I really love the JCW steering wheel, but it's not available for the auto. The reason is because of the paddle shifters. What do you think would happen if you remove the paddles and install the jcw wheel? It seems it just plugs in somewhere and not hard wired. Here is a diagram from realoem:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...73&hg=32&fg=35

Part #4.

Do you think it can be done? Will the computer throw error codes and can it be programmed to say it doesn't have the shifters?

 

Nobody has any info? I know the paddles are fun, but I never use them. When I want to manually shift, I use the stick. I'm kinda nervous to try this myself, the whole airbag thing freaks me out.

My main concern is the computer not liking the fact that the paddles are disconnected.

 

No info for you, sorry, but there is kind of the opposite problem in another thread here. Maybe the solutions are related.

 

You can easily test the concept without purchasing a JCW wheel -- just unplug the shifters on your current wheel. I'd be very surprised if there were any problems.

When you do get the JCW wheel, you should check whether it could be modified to accommodate the shifters. It may possible by trimming away some plastic.

 

I so want to do this...wife signed on for this mod and had to back out when I was told it wouldn't fit an automatic.

 

Knowing the MINI you'll probably get some kind of error code.

 

My intuition is that there won't be errors. The paddles are optional (they just happen to be standard in the US) and from what I see in wiring diagrams, they only send a one way signal and there isn't a way for the electronics to detect if the paddles are there or not.

As I said, you can disconnect your paddles and verify whether there is any issue before purchasing a JCW steering wheel.

 

I'm going to try this and let everyone know. Another member who has played with the coding has said that there won't be any errors, so we'll see. I guess I can always return the wheel if it doesn't work.

I won't get a chance to work on it til next week though.

 

Good luck with this cause I'd like to do the same.

 

I ordered my JCW wheel, can't wait to try this out. I just hope the airbag doesn't blow up in my face.

 

I checked the JCW steering wheel and it seems possible to remove some plastic trim and bolt on the paddles. I'm speaking for the 1st gen wheels however they are not much different than the 2nd gen's. The wiring can be done easily as well.

It will require a tidy work so that the paddles sit there perfectly. Good luck on this tough assignment. I'm also planning this change in 2010 but let's see

 

My actual plan is to just remove the paddles altogether. I never use them so it seems good to me. I'd prefer that to modding the steering wheel.

 

Did you remove the paddles yet?

I'm thinking of removing them for the sake of getting them CF treated @ Roguese7en So, sending them back and forth to US means I have to use the car w/o paddles for a while.

Hope it doesn't throw up any codes. Not that I would be bothered, but hey why should I plug my OBD cable everytime to delete this error code?

 

When I purchased my r56 in mid 07', I really wanted to have the redwood red wheel to match my interior... Problem was that Mini still did not yet release the auto version of that wheel yet. I paid money up front to be their test subject. My dealer ordered a regular redwood red manual steering wheel for me (one of the first three to hit the US) just to see if they could modify it to have paddle shifters. The mechanic at my Mini dealer had no problems taking the paddles off of my original and adapting them to the new, non-auto wheel. So yes, with a little time, money, maybe a little bit of both, you can make it work... even on those awesome JCW wheels.

 

Very cool! My gut also says that when you unplug the paddle switches there will be no code. I have an auto and it if wasn't 5 degrees out I would try it for you.

 

We already had a look at the JCW alcantara sw and a regular "S" SW with paddles at my mechanic's shop. The holes for paddle cables are sort of there if not we'll have drill some more.

For paddle mounting, the first task would be to remove a rectangular layer of plastic from the backside of the JCW wheel and drill a metric threaded hole for the bolts to fix the paddles. Nothing extraordinary

 

Well, just received my wheel, and will be installing it on Monday. I guess it could be modified but that is not my goal. I want the paddles off, I never use them and hit them by accident sometimes. I'd rather not cut or drill my jcw wheel, it's just too pretty.

I'll be taking pictures of the whole process hopefully. As long as I don't forget.

 

Ok, went ahead and installed my jcw wheel and removed my paddle shifters. The physical install was a snap. It was easy to remove the airbag, wheel, paddles, and mfsw buttons and trim. The computer threw no codes about the paddle shifters being there, and the wheel looks and feels awesome.

However I did run into a snag. The wiring harness for the mfsw buttons is connected to the wiring for the paddles. It's one unit because there is only one spot to plug in to. I disconnected the paddles from the wiring harness so there are two open plugs. I guess by not having the paddles connected the circuit is not complete, and no power is going to the mfsw buttons. None of the buttons work or light up. You do get an error message, but it just says that cruise control is malfunctioning.

So a solution? Well, you could try and make a jumper with the open cables and try to find a way to close the circuit. I'm leery about that only cause I don't want to short the system...way to much electronics on these cars to risk it in my opinion. So what I'm going to do is order the mfsw button assembly for the manual cars. That way it's one plug and no open circuit. It's not cheap though, part retails for $176. I'm headed to the dealer to get this and hopefully they have it in stock. I'll let you know how it goes.

I guess you could modify the jcw wheel to accept the paddles, but it would be a lot of cutting and drilling. Not worth it in my opinion.

Oh, and I did forget to take pics, sorry.

 

Oh no, that's terrible you are having that issue. It is so annoying they do things like this. Looking at RealOEM again does NOT show different parts numbers for the MSFW buttons based on the auto or manual (lack of paddle shiftters). That's totally weird and MUST be a problem with RealOEM/parts diagram. Depending on the year the MFSW buttons do change, but I think that is for the outside color change. Did you find the part number of your multifunction buttons?

I wonder if the harness is different, not the MFSW buttons, where do they plug into? I don't see anything different in the steering column.

 

Yeah, realoem shows the same part number for auto and manual. The wires for the paddles are wired on the harness for the buttons. They share the plug that goes in the steering column.

I hope I don't have an issue now with the dealer ordering the wrong button set now. I wanted him to order the buttons for the manual. Well, I'll see tomorrow.

Yeah, he said the old part numbers superseded to the most current part number

According to the diagram, there is no part number for the harness, but they must be different. A harness for the manual wouldn't have the connectors for the paddles on it.

 

I may have found it:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...03&hg=61&fg=35

It looks like the steering column switch assembly needs to be different. If you see the notes it explains that the MFSW version should be used, however they don't show the different parts, then on the bottom of the list it shows each of the connectors (my guess one of them is the paddle port) is available by request.

Shoot, this maybe bad news!

 

By your description, the MFSW and paddles both have wires going into a single connector. You can probably just remove the pins that belong to the paddles. A pin can usually be removed from a connector by pressing on a tab that releases it.

How exactly are you using it now? The MFSW and paddle pieces not installed and off the car? A closeup pic of the connector may help.

 

That diagram lists no distinction for parts for paddles and no paddles. Which says to me that those parts are the same for both cases.

 

That diagram does show the optional "plug housings available by request" those plugs must be different ones for the different options including the paddles.

If you look at this page it shows WAY more part numbers for the "switch unit steering"

http://www.europartsamerica.com/partnumbers//mini1.htm

This must be something that is supposed to be very VIN specific.

 

They do share one harness/connector so in theory this should work. No need to purchase entire column switch assembly's.