Dilemma

[M-A8]

Morning everyone.
Hope you all well and have a better Monday than I.

Anyway, I'd like to hear your opinion about the improvements to the driver's experience I will be undertaking shortly...hopefully before ADI event, that's the aim.

I know you all, same as me, are strong believers of OEM and only OEM, but unfortunately no matter if we like it or not, OEM is not always the best.

This little project will involve 3 little mods:
- I've purchased already a wide lcd instrument cluster.
- Steering wheel chromed switches


- and aluminium OEM paddle shifters

...and that's where the problem with OEM is, paddles are just not big enough for Dynamic drive. On the motorway it is not a big problem I guess, but who uses paddles on a motorway.
We do have to ''extend'' our fingers quiet a bit to comfortably change the gears especially when driving dynamically

So, two options here:
- one is to extend the aluminium OEM paddles with REAL carbon ones (approx 220-250Euro) like hear, depends where you get them from.
http://www.custom-carbon.de/shop/shi...ml?language=en

I actually managed to find a manufacturer in Germany and strike a very good deal.
Quick note; the only reason I'm considering carbon ones is because of the carbon wrap interior.

- two, is to completely forget about the OEM aluminium paddles and go with proper custom aluminium ones from US, again, I managed to strike a quiet fair deal here.

more pictures here:
http://www.s2tpp.com/Audi-Paddle-Details.html
options:
I'm thinking about the Polished Clear ones as they are darker than silver and not so dark as the black ones, and I think they will nicely match the carbon interior and grey trim, where the silver ones will stand out
http://www.s2tpp.com/AUDI.html

I also found this, but the actual manufacturer does not offer them on the website which is weird, unless they discontinued them
http://www.audituningmag.com/sportec...-gear-changes/

Here is the driver's view so you can more less get the idea of my thinking.



Any opinions welcome.

PS. Don't suggest the custom paddles just to buy the aluminium OEM ones from me
Applies to D3 owners only

Many many thanks guys

Marcin

[sarg]

How do you drive a 3.7 dynamically?

Might as well just leave it in 'D'

[Sorry, couldn't resist ]

[M-A8]

Originally Posted by sarg

How do you drive a 3.7 dynamically?

Might as well just leave it in 'D'

[Sorry, couldn't resist ]

Sarg
hahahahaha...... NOT


Richard
I'm heading more towards custom aluminium ones, but Polished Clear ones as mentioned.
Another problem with carbon ones is that they are gloss and trim finish isn't as much as OEM carbon so this could clash a bit.

[ScottD3]

I'd got with whatever option means I can the buy the chrome switches and paddles you've bought already off your at a fair price.


But sensible, I would go for the full custom paddle shifters over any of the stick on ones.

I like the stick CF and chrome idea but I think the custom ones will look better.
Less chance of them flying off mid dynamic turn such menuvior.

Do you lose the illumination of the - and + on the paddles with the custom paddles?

[Delboy]

I would go with factory chrome paddles then stick on extenders because you may not like it after a few weeks or months and want them off.

Wondering why the 8's never had chrome button surrounds before.

Wondering why you never bought my wide screen DIS

[M-A8]

Originally Posted by Delboy

I would go with factory chrome paddles then stick on extenders because you may not like it after a few weeks or months and want them off.

Wondering why the 8's never had chrome button surrounds before.

Wondering why you never bought my wide screen DIS

Hi Del
BTW, PM sent.
I get your point, and it's a very valid one.
This is why I haven't decided yet after over a week of thinking about it.
8s never had chromed buttons???
Even S8s??

[M-A8]

Originally Posted by ScottD3

I'd got with whatever option means I can the buy the chrome switches and paddles you've bought already off your at a fair price.


But sensible, I would go for the full custom paddle shifters over any of the stick on ones.

I like the stick CF and chrome idea but I think the custom ones will look better.
Less chance of them flying off mid dynamic turn such menuvior.

Do you lose the illumination of the - and + on the paddles with the custom paddles?

Hi Scott
I knew buy back offer will land on the table very soon
I wont be selling the switches as they will be fitted no matter which paddles I will fit.
Strong 3M tape would hold them well I think and I do like the chrome and carbon look, ish, plus you keep some of the OEM feature which is the aluminium paddles.

But I do think more and more I look at all the pictures that the ones from US in sort of grey finish (polished clear) look better as it one piece not two combined.

Yes, you do loose the illumination, but you know what, I dont care that much, there is enough illumination inside D3, feels almost like inside the plane sometimes.

[ScottD3]

I like the illumination, that would be the only sticking point.

But i do prefer the US ones.

[PsYcHe]

If you don't like the OEM paddles, then I'd go with the custom aluminium ones as they look more OEM and less tacky.

[M-A8]

So, my an@l side is a bit disappointed right now as first out of three packages just arrived, chrome steering wheel buttons.
On the pictures they looked exactly same as my ones, very dark grey, but they are black.
Dark grey matches the paddles colour (which I will be replacing for the ones from previous reply) but the black matches the colour of the indicators, wipers, screenwash and main beam lever switches.
So, I'm not sure yet how I feel about it. Mirror and window switches are also black