motorman3 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Greetings I own a C250 CDI equipped with a 7-speed automatic gearbox, but, it does not have paddle shifters. Can I personally retrofit this? If so, can it be accomplished only by putting a wheel with paddles, or would it need further coding or similar tasks? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablos_carcv5 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Uncertain, but trust the perspective of someone who has paddle shifters on their C55 V8 AMG. You will quickly get weary of them and use them seldom. Arguably, your automobile has a superior gearbox compared to mine, but with less power. Consequently, the ability to manually swap gears might be considered advantageous. The probability of it being an inexpensive modification, even if feasible, is quite low. Best wishes. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorman3 Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 Thank you, friend. I get your point. I have experienced paddle shifters in several automobiles, including my M4. However, even in the case of my M4, I eventually found myself using them less often. I just want the choice, especially considering the unconventional method of using the "manual" mode in this vehicle - the act of moving the gear knob left and right to upshift and downshift seems somewhat contradictory to me! I am not sufficiently interested in it to invest a significant amount of money, but if the cost is cheap or if it can be done as a do-it-yourself project, I would be inclined to pursue it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablos_carcv5 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 If your vehicle is equipped with a manual shifting function, such as mine, it may be feasible to create paddle shifters yourself. Someone with more expertise will arrive shortly to provide additional information. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BENZE220AMG Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Installing paddles will not enhance the responsiveness of the gearbox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorman3 Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 That is OK, I would not anticipate that to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicebubby8 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 I equipped my Audi A8 4.2 V8 with paddle shifters. I experimented with using them on my drive home after acquiring the car, mostly out of curiosity. However, I subsequently refrained from using them again. With less power, they may have a little higher level of utility....however, I have reservations about this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenishP4 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 I have had several automobiles equipped with different automatic transmission settings, but I have only tested them once and never used them again. Insert the letter 'D' and let the gearbox to do all the necessary tasks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsports Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 I found them beneficial for inducing downshifting when I want more engine braking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablos_carcv5 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Occasionally, I confess to using the paddle to reduce speed without using the brakes. However, it is important to acknowledge that this is the primary purpose for which the brakes were specifically engineered. I sometimes used them for amusement purposes during my most recent automobile rental, namely on a Dodge Charger equipped with a 9-speed transmission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorman3 Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 If anybody is interested... I have finally made an effort to do this. I successfully fitted a steering wheel replacement equipped with pre-installed paddle shifters, which seamlessly integrates with my vehicle. The replacement was a direct exchange, requiring no transfer of the contact plate from my previous wheel or any additional tasks such as wiring or coding. The new wheel was sourced from a vehicle of the same make and year, with the only distinction being that it came from a Sport Plus variant instead of a Sport variant, if that distinction is relevant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ENVIOclev Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 What was the duration till you stopped using them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BENZE220AMG Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Has it enhanced the quality of the driving experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorman3 Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 I am uncertain at the moment, but I will inform you later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorman3 Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 Indeed, it is pleasant to have the ability to manually swap gears when necessary, without the need for the unconventional lateral movement of the gear stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ENVIOclev Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 I just use it to shift to a higher gear in order to optimise fuel efficiency. The previous model of the CLK had the capability to achieve the same outcome by using the gear lever, so, any method is acceptable to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablos_carcv5 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Congratulations, motorman3! It's great to learn that modifications may be performed to an MB without the need to purchase a new Engine Control Unit (ECU) or have the vehicle connected to STAR diagnostic system for an extended period of time. Are you feeling bored with these already? 🤔 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorman3 Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 Indeed, I was quite taken aback by the fact that it worked, to be honest. Regarding the issue of being tired with them, have you experienced any feelings of tedium or disinterest? I have only used the vehicle in their presence on one occasion, therefore I will inform you of my assessment over the next few days... 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vitessear3 Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 Utilising downshifting for your gearbox is not advisable in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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