paddle shift wheel install diy

B6 A4
#1

this is for those who have the tip wheel with thumb buttons and want to have paddles instead.

this is where i got my new wheel from.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audi-A3-A4-A6-S-Line-DSG-Alcantara-Steering-Wheel-NEW-/330552758810?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cf67ad21a

first dissconnect battery as you will need to remove the airbag. there are to T25 bolts on the back of the wheel

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb468/jamieta4/diy/airbagremoval.jpg

use a small flat blade screwdriver to pop up the clip on the purple airbag connecter

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb468/jamieta4/diy/airbagplug.jpg

old wheel removed use a m12 triple square to undo the big centre bolt

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb468/jamieta4/DSC00916.jpg

you can see the yellow and purple plugs and the wires going to each of the buttons. this is the airbag/horn/tiptronic harness, i ordered a new one from the dealer $70 here in canada, so i didnt have to cut the original one.

close up of old button wires

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb468/jamieta4/diy/buttonwiring.jpg

new wheel wiring

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb468/jamieta4/diy/newwheelwiring.jpg

connect the 3 brass connecters to the horn ring in the new wheel same as they are in the old wheel.

the - paddle has a black and green wires connect the black from the paddle to the red from the yellow plug
then the green to the green&brown from the yellow plug
blue and white are not used.

  + paddle has a blue and black wire connect blue to blue from the yellow plug and the black to the same red as the - paddle 
        green&brown and white are not used. 

thats is it heat shrink all the used and unused wires/ connections

the wheel only fits on one way as there no need to mark centre do up the centre bolt reinstall the airbag.

reconnect battery and enjoy the new paddle shift wheel. the esp light may be on when you first start the car but should go off after a few minutes of driving once it recalibrates itself.

i just need the jhm tcu tune to make full use of them.

this is my first DIY write up so hope it makes sense.any questions post them up and i will try and answer them best i can.

#2

cool DIY. I’d much rather have paddles than the mushy buttons. I drove an early Porsche with Tiptronic proper, and I hated it.

#3

yeah the paddles are much nicer to use. and they must be good for an extra 20hp ha ha

#4

Great post and DYI

I was under the impression the paddles were only good for 15 extra HP the way you do it adds the extra 5 :wink:

#5

JAMIE… you know what WTF. Just when I thought I would be able to not spend money on the car for a few months you go and do this.

Looks like Im in the market for a S4 steering wheel. Is there any thought to being able to use a flat bottom steering wheel from a B7 or is the air bag stuff too complicated?

#6

shawn / the flat bottom wheels are nice but your right the airbag is the big issue .

B7 has dual stage airbags, B6 has single stage
you can wire both stages of the b7 to the single stage controller in the b6 which will keep the airbag light off.

but knowone is sure if the airbag will work when it is needed.for me the cost and risk of doin this make it not worth it.

i looked at getting a used s4 paddle wheel from shokan.com but they wanted $300 plus shipping it only ended up costing about $40 more for a brand new one from ebay.

#7

A life without paddles is not a life worth living ;D

#8

Guess I’ll revive this one for a minute or two.

I have the multifunction steering wheel with the tiptronic shifter but no buttons on the wheel. This still a plug n play for people like me?

I really want a 6 speed swap but paddles & launch assist might suffice.

#9

i belive if you go from multi function to the 3 spoke wheel with paddles it is just a case of some recoding with vag-com

as long as you have cruise control that is. the control module for cruise aparently does the tiptronic shifts from the wheel.