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      02-27-2017, 12:37 PM   #1
Yeineken
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F8X M DCT Paddles (Retrofitted)

UPDATE:

This retrofit is possible, and came out great. This means you can use the stock F8X or Autotechnic paddles with this retrofit.



------------------------------------

Stumbled across this DIY to fit F8X M DCT Paddles onto non M cars and I realized how similar the F20 paddles are to the E82 paddles. Possibly we could retrofit as well using option 2 (removing the paddles from the housing)

http://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=83600

I believe this could be possible on the 135i DCT by looking at our stock DCT paddles and the F20 Auto paddles. Only visual difference is the rubber boot.

Thought this was a good option to look into since we never could figure out how to get the E9X M DCT paddles to work on the E82. I will keep an eye out on eBay for a cheap set to look into this more.

E82:


F20:


F8X:
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Last edited by Yeineken; 03-19-2017 at 07:58 PM..
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      02-27-2017, 02:51 PM   #2
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First off within the E82 I believe the ZF trans and the DCT have different paddles. So not sure which one you are attempting to retrofit.

With that said it sure looks like the F80 DCT paddles have a completely different mounting pad than the E82. I don't think it will mount up at all.

However you can likely purchase a E9x M3 DCT wheel with paddles and all and with some wiring make that work. At that point there are numerous aftermarket paddles available for the E9x M3:


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      02-27-2017, 03:16 PM   #3
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Well never mind... That's what I get for not reading!

Yea I agree with you option 2 in from your referenced thread might actually work. Assuming the paddle mount to the switch is the same. Someone would have to take apart a DCT E82 paddle apart to see.

EDIT:

I have to take off my steering wheel trim anyways soon. If it easy enough to pull the stock paddle off at that time I'll give it a shot, and post up any pics back here.

Last edited by WhatsADSM; 02-27-2017 at 03:31 PM..
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      02-27-2017, 03:50 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WhatsADSM View Post
Well never mind... That's what I get for not reading!

Yea I agree with you option 2 in from your referenced thread might actually work. Assuming the paddle mount to the switch is the same. Someone would have to take apart a DCT E82 paddle apart to see.

EDIT:

I have to take off my steering wheel trim anyways soon. If it easy enough to pull the stock paddle off at that time I'll give it a shot, and post up any pics back here.
Yup! I found a set on eBay for $200. Still pretty expensive for a what if retrofit. Once I finish up my other mods I may move this up the list of things to get done as I really hate the look of our stock DCT paddles.

And if they don't fit 100%... things can always be made to fit with trimming and strong glue But just by looking at the base it shouldn't be very far off from fitting nicely.
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      02-28-2017, 04:59 AM   #5
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      03-01-2017, 04:37 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yeineken View Post
Yup! I found a set on eBay for $200. Still pretty expensive for a what if retrofit. Once I finish up my other mods I may move this up the list of things to get done as I really hate the look of our stock DCT paddles.

And if they don't fit 100%... things can always be made to fit with trimming and strong glue But just by looking at the base it shouldn't be very far off from fitting nicely.
Unfortunately I don't think it's that simple. I've done a hell of a lot research into modifying the E9X M3 DCT paddles onto our cars. What I discovered is the E9X M3 paddle modules don't have any circuitry, meaning the vehicle system is just looking for an open or closed switch position (i.e. voltage is either 12V or 0V for example). On our cars the paddle modules actually contain resistors that change the voltage to a specific amount required by the vehicle system depending on if the paddle is pressed vs. depressed for example. So basically, unless the F8X M DCT paddle modules use the exact same resistors it will not work.

Anyhow, I'm pretty sure I've figured out what the resistor values need to be in order to make the E9X M3 DCT paddles work and I've got everything on order as we speak. I will hopefully test out my theory sometime in the next 2 weeks, I need to carve out a few hours to work on it but I'll keep you guys posted
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      03-02-2017, 08:33 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StephGOD View Post
Unfortunately I don't think it's that simple. I've done a hell of a lot research into modifying the E9X M3 DCT paddles onto our cars. What I discovered is the E9X M3 paddle modules don't have any circuitry, meaning the vehicle system is just looking for an open or closed switch position (i.e. voltage is either 12V or 0V for example). On our cars the paddle modules actually contain resistors that change the voltage to a specific amount required by the vehicle system depending on if the paddle is pressed vs. depressed for example. So basically, unless the F8X M DCT paddle modules use the exact same resistors it will not work.

Anyhow, I'm pretty sure I've figured out what the resistor values need to be in order to make the E9X M3 DCT paddles work and I've got everything on order as we speak. I will hopefully test out my theory sometime in the next 2 weeks, I need to carve out a few hours to work on it but I'll keep you guys posted
Fingers are crossed you can get it to work.

Aside from the resistors, do the e9x m3 paddles install without modification?
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      03-02-2017, 08:39 AM   #8
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Bunch of info after I did some digging:

- It should be easy to get e9x m3 paddles to work. Physically they will mount correctly because the wheel did not change between N554 and N55 e82 cars. It might require some minor electronic work like changing resistors as noted, but that should be easy to figure out. I suspect it's a completely passive circuit in there.

- Finally figured out the mystery that the OP asked. I was very curious why the F3x paddle looked everywhere so similar to the e82 paddle that was posted however the mounting surface was clearly different. Well the answer is actually very simple. BMW must have been in the process of changing suppliers of the paddles or simply generations of the paddles when it chose the N55 DCT paddle for the e8x. Essentially they used the new paddle and but needed a mechanical adapter to mount it to the "older" style steering wheel that the e8x was using versus the f series. This is possible because the new paddles are notably thinner that the old paddles allowing for a plastic adapter to be used without adding too much bulk.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words:



So TL;DR just as the OP suspected you can most certainly use the F8x paddles on a DCT e8x car. It will require that you remove the paddle from the vehicle. Remove the plastic mounting adapter and then separate the electronic portion from the physical paddle. Also separate the F8x paddle from its electronics. Put everything back together with the F8x physical paddle, stock electronics , stock mounting adapter. Bolt it back on the steering wheel and go about your business as usual. Very straight forward process, with the paddles on a bench it would take less than 5 minutes to move all the parts around.






I am considering picking up a set of F8x paddles myself but honestly I don't really like them look that much of the stock f8x paddle. I feel like immediately I would have to swap to an aftermarket extended paddle, which means I am paying hundreds of dollars just for a little plastic mounting surface to bolt e8x electronics to an aftermarket F8x paddle. If I do buy the F8x paddle I will probably try to put something together in CAD so I can just print out the plastic bottom mounting surface so no one would need to spend hundreds just to get it. I guess in theory I could just measure what I have now, order an aftermarket F8x paddle and then modify the mount in CAD once I have the dimensions of the paddles. Hmmm... Decisions decisions, too bad aftermarket F8x paddles are like $230 minimum. They are under $100 for the e9x

Last edited by WhatsADSM; 03-02-2017 at 08:54 AM..
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      03-02-2017, 08:57 AM   #9
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Nice find. Hopefully the e9x m retrofit is simple so we can take advantage of the lower pricing or pricing of f series goes down
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      03-02-2017, 10:03 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by houtan View Post
Nice find. Hopefully the e9x m retrofit is simple so we can take advantage of the lower pricing or pricing of f series goes down
Yea in the case of the e9x m. You need paddle and electronics. However you will then make some minor tweaks to the electronics to so that the e9x closed/open circuit signal looks like that of the DCT e8x. If you want aftermarket paddles at that point then it's another $100 or so.

Unfortunately it seems the e9x DCT paddles are still a few hundred dollars plus after market paddles.

F8x are similar cost for the paddles, but then the after market options are more costly and limited in choice.

Neither solution is very cheap
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      03-02-2017, 11:29 AM   #11
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Awesome info WhatsADSM

Im going to have bump this up my to do list now.
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      03-02-2017, 09:29 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WhatsADSM View Post
Yea in the case of the e9x m. You need paddle and electronics. However you will then make some minor tweaks to the electronics to so that the e9x closed/open circuit signal looks like that of the DCT e8x. If you want aftermarket paddles at that point then it's another $100 or so.

Unfortunately it seems the e9x DCT paddles are still a few hundred dollars plus after market paddles.

F8x are similar cost for the paddles, but then the after market options are more costly and limited in choice.

Neither solution is very cheap
I stand corrected man. After looking more into option #2 Yeineken posted above I think you're absolutely right about the F8X M DCT paddles being a direct swap as long as you just swap out the internal modules and add the black adapter boot piece over it so it mounts flush to wheel. Really strange they would use this same design for our cars years before they released the FXX chassis but not make the E9X M3 DCT paddles identical as well

Anyhow, this method is certainly easier (but possibly more costly overall) than adding the resistors on the E9X M3 DCT paddles. Not to mention if you're reusing the stock M sport steering wheel with the E9X paddles I believe they don't quite mount up perfectly to the back of the wheel (small gap is visible from what I can recall). Only problem with the F8X M paddles is there aren't very many aftermarket options that look good at this point IMO.


EDIT: Looks like the M5/M6 DCT paddles can be used as well by just looking at the pictures below




Oh and here's a set someone can purchase to prove the theory correct
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-F20-F22-...dXxTZ-&vxp=mtr

Last edited by StephGOD; 03-02-2017 at 09:35 PM..
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      03-02-2017, 10:29 PM   #13
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For anyone that *really* wants to be a guinea pig. I found these in some searching. They come with not only the aftermarket CF paddle, but also the plastic mount. In theory this is everything you need to swap straight onto your E8X DCT car. Price is high for a china part but if its good quality still reasonable considering the alternatives:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Dry-...768919261.html

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      03-03-2017, 08:47 AM   #14
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Alright guinea pig time. Found a OEM set for $199 after doing some unique searches on eBay (Not into the aftermarket or carbon). Should be here by next weekend! Lets hope this works!

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      03-03-2017, 09:09 AM   #15
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Alright guinea pig time. Found a OEM set for $199 after doing some unique searches on eBay (Not into the aftermarket or carbon). Should be here by next weekend! Lets hope this works!

Nice. Hope it works without a hitch.
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      03-09-2017, 06:47 PM   #16
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Got the F8X paddles. Just need to set aside some time this weekend to install.
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      03-14-2017, 09:08 AM   #17
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Got the F8X paddles. Just need to set aside some time this weekend to install.
any updates?
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      03-14-2017, 09:47 AM   #18
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yeineken View Post
Got the F8X paddles. Just need to set aside some time this weekend to install.
any updates?
Unfortunately not. It's below freezing in MD this past weekend a continuing to be. I don't want to work with cold brittle plastic and leather atm.

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      03-15-2017, 08:19 AM   #19
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All good brother keep us posted
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      03-19-2017, 07:02 PM   #20
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They fit. Bolted up perfectly like they were meant to be.

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      03-19-2017, 11:30 PM   #21
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Thanks for the update!

Btw for anyone reading I am having a buddy see if he can CAD up a mount that would effectively mount the E8x DCT electronics to an E9x style paddle. I'll keep everyone posted if it comes to fruition.

Last edited by WhatsADSM; 03-20-2017 at 12:21 AM..
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      03-19-2017, 11:49 PM   #22
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Nice. Looks good!!

Look forward to the cad update too.
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