R63 Paddleshifters Retrofitted
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
R63 Paddleshifters Retrofitted
So, I managed to retrofit successfully a pair of C63 paddles to replace the buttons. It took some work - enlarged the hole for the larger paddles and some original button connectors had to be spliced to the new paddles.
But, everything works perfectly and looks bone stock.
Awesome!!
But, everything works perfectly and looks bone stock.
Awesome!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 1
From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
Looks good, any particular reason you didn't just do a whole wheel swap? The C63 flat bottom wheel would have looked great and would do away with the current shift buttons located inside the wheel itself.
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
Price
Hi, agreed with your thoughts but it was price.
To do this kind of a retrofit was 30% the cost of buying a new C63 wheel AND airbag. R63 airbags does not work with the C63 flat bottom wheel, and there was no guarantee from MB parts dept they would fit.
To do this kind of a retrofit was 30% the cost of buying a new C63 wheel AND airbag. R63 airbags does not work with the C63 flat bottom wheel, and there was no guarantee from MB parts dept they would fit.
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Newport Beach, CA, ARIZONA
08 clk63 amg black series
do you have instructions on how to remove the steering wheel without going to a dealer? i would love to do the same on my car, but have only removed steering wheels from american cars before. its also impossible to find any info on the internet about diy work on mercedes cars. the car looks sick.
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
Sorry...had my trusted MB tech do the work.
What I was told:
Steering wheel comes off. Old buttons removed. Opening enlarged. Old button connectors spliced to the C63 paddles. Reinstalled.
About 2 hours/side.
I love the paddles...so much better than the buttons.
What I was told:
Steering wheel comes off. Old buttons removed. Opening enlarged. Old button connectors spliced to the C63 paddles. Reinstalled.
About 2 hours/side.
I love the paddles...so much better than the buttons.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver British Columbia
09 E320 Bluetec
do you have instructions on how to remove the steering wheel without going to a dealer? i would love to do the same on my car, but have only removed steering wheels from american cars before. its also impossible to find any info on the internet about diy work on mercedes cars. the car looks sick.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 14
From: Sydney, Australia
Vath ML63 Brabus C63 SL63 CLK63BS C63BS
I am going to try this modification out myself. What sort of tactile feel do you get from the paddleshifters. In my C63 you need to apply a fractional amount of pressure to depress the paddles as the ofer a slight amount of resistance to being pressed which i like. Is it the same in your conversion?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,136
Likes: 5
Corrolla
I am going to try this modification out myself. What sort of tactile feel do you get from the paddleshifters. In my C63 you need to apply a fractional amount of pressure to depress the paddles as the ofer a slight amount of resistance to being pressed which i like. Is it the same in your conversion?
Andy
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
Feeling of paddleshifters
The feeling from your C63 should be the same as this retrofit, because the paddles retrofitted are the exact same paddles as on your C63.
Of note, this is not simple replacement`.
The steering wheel will need to be trimmed to accept the larger C63 paddles. The mounting points are different as well, so new casing may need to be made to fix the paddles in place.
From what I know - the 2007 R63 AND ML63 buttons are exactly the same.
An easier but more expensive option for you would be to buy the new ML63 (2009 onwards) steering wheel with the paddles already in place.
Of note, this is not simple replacement`.
The steering wheel will need to be trimmed to accept the larger C63 paddles. The mounting points are different as well, so new casing may need to be made to fix the paddles in place.
From what I know - the 2007 R63 AND ML63 buttons are exactly the same.
An easier but more expensive option for you would be to buy the new ML63 (2009 onwards) steering wheel with the paddles already in place.
I am going to try this modification out myself. What sort of tactile feel do you get from the paddleshifters. In my C63 you need to apply a fractional amount of pressure to depress the paddles as the ofer a slight amount of resistance to being pressed which i like. Is it the same in your conversion?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,136
Likes: 5
Corrolla
So, I managed to retrofit successfully a pair of C63 paddles to replace the buttons. It took some work - enlarged the hole for the larger paddles and some original button connectors had to be spliced to the new paddles.
But, everything works perfectly and looks bone stock.
Awesome!!
But, everything works perfectly and looks bone stock.
Awesome!!
Andy
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
Little black buttons
Small buttons. If you look at my pic of the steering wheel, you will notice a + and - on the steering wheel button.
Immediately behind them are buttons - completely different from the paddles that were installed in 2009 onwards AMG cars.
Basically, with the buttons, I never used them as they were hard to find.
With the paddles, well, it's just natural to use them.
Sorry I did not take a picture before and after.
Immediately behind them are buttons - completely different from the paddles that were installed in 2009 onwards AMG cars.
Basically, with the buttons, I never used them as they were hard to find.
With the paddles, well, it's just natural to use them.
Sorry I did not take a picture before and after.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,136
Likes: 5
Corrolla
Small buttons. If you look at my pic of the steering wheel, you will notice a + and - on the steering wheel button.
Immediately behind them are buttons - completely different from the paddles that were installed in 2009 onwards AMG cars.
Basically, with the buttons, I never used them as they were hard to find.
With the paddles, well, it's just natural to use them.
Sorry I did not take a picture before and after.
Immediately behind them are buttons - completely different from the paddles that were installed in 2009 onwards AMG cars.
Basically, with the buttons, I never used them as they were hard to find.
With the paddles, well, it's just natural to use them.
Sorry I did not take a picture before and after.
Andy
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
R63 decal and steering wheel badge
Added a decal to the back - it sums up pretty much how I feel about the R63.
Added an Affalterbach badge to the steering wheel - completely useless.
And my "other" car...."a dime a dozen nowadays".....lol
Honestly, if someone told me I had to give up either the 997TT or R63, I'd give up the 997TT in a heartbeat hahahaha
Added an Affalterbach badge to the steering wheel - completely useless.
And my "other" car...."a dime a dozen nowadays".....lol
Honestly, if someone told me I had to give up either the 997TT or R63, I'd give up the 997TT in a heartbeat hahahaha
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
The holes need to be larger so they have to be trimmed.
Connectors have to be spliced - old connectors on to the new paddles.
I am not sure about the paddles...for me, buying the C63 paddles was a shot in the dark, and I was lucky that my MB tech was innovative.
No problems about the questions - I do my best to answer.
CLK63 should work as well.
Connectors have to be spliced - old connectors on to the new paddles.
I am not sure about the paddles...for me, buying the C63 paddles was a shot in the dark, and I was lucky that my MB tech was innovative.
No problems about the questions - I do my best to answer.
CLK63 should work as well.
My car have those buttons too and I guess if those AMG paddles fitted your I think mine will fit too. Do those paddles fit right into the stock one or you have to cut the hole larger to fit the AMG one ? Any solder involve ? Also is it only the C63 paddles will fit ? Can I use the one from CLK63 ? Sorry for too many questions at one.
Andy
Andy
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,136
Likes: 5
Corrolla
The holes need to be larger so they have to be trimmed.
Connectors have to be spliced - old connectors on to the new paddles.
I am not sure about the paddles...for me, buying the C63 paddles was a shot in the dark, and I was lucky that my MB tech was innovative.
No problems about the questions - I do my best to answer.
CLK63 should work as well.
Connectors have to be spliced - old connectors on to the new paddles.
I am not sure about the paddles...for me, buying the C63 paddles was a shot in the dark, and I was lucky that my MB tech was innovative.
No problems about the questions - I do my best to answer.
CLK63 should work as well.
Andy
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 14
From: Sydney, Australia
Vath ML63 Brabus C63 SL63 CLK63BS C63BS
I have a 2007 ML63 which came with buttons but no paddles, and the 2009 ML63 steering wheel is not compatible with the 2007 model unfortunately
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
That's too bad.....the key to make it work is either a good MB tech or if you are so inclined, a good do-it yourselfer - which I am not.
Good luck man. It's worth it, and adds an entirely new dimension to the driving experience.
Good luck man. It's worth it, and adds an entirely new dimension to the driving experience.
Thread Starter
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 48
GLS63, R63, Cayenne Turbo & GTC4 Lusso
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, NV
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Aston Martin, Chevrolet
So, I managed to retrofit successfully a pair of C63 paddles to replace the buttons. It took some work - enlarged the hole for the larger paddles and some original button connectors had to be spliced to the new paddles.
But, everything works perfectly and looks bone stock.
Awesome!!
But, everything works perfectly and looks bone stock.
Awesome!!
