E60 5 series - with paddle shifters?

[muhnkee2]

Hey folks,
I am currently driving an E60 M5, but too much around town driving is giving me 13.5mpg which is rapidly emptying my bank account.
So i am looking for a 5 series replacement preferably with paddle shifters. But despite much googling, i cant find the logic or rule that determines which E60s got paddle shifters.
Can anyone help me out?
My preference would be a 535d M sport with paddle shifters, but haven't found out if that exists.
Thanks a lot,
Greg

[Col 666]

I've seen 530d's with shift buttons above the wheel, not quite paddles.

[BMRuss]

I think they exist on 535d's but maybe from a 08/58 plate onwards.

I want paddles on my 550i, no idea how to go about it though.

[muhnkee2]

it appears lots of people are wanting to do the conversion, here is one guy who put the M5 paddles on his 530d:
http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36...

and here is a firm selling the kits;
http://www.motivemods.com/BMWRetrofitKits-PaddleSh...

[BMRuss]

Thanks for the links, I have lane departure warning system on my car, so I think I would have to find an M5 steering wheels with this function on it.

[Vic_S]

I think the paddles come on the 535 if the "Sports Automatic Gearbox" option was chosen.

[///MrSingh]

I retrofitted an E60 M5 wheel to my pre-LCI 535d. The paddles work using a modified slip ring and a couple of wires sent down to the gear lever (effectively mimicking the action of pushing the gear lever forward/backwards when in manual mode).

If you have the M Sport wheel, the airbag and the buttons/trim can be re-used. So you just need the bare wheel and paddles, this is how I got mine:




On to the fitting:

Before:




During:




After:

[BMRuss]

Would you mind telling me what the cost was and where you got that steering wheel from?

I need paddles in my life!!!

[///MrSingh]

BMRuss said:

Would you mind telling me what the cost was and where you got that steering wheel from?

I need paddles in my life!!!

I got the wheel off ebay for about £200.

However from your profile I see you have an LCI 550i, I'm guessing you have the standard auto transmission as opposed to the sports auto transmission?

Subtle differences in the lever, mainly the leather gaiter (plus the sport button):


Normal auto:





Sports auto:





Unfortunately with the LCI it looks like there's a bit more work involved to get paddle shift, here's a very good thread on one of the 5 series forums that explains the conversion process:

http://forums.5series.net/e60-parts-accessories-mo...

[scoopo16]

///MrSingh said:

I retrofitted an E60 M5 wheel to my pre-LCI 535d. The paddles work using a modified slip ring and a couple of wires sent down to the gear lever (effectively mimicking the action of pushing the gear lever forward/backwards when in manual mode).

If you have the M Sport wheel, the airbag and the buttons/trim can be re-used. So you just need the bare wheel and paddles, this is how I got mine:




On to the fitting:

Before:




During:




After:

Hey Mate, where did you buy your modified slip ring and harness?

I've recently bought a 2006 530D M-Sport - the previous owner had the M5 steering installed but never bothered to have the paddles wired. Do you know if I bought the M5 Slip ring would this work once I wired the slip ring to the gear selector.

I'm trying my best to avoid buying a slip ring and harness off Motivmods for $500 which is a ridiculous price - however as far as I can see these are the only guys who sell the harness kits.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers,
Fergus

[v8d4eww]

///MrSingh said:

I retrofitted an E60 M5 wheel to my pre-LCI 535d. The paddles work using a modified slip ring and a couple of wires sent down to the gear lever (effectively mimicking the action of pushing the gear lever forward/backwards when in manual mode).

If you have the M Sport wheel, the airbag and the buttons/trim can be re-used. So you just need the bare wheel and paddles, this is how I got mine:




On to the fitting:

Before:




During:




After:

Hi Mr Singh was the m5 steering wheel you fitted back then an lci or pre lci