SAT retro-fit completed
#11
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My Ride: 2014 530d XDrive M Sport
Originally Posted by 525d MSport' post='657998' date='Aug 31 2008, 04:46 AM
Someone has already done it which is where I got the confidence from to attempt this.
My car was not available with this as an option from the factory. Here in the UK it is only the 530d and 530i and above which can be sepcified with SAT. So if you have a 520d, 525d or 525i the only route is to retro-fit.
After driving with it for 150 miles I can't understand why BMW didn't make this the standard fitment and forget the standard auto shifter. Remember that the gearbox itself is no different - it is just what it is told to do that is.
Essentially, all you need is 4 components. The SAT gear lever, the SAT ECU, the sport button and a console trim cover.
The SAT ECU which sits under the gear lever is the key here. The sports button plugs into it.
If your car is prior to around March 2007 (LCI) you are unfortunatley out of luck. If you are an LCI owner then this is a worth while upgrade.
Regards,
My car was not available with this as an option from the factory. Here in the UK it is only the 530d and 530i and above which can be sepcified with SAT. So if you have a 520d, 525d or 525i the only route is to retro-fit.
After driving with it for 150 miles I can't understand why BMW didn't make this the standard fitment and forget the standard auto shifter. Remember that the gearbox itself is no different - it is just what it is told to do that is.
Essentially, all you need is 4 components. The SAT gear lever, the SAT ECU, the sport button and a console trim cover.
The SAT ECU which sits under the gear lever is the key here. The sports button plugs into it.
If your car is prior to around March 2007 (LCI) you are unfortunatley out of luck. If you are an LCI owner then this is a worth while upgrade.
Regards,
#12
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Originally Posted by seoulman' post='658024' date='Aug 30 2008, 09:38 PM
I'd probably end up wrecking the interior of my car and killing the electronics of the transmission!
It cost me ?420 so around $900. At $300 to fit it I would give up my day job!
For the cars you can have SAT as an option in the UK, when I ordered my car the additional cost was only ?70 extra! But as with your car, if you can't have it as an option retrofit!
Regards,
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Originally Posted by 525d MSport' post='658308' date='Aug 31 2008, 05:19 PM
No, its too easy an installation to allow you to break anything. The only bit I thought had the potential to go wrong was easing up the trim on the centre console.
It cost me ?420 so around $900. At $300 to fit it I would give up my day job!
For the cars you can have SAT as an option in the UK, when I ordered my car the additional cost was only ?70 extra! But as with your car, if you can't have it as an option retrofit!
Regards,
It cost me ?420 so around $900. At $300 to fit it I would give up my day job!
For the cars you can have SAT as an option in the UK, when I ordered my car the additional cost was only ?70 extra! But as with your car, if you can't have it as an option retrofit!
Regards,
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I take it this doesn't include the paddles on the steering wheel? What does the Sport button actually do? Does it work in manual, DS and D modes?
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My Ride: 2014 530d XDrive M Sport
Originally Posted by Techno79' post='658487' date='Sep 1 2008, 02:51 AM
I take it this doesn't include the paddles on the steering wheel? What does the Sport button actually do? Does it work in manual, DS and D modes?
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Originally Posted by 525d MSport' post='658308' date='Aug 31 2008, 09:19 AM
It cost me ?420 so around $900.
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Originally Posted by Techno79' post='658524' date='Sep 1 2008, 03:49 AM
?420 seems an extortionate amount for just parts when the original option is just ?70. Why are the parts so expensive?
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Originally Posted by seoulman' post='658549' date='Aug 31 2008, 08:40 PM
Transmission components are expensive. Electronic parts such as the ECU and shift controller are not cheap. Moreover, when you do a retrofit, it's not an option 'trade-out' like on an options sheet, where one option is traded out for another at no extra cost or little to moderate extra cost. The ECU and the shift controller of the SAT and the standard automatic probably cost the same. The minimal extra cost of the SAT when you specify it as an option at time of car purchase, is probably for the different shift lever, the sports button and the steering wheel with the shift paddles (which is also a 'trade out' with the standard steering wheel). It's sort of like changing tire and wheel options when you are buying a car. If you order a set of bigger and more expensive wheels and tires from the factory as an option, you only pay the difference because you are 'trading out' your standard wheels and tires for a different set.. When you go buy a set of bigger and more expensive tires after you take delivery of your car, you'll have to pay the full price. It's the same case here. You are paying the full price for the retrofit components required to perform the SAT functions. Moreover, the SAT option in the UK is not ?70. It is a ?1,570 option while the standard automatic is a ?1,475. The two options have a price difference of ?95.
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Originally Posted by Techno79' post='658572' date='Sep 1 2008, 05:42 AM
Ah ok, I suppose that makes sense. The parts that are replaced during the SAT retro fit, can they be sold to lessen the total cost for the retro fit? How hard is the retro fit for the paddles?
As for the paddle shifter retro-fit, I'm not sure, I don't think anyone has done it yet. However, it should be plug and play like the SAT retrofit.
The two experts on the topic of SAT retrofit are 'rysed' and '525d MSport'. They both have done this retrofit in their cars. If you are interested in this mod, you should drop them a PM.
#20
Can this be retrofitted to a pre-lci model? All I'm looking to do is to change the shifter...I like the 08 look better than the 07.... I am not looking to make the sport button working or anything. If possible, let me know what parts are needed...thanks
Alex
Alex