[MParallel]

Car now fitted with paddle shifters. IMHO, the best mod I've ever done. Just feels so much better driving it.

Also shaves some time, even how little it is, off the gear change process. No hand-to-stick movement and the throw of the stick is longer than the tiny flick of the shifter.

And as always, everything is 100% reversible Zero cutting or splicing in factory wiring.
Ok it will leave some holes on the back of the wheel, but I have a brand new spare M wheel.

Short vid

[JMD]

Swueeeet Mod! I want to do this to my '10 E60 535xi Sport!

[m5james]

It's money I wouldn't really wanna spend on my E36, but I didn't know people did SMG swaps into E36's! I haven't gotten around to doing my M3 to 328ci suspension, subframe and diff swap. Good job!

[mkoesel]

^^ SMG was available from the factory for the E36.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

^^ SMG was available from the factory for the E36.

(in europe)

[W///]

Originally Posted by m5james

It's money I wouldn't really wanna spend on my E36, but I didn't know people did SMG swaps into E36's! I haven't gotten around to doing my M3 to 328ci suspension, subframe and diff swap. Good job!

No swap, OP is in Europe

[m5james]

I saw that after I found some YouTube videos of the SMG doing SMG things lol.

[MParallel]

Some familiar faces here...

As said, this is the SMG1 gearbox offered on EU spec M3 3.2 models. Since it's the oldest system, it's over 20 years old now, don't expect DCT like shifts.

But it has its charm and while I didn't specifically plan on buying an SMG1 M3, this one happened to cross my path and ticked all the boxes.

In the 4+ year of ownership, I've connected with the system and having 2 friends who also own SMG1 cabrio's and together have deducted its workings and how to troubleshoot, it's a nifty system if you consider the age and context.

I'm a manual guy myself, but I've never missed not having a clutch pedal.

[frankenm]

[MParallel]

And for those not familiar with the EU SMG1 stock shifter, this is how it looks:



So these 20+ year newer paddles match the alu-silver/black perfectly. Doesn't even look out of place.

And some other angles of the shiftpaddles





SMG1 hydro unit at bottem left

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by m5james

It's money I wouldn't really wanna spend on my E36, but I didn't know people did SMG swaps into E36's! I haven't gotten around to doing my M3 to 328ci suspension, subframe and diff swap. Good job!

I assume you've never seen an ITB on E36 M3 either.

[m5james]

I have seen ITB's as my first BMW in the 90's was an M5, but no, I didn't know the SMG was ever in the E36.

[RABAUKE]

Originally Posted by randi41

Cool. Paddle shifters make driving more fun.

Almost as much fun as stick.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by m5james

I have seen ITB's as my first BMW in the 90's was an M5, but no, I didn't know the SMG was ever in the E36.

[Supra^]

Sorry for upping and old thread, but i just stumbled upon this, and my hats off to you sir, looks really nice! What kind of paddles did you use? Looks like the F-generation but it seems there are a lot of differences F10 vs F30 etc.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by Supra^

Sorry for upping and old thread, but i just stumbled upon this, and my hats off to you sir, looks really nice! What kind of paddles did you use? Looks like the F-generation but it seems there are a lot of differences F10 vs F30 etc.

It's not an old thread.

Thanks. Still loving this mod.

Not sure how I would describe these paddles. BMW used them on many different models the last, what, 7+ years, if not longer.

Though I did notice there are two versions of this style paddle, which looks identical viewed from the front, but the back side is very different.

The 'base' plate is the same as the latest M5 paddle shifters, so I could easily swap over to a different style, but the black/silver looks better to me and a pefect match with the stock shifter.

Old model back

https://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-F11-F12-...IAAOSwPCtbWu-U

Later model

https://www.ebay.de/itm/BMW-F20-F21-...YAAOSwFetamEcw

Older model paddles in general seem of a better construction, with metal pivot bar and metal thread (insert) to bold it on, all later models it's all plastic.

[BayE30]

can you upgrade to the e46 SMG shifter as well? That shifter looks huge for something that does almost nothing...

[zx10guy]

Those paddles are the same ones used in the E82 DCT equipped cars. I had the same paddles for my car. Didn't like them. Found the paddles to be too short requiring too long of a finger tip reach. And there is no extension of the paddles downward. So what you see in the pictures is all you get. I swapped out those stock paddles for a Nelson Racing Wheel paddle kit.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

can you upgrade to the e46 SMG shifter as well? That shifter looks huge for something that does almost nothing...

The E46 one does fit, but I don't like its design, nor ergonmics.

While the stock one looks huge, it's not too big and has a nice feel to it.

Since the whole assembly is based on an automatic gearbox mechanism with a heavy throw, the smaller E46 shifter would make it uncomfortably hard to use it.

The shifter still comes in handy navigating roundabouts and sharp corners.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Those paddles are the same ones used in the E82 DCT equipped cars. I had the same paddles for my car. Didn't like them. Found the paddles to be too short requiring too long of a finger tip reach. And there is no extension of the paddles downward. So what you see in the pictures is all you get. I swapped out those stock paddles for a Nelson Racing Wheel paddle kit.

And that is why I like them. I don't like these paddles that circumvent half the steering wheel. You can get extensions for them, but not for me.

It was already nice there is just enough room between wheel and stalks to fit these. With longer downward extension, it would interfear with the cruise control stalk, since this one is closer towards the steering wheel.

Although I could remove it, since the steering wheel buttons now control all cruise functions.

Maybe I should do a journal topic, since the option list on this E36 is arguably the most extensive one.