I don't understand why there has been no feedback from an electrical engineer on how to do this. This should be easy.

You just need to make paddles which send the exact same signals for UPSHIFT and DOWNSHIFT as the lame Tip steering wheel. As I said: Easy.

What are the switches in the paddles doing? Are they Normally Open "NO" or "NC" Normally Closed?

What are switches in the Tip steering wheel doing? Compare the two and just change the microswitches in the paddles.

I had a 2004 AMG SL with sissy plastic buttons. Bought the 2006 paddles, found out that one of them was not sending the right signal - the right "switch" was not in the paddle for a 2004 car. AMG had changed the logic. Just like Porsche did now. I had to take one paddle apart and take out the switch to replace it with the correct microswitch. Then mounted the 2006 paddles to my 2004 wheel and was happy as a kid in a candy store holding a winning lottery ticket.

So, someone please get a multimeter and get a reading from Tip toggle switch for UPSHIFT and DOWNSHIFT and the same from the PDK wheel. I just bought a PDK wheel but it is not here yet. So I can't get the PDK readings for another week.

Once we have these simple readings I can adapt the PDK wheel and will not need to change any control units or program anything in the car.

Attached is a picture of a microswitch. These are used in anything from $6 toys to $MM industrial assembly line robots.

Who can get a diagram of the logic in the two wheels?

If anyone is interested I can put together a Kickstarter project to convert any steering wheel to a paddle shift wheel.

How much are you willing to spend to convert your lame Tip wheel to PDK type paddles with Left Down and Right Up shifting?

Right now, it seems, the only option is to pay $2,500+ for a wheel, airbag, brain. Then you got to find a dealer and hope they can figure out how to program it. The four dealers around me in Los Angeles all told me that they don't know how to do it and that they would not do it even if they did because of liability issues.

 

Ruf makes a paddle steering wheel, direct bolt on I believe.

 

They make them from 996 all the way to 997.2

they are less than a 1000$ and much thicker & grippier than an oem wheel

 

I considered this steering wheel. It is made by Atiwe, also called Raid, in Germany. They make several different designs. My issue was that they only make them in 340mm and that was way too tiny for me. $1,000 must be the cheapest wheel without the hub. I think that was another $200 or so. I think the wheel I liked was about $1,290 + hub.

My next concern was the airbag they use. It is a full size airbag that I thought was going to seriously interfere with the side and seat airbags. Most likely preventing them from getting fully deployed because they get blocked by the larger airbag. Rendering both side airbags ineffective at deployment. Leaving the you - the driver - without any side impact protection.

 

I just found the Ruf wheel. They want $2,179.00 and don't tell you that it has a tiny 340mm diameter. I looks pretty bland. Where did you see it for a $1,000?

 

subscribing

 

I like your idea and thank you for promoting this very cool upgrade to our Porsches!

 

Just in case some of you still look around for a solution. Initially I converted my Tiptronic steering wheel by adding AMG paddles to it. Works like a charm. It is, however, not really looking original.

A few months ago I learned about the option to install the original PDK steering wheel into a 997.1. All what needs modification is the ECU behind the steering wheel. So if you find a PDK wheel with Airbag you only need that ECU unit and someone with a PIWIS tester to program.

 

why no photo? please!

 

Hi Serg124,
tried to reply to your PM but don´t have enough posts yet.

Are you looking for pics on the Tiptronic and AMG paddle solution or the PDK steering wheel in a Tiptronic car?

 

pics - both, I beleive it is interesting not only for me

 

Here you go:
sometime after taking these photos I removed also the original tiptronic buttons on the steering wheel and replaced them with those from a manual shift. Made the look and feel of the paddles even better

Currently I´m driving with the PDK version so if anyone is interested in the original Tiptronic wheel with AMG paddles. It´s for sale

 

in fact I have also some photos

 

looks like the same mod as I did initially