F30/F31/F32/F33 Shift Paddles Retrofit

I'm F20 118i owner, and my F20 come with 205 AT gearbox without shift paddles.
After read through realOEM I started to try retrofit the shift paddles, I've ordered the +/- paddles set and the steering wheel connecting cable.

I've changed the FA 205 with 2TB, then CODE the whole SVT tree, but the shift paddles still can't work. May I get any hints that if I need to add/modify additional FA? Or I can't retrofit shift paddles just simply by coding?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by simonchs

I'm F20 118i owner, and my F20 come with 205 AT gearbox without shift paddles.
After read through realOEM I started to try retrofit the shift paddles, I've ordered the +/- paddles set and the steering wheel connecting cable.

I've changed the FA 205 with 2TB, then CODE the whole SVT tree, but the shift paddles still can't work. May I get any hints that if I need to add/modify additional FA? Or I can't retrofit shift paddles just simply by coding?

Thanks.

After you added 2TB to your VO, you activated that VO before coding the SVT Tree? And when you coded the SVT, it was CODE and not Code FDL?

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

After you added 2TB to your VO, you activated that VO before coding the SVT Tree? And when you coded the SVT, it was CODE and not Code FDL?

My steps in E-sys:

Expert Mode->Coding, Read Vehicle Order, Read (VCM), Save the xml, Edit

FA-Editor, right click FA, calculate FP, goto SALAPA-Element, changed 205 to 2TB, apply, calculate FP, save

return to Export Mode->Coding, Load the xml, right click on FA, activate FA, Read (VCM), single click on the root SVT then click Code button

Originally Posted by simonchs

My steps in E-sys:

Expert Mode->Coding, Read Vehicle Order, Read (VCM), Save the xml, Edit

FA-Editor, right click FA, calculate FP, goto SALAPA-Element, changed 205 to 2TB, apply, calculate FP, save

return to Export Mode->Coding, Load the xml, right click on FA, activate FA, Read (VCM), single click on the root SVT then click Code button

Well, you did it all right. I don't know.

Maybe check EGS for Sportschalter and Sportschalter_alt and make sure both are set to Aktiv just in case the VO Coding didn't do it.

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

Well, you did it all right. I don't know.

Maybe check EGS for Sportschalter and Sportschalter_alt and make sure both are set to Aktiv just in case the VO Coding didn't do it.

Thanks Shawn, let me check these 2 functions

I've checked ICM after I coded 2TB, IcmKod_B_S2TBA become verbaut; and IcmKod_B_S205A become nicht_verbaut. So I am not sure if I need to do additional coding to make the paddles works.

Or, maybe I'm lucky enough to receive the DOA paddles?

Checked EGS / 3000 Applikation / Sportschalter and Sportschalter_alt, both are aktiv already, and I even changed KOMBI / 3000 Anzeige Konfiguration / SPA_SPORT_ENABLE from nicht_aktiv to aktiv, still can't make the paddles works.

Any other coding I should try?

Originally Posted by simonchs

Checked EGS / 3000 Applikation / Sportschalter and Sportschalter_alt, both are aktiv already, and I even changed KOMBI / 3000 Anzeige Konfiguration / SPA_SPORT_ENABLE from nicht_aktiv to aktiv, still can't make the paddles works.

Any other coding I should try?

Off the top of my head, I don't know what else would be needed to enable the Paddles. I will do a little more digging around though.

Not familiar with this chassis, but do you have an SZL/SWS module? Check in there. That's the steering control module that your wheel is mounted to. It's the primary electrical connection from the steering wheel to the car. You'll probably see a schaltwippen or other setting that needs to be enabled.

Originally Posted by wdimagineer

Not familiar with this chassis, but do you have an SZL/SWS module? Check in there. That's the steering control module that your wheel is mounted to. It's the primary electrical connection from the steering wheel to the car. You'll probably see a schaltwippen or other setting that needs to be enabled.

Good point. I didn't think about the SZL steering column control unit, only EGS and KOMBI. Maybe VO Coding SZL will enable it.

Check FRM module. There are many functions contected with buttons, controling, etc.

Originally Posted by wdimagineer

Not familiar with this chassis, but do you have an SZL/SWS module? Check in there. That's the steering control module that your wheel is mounted to. It's the primary electrical connection from the steering wheel to the car. You'll probably see a schaltwippen or other setting that needs to be enabled.

nope, SZL/SWS module are not available on my F20

Originally Posted by simonchs

nope, SZL/SWS module are not available on my F20

Try FEM_BODY instead. That is a catch-all on F20/F30 chassis.

I've access to a F20 M135i yesterday, which original come with SAT and shift paddles, apart from the interior/exterior/rims, there are the different as follow:

118i : M135i
255 : 710
7AC : not exist
not exist : 957

will these different helps?

Originally Posted by simonchs

I've access to a F20 M135i yesterday, which original come with SAT and shift paddles, apart from the interior/exterior/rims, there are the different as follow:

118i : M135i
255 : 710
7AC : not exist
not exist : 957

will these different helps?

S255A Sports leather steering wheel vs. S710A M leather steering wheel
P7ACA BMW Sport Line
P957A HK-Paket

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

S255A Sports leather steering wheel vs. S710A M leather steering wheel
P7ACA BMW Sport Line
P957A HK-Paket

I'm thinking if these different make "hidden" effect on the shift paddles, for example
7AD urban line of 118i F20 didn't have sport+ mode, but after changed to 7AC, the sport+ mode come out

Originally Posted by simonchs

I'm thinking if these different make "hidden" effect on the shift paddles, for example
7AD urban line of 118i F20 didn't have sport+ mode, but after changed to 7AC, the sport+ mode come out

It could be...

Hey, simonchs, I also own an 118i with the 205 8AT transmission, and I am very interested in retrofitting paddle shifters myself.
I haven´t purchased any of the parts I need to do this yet, but I was wondering - when you changed the coding from 205 to 2TB was there any difference in your gearbox' behaviour?
I mean, did the gear changes get any faster, and more importantly, when driving in sport+ mode does the gearbox now let the engine hit the rev limiter instead of upshifting automatically?

Cheers!

Originally Posted by shawnsheridan

It could be...

still no luck, i've changed 255 with 710, removed 7AC and added 957, and even changed to another set of shift paddles, still can't get any respone from the paddles...

Originally Posted by simonchs

still no luck, i've changed 255 with 710, removed 7AC and added 957, and even changed to another set of shift paddles, still can't get any respone from the paddles...

If I´m not mistaken, the 2TB sport auto is not available for the 118i in any configuration. Maybe there are some code sections missing because of it. It might be worth to look at an 125i with 2TB and paddles to check if there is any difference.

Anyway, does it at least behave like the 2TB now that you've altered your car's code?

Originally Posted by rpagianotto

If I´m not mistaken, the 2TB sport auto is not available for the 118i in any configuration. Maybe there are some code sections missing because of it. It might be worth to look at an 125i with 2TB and paddles to check if there is any difference.

Anyway, does it at least behave like the 2TB now that you've altered your car's code?

If 2TB is not compatible with his VO, I would expect that in E-Sys with 2TB added to the VO, it would error on FP calculation. If FP calculates without error, it would seem to be a compatible option.

is there any tools to compare cafd files? if there is, i will start to compare cafd file from M135i F20 with my 118i F20

Originally Posted by rpagianotto

Anyway, does it at least behave like the 2TB now that you've altered your car's code?

the response time of gear switching "seems" faster, but i don't have any scientific method to measure it...

Originally Posted by simonchs

the response time of gear switching "seems" faster, but i don't have any scientific method to measure it...

I guess it is pretty much impossible to measure shift times... But try to hit the rev limiter while driving on sport+, if it upshifts automatically instead, than it's still behaving like the 205.

Originally Posted by simonchs

is there any tools to compare cafd files? if there is, i will start to compare cafd file from M135i F20 with my 118i F20

Unfortunately there is not.

You cannot create text trace files in E-Sys like you can in NCS Expert.

Originally Posted by simonchs

still no luck, i've changed 255 with 710, removed 7AC and added 957, and even changed to another set of shift paddles, still can't get any respone from the paddles...

Hey I´m in the same situation than you, I tried a diferent way, I added 2XA Sport Steering Wheel with paddles but without success, if you want put this option over the M steering wheel you will have to put 7XA.

Good luck!!! We´re in the same ship