Paddle Shifter Retrofit
#1
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Paddle Shifter Retrofit
Back a few weeks ago I got the idea to try a paddle shifter retrofit on my car. I did a little digging around and found that owners of pre-facelift cars were getting the new wheels and sometimes discovering that the paddle shifters on their new wheels where working.
I started checking around some shops and was told by several that this was not possible. One said it didn't work on the later model cars. I was told I would need a new can gateway, TCU flashes, ECU upgrade, new wiring, etc. I was even told the transmission didn't support it. None of that made any sense to me. Especially the transmission not supporting the paddles. For one the stick does the same thing and the 7GTronic Plus is in many manual shift mode cars.
I started doing more digging with MB Marco and it started to look like it should be possible so I bought a wheel on ebay with paddle shifters.
After it arrived I swapped out the wheel and then nothing worked, not the buttons, horn, shifters, etc. MB Marco suggested I swap out the controller as that needs to be done between certain model years.
I did a tear down of both wheels side by side and the I made some interesting discoveries. My new wheel came with a lane assist vibration motor. However, the controller board did not have any pins. It had the socket but there were no pins for the motor to contact. This made me wonder if the controller had already been swapped. Or Mercedes may have just left motors in some wheels?
The next thing I discovered is everything inside the wheel was identical. The contact plate, the circuit board, pin connections, etc. Even my non paddle wheel had the internal structure to support the paddles. It only lacked the cutout and hole for the screw.
I put everything back together but used my original controller board in the new wheel. Once I put that on the car everything worked, including the paddles!
So it would appear if you have a later model facelift car you can easily retrofit paddle shifters to your car. The 2013 C250 I have only came with paddle shifters in the Sports Plus package as part of dynamic handling.
I would suspect someone good with a dremel could modify their wheel to take the paddles.
I have the SCN codes but now I just need to find someone that can program full manual mode in my car. Unfortunately Funkwagen is a bit far away.
I started checking around some shops and was told by several that this was not possible. One said it didn't work on the later model cars. I was told I would need a new can gateway, TCU flashes, ECU upgrade, new wiring, etc. I was even told the transmission didn't support it. None of that made any sense to me. Especially the transmission not supporting the paddles. For one the stick does the same thing and the 7GTronic Plus is in many manual shift mode cars.
I started doing more digging with MB Marco and it started to look like it should be possible so I bought a wheel on ebay with paddle shifters.
After it arrived I swapped out the wheel and then nothing worked, not the buttons, horn, shifters, etc. MB Marco suggested I swap out the controller as that needs to be done between certain model years.
I did a tear down of both wheels side by side and the I made some interesting discoveries. My new wheel came with a lane assist vibration motor. However, the controller board did not have any pins. It had the socket but there were no pins for the motor to contact. This made me wonder if the controller had already been swapped. Or Mercedes may have just left motors in some wheels?
The next thing I discovered is everything inside the wheel was identical. The contact plate, the circuit board, pin connections, etc. Even my non paddle wheel had the internal structure to support the paddles. It only lacked the cutout and hole for the screw.
I put everything back together but used my original controller board in the new wheel. Once I put that on the car everything worked, including the paddles!
So it would appear if you have a later model facelift car you can easily retrofit paddle shifters to your car. The 2013 C250 I have only came with paddle shifters in the Sports Plus package as part of dynamic handling.
I would suspect someone good with a dremel could modify their wheel to take the paddles.
I have the SCN codes but now I just need to find someone that can program full manual mode in my car. Unfortunately Funkwagen is a bit far away.
#2
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I really really hope when I get the AMG steering wheel I can get this to work, I still have my doubts but I guess will see.
#3
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As long as that wheel nut comes off it should be an easy swap.
I have a strong suspicion the AMG paddle would work in a non-AMG W204 wheel. The base looks the same as it does on the flat top/single screw paddle style. From there it a matter of connector. If you need to swap out your wheel controller it's just a matter of getting the wiring hooked up. These things are just big buttons.
I have a strong suspicion the AMG paddle would work in a non-AMG W204 wheel. The base looks the same as it does on the flat top/single screw paddle style. From there it a matter of connector. If you need to swap out your wheel controller it's just a matter of getting the wiring hooked up. These things are just big buttons.
#4
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Even though I only have gear limit mode now it has changed my driving style somewhat. I keep the car in E mode and downshift when power is needed or cornering. Doing a short hold on either the downshift paddle or stick drops the gear down for maximum power. Even just a single downshift in most circumstances produces a nice throttle response.
I also think it may impact the peddle curve as well to be more predictable.
I also think it may impact the peddle curve as well to be more predictable.
#5
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#6
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Yeah, and kind of easy and inexpensive too. I haven't seen it done much because facelift owners haven't been messing with their wheels very much.
In gear limit mode I discovered that if you start off in D2 you can punch it and get a nice automatic Sport/Sport+ mode up to the speed limit or reasonable road speed. You can upshift to get 3rd when ready. It will launch in D1 without hesitation or early shifts. Then do a hold on the upshift to shift up and cruse.
This would work with even the stick so anyone could give it a try. It gets rid of the throttle delay and makes the car driveable.
In gear limit mode I discovered that if you start off in D2 you can punch it and get a nice automatic Sport/Sport+ mode up to the speed limit or reasonable road speed. You can upshift to get 3rd when ready. It will launch in D1 without hesitation or early shifts. Then do a hold on the upshift to shift up and cruse.
This would work with even the stick so anyone could give it a try. It gets rid of the throttle delay and makes the car driveable.
Last edited by michail71; 05-15-2016 at 12:28 AM. Reason: typo
#7
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In gear limit mode I discovered that if you start off in D2 you can punch it and get a nice automatic Sport/Sport+ mode up to the speed limit or reasonable road speed. You can upshift to get 3rd when ready. It will launch in D1 without hesitation or early shifts. The do a hold on the upshift to shift up and cruse.
OK, I'm going to have to try this.
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#8
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Thread Starter
Let me know how it goes. With the paddles I find I do this all the time now and it has transformed the car handling.
Even with just the stick it will work. Put the car in D2 when you need a good power start. It's like a whole different car .
Even with just the stick it will work. Put the car in D2 when you need a good power start. It's like a whole different car .
#9
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Here is a photo that shows the connections for the paddle shifters. If your existing wheel controller has these pins you should be able to add paddles or swap out with a wheel that has them.
You can get a view of these by just unlatching the airbag. In the above photo I had done some disassembly of the wheel internals.
My car is a US model 2013 C250. There are reports on here that US cars didn't come pre-wired but mine was.
You can get a view of these by just unlatching the airbag. In the above photo I had done some disassembly of the wheel internals.
My car is a US model 2013 C250. There are reports on here that US cars didn't come pre-wired but mine was.
#12
Quick question, does the paddles comes with the wheel or I can order them at the dealer separatly?
I really want the paddles but I don't want to spend a lot of money to get the whole steering wheel. (I have a 2013 C350 coupe)
I really want the paddles but I don't want to spend a lot of money to get the whole steering wheel. (I have a 2013 C350 coupe)
#13
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I have seen them sold on ebay separate from wheels. Dealer cost would probably be close to what you could get a wheel for on ebay.
To do this you would need to still take the wheel off and do some custom drilling and Dremel work.
I'd be nervous about it but I would say it's possible. The wheels and wheel control module are otherwise identical, except for the lack of the cutouts.
To do this you would need to still take the wheel off and do some custom drilling and Dremel work.
I'd be nervous about it but I would say it's possible. The wheels and wheel control module are otherwise identical, except for the lack of the cutouts.
#14
Do you mind posting some pictures of the before and after of the steering wheel install. i really want to do this mod to my 2013 C250 since mine didn't come with paddles either
#15
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I didn't really take any because there were so many in the w204 steering wheel facelift retrofit thread. It's basically the same job but a little easier.
The only hard parts are paying for the new wheel and getting the factory wheel bolt off.
The only hard parts are paying for the new wheel and getting the factory wheel bolt off.
#16
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2013 C350, 2013 GL450, 2018 G550 4x4^2
Just finished installing paddles on my 2013 C350. I bought a set of paddles from a 2014 C63 black series 507 edition on eBay. Removed battery connections even though I didn't even disconnect the airbag. Removed the cover, cut out the hole. Mounted them up, and so far so good. Excellent mod and would not have been possible for me without this thread. So thank you for sharing this information.
Last edited by Isaac13; 09-07-2016 at 01:17 AM.
#17
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2013 C350, 2013 GL450, 2018 G550 4x4^2
how can I set my vehicle into manual mode now. I was trying to understand what u were saying. I need some special program? Is there anyway for me to be able to switch the program to manual without going to a dealership? Thanks
#18
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dealership won't do this. you need to find someone to code it into full manual mode for you. theres members that do this you just need to dig around. hopefully you live close to them or it might be a pain to get this done.
#20
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#22
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buy a used/new one you can get a good deal if you shop around. call auto wreckers and see if they have any. you can use your air bag if you get the same shaped wheel. so it doesn't matter if the air bag has deployed, because you can take apart your old wheel like I did and switch all internals. It's pretty easy to do.
#24
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mine was plug and play nothing else needed. just make sure you change your current steering wheel internals into the new wheel. I've read that you have to do that or the lights in the wheel won't work. I didn't want to risk doing it so I took mine apart the total job took about 30 Minutes. to get the wheel off, take it a part, put the new one together, and on.