Need help...2011 LCI w/o paddles, converting to LCI DCT M3 wheel...

InterlagosRob · 03-24-2013, 05:53 PM

I have read over dozens of threads on people adding paddles or changing from SSG to DCT or LCI paddles. I have yet to find any direct info for what I am about to attempt and I'm hopeful someone on here can add some advice before I start the install.

Here's what I have:
2011 E90 335d with M-Sport BUT VERY oddly enough, no paddles!

2011 E9X M3 DCT steering wheel, complete except air bag and multifunction.

BMS retrofit harness

I'm not sure if I will need the BMS harness or not but I grabbed it anyway hoping it'll facilitate some part of the conversion.

I have read about so many issues between the paddles and MFB...I just want to gather as much info as I can before I start this swap. Can anyone shed some light on a LCI non-paddle to LCI DCT paddle conversion with exiting MFB and the BMS PnP harness?

Thank you!!!

BRGmatthew · 03-24-2013, 10:49 PM

should be plug and play. I have an e90 lci with a nonsport steering wheel and I swapped it for a bmw performance with DCT paddles and it worked just fine

InterlagosRob · 03-25-2013, 09:26 AM

Wow, that's exciting! Did the paddle switches plug directly into open slots on the slip ring connector?

Sweattdogg · 03-25-2013, 02:34 PM

You should not need the BMS kit.

InterlagosRob · 03-25-2013, 02:46 PM

Just swap wheels, plug in the paddle connectors into the slip ring and I'm golden?

BRGmatthew · 03-25-2013, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InterlagosRob

Just swap wheels, plug in the paddle connectors into the slip ring and I'm golden?

not sure if you will need the bms kit or not since you have a sport steering wheel already, I needed it because I had a non-sport steering wheel. Your airbag will swap right over and so will your trim. You have to check on your msport mfb if they have connectors for paddle shifters, I had to buy separate mfb so i can plug my paddles in.

InterlagosRob · 03-25-2013, 04:21 PM

Hopefully I do have the open slots for the paddle connectors since I have the M-sport wheel. It's the first m-sport wheel I've seen without paddles on an auto...almost like BMW screwed up in production and used a 6-speed wheel since m-sport steptronics should have paddles by default. I bought the car used so I can't exactly complain to my BMW sales center.

InterlagosRob · 03-26-2013, 11:38 AM

Well, it's installed. The BMS harness WAS required and my MFB was not wired for paddles so I directly wired the paddles to the slip ring and grounded the #2 wires to the wheel. SO anyone out there with an LCI car WITHOUT paddles, wanting to swap to a DCT M3 steering wheel needs the BMS harness and will have to wire directly to slip ring. Install was very basic and repinning the paddle wires to the MFB connector was simple thanks to the DYI write up.

03-24-2013, 05:53 PM	#1
InterlagosRob Private 10 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (1)	Need help...2011 LCI w/o paddles, converting to LCI DCT M3 wheel... I have read over dozens of threads on people adding paddles or changing from SSG to DCT or LCI paddles. I have yet to find any direct info for what I am about to attempt and I'm hopeful someone on here can add some advice before I start the install. Here's what I have: 2011 E90 335d with M-Sport BUT VERY oddly enough, no paddles! 2011 E9X M3 DCT steering wheel, complete except air bag and multifunction. BMS retrofit harness I'm not sure if I will need the BMS harness or not but I grabbed it anyway hoping it'll facilitate some part of the conversion. I have read about so many issues between the paddles and MFB...I just want to gather as much info as I can before I start this swap. Can anyone shed some light on a LCI non-paddle to LCI DCT paddle conversion with exiting MFB and the BMS PnP harness? Thank you!!! __________________ -2011 335d M-Sport, Alpine White on black. -1998 M3 4-door, 5-Speed. Alpine White on dove. Too many mods to even start listing. The old girl Sold. -2007 335i E90. SG on black. Sold. -2005 M3 ZCP, Interlagos on black. Sold.
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03-25-2013, 09:26 AM	#3
InterlagosRob Private 10 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (1)	Wow, that's exciting! Did the paddle switches plug directly into open slots on the slip ring connector?
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03-25-2013, 02:34 PM	#4
Sweattdogg Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 269 Posts Drives: 08 e90 M3/09 e90 335d/13 f10M5 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (2)	You should not need the BMS kit.
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03-25-2013, 02:46 PM	#5
InterlagosRob Private 10 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (1)	Just swap wheels, plug in the paddle connectors into the slip ring and I'm golden?
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03-25-2013, 04:21 PM	#7
InterlagosRob Private 10 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (1)	Hopefully I do have the open slots for the paddle connectors since I have the M-sport wheel. It's the first m-sport wheel I've seen without paddles on an auto...almost like BMW screwed up in production and used a 6-speed wheel since m-sport steptronics should have paddles by default. I bought the car used so I can't exactly complain to my BMW sales center. __________________ -2011 335d M-Sport, Alpine White on black. -1998 M3 4-door, 5-Speed. Alpine White on dove. Too many mods to even start listing. The old girl Sold. -2007 335i E90. SG on black. Sold. -2005 M3 ZCP, Interlagos on black. Sold.
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03-24-2013, 10:49 PM	#2
BRGmatthew Bausman 64 Rep 1,817 Posts Drives: around the block Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SoCal 626/NorCal 650 iTrader: (19)	should be plug and play. I have an e90 lci with a nonsport steering wheel and I swapped it for a bmw performance with DCT paddles and it worked just fine
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03-26-2013, 11:38 AM	#8
InterlagosRob Private 10 Rep 73 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (1)	Well, it's installed. The BMS harness WAS required and my MFB was not wired for paddles so I directly wired the paddles to the slip ring and grounded the #2 wires to the wheel. SO anyone out there with an LCI car WITHOUT paddles, wanting to swap to a DCT M3 steering wheel needs the BMS harness and will have to wire directly to slip ring. Install was very basic and repinning the paddle wires to the MFB connector was simple thanks to the DYI write up. Attached Images __________________ -2011 335d M-Sport, Alpine White on black. -1998 M3 4-door, 5-Speed. Alpine White on dove. Too many mods to even start listing. The old girl Sold. -2007 335i E90. SG on black. Sold. -2005 M3 ZCP, Interlagos on black. Sold.
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