Which SMG paddles to get for an upgrade???

[Will ZCPM3]

I started designing some paddles to match the knobs and gaitor rings I made, but the complexity and cost of manufacturing a small batch doesn't make sense. I'd be happy to share the files if anyone wants to 3D print or has access to a CNC.

[Rabidfox]

I ran ebay aluminum's for a while until I sliced my finger open on one during an autox lol. I printed a few but havent got around to mounting them

[bmw m3 s50]

Been a few years but here goes:

Agency Power
+: best looking by far. solid and beefy. edge and radius were how they should have come from factory
-: stick out too far. notice in the photo they are much closer to the rim of the wheel than others - made holding the wheel at 9&3 a little awkward and often caused accidental 1-2 shifts in parking scenarios.

Verdict: best for track use

Strassentech
+: tactile feel. the detail work is nice. Probably the best all around in terms of useability
-: looks a bit dated nowadays

Verdict: much, much nicer than the ebay version but impossible to find, and thus way too pricey. Only hope is to get lucky and snag some from someone who thinks they're replicas

Storm Motorworks
+: none.
-: PVD shows fingerprints, doesn't extend much lower than stock, which is really where you gain functionality when you're holding the wheel in traffic etc. The illumination dials look cheap at night - especially the +. styling is too military for the cabin. back side feels unnatural. screws don't line up (bugs me if you've ever seen an AP watch).

Verdict: I fucking hated these

Pedalhaus
+: customization options
-: styling too synonymous with E92's for me

Verdict: not bad

ECS/Turner:
+: cleanest styling, color palette suits e46 well, actually available
-: tolerances weren't great. just didn't love them and returned the same day

Verdict: decent but overpriced. was the last set I bought before realizing my paddle collection could pay for the parts to do 6MT swap.

eBay
+: price!!
-: the engraving is level when uninstalled, which cants them inward when installed. feels pretty flimsy, especially compared to the original Strassentechs.

Verdict: was cool when *I* was in my 20's but not *in* 2020's


Summary
I asked myself wtf was the point to basically advertise my car is SMG. So since my original Titan Shadow paddles were starting to peel, I refinished them in satin black to match the wheel and make them disappear. I got some bright orange nail polish and filled in the +/- to match the gauge needles and never looked back. Nothing will have the positive detent action of an F8x or PDK car so upgrading the paddles is futile IMO

Thank you for posting the review of all SMG paddles. I agree the Agency Power ones are the best ones. It sucks that they are discontinued. I am really surprised that you hated the storm motorwerks paddles, they seem to be a fan favorite. My concern with the storm motorwerks paddles was that they were too short. You kind of confirmed that. Seems that the closest ones to the agency power ones are the pedalhaus ones, it just sucks they have the holes. Maybe I might have to get a set and wrap them to cover up the holes.

How long are the ECS ones? Are they just as long as the pedal haus ones?

[bmw m3 s50]

I started designing some paddles to match the knobs and gaitor rings I made, but the complexity and cost of manufacturing a small batch doesn't make sense. I'd be happy to share the files if anyone wants to 3D print or has access to a CNC.

Those are actually nice, but they should be longer like the Agency Power ones, those paddles do not seem to be longer then the storm motorwerks or euro SMG paddles.

[bmw m3 s50]

I ran ebay aluminum's for a while until I sliced my finger open on one during an autox lol. I printed a few but havent got around to mounting them

Do you have any pics of the Paddles that you printed?

[Will ZCPM3]

bmw m3 s50 you may want to pick up a set up eBay paddles and re-use the mounting pieces to make your own paddles. SendCutSend has carbon fiber which they CNC. Would take a little work, but you could replicate the size of the Agency paddles.

[jvit27]

Thank you for posting the review of all SMG paddles. I agree the Agency Power ones are the best ones. It sucks that they are discontinued. I am really surprised that you hated the storm motorwerks paddles, they seem to be a fan favorite. My concern with the storm motorwerks paddles was that they were too short. You kind of confirmed that. Seems that the closest ones to the agency power ones are the pedalhaus ones, it just sucks they have the holes. Maybe I might have to get a set and wrap them to cover up the holes.

How long are the ECS ones? Are they just as long as the pedal haus ones?

TBH I only had the ECS/Turner ones for a day so I didn't have much 'hands on' experience with them to recall much since it was like 2 years ago. The initial impression left me disappointed so I boxed them back up within an hour and sent them back.

Definitely a shame the AP were so short-lived, but they aren't ideal. Storm appeal to whom they appeal to, so I won't knock them beyond my own experience. The holes in Pedalhaus were probably the dealbreaker for me - a bit too tactical looking for the rest of the interior.

bmw m3 s50 you may want to pick up a set up eBay paddles and re-use the mounting pieces to make your own paddles. SendCutSend has carbon fiber which they CNC. Would take a little work, but you could replicate the size of the Agency paddles.

Clever idea! I really like the 3D ones you drew up, definitely going to ping you for a copy and try to talk a friend into printing a pair up for me now

Always was impressed with the SMG knob you did awhile back. It definitely suits the design language of the car better than the other one..

[Johnvu]

I honestly think a simple aluminum or CF extended ones from ebay or something similar. No need to spend a ton on them. The biggest difference comes in disassembling the wheel and adding spacers to the springs and where the pins go to remove excess play. I did this and now the paddles feel so crisp and solid, similar to a more modern vehicles.