BrianS

I installed my new steering wheel a couple weeks ago and retrofitted new E63 paddles as well. Getting the new paddles to work required me milling down the backside of the paddle itself and transferring the electronics from the old to the new, but I very pleased with the end result.

The wheel feels much better than the stock one and I highly recommend the mod. If you use you stock shifter buttons then it's a very easy install. Just be careful unplugging the airbag squib contacts. Here are some post-install pics.

phatmitzu

Looks awesome!

I understand that they are thicker than the stock wheels, but are the overall diameter smaller or about the same?

chiromikey

nice job! i'll say it now because the questions are coming. you're going to have to give some more details on the paddle swap.

zoink

About the same.... yes, the wheel feels much much better than stock. Highly recommended.

Yacht Master

Brian is that the same wheel that Finny did?
It looks great, I like the perforated leather.

BrianS

No, he did the Black Series wheel so he had to get a new airbag and make sure the control buttons worked. Mine took the stock airbag but the paddles needed fitting.

Also, a thank you to Blacksport350 for the heads-up on this.

BrianS

Will do. I'll snap a few more pics and add them in for more detailed write-up.

MB_Forever

Looks great......

Did you run into any problems with the wire connectors or did they fit right away?

stevebez

Same wheel as mine and I love it! 100% better feel than the thin pokey OEM S/wheel...

I'd like the paddles too - but I would need to make them work off the E55 electronics...

Any info on what exactly you did to the paddles to make em fit would be appreciated!!!

Blacksport350

Congrats to Brian for offering a good write up. I think I was one of the first to do this in an early car along with Finny (Finny used a Black Series wheel not the MP) who used a relay where I just modified the paddle with a microswitch. Brian took it a different route and reused the electronics from the original switch in the new paddle which appears to work equally well. The relay caused some issues for a couple of other guys that tried it so I think it is safe to abandon that method.

Anyway, the final outcome of the MP wheel with the E63 paddles is perfect. Now the only other steering mod I would want is a quicker ratio on the rack.

BrianS

Since I transferred the shifter switch from my old button housing to the new paddle housing, the connectors plugged in no problem because they were still the stock circuit boards with attached leads. I take a few more pics and you'll see what I mean.

BrianS

The airbag comes off easily and is held on by two T30 Torx screws. You'll need a long bit to access them, and unplug the two airbag connections and connection for other wheel controls.


Remove the airbag support bracket and transfer it to the new wheel and it will need to be off to access the shifter paddle connections.


Take the E63 paddle apart by removing the brass pin, remove the circuit board, and pull it out with the wire connection. I didn't take a pic of that but here's one of the new paddle base and the old shifter button switch. Once you get the old shifter switch out you will have to cut the circuit board to fit into the base of the E63 paddle. I used a Dremel drill with milling bit to clear an area for the switch. I also milled down the bump on the back of the aluminum paddle so it would contact the stock switch properly.


Mill down the plastic as far as possible to maximize the depth and push the trimmed stock switch into place with the internal spring.


Test a few times with a mulitmeter to make sure it contacts properly and reassemble.


The new shifter base is wider than the stock unit so I used an Xacto knife to open the hole up. The material is very easy to cut and do it a little at a time until the base pushes in very snugly.


You will have to drill a hole through the wheel to mount the new paddle because the old stock shifter is a press fit where the new paddles are screwed in by their base. Take your time to line up the shifter and mark where you want to drill. Remove the wheel padding from the inside and use appropriate size screw to hold the new paddle in place.


The new shifter base is longer than the stock on so there will be some over lap in the back. You can fill the small gap with black foam or nothing at all since you're the only one that knows it's there and can't be seen.



Hope that helped a bit.

phatmitzu

Awesome write-up as aways. Thanks Brian.

Do you have the part numbers for the e63 paddles?

chiromikey

vrus

Awesome job Brian!! You should be working in a mod-shop!!

P.S-> Anyone want a set of the oem 63 aluminum paddles.. I have a set sitting in the boxes brand new ready to go.. bought them to take measurements.. never did anything with them.

MB_Forever

Thanks for the write-up Brian, very helpful.....

stevebez

You have a PM....

BrianS

Thanks. Part number is 1712670046. They come as a pair and should run you about $80 or so.

BrianS

Many thanks! Also, my new SDS multiplexer, cables, and software should be arriving by the end of the week so I'll be having all sorts of fun.

phatmitzu

Thank you Sir!

KEELBOAT

Hi I have an 05 E500 with AMG Sport pkg (flamesuit on) and would like to put a steering wheel like that in mine. Of course I don't have the paddle shifters (E500...I know, I know) would that wheel fit my application? Could I fill in the switch holes? Or just leave non functional switches on (lame i know). Or are any of you guys aware of a similar style? Where else (besides PP) is it available and what is the model number? I have the same airbag setup/color. When I called PP to order, the salesman told me the computer told him wheel does not have a match for my car... I contacted MP as well but they have not yet responded.

Thanks in advance!

KEELBOAT

Yacht Master

Oh now I am just envious, What laptop are you going to use.

BrianS

I got mine from http://www.k1motorsport.com/ not PP. PP claimed they couldn't get all leather wheels and only inlayed wood was available. Guess they should have tried harder. Send K1 an email to see if they can answer your fitment questions to make sure but if it looks like mine then it should fit.

BrianS

I've got a couple of IBM Thinkpads sitting around so I'll probably grab the T41.

Blacksport350

Mine also came from K1 and was cheaper then at PP. THe amusing thing is that K1 gets them from PP and has PP drop ship them.