Added paddles/new wheel to my 2011

[LeoBurr]

Picked up a stitched wheel with paddles from an eBay vendor in Poland for $320 shipped, and added buttons off of an X5M for about $100. Everything plugged right in. M button seems to mute the volume. Just figured I'd share. My X5 came with no paddles, but these worked plug-and-play.

[jiggz]

Looks great - really like that perforated leather

So what do you think of the paddles? I swapped out an M Sport wheel (prior to them getting paddles) for and X5M wheel to get the paddles, but I never use them…ever. Thought I would but with 8 speeds it's just too much shifting for me. Guess it depends on what model (transmission) you have…

[LeoBurr]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Looks great - really like that perforated leather

So what do you think of the paddles? I swapped out an M Sport wheel (prior to them getting paddles) for and X5M wheel to get the paddles, but I never use them…ever. Thought I would but with 8 speeds it's just too much shifting for me. Guess it depends on what model (transmission) you have…

I've got the 8-speed. Generally, I'll downshift three gears when cruising before punching it. Sometimes I'll take control of the gears while accelerating if I want a bit more control. I prefer it to having to shift into DS, since the car eventually takes it back into D.

With the lag from a stop, forcing it into M1 before taking off often mitigates that too...at least until I get my reflash.

[KayTees]

Originally Posted by GeoffS

Picked up a stitched wheel with paddles from an eBay vendor in Poland for $320 shipped, and added buttons off of an X5M for about $100. Everything plugged right in. M button seems to mute the volume. Just figured I'd share. My X5 came with no paddles, but these worked plug-and-play.

Dam.. 320 shipped... On the hunt for one. Paddle shifters are way too fun.

[sunny_j]

Originally Posted by KayTees

Dam.. 320 shipped... On the hunt for one. Paddle shifters are way too fun.

Haha same here. OP, do you have a link for the vendor and is the new steering wheel thicker than the sports package steering wheel?

[socale39]

Just FYI, from what I have researched, if you have lane departure then paddle shifters are not compatable. From what I understand is that BMW never offered both options together. Might have something to do with the electronics that vibrate the steering wheel.

[LeoBurr]

Originally Posted by sunny_j

Haha same here. OP, do you have a link for the vendor and is the new steering wheel thicker than the sports package steering wheel?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-e70-e71-...item2c9bbc51af is the paddle-less one, but contact him (his english is terribad) - he may have others with paddles.

And yes, the steering wheel is thicker. Love it because I've got bear paws.

[LeoBurr]

Originally Posted by socale39

Just FYI, from what I have researched, if you have lane departure then paddle shifters are not compatable. From what I understand is that BMW never offered both options together. Might have something to do with the electronics that vibrate the steering wheel.

There are only 2 unused pins in the harness that connects the steering wheel controls to the car. My guess is that they get repurposed for either one or the other.

[Gatoferoz25]

Looks awesome i have something similar.
Btw I have the M trim to go with it on the steering wheel

[saleen01]

Originally Posted by Gatoferoz25

Looks awesome i have something similar.
Btw I have the M trim to go with it on the steering wheel

...what wheel is that.....i want one for my 2011 35
and yours is heated!

[Gatoferoz25]

Originally Posted by saleen01

ugh....what wheel is that.....i want one for my 2011 35

This one came
From a vendor in Germany It's nice

[saleen01]

i want! how do i get?

[Gatoferoz25]

Originally Posted by saleen01

i want! how do i get?

This was like a year ago my first mod

[UnicornM]

Did you have paddles previously? If not how did you get paddles to work?

[LeoBurr]

Originally Posted by X5_MSPORT

Did you have paddles previously? If not how did you get paddles to work?

No previous paddles. It's a 2011 with Sport Activity package, so the 2 necessary pins were available. The wheel came with the push-pull paddles, so I kept 'em. I needed to pick up buttons that supported the shifter paddles along with a steering wheel that had mounts for them. Other than that, plug and play, no coding needed.

[Kingloose]

What about if you have heated steering wheel ?

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by sunny_j

Haha same here. OP, do you have a link for the vendor and is the new steering wheel thicker than the sports package steering wheel?

Looks like you have a diesel…unfortunately the steering wheel paddles are only compatible with the 35i/50i - several diesel owners here have done the swap and the paddles would not work.

Originally Posted by Kingloose

What about if you have heated steering wheel ?

With these steering wheels pictures here, not likely. You'll need a new upper trim piece on the steering wheel to support the paddle function (along with a 35i or 50i with Sport or M Sport) - even if the trim piece has a heat button, that doesn't mean the steering wheel will heat. Just depends on the specific wheel.

Gatorferoz25 - I see you have the heated wheel button, but is that wheel actually heated?

[Gatoferoz25]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Looks like you have a diesel…unfortunately the steering wheel paddles are only compatible with the 35i/50i - several diesel owners here have done the swap and the paddles would not work.

With these steering wheels pictures here, not likely. You'll need a new upper trim piece on the steering wheel to support the paddle function (along with a 35i or 50i with Sport or M Sport) - even if the trim piece has a heat button, that doesn't mean the steering wheel will heat. Just depends on the specific wheel.

Gatorferoz25 - I see you have the heated wheel button, but is that wheel actually heated?

Yes sir my wheel is heated

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by Gatoferoz25

Yes sir my wheel is heated

Nice