997 Paddle Shift wheel TT Conversion

[sbuckley]

Hi All,

This is my first post on the site and i'm hoping for a bit of help or information. I've been looking into replacing the TT steering wheel on my 06 997.1 with the paddle shift wheel that they have in the new 997.2 C2S. I've seen a company in the states call Suncoast that sell the wheel stating that it does work, but on speaking with Porsche UK, they state that it will not. Has anyone else looked into this conversion and whether Porsche is looking to do it themselves as a retrofit.

thanks

Shaun

997 C2 TTS

 

[Alex L]

Never heard of this myself - but most of the Turbo owners on this forum run manual transmissions and not Tiptronic. If Porsche say that Tip is not compatible with the new PDK paddle steering wheel then I would be very weary of aftermarket companies who claim otherwise.

 

[Lancerlot]

Welcome.

Little bit about the Porsche retrofit here
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=548079&mpage=1&key=Retrofit%2Cpaddle%2Cshift%2Csteering
and here
http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=566308&mpage=1&key=Paddle%2Cshift&#567028

Regards,

Clive.

 

[tscaptain]

I think the PDK paddle shift wheel may not be compatible but certainly there are aftermarket paddle shift wheels that are compatible with tiptronic.

Porscheshop sell them, for example
http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/air_bag_steering_wheels_porsche_raid.html

 

[Alex L]

Clive - that's going from 997.2 puddles to 997.2 paddles all on PDK. Not from 997.1 puddles Tip to 997.2 paddles PDK.

It may be possible but I'd listen to your OPC as otherwise you may have a load of warning lights come up on your dashboard and a foreign supplier who won't/can't help.

 

[sbuckley]

Hi Guys,

I've had a reply back from Suncoast regarding the wheel. I've included the link to the wheel to see what you all think.

We have got this to work a few times here at our location and have sold tons of these steering wheels to customers with tiptronic transmissions. What we include is the steering wheel, airbag and a steering column switch so the horn will work and all the electronics will plug in.

I doubt Porsche will say that the wheel will work... Since we get them to work and they are basically plug and play we have listed it on the site. We never put anything up on the site unless we test and make sure 100% that the retrofit will work.

Let me know if there is anything else we can help you out with.

http://www.suncoastparts.com/product/TIPPADDLE.html?Category_Code=997tiptronic

Thanks

Shaun

997 C2 TTS

 

[tscaptain]

Hang on a mo.. that photo, description etc looks pretty much identical to these wheels
http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/porsche_steering_wheel_upgrades.html
do they not?

A fair bit cheaper and easier to deal with a company based in the UK?
I would give them a ring and see what they say.

 

[sbuckley]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

Hang on a mo.. that photo, description etc looks pretty much identical to these wheels
http://www.porscheshop.co.uk/acatalog/porsche_steering_wheel_upgrades.html
do they not?

A fair bit cheaper and easier to deal with a company based in the UK?
I would give them a ring and see what they say.

It is the same wheel excluding the airbig module the modified connector. You are looking at paying around £500 for the airbig plus the extras. So, you'll probably end up paying in the region of £1600 Plus for the UK version. The real issue is does this work and will Porsche UK provide a retro fit version.

shaun

 

[berty987]

I know of a guy that has a 987 C (Cayman Gen 1) with tiptronic that has fitted the Gen 2 PDK paddle wheel and controls to his car. The Boxster 987 / Cayman and 997 all share the same electronic hardware and infrastructure for data comms so it should be directly applicable for the 997. It requires both the wheel and a control module plus a sympathetic dealer to code the car to accept the new hardware. It can be done and already has on a number of examples. Suncoast are a very reliable supplier of aftermarket OEM porsche hardware , so dont feel concerned about their reputation. It will be costly though , particularly with import tax - cica 1500-2000 pounds as you need the wheel , airbag and the electronics module plus dealer or specialist time to code.

 

[Dylan1]

cant help but wonder what the point is??

the changes will still be as unbearably slow as using the tip lever or steering toggles.

I can really see the benefits on a PDK car but am struggling to see the benefits on a tip(especially at that price-better to put it in the bank to fund a pdk car !)

 

[berty987]

Said like a true die hard manual transmisssion driver ( I am one too)! I've found that some people actually enjoy driving the Tip and prefer its characteristics to the manual , thats life and to each their own. With recession in full swing , simply buying a new pdk car isn't an option for everyone , so this mod does have a place and makes some financial sense.Though the tip isn't a quick gear change like the PDK , for me the button pressing on either car just doesn't feel involving enough. I personally prefer to use the lever to sequential shift on PDK cars , rather than the buttons, which is something sadly you cannot do on a tip unless its a cayenne. The paddle shift changes the driving feel and transforms the auto transmission on either car into something I could live with. I would even go so far as to say it would be the critical element that would bias me toward a pdk car over a manual. Having driven a boxster spyder with PDK round the porsche experience center , back to back with a manual , I found the PDK much more fun and involving , particularly as you can concentrate so much more on line and throttle when approaching a bend. The paddle shift feels intuitive and sits nicely behind the wheel.

Regarding modifications and what Porsche GB say you can and cannot do , this is driven more by their inexperience on adding factory options and issues relating to liability should they undertake or sanction the work. I have been told on many occasions that items cannot be added , only to find a way of fitting them myself . To date Ive retro fitted the M538 Alarm system , PSE and Multi function steering wheel , all working as OEM factory install. I'm sure had you asked Porsche about the sport chrono software a year ago , you would be told its not possible to add that either. Now its a dealer supplied retro fit. Suncoast are unlike most Porsche dealers in that they offer solutions to customers to supply and retro fit original options as aftermarket kits. They have experience and technical know how to ensure what they supply does work and can be fitted.