W204 c180k pre facelift paddle shift upgrade

[carsnstuff]

Hi I'd like to upgrade to paddle shifts on my 09 w204 c180k...
There is a ton of tutorials and I'm slightly confused as to which one I need.

Here is my car specs and steering wheel











Thanks if you can help

 

[carsnstuff]

Anyone? I don't want a fancy wheel Just the minimum I can get away with to have paddles

 

[AMGeed]

I have a 59 plate S204 180K and it has a steering wheel with paddles.

Mine has the AMG body kit with sideskirts and different steering wheel.
You need to find a breaker like Dronsfields that has a 204 C Class with 12 button steering wheel and paddles.
On my car they are the following options

428 STEER.WHEEL GEARSHIFT BUTTONS/SHIFT PADDLE PAINTED
442 MULTIFUNCTION STEERING WHEEL (12 BUTTONS)

It's too dark now to take a decent photo, but reply here if you need one to see which steering wheel will fit.
You may have trouble getting the other steering wheel controls to work though.

 

[markjay]

I am guessing it that the retrofitted feature will need to be activated by STAR? And will possibly also require SCN coding to update the Datacard?

 

[carsnstuff]

OK cool thanks so iv found a w204 12 button with paddles...

I can fit it myself, Is the coding bit once fitted something a specialist can do easily? how much will it cost?

 

[AMGeed]

OK cool thanks so iv found a w204 12 button with paddles...

I can fit it myself, Is the coding bit once fitted something a specialist can do easily? how much will it cost?

It will probably need a Mercedes specialist with Star diagnostics to code the new wheel to the car.
I'm still unsure how the change in buttons on the face of the wheel will work with what will be different connections.

Mercedes indies are far cheaper than main dealers for this kind of work. Budget for around £80+ per hr + VAT. No idea how long it would take.

 

[carsnstuff]

Cool thanks.. wouldn't the connections be the same if I get a pre facelift 12 wheel like mine is?

 

[AMGeed]

Cool thanks.. wouldn't the connections be the same if I get a pre facelift 12 wheel like mine is?

Your photo in Post#1 shows a 4 button wheel. I would expect different connections for a 12 button wheel you are replacing it with.

 

[carsnstuff]

so its not just a case of same connections, different coding??

guess the only way to tell would be to get the 2 wheels side by side and look at the pins

 

[JHS]

I think that I have used the paddles about 5 times in 2 years

 

[SpikyMikey]

I think that I have used the paddles about 5 times in 2 years

Must admit I use mine quite a lot, but generally only to drop it down a gear to get some extra engine braking effect. Otherwise they seem a bit pointless; it's not like a DSG where you get an instant up or downchange.

 

[markjay]

Must admit I use mine quite a lot, but generally only to drop it down a gear to get some extra engine braking effect. Otherwise they seem a bit pointless; it's not like a DSG where you get an instant up or downchange.

I have paddle shifters on the Suzuki, never used them, though London is mostly flat (with few exceptions).

 

[carsnstuff]

iv gone from a w203 c200 cdi to a w204 c180k blueefficiency.

To get anywhere near the same fuel efficiency around town I'm having to knock it up in to 5th and keep checking by knocking the selector to the right... as if you don't tell it too it will drop down and stay in 4th.

..Call it lazy but it's just easier to do with your hands on the wheel,

 

[JHS]

iv gone from a w203 c200 cdi to a w204 c180k blueefficiency.

To get anywhere near the same fuel efficiency around town I'm having to knock it up in to 5th and keep checking by knocking the selector to the right... as if you don't tell it too it will drop down and stay in 4th.

..Call it lazy but it's just easier to do with your hands on the wheel,

May be just me, but the saving in energy is not worth the hassle. But your car, your choice.

 

[carsnstuff]

theres a about a 10-15 mpg jump on the mpg indicator when you go from 4th to fifth at 40mph even more at 30.

check out the honest john fuel consumption between the manual and the auto

 

[markjay]

You could try and calculate how much money you'll be saving on fuel based on the estimated future mileage under you ownership, and then compare it with the cost of retrofitting the paddle shifters.

 

[JHS]

You could try and calculate how much money you'll be saving on fuel based on the estimated future mileage under you ownership, and then compare it with the cost of retrofitting the paddle shifters.

but........he can shift without the paddles so why bother just to save moving the hand from the wheel to the shifter? It will not be a cheap or easy modification.

 

[carsnstuff]

spoke to a guy in albania who made this video

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... said if i get a wheel from a 12 button paddle wheel from a pre facelift w204 it should plug and play.

if not plug and code.

wheel £35, plus maybe code £100 doesn't sound a lot to me