Ocean 6.1 retrofit paddle shift..?

[secret lemonade drinker]

Had paddle shift on a T6 for 8 years, used it to downshift for engine breaking maybe three times, which is two times more than I ever used the sport mode. In a truck it is a complete waste of time!

 

[Sheffield10]

Evening all.

Job done - and, rather handily, the vehicle even seems to have recognised the change of wheel and switchgear such that the paddles worked for me ‘straight out of the box’. . . so, in the end it’s just a simple case of removing the airbag module, steering wheel bezel (HUGE patience and care), fitting the new MF switch set onto and then swapping over the new wheel, reconnect battery and drive away !

How-to guide to follow.

Thanks.

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Thanks for inspiring me to get this mod done JR. Our recent trip to Scotland proved the shortcoming of just leaving the standard DSG setup and coasting function to get it right on steeply undulating roads, and reaching for the gear lever to knock it into manual, pick a gear and soon after push it back into auto is a PITA.

Some searching on the T6 Forum suggested that a MF steering wheel - part number 2G0 419 089 D VDH - with DSG paddles, would be a straight plug and play swap. I found a mint one on Fleabay for a bargain and took the plunge. I've done the swap and everything seems to be working correctly. I did have a heart stopping moment when I first switched the ignition on having reconnected the battery - the dash lit up like a Christmas tree with numerous ACC and sensor warnings. I did look at removing the silver bezel to swap the buttons from the old wheel but was rescued by a T6 Forum member who suggested that turning the wheel from lock to lock would likely clear the faults - which it did! Just need to work out how to delete the quizzical look from my better half's face on why we needed a new steering wheel now.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

That’s truly excellent to hear, and thanks for reporting back !

I’m reassured that someone else i) sees the advantage of being able to command the occasional fingertip manual shift and ii) has a wife who is equally foxed at the pointless faff of doing the ‘upgrade’ !!!

Just two things: the Christmas tree syndrome when reconnecting the battery and firing up can equally easily be fixed simply by driving away for a few yards, or perhaps it is simply exceeding 5mph or so that does the trick ?

My wife was so disgusted and bothered by the irritating excrescences I had inconsiderately and inconveniently planted right where she wanted to have her fingers gripping (search me as to why ! - I only really rest the heels of my hands on the rim), that I went straight into a second wave of modification, so I now have no levers at all but just a smooth flush aluminium finisher plate on the backside of the spokes and my buttons are operated via touch through a dia 12mm hole with a rubber membrane to translate the contact pressure.

See photos below (the temporary tiny short wire clip I employed whilst I proved the mod is also now gone, so the whole thing is completely smooth to the touch).

(we did a week in Wales recently, and are now 2 weeks into a 5-week trip of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way - I can report I’ve done maybe 50-odd ‘mountain’ gearchanges with the super-discreet shifters, and I don’t think a single one was spotted, or at least commented upon (which had also been an objection when I shifted with the stick) . . . only problem now is the old wheel is resolutely stuck as an ornament on this forum, and sits at just 3 views on eBay !)

 

[Sheffield10]

If needed, I might try shortening my wife's fingers instead

 

[Johnny Rocket]

I just showed your comment to my wife, and she smiled and snorted - I think she’s clearly over the worst of the offence !