///M Shift Knob for Steptronic with
07-31-2006, 12:11 AM
#1
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Hi Guys,
I love a lot of things about M5 except its low low-end torque engine which makes me never think that M5 will be my future/dream car. However, I love its 166 wheel, mirror, rear bumper (front M-tek kit bumper is better), steering wheel with paddles, and shift knob.
I wanted to add 166 wheel, mirror, steering wheel with paddles and shift knob to my previous 530i, but I found it too wimpy and not worth to add anything else. I then traded in for 550i and, to be honest, this is my best car ever and it's the one that I'm looking for. It's totally worthwhile for me to add some M5 mods.
I have M5 steering wheel, paddles, and airbag ready, except airbag mouting plate (on order). Once I have it, I'll retrofit my all time favorite M5 SMG Paddle Shift kit. But, for now, I retrofit M5 shift knob on my 550i Steptronic.
[attachment=28099:attachment]
I love a lot of things about M5 except its low low-end torque engine which makes me never think that M5 will be my future/dream car. However, I love its 166 wheel, mirror, rear bumper (front M-tek kit bumper is better), steering wheel with paddles, and shift knob.
I wanted to add 166 wheel, mirror, steering wheel with paddles and shift knob to my previous 530i, but I found it too wimpy and not worth to add anything else. I then traded in for 550i and, to be honest, this is my best car ever and it's the one that I'm looking for. It's totally worthwhile for me to add some M5 mods.
I have M5 steering wheel, paddles, and airbag ready, except airbag mouting plate (on order). Once I have it, I'll retrofit my all time favorite M5 SMG Paddle Shift kit. But, for now, I retrofit M5 shift knob on my 550i Steptronic.
[attachment=28099:attachment]
07-31-2006, 12:33 AM
#3
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My Ride: 535d M-Sport, Carbon Black, Almost all options
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ok now that M5 shift knob is a majourly cool mod !! i never knew it was possible! Can you please explain how u did it? Did BMW install the shift knob for u? How did u get the lights to work based on the stepronic ?
07-31-2006, 03:45 AM
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My Ride: E60 Limo with M-Sport package(m5 mirrors,m5 trunk finisher,m172 summer wheels,blk front grills,m5 paddle shift kit(my530i),m pedal covers,m floor mats,
E87 2005 The Misses car
E39 2002 Touring with M-Sport package/family wagon(gone but not forgotten)
Wow, you are the man 
and I thought the paddle shift was already tops 
and I thought the paddle shift was already tops
07-31-2006, 08:38 AM
#7
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NICE!! You should replace the panel too, so the original P-R-N-D doesn't show, then it'll be all M5 Shift-Knob light and not two lights... Awesome Mod..
1. M5 shift pattern is very short, so leather part cannot stretch far enough
2. M5 panel slot for shifter is round and narrower than Steps, Park and D/S mode are almost impossible unless I need to cut the round slot bigger, but it'll ruin the beauty althought I wish I could fit M5 shifter panel in.
ok now that M5 shift knob is a majourly cool mod !! i never knew it was possible! Can you please explain how u did it? Did BMW install the shift knob for u? How did u get the lights to work based on the stepronic ?
The problem is D and D/S. There is only one signal to D/S on M5 shiftknob and we have two signals D and D/S. How did I solve it? An AND gate will work for D and D/S signal, but because Fry's Electronics ran out of quad-AND gate, so I had to buy a quad-NAND gate and a hex-INV gate.
Congrats, nice trade! I think you made a wide decision. Now what about your user name
07-31-2006, 09:24 AM
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My Ride: 2004 530i (SE), Auto-Dim Int + Folding Ext. Mirrors, Automatic Gearbox, Bluetooth Telephone Preparation, BMW 6 Disc CD Changer, Heated Front Seats, HiFi Speaker System, Leather interior, Navigation System - Business, Sports Suspension, Star Spoke 123 8Jx18" + Run Flat Tyres. M-Tech Kit.
Great job, will you be selling a wiring kit for this mod?
07-31-2006, 09:48 AM
#9
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will you be selling a wiring kit for this mod?
Any suggestion? Let me know what would be the price you would buy? Everyone? Remember that I need to put up some instructions, too.
Someone might be curious how much this project cost:
7 connectors: $14
26 pin/contact $50
74LS chips $2
board $2
7 connectors: $14
26 pin/contact $50
74LS chips $2
board $2
If anyone interested, please let me know. I can do this wiring kit case by case.
07-31-2006, 10:01 AM
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My Ride: 535d M-Sport, Carbon Black, Almost all options
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To me, it's very easy to implement because I have electrical/electronic background, especially, digital stuffs in BMW. Most (may all) of car electronic components nowadays activated by grounding the pin. The R, N and D/S on M5 shift knob are activated by grounding appropriate signal. Same as steptronic case. So what I need to do is grabbing the right ground pin from Steptronic gear position signal and feed it to M5 shift knob.
The problem is D and D/S. There is only one signal to D/S on M5 shiftknob and we have two signals D and D/S. How did I solve it? An AND gate will work for D and D/S signal, but because Fry's Electronics ran out of quad-AND gate, so I had to buy a quad-NAND gate and a hex-INV gate.
hahaha it indeed seems to be easy to you. i appreciate the explanation,.. now i just have to figure out what a AND Gate and a QUAD-AND gate and a QUAD-NAND and Hex-INV gate is! It is all a strange language to me.
but i would still like to have it done. Perhaps you could post a step by step guide for us? or we pay for some help doesnt matter.
The problem is D and D/S. There is only one signal to D/S on M5 shiftknob and we have two signals D and D/S. How did I solve it? An AND gate will work for D and D/S signal, but because Fry's Electronics ran out of quad-AND gate, so I had to buy a quad-NAND gate and a hex-INV gate.
hahaha it indeed seems to be easy to you. i appreciate the explanation,.. now i just have to figure out what a AND Gate and a QUAD-AND gate and a QUAD-NAND and Hex-INV gate is! It is all a strange language to me.
but i would still like to have it done. Perhaps you could post a step by step guide for us? or we pay for some help doesnt matter.