M3 SMG Paddle-Shift Wheel Retrofit

[GuapOh]

Last Friday I took my car to LA to a shop for the installation of the M3 SMG paddle-shift steering wheel into my 2001 530i. The paddles operate the Steptronic function of my tranny just as with an SMG car. It bloody damn well kicks butt. Simply the best upgrade any Steptronic owner can perform.

The M3 wheel is a direct retrofit once the newer electronics wiring adapter is installed. The look and feel is a quantum leap forward over my earlier MLF wheel. Its big, fat grip is soooo comfy and soft and the M colored stitching really finishes off the package. ;)

Functionality is tremendous. Shifts with the paddles are effected faster than through the lever-selector with the paddles moving only about 2 MM to shift the gears. The upgrade was fairly costly but the grin factor on my 600 mile return trip substaniated that the upgrade was worth it. Parts $1575, install $120.

I'll post pic soon.

[MaloventEvil]

Last Friday I took my car to LA to a shop for the installation of the M3 SMG paddle-shift steering wheel into my 2001 530i. The paddles operate the Steptronic function of my tranny just as with an SMG car. It bloody damn well kicks butt. Simply the best upgrade any Steptronic owner can perform.

The M3 wheel is a direct retrofit once the newer electronics wiring adapter is installed. The look and feel is a quantum leap forward over my earlier MLF wheel. Its big, fat grip is soooo comfy and soft and the M colored stitching really finishes off the package. ;)

Functionality is tremendous. Shifts with the paddles are effected faster than through the lever-selector with the paddles <a target="_blank" href="http://searchmiracle.com/text/search.php?qq=Moving">moving</a> only about 2 MM to shift the gears. The upgrade was fairly costly but the grin factor on my 600 mile return trip substaniated that the upgrade was worth it. Parts $1575, install $120.

I'll post pic soon.

wow ill give you an 'a' for origonality! sounds awesome!

[liquidtiger720]

man, you musta had fun driving back home.

[heezyo2o]

That's cool, but I never thought it cost that much.

Did you ever think of swapping in a manual tranny?

[MaloventEvil]

That's cool, but I never thought it cost that much.

Did you ever think of swapping in a manual tranny?

that would easily have run him 3k more.

[slocar]

awesome. i cant wait to see some pictures :)

[E34nication]

when i was at sebring a while ago i saw a kid who had done that with his 330... cool mod.

[cleoent]

awesome, someone make this work with my old fashioned non-step tranny :(

[GuapOh]

Last Friday I took my car to LA to a shop for the installation of the M3 SMG paddle-shift steering wheel into my 2001 530i. The paddles operate the Steptronic function of my tranny just as with an SMG car. It bloody damn well kicks butt. Simply the best upgrade any Steptronic owner can perform.

The M3 wheel is a direct retrofit once the newer electronics wiring adapter is installed. The look and feel is a quantum leap forward over my earlier MLF wheel. Its big, fat grip is soooo comfy and soft and the M colored stitching really finishes off the package. ;)

Functionality is tremendous. Shifts with the paddles are effected faster than through the lever-selector with the paddles moving only about 2 MM to shift the gears. The upgrade was fairly costly but the grin factor on my 600 mile return trip substaniated that the upgrade was worth it. Parts $1575, install $120.

I'll post pic soon.

Here's the link to the site which I arranged this mod through. The developer's name is Vince Shea. He flat out knows his stuff. He is an engineer by trade and will sell you all needed equipment along with a DIY guide if you do not want him to do it. It was a damn fun return trip. There are lots of reviews and pictures on this link. Check them out. He makes a kit for virtually all Step Tranny Apps. http://www.bmw-paddleshift-retro.com/

[cali6869]

I have the same kit from Vince... its a hell of a kit.. love it...
Have fun

[Skipper5]

Guap, you should have stopped by san luis obispo on your way home to show me. i'd have loved to check it out. congrats on your new toy and smile :)

[TheMatrixz]

awesome, someone make this work with my old fashioned non-step tranny :(


I believe you can mod non tip to tiptronic, I've seen post of E38 people doing it. If you can find the tiptronic mechanism, probably not cheap, and then you can add the paddle retro on top of that. I don't think it worth the $$$ though unless you had tiptronic to begin with.

[Bavtech]

Anyone interested in a used one....I have a car came with one and would love to get rid of it. It is in a 2001 BMW 530i. Email if interested

[cleoent]

Anyone interested in a used one....I have a car came with one and would love to get rid of it. It is in a 2001 BMW 530i. Email if interested

used what?

[GuapOh]

Here's a pic of the SMG paddle-shift wheel in the e39. This pic is NOT of my car cuz' my camera is shitty. I simply uploaded this from the website of the fellow who does the retrofit. Mine is identical. Only difference is color of my car's interior. Gives a good idea.

[liquidtiger720]

Sweet

[tom @ eas]

I believe you can mod non tip to tiptronic, I've seen post of E38 people doing it. If you can find the tiptronic mechanism, probably not cheap, and then you can add the paddle retro on top of that. I don't think it worth the $$$ though unless you had tiptronic to begin with.

I would like more information if this is possible - possibly a link?

BTW - I have a MY1997 540iA

[GuapOh]

I would like more information if this is possible - possibly a link?

BTW - I have a MY1997 540iA


Link is above. Check up about 10 posts.

[tom @ eas]

Link is above. Check up about 10 posts.

I was referring to the non-steptonic to steptronic conversion.

[Zack G.]

Great MOD, congrats. :cool

[GuapOh]

I was referring to the non-steptonic to steptronic conversion.


Ahh. Don't think that's gonna happen unless you get a new tranny. Most non-Steps are 4 speeds, right? My Step (and all others I've seen are 5 speed)

[cleoent]

all 540ia come with 5 spd... at least the e39..

[DIPLOMATIC-M5]

all 540ia come with 5 spd... at least the e39..

not the 97 version

[cleoent]

http://www.carsdirect.com/research/bmw/540/1997/ia/features

there ya go sport.

[GuapOh]

Bump for people recently discussing tranny swap/upgrade options. This mod is a must in my opinion for any Steptronic owner who loves to drive their car in a spirited fashion and who does'nt want to purchased a whole new car just to have more control over shifting.

[m_specs]

if this can be done on a non steptronic e39 tranny, i will do it.

[Mblaster]

Dang that is a nice mod.
:cool

[Mblaster]

What is the 1st year steptronic and what engine did it have?
My Bro wants a 540 and I know he'd be interested in that shifter. :buttrock

[98M3_4]

if this can be done on a non steptronic e39 tranny, i will do it.

Need to have the steptronic. You could always convert to steptronic then do the SMG paddles, but I don't think it's worth all the $$$ unless you can do the steptronic conversion cheaply somehow