non-gti paddle retrofit

[PoloDave]

Hi all,

Since there is no information about this subject available I thought I should ask it here.
I have a 77 TSIwith DSG box.

I reeeeealy want paddle shifters working in my car but I dont know if its possible or not..

There are a lot discussions about this, all saying something different..
So I hope all the smart people here can clarify this matter

Some say that I need to replace the steering control unit for a GTI model?
Some say the Polo doesn't have this unit?

Most likely it needs to be activated in VCDS, wich I have access too so not a problem there..
I'm thinking, if it can be done on a GTI it can be done on any Polo DSG right?

I just need closure

[gavs]

Ok, first off I will answer a few of the more basic questions you have posed.

Some say that I need to replace the steering control unit for a GTI model?

For a start, yes. This control unit is it's own little ECU for the steering wheel functions including the paddles and the steeringwheel buttons for stereo and MFD.

Some say the Polo doesn't have this unit?

Then how do the steeringwheel mounted buttons work seeing as there is no direct wiring connection? What else controls the cruise / indicators / wipers etc?

Most likely it needs to be activated in VCDS, wich I have access too so not a problem there..
I'm thinking, if it can be done on a GTI it can be done on any Polo DSG right?

Yes, it does need to be re-coded through VCDS and yes, theoretically you are correct. How in depth is it though? Well.....

I know of a tutorial for the retro-fit of the GTI MFSW onto a non MFSW equipped TSI but aside from the whole pulling apart looms, splicing of wires, buying new loom connections and a whole new wheel also, there is no guarantee at this stage that it can be done on a non GTI and 100% work properley. While I am sure that the gearbox codes differ due to the bellhousing and clutch pack etc, I cannot be 100% sure that those are the only differences. There may also be something different in the mechatronics but I have no idea, I doubt it but you never know.

So, the definative answer to your question, Can I fit paddle shifters to my 77TSI with DSG?

No.

Can I retro fit a whole new GTI steering wheel with everything incorporated, along with new looms and splicing of wires and pulling half of your dashboard apart to do it so you can get to the wiring for the LIN bus and then re-code the whole thing with VCDS and hope to god you got all your wire connections right and didn't fry anything in the process?

Yes.

[Hail22]

Ok, first off I will answer a few of the more basic questions you have posed.

Some say that I need to replace the steering control unit for a GTI model?

For a start, yes. This control unit is it's own little ECU for the steering wheel functions including the paddles and the steeringwheel buttons for stereo and MFD.

Some say the Polo doesn't have this unit?

Then how do the steeringwheel mounted buttons work seeing as there is no direct wiring connection? What else controls the cruise / indicators / wipers etc?

Most likely it needs to be activated in VCDS, wich I have access too so not a problem there..
I'm thinking, if it can be done on a GTI it can be done on any Polo DSG right?

Yes, it does need to be re-coded through VCDS and yes, theoretically you are correct. How in depth is it though? Well.....

I know of a tutorial for the retro-fit of the GTI MFSW onto a non MFSW equipped TSI but aside from the whole pulling apart looms, splicing of wires, buying new loom connections and a whole new wheel also, there is no guarantee at this stage that it can be done on a non GTI and 100% work properley. While I am sure that the gearbox codes differ due to the bellhousing and clutch pack etc, I cannot be 100% sure that those are the only differences. There may also be something different in the mechatronics but I have no idea, I doubt it but you never know.

So, the definative answer to your question, Can I fit paddle shifters to my 77TSI with DSG?

No.

Can I retro fit a whole new GTI steering wheel with everything incorporated, along with new looms and splicing of wires and pulling half of your dashboard apart to do it so you can get to the wiring for the LIN bus and then re-code the whole thing with VCDS and hope to god you got all your wire connections right and didn't fry anything in the process?

Yes.

Yes however the steering wheel with the airbag is $2100 AUD minus the cost for labour etc for looms, installation...coding etc...i only asked this exact question at my VW service centre two days ago xD

[PoloDave]

sounds easy ^^ Your comment does make sense Gavs..
However, some people in my country have retrofitted a MFSW fully working on their Polo (simply by buying a MFSW, a cheap cable adapter, and recoding through VCDS)

So no pulling dash apart etc..
So I was thinking, if the MF steering wheel can be succesfully recognised by the car using the original cable loom, why wouldn't it recognise the paddles also?
I'm not interested in the buttons though.. I only want the paddles so I would have to get a Golf 6 GTI/DSG steering wheel (fairly easy to find, should be no more than €400-500) and have it installed (some guy here does it for only €75 )

Looks like it's just another dark area that nobody has answers and it's just a little too expensive to buy the wrong steering wheel if it turns out it doesnt work

[gavs]

The problem isn't the mfsw itself but to get the paddles to talk to the gearbox, hence why you need 2 new looms additions as well as the whole cutting/splicing etc. you also need to loop the wiring into the lighting loom of you want the buttons illuminated at night. I can send you the link if you want but like hail said, the costs alone are prohibitive. For the associated outlay of cash and time/effort and "tacked in" method of integration, you might have saved some coin by just getting a GTI to start with!