DCT paddles on M3 steering wheel

Barmats · 11-10-2008, 05:27 PM

I had recently modified my M3 wheel w/tri-color stitching for the step paddles, but ended up buying a set of the DCT paddles (30% Microsoft Live discount!). I installed the DCT paddles yesterday. The shift action is very different from the step paddles - there's a very distinct click or detent in the shifting, quite unlike the step. There's absolutely no question when you've pulled the paddles to initiate an up or downshift.

I'm still getting used to the downshift, but I have to say it's a very good mod. The shift pattern is more logical (even though I'm still getting used to it), and the action is firm and distinct. I don't quite know why -- I'm sure it's more psychological than anything else -- but I'm really enjoying driving the car in DS using the paddles more than ever before. Maybe it's because of how much the darn things cost...

z4mber · 11-10-2008, 08:26 PM

nicely done!

phattbam · 11-10-2008, 11:01 PM

That's spicy.. thanks for posting... the left paddle as the downshift will take some getting used to. I've had mine modded shortly after I picked it up.. I'll be used to it when I get them.

darkphantom · 11-10-2008, 11:21 PM

how much were they? heard they were pricey

monacoblue335i · 11-10-2008, 11:26 PM

Now you need the M wheel cover to complete the mod.

darkphantom · 11-10-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monacoblue335i

Now you need the M wheel cover to complete the mod.

he doesn't need that...he needs the CF cover

phattbam · 11-10-2008, 11:36 PM

yeah.. M trim makes a difference. It's about $90 for that piece.

Barmats · 11-11-2008, 09:28 AM

I'd be a poser if I used the //M multi-function switch cover.

I am thinking about the CF switch cover. Ultimately, I'd love the entire interior trim to be CF but at this point, I have none. Perhaps this should be my first CF mod.

Barmats · 11-11-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

how much were they? heard they were pricey

Unfortunately, you are correct. I bought them for $599 (per pair) from Roveractive, an eBay vendor, and took advantage of a Microsoft Live 30% discount (price after discount = $420). I see the Microsoft discount is currently at 25%, still a pretty good price break. Tisher has a good price for these paddles, and sells them for either $565 or $585 (forget which but it was probably the higher of the two).

phattbam · 11-11-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barmats

I'd be a poser if I used the //M multi-function switch cover.

I am thinking about the CF switch cover. Ultimately, I'd love the entire interior trim to be CF but at this point, I have none. Perhaps this should be my first CF mod.

cmon... it matches the M3 steering wheel though.

Barmats · 11-11-2008, 09:39 AM

I don't disagree that it wouldn't look good... (that means it would look good, right?)

phattbam · 11-11-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barmats

I don't disagree that it wouldn't look good... (that means it would look good, right?)

just do it.. I have my Mtech(also same as 135i wheel) I got the M trim for it. it matches. the original sport trim overhangs ever so slightly that I decided to change it out.

monacoblue335i · 11-11-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phattbam

just do it.. I have my Mtech(also same as 135i wheel) I got the M trim for it. it matches. the original sport trim overhangs ever so slightly that I decided to change it out.

I might have to get the M trim as well. Not only the original sport trim overhangs, it does not close the edge very well. But it's almost $100 just for a cover.

Barmats · 11-11-2008, 11:42 AM

Links to buy this? Or e90post vendor?

monacoblue335i · 11-11-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barmats

Links to buy this? Or e90post vendor?

Go to eBay and search for "BMW M Steering Wheel Cover". BMW of Bloomfield is selling them for $95 plus $8 shipping. I am waiting a quote from Tischer BMW.

phattbam · 11-11-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barmats

Links to buy this? Or e90post vendor?

tischerBMW on the forums. check them in the vendor section

Quote:

Originally Posted by monacoblue335i

Go to eBay and search for "BMW M Steering Wheel Cover". BMW of Bloomfield is selling them for $95 plus $8 shipping. I am waiting a quote from Tischer BMW.

not bad. It "flows" better I think..

Barmats · 11-11-2008, 12:05 PM

Okay, now I'm thinking about it... Ebay still has the Microsoft Live discount going but it's dropped from 30% to 25%. Not bad for $71.25 + $8 shipping, though.

phattbam · 11-11-2008, 12:36 PM

yeah.. they need to bump it back to 30%

phattbam · 12-01-2008, 02:19 PM

expect to see my own update soon.

alq80 · 12-01-2008, 07:42 PM

sweet!
i wanna do this... i hate the normal paddles

adamaster · 12-02-2008, 07:28 AM

sweet!

kuvesh · 12-02-2008, 08:47 AM

where's the cheapest place to get the dct paddles... i would have done this mod a long time ago if those damn things weren't so expensive...

11-10-2008, 05:27 PM	#1
Barmats Lieutenant 17 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X5 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	DCT paddles on M3 steering wheel I had recently modified my M3 wheel w/tri-color stitching for the step paddles, but ended up buying a set of the DCT paddles (30% Microsoft Live discount!). I installed the DCT paddles yesterday. The shift action is very different from the step paddles - there's a very distinct click or detent in the shifting, quite unlike the step. There's absolutely no question when you've pulled the paddles to initiate an up or downshift. I'm still getting used to the downshift, but I have to say it's a very good mod. The shift pattern is more logical (even though I'm still getting used to it), and the action is firm and distinct. I don't quite know why -- I'm sure it's more psychological than anything else -- but I'm really enjoying driving the car in DS using the paddles more than ever before. Maybe it's because of how much the darn things cost... Attached Images
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11-10-2008, 08:26 PM	#2
z4mber Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 217 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (4)	nicely done!
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11-10-2008, 11:01 PM	#3
phattbam Major General 180 Rep 5,822 Posts Drives: '17 Protonic Blue i3 REx Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: sf area iTrader: (21)	That's spicy.. thanks for posting... the left paddle as the downshift will take some getting used to. I've had mine modded shortly after I picked it up.. I'll be used to it when I get them.
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11-10-2008, 11:21 PM	#4
darkphantom Banned 595 Rep 5,946 Posts Drives: E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The place for Bimmers iTrader: (4)	how much were they? heard they were pricey
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11-10-2008, 11:26 PM	#5
monacoblue335i Private First Class 4 Rep 116 Posts Drives: E90 335i, E46 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SF Bay Area/Taipei iTrader: (2)	Now you need the M wheel cover to complete the mod.
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11-10-2008, 11:36 PM	#7
phattbam Major General 180 Rep 5,822 Posts Drives: '17 Protonic Blue i3 REx Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: sf area iTrader: (21)	yeah.. M trim makes a difference. It's about $90 for that piece.
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11-11-2008, 09:28 AM	#8
Barmats Lieutenant 17 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X5 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	I'd be a poser if I used the //M multi-function switch cover. I am thinking about the CF switch cover. Ultimately, I'd love the entire interior trim to be CF but at this point, I have none. Perhaps this should be my first CF mod.
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11-11-2008, 09:39 AM	#11
Barmats Lieutenant 17 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X5 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	I don't disagree that it wouldn't look good... (that means it would look good, right?)
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11-11-2008, 11:42 AM	#14
Barmats Lieutenant 17 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X5 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	Links to buy this? Or e90post vendor?
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11-11-2008, 12:05 PM	#17
Barmats Lieutenant 17 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X5 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	Okay, now I'm thinking about it... Ebay still has the Microsoft Live discount going but it's dropped from 30% to 25%. Not bad for $71.25 + $8 shipping, though.
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11-11-2008, 12:36 PM	#18
phattbam Major General 180 Rep 5,822 Posts Drives: '17 Protonic Blue i3 REx Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: sf area iTrader: (21)	yeah.. they need to bump it back to 30%
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12-01-2008, 02:19 PM	#19
phattbam Major General 180 Rep 5,822 Posts Drives: '17 Protonic Blue i3 REx Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: sf area iTrader: (21)	expect to see my own update soon.
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12-01-2008, 07:42 PM	#20
alq80 Lieutenant 45 Rep 437 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA / Kuwait iTrader: (3)	sweet! i wanna do this... i hate the normal paddles __________________ 335i . Montego Blue . HKS Exhaust .
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12-02-2008, 07:28 AM	#21
adamaster Brigadier General 127 Rep 3,196 Posts Drives: BMW E90/E92 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Home iTrader: (89)	sweet!
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12-02-2008, 08:47 AM	#22
kuvesh Lieutenant 26 Rep 513 Posts Drives: e92 335i juiced Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: singapore iTrader: (1)	where's the cheapest place to get the dct paddles... i would have done this mod a long time ago if those damn things weren't so expensive... __________________ HAMANN FRONT APRON, SIDES, ROOF SPOILER & QUAD DIFFUSER \| VORSTEINER VRS TRUNK \| CSC3 ON 19” ADVAN RS \| BREMBO GT BBK \| BASTUCK QUAD \| KW V2 \| JB3 v1.3s beta \| BMW PERFORMANCE STEERING WHEEL \| M3 SIDE MIRRORS \| M5 SMG SHIFT KNOB \| BLACKOUT GRILLS \| PARTIALLY SMOKED LIGHTS \| WINDOW TINT
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