flyjets01

diablo2112

Funny we all want what we don't have............

I want that beautiful wood wheel in your photo so next week she is off to Texas for that wood.

I have one of the AMG sport packages with the shifters nice feature but I hardly use them.

Ian

atebit

So I picked up a leather wheel with paddle shifter cutouts a few weeks back. Then I went to the dealer to start pricing out parts for the paddle shifters. They quoted me over $400 just for the shifters alone w/o any of the other parts I'd need! Can anyone suggest a more reasonably priced alternative??

mbial

I just purchased a 2005 SL500 without steering wheel shifters. I purchased a wood and leather steering wheel a few days ago that has the button shifters (I didn't realize this when I bought it.) Does anyone have any insight on how to make this work? I know the codes for "paddle" shifters vs. "button" shifters on the STAR diagnostic are actually different, but will I need any additional hardware (ie Control Module) in order to get this retrofitted? Thanks so much for everyone's insight.

Best,
Matt

abdalim

Hello diablo2112,

May be it is quite late to ask this question. I am trying to retrofit a steering wheel with paddle to my 2005 w211. I just want to get some info on the part number you have used to get this work.
what are the part no. for slipring, steering wheel control module and interface box and also for model 2006 what part no. they used.

thanks you

thunderball

Hi all
I have a SL500 from 02/2006 with no paddle shift as std.
I bought a SL65 AMG Black series sttering wheel with paddle to upgrade mine. I connected the wires but shifts don't change when I press the paddles.
Do I have to add more hardware?
My dealer has to reprogram something?
Thank you
Eric

Rudeney

I believe you are going to need some coding done in SDS to activate them.

thunderball

Thank you Rudeney.
You mean, my MB service guy dealer can just reprogram and it will work?
Eric

latemodel21

Let me start by mentioning that I know more than a bit about this stuff as I manufacture the analog to digital "Mercedes Paddle Converter" module used to make paddles plug and play on 2003 to 2006 AMGs along with various other paddle integration solutions for Mercedes and Porsche vehicles (and have personally done hundreds of paddle conversions).

to begin ...
Mercedes had various ways of implementing paddles on the R230...
SL55 and SL65 through 2006 used analog shift buttons that were wired directly though the clockspring to the floor shifter.


2007 (late 2006?) through 2008 SL55 and SL65 used paddles that were digital (normally open switch). Their signal was added to the Canbus in the N80 (jacket tube module).

2004 through ? (2006?) SL500 (non amg) that CAME with shift buttons, (Cars with the AMG Appearance option) were digital (had an up/down button on each side of the wheel). The shift buttons were plugged into a special N135 module (small module under airbag) which in turn was plugged into the clockspring. addtionally , 2 wires were added to the harness at the N80 module (jumpering the heated wheel circuit being used for shift buttons back into the N80 where they were added to the CANbus. These cars are/were plug compatible with the AMG (digital) aluminum paddles.

NOW, on to your issue...

NOT CLEAR to me what wheel you got , but I will assume it is a 2007+ spec wheel with aluminum paddles

You need to add the correct n135 module (for cars that came with the amg appearance package) AND, you will likely need to change the N80 (the amg appearance pack cars came with a different N80/jacket tube module that supported paddles).
the correct N80 module is 033 545 6232
the car also needs to be coded 428 HOWEVER, it is possible that if you get the N80 out of a car that had the 428 option that the N80 is already coded sufficiently.
If you have other questions (I can send you info on jumpers that need to be added to the harness, etc) feel free to send me an email at Latemodel21@yahoo.com

hope that helped

Cheers,
Chris

thunderball

Thanks Chris
I am impressed by your expertise.
Will contact you by mail;
Kind regards
Eric

sl6renntech

Hi Chris. I have a 2007 SL600. if it's not too much trouble, can you share what I will need to do to add a paddle shifter steering wheel? Is it possible or too complex? Many thanks! Niko

latemodel21

Hi Niko,
adding paddles to your 2007 SL600 would be a great update! I would also consider updating to the 2009+ airbag and steering wheel. You could get the wheel with paddles. The Airbag is 100% backward compatible for your car (all buttons and horn will work) AND, the 2009+ airbag has the correct n135 module functionality built in (so you dont have to source the correct N135 module. Here is a pic.

2009+ R230 SL63 sport wheel


Cooler still is the 2009+ SL65 Black Series wheel

2009+ SL65 Black Series wheel


I have these wheels and airbags in stock (in various colors, but mostly black) and the correct N80 module your car needs to work with paddles). But, if you decide to stay with the 4-spoke wheel/air bag, I have the correct N135 module that you would need for adding paddles.

The process is as I previously outlined ...
You need to add the correct n135 module (that came in cars that came with the amg appearance package) unfortunately there is no part number for this part as it was only available from Mercedes as part of the steering wheel, but I do stock them AND, you will need to change the N80 (the amg appearance pack cars came with a different N80/jacket tube module that supported paddles).
the correct N80 module is 033 545 6232
the car also needs to be coded 428 . You also need to add 2 jumpers to the harness in the steering column (I can send you info on jumpers that need to be added to the harness, etc)

If you want more details, feel free to send me an email at Latemodel21@yahoo.com
Cheers,
Chris

trimix

Hi after reading this thread I am not seeing how to change to a retrofit or either just replace the buttons seeing they turned sticky from sitting for years.

Anyone change a 2006 SL 600 R230 ?

latemodel21

Hi trimix,
Fortunately for you, unlike the 2006 SL55 and SL65, your 2006 SL600 came from the factory electronically/plug compatible with the AMG aluminum shifters used in R230s from 2007-2016 (part number 230 267 0046).

I have converted this exact wheel to real AMG paddles many times and it not particularly difficult. Here is a close up of the factory shift button pocket with the base of an AMG paddle inserted (after it has been opened up some) to demonstate how well the paddle fills the pocket (red circles highlight the only bits that aren't completely concealed).

If you want more details, feel free to send me an email at Latemodel21@yahoo.com
Cheers,
Chris