How to: Install Evo X paddle shifters or how can a automatic become cooler than manuals!
First of all, I take no responsibility for damaged caused by this modification. Quite a few things can go wrong when you think it through, but if you think before you drill or screw into something, it shouldn't be a big issue to install them:
What tools I've used:
•1x Evo X paddle shifter - can be bought for very cheap here
•3pin fan cable (plug)
•3x 2m long speaker cable or similar, I've used spare speaker cable I had lying around
•6x 2mm wire tap splice
•10x small cable ties
•10mm spanner
•10mm socket & ratchet
•17mm socket, extension & ratchet
•Torx bit (can't remember the size - you need this to undo your steering wheel)
•Flathead & Phillips-head screwdriver
•Hacksaw
•Cordless drill & 2mm drillbit
•2 screws (self tapping)
•File
•PATIENCE
OK here we go, first thing to do is disconnect the battery & have a cup of coffee or a stubbie. To be safe wait 10-15mins, then attack the steering wheel. Remove the 2 torx screws on either side (this is on a Momo), disconnect the airbag plug & take the airbag off. Undo the 17mm nut which holds your steering wheel in place, disconnect the horn & take off the steering wheel.
For the next few things you'll have to remove I've taken pictures & marked the bolts/screws with red arrows:
- Ausbau1.jpg (48.09 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
- Ausbau2.jpg (13.85 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
- Ausbau3.jpg (78.98 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
Take off the whole centre console and underneath your tiptronic shifter you'll find this:
- Einbau1.jpg (39.44 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
- Einbau2.jpg (44.58 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
White cable is gear up, yellow is gear down, red is +
Tap your 3 cables into the existing white, yellow & red cable, once you're done it should look like this:
- Einbau3.jpg (97.17 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
Important, remember which cable is which
Now get your 3pin fan cable & shave of the 2 little bumps on it as shown here:
- Einbau4.jpg (7.1 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
It'll will perfectly fit into the Evo X paddle shifter plug!
Now it's time to grab the awesome paddle shifter, take off around 1mm with your file from the inside & constantly test if slides over the steering column like this pic shows:
- Einbau6.jpg (43.81 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
Get out the cordless drill with your 2mm drill bit and drill 2 small holes in the same direction as you can see in the picture above on either side. Take the 2 screws and attach the paddles to your steering column. At the end it should look like this:
- Einbau5.jpg (50.35 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
Now we've all the cabling done up to the steering column, the paddle shifter is in place... all you need to do now is hook'em up. This picture shows you which cable needs to be connected with the cables of your 3 pin fan cables
- Einbau7.jpg (35.96 KiB) Viewed 1284 times
Now it's time to put everything back together, you'll realise that the bottom cover for your steering wheel column doesn't fit anymore, now it's hacksaw, drill & file time. I'm currently working on making up a new top & bottom cover that fits perfectly, the gap I have at the moment is only 1-2mm, but I don't like it.
Once this is done (this took me probably 50% of the whole install because you don't want to cut too much away!) put your steering wheel back in, but leave out the centre console for now. Connect the battery, start the engine, hit the brake, go in tiptronic, hold the brake and shift up into 2nd while you're still on the brakes. Try if UP & DOWN works, if it doesn't you might have done something wrong!
Play around with those 3 connections here until everything works the way it should
