Steering wheel conversion

[Giby]

Hi there.
I've just purchased a Cayman GTS. But unfortunately I can't use the paddle shift wheel fitted to the car as I only have one arm (left). I spoke to one OPC sales guy and he told me I could only do an upgrade on the wheel at a cost somewhere in the region of £1000.00 to £1500.00 for a multifunction wheel. I think the guy at the OPC is swinging the lead a little. I've found 3 or 4 3 spoke (non multifunction) wheels with the button gear change for £300.00 max. I know these wheels aren't new and are bound to be cheaper but I don't understand why I have to go to the added expense of the upgrade to multifunction and not go the down grade route and just have gear change.
So are there any Porsche tech's out there who can clarify which way I have to go. All the best and thanks in advance.

Dean

[fossilfuelled]

I'm not fully versed in the ins and outs of one armed driving, but can you not just keep everything as is and hit the gear selector to the left and use that?

[PorscheGT4]

Giby said:

Hi there.
I've just purchased a Cayman GTS. But unfortunately I can't use the paddle shift wheel fitted to the car as I only have one arm (left). I spoke to one OPC sales guy and he told me I could only do an upgrade on the wheel at a cost somewhere in the region of £1000.00 to £1500.00 for a multifunction wheel. I think the guy at the OPC is swinging the lead a little. I've found 3 or 4 3 spoke (non multifunction) wheels with the button gear change for £300.00 max. I know these wheels aren't new and are bound to be cheaper but I don't understand why I have to go to the added expense of the upgrade to multifunction and not go the down grade route and just have gear change.
So are there any Porsche tech's out there who can clarify which way I have to go. All the best and thanks in advance.

Dean

quote
"I don't understand why I have to go to the added expense of the upgrade to multifunction "

what don't you understand ? it's all black and white imo !

why did you buy a car with paddle shift would be my 1st question ? when you buy a car you make sure it's fit for purpose, if it's not you do a deal when buying !!

here are the wheel prices, so now you just have to lump it I guess, the multi functions are bloody expensive vs one with no buttons.

http://www.suncoastparts.com/CTGY.html?CatListingO...

[Isysman]

Hi,

I understand the dilemma. The paddle shift wheel allows gear changes from either side of the wheel. Left for down gear right for up gear. On the standard wheel you can change up and down from one side by either pressing or pulling the button.

You can buy these wheels online cheaply, ebay. Then it's a case of having them swapped. The wheel you have is way more valuable than the one you need. Once you buy the wheel (should be about £250) take it to Porsche and have them fit it. Then sell your wheel on ebay. You should come out of it with cash in your pocket.

[Isysman]

Example here. does it need to be multifunction?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/201468920743

If you need multifunction here is one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/281794205708

Edited by Isysman on Wednesday 25th November 15:51

[TheBMWDriver]

If it is of any help I have 2 wheels that I would be willing to sell (sold my car before I put it on).

1 Black Alcantara (GT3 style) with read stitching and Red marker at 12'clock, its a MF wheel and heated (button underwent). This has had a re trim and has not been on my car since.
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/nastytoot...

http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/nastytoot...

2 Normal Leather, MF but NOT heated, taken off delivery milage car.

http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/nastytoot...

You should get very good money for your old one as more people want the paddles.

Edited by TheBMWDriver on Wednesday 25th November 15:58

Edited by TheBMWDriver on Wednesday 25th November 15:59

[Giby]

PorscheGT4 said:

quote
"I don't understand why I have to go to the added expense of the upgrade to multifunction "

what don't you understand ? it's all black and white imo !

why did you buy a car with paddle shift would be my 1st question ? when you buy a car you make sure it's fit for purpose, if it's not you do a deal when buying !!

Why the attitude ?

I only asked why I had to have a multifunction as I thought the OPC was trying it on selling me a far more expensive wheel. And as to why I bought a car that didn't fit my needs. Have you tried to find a GTS without paddles. There few and far between.
I can drive the car as it is. I've just sold my 991 GT3 which had the same setup and I managed just fine.
The supplying dealer has contacted me this morning to say that Porsche had got back to him and said a multifunction wheel is definitely out of the question as the connections wouldn't be there. For some reason they also say a non multifunction wheel wouldn't work either. This is what's confusing me. Surely it's just replacing on switch for another ? I am tempted to buy a wheel of EBay and check the connections and wiring against the paddle wheel and see what's different. Either way it won't spoil the experience of owning the car. Roll on next weekend when I can collect it.

[Giby]

Even more confused now. Just looked at the Suncoast website and this is a note at the bottom of the wheel spec.

Note: If your car has the Sport Design Paddle steering wheel steering wheel installed, additional parts and labor is required to complete this conversion.

So according to them the conversion can be done. 🤔

[TheBMWDriver]

Have a google, there are a few people that did the conversion on a 911 (I bought the wheels to do the same thing as you want to do).

[gtsralph]

Giby said:

Even more confused now. Just looked at the Suncoast website and this is a note at the bottom of the wheel spec.

Note: If your car has the Sport Design Paddle steering wheel steering wheel installed, additional parts and labor is required to complete this conversion.

See my PM

[DJMC]

When I found a Cayman 981 with MFSW a month or so ago I enquired of Sheffield the cost to convert to SD wheel.

They came back to me with £1500, but also said why not try the MFSW for a while and see if you like it, adding that if I had found an SD car and then wanted to switch to MFSW it wouldn't be possible as the MFSW wiring is not present in SD cars.

So, according to Sheffield OPC, the retro fit from SD to MFSW is not possible. This makes sense as the SD set up does not have an equivalent stalk function for the MFSW's rotary controls.

They could be wrong, so phone your OPC and check again?

Edited by DJMC on Thursday 26th November 15:40

[DJMC]

fossilfuelled said:

I'm not fully versed in the ins and outs of one armed driving, but can you not just keep everything as is and hit the gear selector to the left and use that?

Erm... he only has one arm, so what does he hold the wheel with?

If it were me I'd just rely on the PDK auto and forget about manual shifting. In reality, it'll be in auto 99% of the time anyhow.

[bcr5784]

DJMC said:

Erm... he only has one arm, so what does he hold the wheel with?

If it were me I'd just rely on the PDK auto and forget about manual shifting. In reality, it'll be in auto 99% of the time anyhow.

I assume he doesn't want to rely on it most of the time. Mine's never in auto when I'm driving really sportingly and I frequently override when I am in auto. Having two arms obviously makes it easier, but with the flippers he could do the same if he wants to, albeit not as easily.

Have a read about Archie Scott Brown http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/... it's pretty inspiring.

[fossilfuelled]

DJMC said:

Erm... he only has one arm, so what does he hold the wheel with?

If it were me I'd just rely on the PDK auto and forget about manual shifting. In reality, it'll be in auto 99% of the time anyhow.

I know that, I just meant, since you don't really change gear when steering...and we've all taken a (both) hand(s) off the wheel...but yes. I retreat into my idiots corner and put my dunce cap back on. Without the other arm as a back up..its a risky proposition! At least I wasn't a dick about it like GT4

[DJMC]

fossilfuelled said:

I know that, I just meant, since you don't really change gear when steering...and we've all taken a (both) hand(s) off the wheel...but yes. I retreat into my idiots corner and put my dunce cap back on. Without the other arm as a back up..its a risky proposition! At least I wasn't a dick about it like GT4

I must say I enjoy GT4's posts immensely. Not sure if he is trolling, but very amusing always in a perverse kind of way.

[ATM]

TheBMWDriver said:

If it is of any help I have 2 wheels that I would be willing to sell (sold my car before I put it on).

1 Black Alcantara (GT3 style) with read stitching and Red marker at 12'clock, its a MF wheel and heated (button underwent). This has had a re trim and has not been on my car since.
http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/nastytoot...

http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/nastytoot...

2 Normal Leather, MF but NOT heated, taken off delivery milage car.

http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/nastytoot...

You should get very good money for your old one as more people want the paddles.

Edited by TheBMWDriver on Wednesday 25th November 15:58

Edited by TheBMWDriver on Wednesday 25th November 15:59

Have you still got any of these?

[TheBMWDriver]

ATM said:

Have you still got any of these?

Yes still got them both, drop me a email if you are interested. I am back in london on Saturday.

[Giby]

Bit of an update. I took a chance and bought a standard PDK wheel off eBay for £175.00 and fitted it myself. And contrary to what OPC's have said the wheel works perfectly so lm a very happy bunny. I now have a stunning car that I can drive the way I want to.

[ATM]

Giby said:

Bit of an update. I took a chance and bought a standard PDK wheel off eBay for £175.00 and fitted it myself. And contrary to what OPC's have said the wheel works perfectly so lm a very happy bunny. I now have a stunning car that I can drive the way I want to.

Well done. So up and down on both sides?

Sounds cheap. Is it multi function?

[Giby]

No just gear selectors. I'm just trying to decide if I should have the new wheel made slightly thicker and wrapped in alcantara.