Which SMG paddles to get for an upgrade???

[bmw m3 s50]

I am looking to upgrade by SMG paddles on my steering wheel. I am thinking two different paddles: the storm motorwerks or the ECS tuning. Anyone have either of these? If so what are your thoughts?

I am looking for a longer paddle. I think the perfect SMG paddles were the earlier agency power ones that have been discontinued. Which paddles resemble those agency power SMG paddles?

Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions.

[Zack]

I have a nice set of aluminum paddles that are long, you can have them, just pay shipping, I can send pictures if you want

[Jimn9ne]

Storm Motorwerks aluminum paddles work and feel great.

[oceansize]

I have the storm paddles and I don't really see a close second. They look good, feel good, and are made well.

http://www.storm-motorwerks.com/interior/bmw/smg_paddles/

[sina]

I have a set of storm paddles listed in the FS section for about 2/3rds MSRP.

[IMOLA3]

I've had these aluminum paddles for about 7 years. They work better than stock (more surface area) and look OEM in the gunmetal color. Not to mention they are only $35

https://www.ebay.com/itm/201724637930

[bmw m3 s50]

I've had these aluminum paddles for about 7 years. They work better than stock (more surface area) and look OEM in the gunmetal color. Not to mention they are only $35

https://www.ebay.com/itm/201724637930

I have the same ones on my car currently. I do not like the hole in the middle of the paddle. I prefer a solid paddle.

[bmw m3 s50]

For those that have the storm motorwerks paddles, how is the length? They appear shorter then those ebay paddles shown above.

I wish these were still available:

https://www.agencypower.com/blog/agency-power-big-titanium-paddle-shifters-bmw-m3-smg-4/

These are perfect.

[bmw m3 s50]

Another option is the pedal haus SMG paddles. They seem to be good length but they have the holes in the paddle which I do not like.

http://www.pedalhaus.com/paddlese46.html

[m3nt0s]

Ran these for 6 years before swapping to manual, back when they were $100 https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-1...o-spec-larger/

[jvit27]

FWIW I've had just about all of them - Agency Power, Strassentech, Storm, Pedalhaus, ECS/Turner, and ebay. Ashamedly I had a pricey collection of SMG paddles before calling it quits. They each have their +'s and -'s (get it!) but in the end I went back to the OEM plastic ones.

Attached are pics of a few; I can break down the nuances of each but TLDR the detent action of the actual switch kind of sucks to begin with and the metal paddles only magnify it so you're really only 'upgrading' the surface area and, subjectively, aesthetics.

[ELEM3NT]

I've had these aluminum paddles for about 7 years. They work better than stock (more surface area) and look OEM in the gunmetal color. Not to mention they are only $35

https://www.ebay.com/itm/201724637930

I have these as well and like them, esp for the price. Depending on how you like to use the paddles, the holes may or may not be an issue.

[bmw m3 s50]

FWIW I've had just about all of them - Agency Power, Strassentech, Storm, Pedalhaus, ECS/Turner, and ebay. Ashamedly I had a pricey collection of SMG paddles before calling it quits. They each have their +'s and -'s (get it!) but in the end I went back to the OEM plastic ones.

Attached are pics of a few; I can break down the nuances of each but TLDR the detent action of the actual switch kind of sucks to begin with and the metal paddles only magnify it so you're really only 'upgrading' the surface area and, subjectively, aesthetics.

Would love to hear the +'s and -'s of each. I am basically looking for something like the agency power SMG paddles, a paddle that is long and solid without any holes in it.

[oceansize]

Would love to hear the +'s and -'s of each. I am basically looking for something like the agency power SMG paddles, a paddle that is long and solid without any holes in it.

Are you under the impression that changing the paddles will change the level of tactile feedback for a gear shift? I don't think you are but just checking. There is no tactile (or so little that it is immaterial) feedback regardless of paddle so simply buy what you want.

[jvit27]

Would love to hear the +'s and -'s of each. I am basically looking for something like the agency power SMG paddles, a paddle that is long and solid without any holes in it.

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