Hulk

try going into the shifter module and control unit adaptations variant coding and then paddle shifters, yours should be set to "WITHOUT SHIFTER BUTTONS" AND CHANGE TO "WITH SHIFTER BUTTONS"

latemodel21

the 04 TCU will allow your 03 E55 to shift (from steering wheel mounted buttons or paddles) in all modes . The same applys to SL55s. You may have to change the coding in your 04 TCU (depending on what it came out of). The 04 tcu that I put in my 03 SL55 was coded for an E55 so I had to change the coding when I installed it.

according to mercedes, you need to swap out the TCU and valve body as a pair (04s used blue top solenoids and 03s didn't)

Cheers,
Chris

Hulk

Not true, I have a late model 2005 E55 and I have used tcus from 04 and 03 without issues

latemodel21

I wont argue with you. Mercedes has created EPC entries and circulated service bulletins that were in error before and I'm sure they will again.

I swapped them at the same time so I can't make a claim either way.

I can say from first hand experience that changing the coding on an 03 tcu to that of an 04 did not work (from AM31 to AM72 in my case IIRC). The paddle function did not change and the shifts were sometimes hard and then one day it shifted into neutral on its own (yikes).

Your suggestion to change the coding from "WITHOUT SHIFTER BUTTONS" AND CHANGE TO "WITH SHIFTER BUTTONS" is worth exploring (I'm curious enough to plug my 03 tcu back in sometime and check it out) however, I think that path is more likley applicable to changing from 04 to 05 (e55) paddles (where the signal path changed from being processed in the floor shifter to being process in the N80 module).

Cheers,
Chris

worth pointing out .... your experience could only indicate that the newer valve body is backward compatible and does not address Mercedes assertion that the old valve body is NOT forward compatible. just sayin ...

Hulk

As far as I know a few guys have changed their tcu with no adverse effects without changing the valve bodies

latemodel21

one just appeared on Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281764331631

thechop

Been looking at all these threads on E55 paddle shifters. Actually we are talking about extensions I take it. I 've searched the web emailed manufacturers and there really seems nobody that makes extensions for the E55 as far as I can find, conversions yes, simple extensions no.

So went into garage and designed up a set. Going to have them water jet out this morning and see what the price is going to come out at. A far as attachment ,if your fine with double side tape as I see many are attached with short of the very very expensive conversion ...clear silicone will work just fine and is more than up to the task of strength and adhesion

I will post a pic of the template design and the actual aluminum paddles after they are cutout. The recess on the button is more than enough to capture adequate silicone and supply a strong attachment. If this all work I will post soon with finished pics. . CHOP

In closing I have to thank you all for the amazing amount of information I have been taking in for the past 6 months reading these threads. Yes I am a newbie (how can you be a newbie at my age , sounds good).
Hope I have a solution for those with the E55 paddle extension question.

johnhef

Explored that option too initially, car was already set to with shifter buttons. Didn't catch the eBay one till just now, still on the hunt for one to come in my local yard. Interesting not about the blue top solenoids though. I'm going to try the module first and see what happens. As far as getting larger paddles, they have a E63 wheel with the large aluminum paddles waiting for me on hold