Anyone ever used steering wheel buttons for gearshift?
11-08-2008, 03:54 AM
#1
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Considering that the + and - on the gear shifter is basically just a switch closing a circuit, and the buttons on the multi-function steering wheel do the same thing, it would seem (to me) like an achievable hack for someone with the skill and motivation.
Has anybody ever attempted it ?
Or .... are those buttons used in a more advanced way, like sending a signal along a bus saying "key #23 pressed" and a computer somewhere responds to that and checks what context the iDrive system is in (e.g. playing a CD) and decides what action should be taken (e.g. change track).
This would be a much nicer hack than trying to install paddles that don't belong, or a whole steering wheel replacement.
Has anybody ever attempted it ?
Or .... are those buttons used in a more advanced way, like sending a signal along a bus saying "key #23 pressed" and a computer somewhere responds to that and checks what context the iDrive system is in (e.g. playing a CD) and decides what action should be taken (e.g. change track).
This would be a much nicer hack than trying to install paddles that don't belong, or a whole steering wheel replacement.
11-08-2008, 06:45 AM
#2
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Southern Europe
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: E61 CarbonBlack 535d, Ventilated and Heated Comfort Seats with Massage in Black Nasca Leather, Dark Poplar Wood, Professional Navi, Folding Rear Seats, Load Through, Advanced Remote, PDC, Bluetooth, Dimming and folding Mirrors, Bi-Xenons, Hi-Fi, Tinted
Maybe you could hook your gear shifting to voice commands .. up, down and numbers 1-6 and reverse ... and steering too 
left right ..... 
left right .....
11-08-2008, 06:53 AM
#3
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by hondik' post='715773' date='Nov 8 2008, 04:45 PM
Maybe you could hook your gear shifting to voice commands .. up, down and numbers 1-6 and reverse ... and steering too left right .....
left right .....
11-08-2008, 07:51 AM
#4
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
are u serious? U want buttons on the wheel to shift the transmission by reprogramming or re-splicing the wires to close the "cirucit" or adding a computer to send a signal than installing "paddles that dont belong" Ya no one has the initiative to re program a cd track button to shit. Why? Because paddles are the right way to go.
11-08-2008, 09:04 AM
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter.
Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.
Originally Posted by DD_545i' post='715777' date='Nov 8 2008, 10:53 AM
I tried the voice commands already, no joy. Every time I shout "gear three" it changes the FM station to "Fantasy (fm)". When I shout reverse at it, the parking sensor screen appears.
11-08-2008, 09:34 AM
#6
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hell no, that'd be crazy. Paddles would be much cheaper.
Doesn't hurt to be nice here.
Originally Posted by porsche911targa' post='715839' date='Nov 8 2008, 07:04 PM
Funny, when I shout "reverse" at it, the LCD displays a map of France.
11-08-2008, 09:57 AM
#8
Contributors
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by radz182' post='715874' date='Nov 8 2008, 07:53 PM
gf's got a paddle shifter, I could not even use it, there's not enough road!
In my previous car I only ever used the steering wheel tiptronic buttons. Was never in D or S. I don't quite feel the need for it so much in the BMW somehow. Maybe it's the engine braking that the BMW provides but the Audi didn't. But if I could get steering wheel shift cheaply via a quick and easy button modification then I'd certainly go for it.
11-08-2008, 10:05 AM
#9
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 5,701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2009 Alpine White e92 M3
I'm just afraid of going over the speed limit, I didn't want to get haunted of past speeding tickets which are a nightmare. 
11-08-2008, 10:35 AM
#10
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada/ Beirut, Lebanon
Posts: 1,870
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DD_545i' post='715741' date='Nov 8 2008, 08:54 AM
Considering that the + and - on the gear shifter is basically just a switch closing a circuit, and the buttons on the multi-function steering wheel do the same thing, it would seem (to me) like an achievable hack for someone with the skill and motivation.
Has anybody ever attempted it ?
Or .... are those buttons used in a more advanced way, like sending a signal along a bus saying "key #23 pressed" and a computer somewhere responds to that and checks what context the iDrive system is in (e.g. playing a CD) and decides what action should be taken (e.g. change track).
This would be a much nicer hack than trying to install paddles that don't belong, or a whole steering wheel replacement.
Has anybody ever attempted it ?
Or .... are those buttons used in a more advanced way, like sending a signal along a bus saying "key #23 pressed" and a computer somewhere responds to that and checks what context the iDrive system is in (e.g. playing a CD) and decides what action should be taken (e.g. change track).
This would be a much nicer hack than trying to install paddles that don't belong, or a whole steering wheel replacement.
That ll be one of the best mods this forum has ever seen ( for those who cannot afford Paddle shifters of course)
Some of us are still students working through college and cannot afford 2,000$ mods, so this will be perfect
My friend's AUDI TT has buttons to change gears and NOT PADDLES, so i think this is possible.