Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and I must say this is an awesome place I have been lurking around for the past 2 weeks as I just got myself a 2006 MCSa Checkmate! My previous car was a 2005 R52 auto and I loved it; drove it for 2 years and it was such a joy to drive.

Anyway, one of the reasons I got the Checkmate other than for the performance is the illusional shift paddles; I've always thought that the newer versions are F1 style (downshift on left, upshift on right) paddle shifts! But it isn't as all of you know; yes rather stupid on my part, but the design of those paddles are deceptive, won't you agree??

Therefore, I am wondering if it is possible to modify the paddles; to make "pulling the left side" as downshift and leave the others as is?? Anyone has done that, is it possible at all?

Please give me some feedback, NAM has so many experts on board; there must be someone that could answer this question! I am really dying to know and hoping the answer is a "Yes"... thanks guys.

 

I was just reading on the BMW forums that someone did this to an auto. He said he got everything working properly. So if he can do it...Im sure it can be done in a Mini. I dont know whats involved cause I didnt care to read about it since I am a manual....Sorry....

 

While I haven't dug into it first hand, I'm pretty sure that each paddle is wired for two momentary contacts... one when you push... one when you pull.

I briefly thought about digging into it, since the JCW wheel doesn't fit the paddle shifters, but haven't gone much beyond that.

I'm assuming there are three wires running into each paddle... two leads and a ground. Depending on what direction you move the paddle, the lead would ground to upshift or downshift.

On the other hand, with all the deeply technical mumbo-jumbo going on with the Minis, based on other posts here... it may be much more involved then that!

 

anyone here was able to modify the paddle shift? (eg. f1 style) for r53

 

I read somewhere that somebody had rewired his. If I can find it I'll post it for you, but I don't really understand why.

 

I found it. it's under HAS ANYONE EVER HACKED THE PADDLE SHIFTERS

 

i don't think he rewired his paddle shifters

 

Did you mean this thread: Has anyone hacked the shift buttons on the automatic
The topic was discussed but it doesn't look like anybody actually did anything.

 

I think waymotorworks was able to do it in an r56. So i think it can be done with an r53. I dont have an mcsa yet so i have no idea or input about the shifters.

 

anything can be done with time and money.

All you would need to do is get some padles, tie them into a rasberry Pi or something, and have the pi output the same signal as the gear lever + and - buttons.

Time and money is all.

And is it really worth it?

 

i think this is just an easy mod. if ever i get an auto i will definitely change this hehe...

 

The problem with changing it on the minis is that the paddles rotate with the wheel so IMO the push/pull setup is better, or example when cornering it would be confusing which one does what because it's not always in the same position. On cars where the paddles are fixed and don't rotate with the wheel then the pull/pull system is better. On F1 cars the paddles might rotate with the wheel, IDK, but they barely turn the wheel during a race anyway.

Way did do this, there is a YouTube video on it. I don't think it would that hard or expensive modification, it might only involve swapping some wires.

 

I have padles on my GTi, they rotate with the wheel, they are pull-pull, and I have never messed it up that I know of.

However in the CM All4 we have (got it before the GTi as well) I mess that up every. damn. time. I get into that car.

I find push pull paddles to be annoying, make no sense, at all. full stop. and to be gimmics for persons who like to get a little coffee with their sweetend and flavored milk.

For petes sake, it requires you to use your thumbs to downshift.

You grip the steering wheel with your thumb as an anchor. It makes much more sense to have a pull tab that one of your other fingers can be used to trigger.

bleh.

personal preference I guess, but I find the mini padles to feel cheesy, and perform worse. (no mechanical click, its just a soft bleh. )

The ones in an e39 M3 SMG are very well done.

 

 

Looks like a resistor network switch system to me.
So by swapping the resistors about it may be possible to reverse the functions.
Not easy, best of luck.

 

I've seen this complaint come up a few times coming from a motorcycle background it came natural to me never made a mistake once. Would I have preferred a manual hell yeah would the girlfriend hell noooo!

 

finally gotten a 2006 mcsa. anyone know how to remove the steering wheel and the paddle shifter? im thinking of opening up the left paddleshifter and just change the wires

 

I'm not sure if it is exactly the same but for a 2nd generation 2013 MCS:

1.) Remove BUT DON'T UNPLUG the airbag by inserting a small rod in the hole on the bottom of the steering wheel and push up, this will release the airbag. Move out of the way, AGAIN DON'T UNPLUG!

2.) Now you will be able to see the the T25 torx screw holding these on the paddle shifters.

3.) This will enable you to access the hole behind the steering wheel to undo the T20 torx screw holding the multi-function control pieces in. Now just pull out piece and unplug. Don't know if you have to remove these piece to access the wiring for the paddles.

The 1st generation should be similar.

 

there's no hole where you can put a rod to unlock the airbag

 

ok found how to remove the steering wheel

 

(removed - about 2nd generation wheels)

 

i think mine will be like this


mine doesn't have a hole underneath

 

Sorry, I failed to notice that this is discussing 1st Generation cars - my vid is of a 2nd generation wheel, so I will delete the post.

 

This is an old topic but I am having trouble finding my answer... Any help would be appreciated.
I have a 2007 R52 Mini Cooper Convertible...

I find the Paddle shift to be in my way of comfortable holding of the wheel.
I went and removed them and now my radio/cruise buttons have stopped working...
I am going from memory of what was disconnected and I want to believe the Green connector that I removed was probably a ground that completes the circuit for these controls.
Has anyone had experience with this? Can I just jump the green wires to bring back the Radio controls?

Thanks
Brian