Q5 3.0T steering wheel swap for one with paddles

[zachf88]

I'm looking to add shifter paddles to my 3.0T 8-speed. Is it a simple swap the wheel and then vag? Also, does anyone have any experience with the actual steering wheels? I'm looking at one off an A8 and wondering if I could swap the buttons and what not.

My current wheel:


The wheel I'm looking at purchasing (current A8 with paddles):

[VroomVroom]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...wap-on-your-q5

I'm going to guess that one won't work. Lots of good reading material on this.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...wap-on-your-q5

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...heel-Installed

[zachf88]

Thanks for the links. Doesn't help my case. I got the wheel today and it's the same color (interior color code MOOR for pistachio shell beige). The multifunction buttons pop out with a plastic ring that lines the airbag cavity. The paddles plug into the buttons, so I'm hoping that there is a space on the back of the Q5 multifunction buttons to plug in the paddles. I will take pics and do a DIY. It seems to be the same wheel, but with paddles and different multifunction buttons (which I'm hoping to swap out).

[Dennis C]

Good luck! I hope it works!

[zachf88]

Just wanted to update. Any steering wheel from a a6/7/8 will not work. They have different DIS (hence the different multifunction button pattern).

However, my spot decided to go a different route. They took the OEM wheel that came on the car, drilled and dremeled out the backs and installed OEM paddles. Then the multifunction buttons had to be replaced with part number 4L0-951-523-F-XA. Total cost of the project was around $700 (and I can sell my old buttons) and now my Q5 has paddle shifters. The factory equipped steering wheel has the holes and the space for the paddles are filled with high-density foam. You'll have to drill the holes through, cut the leather, and carefully dremel out the black foam. Be careful not to drill out too much!

Review of paddle shifters: They are great! I can shift when I want. I have even found a 1mpg improvement because I can shift the car at a low rpm and start in first gear when I just want to cruise. But when I want to tear up the road, I can shift at a higher rpm. Yes you can do this with the gear selector. However, I find the paddles really helpful when going into a curve. I can keep two hands on the wheel. They make the Q5 a lot more fun to drive (especially since my RS4 is 6-speed).





All work done by Berg Performance in Denver, Colorado