right for up shift.
The BMW is different as push either paddle forward to downshift and towards you for up shift. This is not as intuitive. In my eyes.

[X5-D-Sport]

Is there any loom provision to add paddles...

[lezmtaylor]

No Loom as standard, you have to make one up yourself and get a new slip ring.and a smg E46 stg wheel and round airbag.
In one of my old posts is a list of what is required and part numbers.
Lez

Is there any loom provision to add paddles...
[/quote]

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Lezmtaylor...
many thanks... will look it up...

last question...
am I right in guessing / hoping the electrical connection is to the nudge switches that are hopefully just under the auto gear stick gaitor  or some place handy & are tapped off in parrallel to the steering wheel via the uprated slip ring ??

[Raj]

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Hi Lezmtaylor...
many thanks... will look it up...

last question...
am I right in guessing / hoping the electrical connection is to the nudge switches that are hopefully just under the auto gear stick gaitor  or some place handy & are tapped off in parrallel to the steering wheel via the uprated slip ring ??
[/quote]

Yup.

I did the E46 SMG retrofit many years ago now. The slip ring provides the extra connection required to tap into the wiring loom under the gear gator.

I used it quite a bit when I had the wheel fitted, but it's each to their own sort of mod as some will not use them.