delmarco Posted March 30, 2010 Report Share Posted March 30, 2010 This DIY will demonstrate my knowledge on attempting to retrofit the DCT Steptronic Sport Package Shifter onto a non-DCT car. My car used is a 2001 330i but this mod can be applied to any BMW from 2000 to 2010 that comes with regular steptronic transmission. The goal of this project was to install the DCT shifter and wire the knob to the existing indicator plate so that the led on the knob itself could light up and indicate the gear that the car is in. The desire for this mod comes from the fact that the shifter looks damn good, modern and will not just be an eye candy mod as it serves a purpose in your car. The expense of this project may not be as much as you would think. The knob itself costs just under $200 at many dealerships and you can get it cheaper on eBay or the junkyard from a salvaged E60lci or E70. NOTE: This project only uses the DCT Shifter from the SPORT PACKAGE DCT Vehicles. This is not the M3, M5, M6 DCT SMG knob, nor is it the normal non-Sport Package Steptronic Shifter on the E60lci and E70 vehicles. The rest of the expenses run from getting the 5 pin connectors and wiring from the dealership. Also if you have a pre 2002 BMW you will need to get an updated indicator plate with the newer up/down shift pattern and swap some wires under your indicator plate (as described later in the DIY). So when said and done this DIY should cost you in the range of $150 to $300 depending on where you get your parts from. As for DIY time this DIY is split into three parts. First you will have to prep the knob. This entails removing the original boot and/or adding your own boot. Also dremeling, filing and getting the knob to fit the way you want it to. Out of the box the knob will fit onto your car but it may sit too high for some and that will depend on your preference for the way you want it to look in your car. Second it the prepping the wiring harness. This encompasses some basic splicing of the wiring and creating connectors that will tap into your car's indicator plate and power/ground sources. This turned out to be tricky but a lot easier than I anticipated. Last will be getting everything into your car. That said, I never quite completed this DIY before I removed the knob from my car with intentions of selling my 2001 330i and buying a Sport Package DCT 2008 535i later on. I wasn't going to even create a write up but many people are also attempting this retrofit and I will share everything I know below. I will take a moment here to thank all the folks at e90post (allan, phattbam, and others) who inspired this DIY, e46fanactics/fest (SubzeroE46, Nachos23, the Steves, etc) who helped me understand what was in my car and everyone else. PART ONE: Getting to know the DCT Shifter. Boot Removal, opening up the knob to see what is inside and filing down the neck to get a nice fit over the Steptronic stalk in your car. The entire DIY is continued down below at post#13 http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=220526 (my apologies for the delay in getting this DIY up. I been busy with other things in my life) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan 24v Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Yet another awesome mod!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Wow ! That is an real individual Mod ! Those gearsticks look Rude ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 lol I thought you meant a transmission swap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speed Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Freaking awesome!!!, subscribe!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewok Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 looks like something outta stargate.sg1 or battlestar ahhhhh thats what it is its a cyclons willy lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
330 Lee Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Wheres the DIY then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSG Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 I saw the pic of the gearknob in your other thread (fixing scuffed interior panels with that rubber spray thingy lol) and I thought it looked a bit odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 The + & - on the stick are opposite to the Badge on the trim , although in ur other Topic , they match ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSG Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Good spot Daz, but the signs match up in the after pics. So I'm assuming he got a new badge after cleaning up the trim. And judging by the trim on the storage compartments in this thread, the pics were taken before the resoration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted April 8, 2010 Report Share Posted April 8, 2010 Yes i guess thats whats happened , as much as i like the Mod , it doesn't quite go with the interior . The stick needs to be less shiny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natedogg Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 so just a change of gearstick and the wire swop over etc so the manual chnages the other way to stock? or something else.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmarco Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 continued... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmarco Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 http://img188.imageshack.us/g/dctal.jpg/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmarco Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 PART TWO: The wiring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmarco Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 http://img404.imageshack.us/g/dctb.jpg/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmarco Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 PART 3: Updating your Indicator Plate on 2001 and earlier BMW 3 and 5 series to match up with the shift pattern on the DCT knob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmarco Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 When said and done: http://img143.imageshack.us/g/dctd.jpg/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmarco Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 PART FOUR: The finishing touches With the correct indicator plate and everything installed. The wiring that I did was inconsistent and worked some of the time. At the moment I never fully completed it to the point that all the led indicators lit up all the time. I believe the knob uses more power than previously thought relative to the power-draw for the existing indicator plate in the car. Finish product looks clean and functional. Also you can choose to use a Manual boot or even use the SMG Console Boot Plate if you choose. I kept the OEM Steptronic boot because it looked good the way it is. You can also use Plasti-Dip or paint to paint over the indicator plate on the car so it doesn't look like PRND m/s overkill. Here is how the DCT Sport Package Shifter will look in the 2011 3 Series. http://img718.imageshack.us/g/dctc6.jpg/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
330 Lee Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Wow, top work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayla Posted August 13, 2011 Report Share Posted August 13, 2011 dam never saw this mod.... sooo badly want to do this mod now ................................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
