E63 Paddle Shifters or Rocker Switches
03-15-2011, 04:04 PM
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2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
E63 Paddle Shifters or Rocker Switches
Hi, just wanted to start a thread since people were interested about the paddle shifters from parts.com. The correct part number is A 171 267 00 46. They cost approximately $95 and are very nice 
Let me know if anyone has any questions 
Let me know if anyone has any questions
03-15-2011, 04:55 PM
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03-15-2011, 07:17 PM
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Most excellent! Was excited when you posted your original thread.
When you pull off the plastic bags, can you take a photograph of how the gray paddle contacts the sensor?
I want these so bad, but don't want to cut up my steering wheel. If the paddles have a flat face that contacts the switch, it'd be almost too good to be true...
When you pull off the plastic bags, can you take a photograph of how the gray paddle contacts the sensor?
I want these so bad, but don't want to cut up my steering wheel. If the paddles have a flat face that contacts the switch, it'd be almost too good to be true...
03-15-2011, 08:13 PM
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Guys. Go read Brain's thread here...https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...installed.html
It's not as easy as just swopping parts! It took about 4-5 hrs to do correctly. I think Shardul's install was about the same.
It's not as easy as just swopping parts! It took about 4-5 hrs to do correctly. I think Shardul's install was about the same.
03-16-2011, 12:48 AM
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2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
No Problem It looks like the only route to go is by switching the old electrical from the e55 switch to the e63 switch and modifying the steering wheel. The e63 housing is specifically made for the paddle to work so there is no workaround like I thought there may be. I will post pictures up while doing it this week! 
Yes I will Looks like some surgery will need to be done as others have done in other threads.
It looks like the only route to go is by switching the old electrical from the e55 switch to the e63 switch and modifying the steering wheel. The e63 housing is specifically made for the paddle to work so there is no workaround like I thought there may be. I will post pictures up while doing it this week! Most excellent! Was excited when you posted your original thread.
When you pull off the plastic bags, can you take a photograph of how the gray paddle contacts the sensor?
I want these so bad, but don't want to cut up my steering wheel. If the paddles have a flat face that contacts the switch, it'd be almost too good to be true...
When you pull off the plastic bags, can you take a photograph of how the gray paddle contacts the sensor?
I want these so bad, but don't want to cut up my steering wheel. If the paddles have a flat face that contacts the switch, it'd be almost too good to be true...
Looks like some surgery will need to be done as others have done in other threads.
03-18-2011, 03:24 AM
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2004 E55, 1997 E320 "Sold"
Hey Guys! Since I was doing the E63 paddle shifter conversion on my E55 steering wheel I thought I would do a write-up. My instructions are basically the same as BrianS, but with a bit more detail I think. Here we go
1) The e55 paddle shifters need to be opened using a very small torx screwdriver which can be bought at lowes or home depot. Each e55 shifter has a circuit board inside with a button that needs to be removed. Below are the pictures of the two circuit boards (both are slightly different). The one with the capacitor looking thing will be harder to fit into the e63 shifter housing, but it can be done.
2) The next step is to open the E63 Paddle Shifter housing by removing the brass pin and removing the old circuit board. This can be done with a hammer and hammering pick or whatever works.
3) The next step is to take a Dremel with any attachment that you choose and carve out space in the e63 housing for the new circuit board to go in, and also trim down the circuit itself as small as possible!
Caution!!! Do not cut off the tab that holds the spring in place that allows the shifter to spring up and down.
Below are pictures of the e63 housing and the circuit boards fitted inside. The key to this is to mill down the black bottom as far as possible to maximize the depth which the circuit will sit. I actually went through the bottom a little bit, but it was no problem.
Step 4) The aluminum paddle shifters will need to have the bump on the back part shaved down using a dremel. This will take about 15 minutes of work because it is very hard to mill down (This will maximize depth and allow the button to be pressed when reassembled). I constantly checked the fitments by putting the whole housing together and testing the button to determine how far I needed to go as far as cutting into the aluminum paddle.
Caution!!! Do not cut too deep into the aluminum paddle or you could end up with a hole in the back!
Step 5) I positioned the circuit boards in their plastic housings and super glued the bottom down, so when sealed up they would not move. Next, put the spring back on the tab and seal up the e63 paddle shifter, and return the brass pin by hammering. The paddle shifter should work correctly when pressing down and releasing (shooting for the exact same feel and click that was present when the e63 paddles were taken out of the box and new). I tested both of mine using a multimeter before sealing up.
Step 6) Position the paddles in the back of the steering wheel and use a Xacto knife to carefully cut the plastic/foam so that the paddles will fit snugly.
Step 7) Position the paddles in their altered hole, and try to line-up as best as possible where the screw goes in the bottom of the e63 housing and make a mark (holds the shifter solidly in place). Next, remove the shifter and drill a small hole all the way through the back of the steering wheel into the inside.
Step 8) Place the paddles back in their holes, and take an appropriate sized screw and washer and tighten down the paddle shifter from the inside of the steering wheel.
The final product will be the paddle shifters fitting snugly and secure for years of enjoyment.
1) The e55 paddle shifters need to be opened using a very small torx screwdriver which can be bought at lowes or home depot. Each e55 shifter has a circuit board inside with a button that needs to be removed. Below are the pictures of the two circuit boards (both are slightly different). The one with the capacitor looking thing will be harder to fit into the e63 shifter housing, but it can be done.
2) The next step is to open the E63 Paddle Shifter housing by removing the brass pin and removing the old circuit board. This can be done with a hammer and hammering pick or whatever works.
3) The next step is to take a Dremel with any attachment that you choose and carve out space in the e63 housing for the new circuit board to go in, and also trim down the circuit itself as small as possible!
Caution!!! Do not cut off the tab that holds the spring in place that allows the shifter to spring up and down.
Below are pictures of the e63 housing and the circuit boards fitted inside. The key to this is to mill down the black bottom as far as possible to maximize the depth which the circuit will sit. I actually went through the bottom a little bit, but it was no problem.
Step 4) The aluminum paddle shifters will need to have the bump on the back part shaved down using a dremel. This will take about 15 minutes of work because it is very hard to mill down (This will maximize depth and allow the button to be pressed when reassembled). I constantly checked the fitments by putting the whole housing together and testing the button to determine how far I needed to go as far as cutting into the aluminum paddle.
Caution!!! Do not cut too deep into the aluminum paddle or you could end up with a hole in the back!
Step 5) I positioned the circuit boards in their plastic housings and super glued the bottom down, so when sealed up they would not move. Next, put the spring back on the tab and seal up the e63 paddle shifter, and return the brass pin by hammering. The paddle shifter should work correctly when pressing down and releasing (shooting for the exact same feel and click that was present when the e63 paddles were taken out of the box and new). I tested both of mine using a multimeter before sealing up.
Step 6) Position the paddles in the back of the steering wheel and use a Xacto knife to carefully cut the plastic/foam so that the paddles will fit snugly.
Step 7) Position the paddles in their altered hole, and try to line-up as best as possible where the screw goes in the bottom of the e63 housing and make a mark (holds the shifter solidly in place). Next, remove the shifter and drill a small hole all the way through the back of the steering wheel into the inside.
Step 8) Place the paddles back in their holes, and take an appropriate sized screw and washer and tighten down the paddle shifter from the inside of the steering wheel.
The final product will be the paddle shifters fitting snugly and secure for years of enjoyment.
Last edited by mikey33; 03-18-2011 at 08:05 AM.
03-18-2011, 01:48 PM
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2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600
I was going to buy the kleeman steering wheel that was put up for sale yesterday but i sold within minutes. if the deal went through you were going to get my steering wheel with the paddles.
03-18-2011, 02:32 PM
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03-18-2011, 02:33 PM
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I think was discussed a few years ago but why can't we use a W211 E63,550 or 350 steering wheels that come with the paddles from the factory?
