E90 Paddle Shifter Retrofit

Your E90 came with a multifunction steering wheel but no shift paddles. You can add them. Most of the money gets wasted on the wrong switch, so this page starts there.

The job, start to finish

The right switchPart 61 31 9 123 287
Harness and paddlesWhich ones, and the catch
Wire it at the columnSteps are being added
Code the carSteps are being added

The switch you need

The multifunction switch with the paddle pins on the back is BMW part 61 31 9 123 287. BMW's parts catalog lists it for cars built with the sport or M steering wheel with shift paddles.

Shop experience, not BMW's: the switch from a wheel without paddles has an empty slot where those pins go. Our 2006 E90 had exactly that. Flip the switch over and look before you pay.

Which cars the catalog lists it for

US cars, by build date. This is BMW's parts catalog up to 2020.

3 Series sedan (E90)323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3. Built 03/2005 to 08/2008.

3 Series wagon (E91)325xi, 328i, 328xi. Built 09/2005 to 08/2008.

3 Series coupe (E92)328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi and M3. Built 06/2006 to 09/2008.

3 Series convertible (E93)328i, 335i and M3. Built 12/2006 to 09/2008.

1 Series (E82 coupe, E88 convertible)128i and 135i. Built 12/2007 to 09/2008.

Cars built after September 2008 are not on the catalog's list for this number. Send us your VIN and we'll tell you the right switch for yours.

The listing trap

Match the number printed on the part, not the title. Searching by part number still brings up listings that don't carry it.
Titles stretch the years. One listing we found calls this a 2008 to 2013 128i part. BMW's catalog lists the 128i for 2008 to 2009.
A cheap listing with no number in the title may be the plain switch. Ask the seller for a photo of the back and of the number.
Used is normal for this part. Shop rule of thumb: look for cracked buttons, bent pins and a cut wire.

What else you need

HarnessA short harness joins the switch to the wheel's wiring. Two loose wires on it go to the steering column module. They have to land on the right terminal, the right way round. That is where retrofits go wrong.

PaddlesShift paddles are sold for wheels from before and after the facelift (LCI). Match yours.

CodingThe car has to be coded to switch the paddles on. That takes BMW diagnostic software and a cable.

GearboxPaddles only do something on an automatic car.

Treat it as airbag work. The switch sits on the steering wheel, with the airbag right behind it. Battery disconnected, and wait before you unplug anything at the wheel. The wait time and the wiring steps go in the teardown guide.

Part numbers and the car list come from BMW's parts catalog up to 2020. The retrofit notes come from our own 2006 E90. Check yours by VIN.