paddle shift changed to buttons

[h11rdy]

Does anyone know of a company that would be able to convert the paddles to buttons on a C63 amg?

I use hand controls, the throttle is a ring behind steering wheel which will be in the way of the existing paddle shifts.

So they will get removed, I want to have buttons on the face of the wheel instead.

I imagine it isn't that difficult or big a job? I'm not that technical though so it could be impossible?

any recommendations welcome, I'm in North yorks so North ish would be better. Cheers

[Tonto]

Do you really need paddle shift? I think you will find that most people use one of the Auto modes for the majority of the time.

Alternatively, Could you not maybe get the paddles re-fabricated, so they poke through the steering wheel.

[marky1]

I'll second that. S+ is really good, almost better than paddle I think. It seems to drop down gears quicker in S+ that you can do manually.

[h11rdy]

Cheers for the advice.
I'm coming from a Gtr which I almost never used in auto so was wanting the same really.
Maybe I will feel differently after trying it.

Tonto, I had them fabricated on the Gtr but I think the paddle needs to be totally removed for space this time, so altering not possible.

[Tonto]

that's a coincidence, my last car was also a GTR. I've found that I am using auto much more in the C63 than I did in the GTR. Not sure why though.

[Derek Smith]

Tonto said:

Do you really need paddle shift? I think you will find that most people use one of the Auto modes for the majority of the time.

Alternatively, Could you not maybe get the paddles re-fabricated, so they poke through the steering wheel.

I had a 7-speed auto in my SLK with the little buttons at the rear of the wheel. Despite having fun with them when I first got the car, after the first three thousand miles I lost a lot of my enthusiasm for them. Generally the auto-box did the job so well for the majority of time it was really pointless.

The only time I tended to use them was when really pushing and going into a fast corner on part throttle. The gearbox would often change up mid corner. I found this disconcerting although never dangerous. I used to manually pick a gear and then, once the car straightened out to put it back into auto.

[h11rdy]

I will be driving the car a lot just for pleasure and probably a few track days/ring trips so I reckon I am going to want the choice.

So, anyone have any mercedes/amg specialists they could recommend?

Cheers

[cramorra]

use paddles mainly to make noise
so if you are more mature than me auto settings will do fine most of the time (unless on track - and even there sports plus is good option)
For the odd shifting you can still shift the gear lever, too

[h11rdy]

Maturity you say?

Sounds like I will need a paddle option!

[r129sl]

If you're buying new, it may be that AMG can do something as a special order (although you'll probably have to torture the salesman to get him even to think about thinking about making enquiries). I seem to recall that a button shift was supplied on the early 55k AMG cars.

[NorthernBoy]

Just as another point of reference, I'm using automatic far more in mine than I ever did in my 911 GTS. Maybe the engine's characteristics just make it nicer this way than in some other cars.