Flappy paddles steering wheel in Tiguan.

[tigger73]

Here's the end result. Type R flat bottom wheel, red stitching and DSG paddles!!!!

[HaywireTig]

That's a beauty mate. Hope mine turns out that way too!

[DoggieHowser]

Doesn't the R wheel normally come with blue stitching?

[tigger73]

Doesn't the R wheel normally come with blue stitching?

I think you'll find all the local delivered Type R's have black stitching on the steering wheels. Red is probably a spec from another country.

On a separate note I just noticed there's a GTI wheel with DSG paddles on ebay Australia:

VW GOLF 6 GTI STEERING WHEEL DSG | eBay

However if you get it you'll still need to get the airbag.

[tigger73]

A quick trip to my favourite mobile mechanic (Transporter) and 30 seconds later the paddles are switched on.

So now gear changing is a breeze. Downshifting when going down hills and you want some engine braking or upshifting when driving in "S" and the DSG transmission stays in gear too long. Plus you can shift it back into 1st when you need to get going at low speed.

Yes it's a relatively expensive upgrade given the functionality increase is relatively minor (and would have been way cheaper to include paddle shifters with the vehicle as an option from new) but for me it makes the car a lot more driveable. It allows you to get around some of the annoying DSG transmission issues.

So for the record I was able to use my existing SWCM and airbag cable from my 2011 Tiguan and just purchase the wheel and matching airbag. The only thing that I regret is that I didn't do it sooner!

[Ryan_R]

A quick trip to my favourite mobile mechanic

What's wrong with this sentence?



Congrats on the upgrade - how long will you last before getting some paddle extensions though?



Yep, they're a big improvement over the stock ones.

[tigger73]

What's wrong with this sentence?

Was it the "quick" bit?

Congrats on the upgrade - how long will you last before getting some paddle extensions though?

Yep, they're a big improvement over the stock ones.

So how do the extensions fit? Do they just fit over the top of the existing ones? Do you need to take the wheel out or do they just fit on without major work (i.e. undoing the airbag).

I guess it depends where your hands are on the wheel. Generally drive 9 and 3 so the existing shifters are fine at the moment.

When do you find you use the extensions? Or did you just put them on for looks

[Ryan_R]

Not for looks (dif colours to choose from though, picked the one that matches the silver/chrome trim). I have a CSR Elite racing at home for sim racing so I quickly missed the big paddle shifters. You can get ones that require you to pull the wheel off and swap the existing paddles with new ones but mine stick on with special 3M adhesive and feel solid as a rock. Everyone-doubts the stick-on aspect before hand but once they give it a shot they've all been singing praises just about

Read through this thread: http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...ion-71164.html

[Tiggy1]

Hi all,
got my flappy paddle strg wheel fitted last week.....

Apologies for picture quality - best I could do with shaky hand/crap phone. Thanks again to Tigger73 for the lead on ebay. Ended up being comparatively cheap and included airbag too so bonus. Only additional expenses (apart from fitting costs) were the "R" badge to replace "GTD" one - no offence diesel fans, and the spray'n'wipe to get all the dirt and cigar residue off it (man - previous owner must have smoked cubans!)
Works a treat! Guy that fitted it was even impressed with how quick and smooth the gear changes are
Only thing is, the airbag was missing one of the little white plastic thingies that go over springs where it locates in wheel - otherwise I could probably hock mine on ebay to recover some $$$. Anyone got any lying around they don't want?
Cheers

[tigger73]

Congrats on the new wheel - sorry aboutthe cigar smoker..

Here's a photo of my R wheel with red stitching.



Managed to sell my old wheel and airbag to a Golf MkV driver looking to upgrade to a multi-function wheel. Offset a bit of the cost of the upgrade (at least paid for the airbag).

Sorry no white tabs left over - was it missing or did it come off when it got taken out?

[Tiggy1]

Hi mate,
suspect it was missing when sent - unless customs guys lost it when unwrapping/rewrapping it. No biggie, and the 'ole spray'n'wipe and an air freshener sorted the smell. Adds to the appeal a bit in a way - can tell stories about how it came from a Russian Mafia car or something
Yours looks cool with red stitching - would have been nice but (as Aussietig says early in post), beggars can't be choosers when it comes to getting ahold of these bad-boys!
Next issue - whether or not to get shifter extensions? Quite like the "stealth" aspect of the look as it is, but admit would be handy to have some extra paddle (make it easier to find when going around corners on opposite lock)
Cheers

[Ryan_R]

About 4 in 5 times when I use the shifter I'm applying pressure to a part of the extension rather than in the middle where the original shifter is, so it's worked out well for me. Plus you get a 2nd set of adhesives if you ever want to move them to another VAG car. Expensive yes but they do get used a lot.

[Tiggy1]

About 4 in 5 times when I use the shifter I'm applying pressure to a part of the extension rather than in the middle where the original shifter is, so it's worked out well for me. Plus you get a 2nd set of adhesives if you ever want to move them to another VAG car. Expensive yes but they do get used a lot.

Yep, makes sense. You don't have any trouble with the paddle extensions being too close to the indicator&lights or wiper stalk?
Cheers

[Ryan_R]

Nope, even subconscious attempts to change gear or use the stalks behind go without a hitch.

[tigger73]

I think it depends whether you hold the wheel at 9 and 3 or more 10 and 2. But yes agree that longer paddle shifter could come in handy in low speed corners.

I've had my eye on a few stick-on types but none have really appealed - either carbon look or with writing all over them.

Would rather have something that blends in more with the rest of the interior of the car.