DVC

Has anyone done this conversion, particularly on their '06?

It appears from searching that the paddles and wheel controls will work, but that the airbag has to be switched out. Just wondering if anyone has actually done it.

Thanks!

BlkE55K

Sweet! The E64 finally came out? Does it have the 6.3TT motor?

DVC

LOL!

Fixed it thanks.

BlkE55K

But now my post is completely useless and makes no sense!

Alps

back on track, yep i have a E63 steering wheel and airbag on my 2005 build

DVC

LOL! Sorry, I didn't think about that. I think this thread will die quickly though.

Are you running stock mufflers with your LTs and cat delete? Is it much louder than stock at idle and cruise?

Thanks!

DVC

Alps- Thank you for the reply. Was the airbag the only thing you had to change? Other than that it was bolt-on? All of the controls work?

BlkE55K

Yes I am. It's definitely louder, but not significantly. When I open her up though, she sings like a fat opera singer.

GregMB

DVC,

If your objective is to get the larger aluminum paddles to replace the small buttons on the E55 wheel there is a simpler way.

I know I've seen a thread about retrofitting the paddles to the older wheel... quite a few pics and directions IIRC. Didn't look all that hard.... might be worth doing a little digging to find it.

Good Luck.


-G

Alps

yep as long as yours is 805 or 806 build it should be plug and play, the E63 steering wheel has a much better grip than the standard E55 wheel which i found a bit too thin.

DVC

Thank you Alps! So E63 wheel and bag, and you're good.

Greg- Thank you, that is a great suggestion. I do dig the grip on the 63 wheel but this would save some funds.

Blke55k- Fat opera singer is a very good way to put it. Sure is quiet stock.

slownrusty

I noticed that you have an '06 <- that is good news for the wiring for the audio and menu buttons as no connector swapping is required (just use the standard 3-pin connector from the E55 Clock Spring and connect to Number 4 below, which is the power distribution block on the E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series Wheels:



On the above picture:
1 & 2: Are for the Left and Right paddle shifters
3: Is the 6-in long 2x3-pin harness connectors from the air bag to the power distribution block
4: 3-pin connector from the factory Clock Spring that is tied to the yellow\green airbag connectors

The E55 and E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series Wheels have the same yellow and green airbag connectors so no problem there.

You will definitely need the airbag from the E63 and you have to make sure that the E63 wheel you buy has all the "guts" for the power distribution block, fasteners and brackets etc etc, most times when you buy these wheels they are hollow and empty on the inside. The following is a sample of airbags compatible with the E63:
CLK550
W211 E550
CLS550
S550
CLS63
CLK63
S63

And these airbags range from $200-$350 used in good shape with the audio and menu buttons included.

The E55 has the power distribution block built onto the back of airbag where as the E63\CLS63\CLK63\ Black Series Wheels has it built onto the body of the steering wheel itself (as shown in the picture above), so obviously the connector from 3 to the air bag is very critical and often not included. I had the hugest pain in the *** sourcing one.

I was going to do a full write up with pictures this weekend on my car as I just finished this E63 conversion myself (which took weeks of souring parts, comparing wheels and harnesses plugs etc etc).

I am not a big fan of the E63 paddles on the E55 steering wheels as the fitment is poor, you have to take apart the shifters and Dremel the heck out of them then attach the paddles to the wheel with a self tapping screw (!) from inside the wheel, while this method works and is proven the look of the end result leaves alot to be desired.

CityOfAngels

Are you sure the the 63 wheel works with the 55? I've seen a few threads where people said the connectors are different?

So you're saying that all I need is the E63 (W211) wheel and airbag and its a direct plug and play? All functions work the same?

slownrusty

Only on mid '05 and all '06 models.

DVC

Slownrusty- Thank you for the AWESOME POST!!

slownrusty

My pleasure! Pics to come.

SterlingE55

Throw back bump. Slownrusty, do you happen to have the part numbers for those cables? Those are the only things I'm missing at this point.