This car has a bit of a weird spec, it has almost every piece of carbon fiber you can get except for the flappy paddles, so I figured it would be a great excuse to get some extended CF ones.
The paddles have 2 screws each holding them on. Technically you have to remove the steering wheel, but if you are careful, patient, and have a long thin allen wrench, you can turn the wheel in such a way that each screw is exposed one at a time and finagle them. 3 are pretty easy. However the top left never exposes more than about half of the screw head, if that. You have to kinda bend the shaft of the allen key against the side of the airbag, pressing really hard into the leather wheel center to get at it.
Sometimes a simple project will test your character.
Right paddle was replaced in just a few minutes and I was taking my time, using threadlocker, etc.
Left paddle came off without any issue and reinstalling the bottom screw was easy.
Only one screw left. Except it really doesn't want to fit back under the edge of the steering wheel center. I push hard on the tool into the wheel to make the right angle so I don't cross-thread, and the screw pops loose and disappears.
No problem. I look on the rug under the wheel. Not there. I look on my shirt and pants, not there. I get out and look at every inch of the interior on both sides, under the seats, etc. Not there. Now the panic is starting to show its head. I have no idea what the screw is. Home Depot isn't going to carry it. I don't even know what to call it to order a replacement. I have guests coming in 3 days who are going to want to check the car out and go on rides. I look all over the garage floor. My wife comes out and we're both on our hands and knees with flashlights. No screw. It seems to have fallen into some sort of interdimensional rift. Now what?
I have a few coffee cans full of 30 years' worth of random used bolts, screw and nails in my workshop. I remove the bottom screw to have a comparison and start dumping the cans on my workbench, rooting through piles of random hardware.
And there it is, what appears to be only one of the exact same screw. I try it in the bottom hole, and it is indeed. I don't deserve luck like that. Now I'm hyper careful, close the car door, have a light propped up on the seat, another on my head, and tell myself I'll sooner let the leather tear than lose this one magical screw. It finally goes in correctly and I complete the project. 5 minutes for 3 screws, an hour for the fourth.
Worth it though. The paddles are OEM look and quality and replaced the only remaining piece of aluminum in the interior. The paddle length is perfect, I'd do it again just for the additional functionality. Maybe pay someone to do it for me next time though. ;)
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PS: If anyone ever needs a replacement it's a black M4-0.7 x 10mm flathead cap screw with a 2.5mm Allen socket drive
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