You just flick it, no need to touch the console shifter. However, with the console shifter in "D", the car will revert back to "D" mode after a few seconds, or after you're done playing.

If you shift the console shifter to the DS position, paddle shifts will remain in manual mode until you go back to "D".

 

Ok so now I'm confused... not for long term playing around, but for a sigle quick downshift... do you leave it in D?

 

You can leave it in "D" but if you downshift with the paddle & then accelerate, it will hold the gear to red-line until you shift again, even bounce off the limiter as it is essentially in manual mode at this point.
So, what you do is go ahead and flick it while in "D" for a manually forced downshift, accelerate, up-shift again to cruising gear and then after cruising for a very short while with little to no throttle position change, it will go back to "D" by itself. Also, if you downshift with the paddle, accelerate a little, then do nothing (hold particular throttle position) it will also go back to "D" eventually. If you happen to put in into "DS" mode before it changes back automatically, it will go to and stay in manual mode.
sorry, beancounter10 was giving wrong information...

 

Anyone know what tells the tranny it's okay to go back into D? I would assume vaccuum, but maybe not.

While in D, I can drop down a gear with the paddle. If I keep the car at a higher RPM (say, 4,000) it will remain in that gear what seems to be indefinately. However, if I back down to a lower rpm, it will revert back to D.

BLKG37X - I know this all sounds confusing and frankly it sort of is - but once you give it a try you will understand it all. Here's an example -

Driving in traffic in D, going 40. Car is likely in 5th or 7th. I see an opening and pull the left paddle once. Tranny will go to 5th if it was in 7th (it always skips 6th for some reason) or to 4th if it was in 5th. The dash display will read 4 or 5. You speed up, make your move, and then either wait for it to revert back to D, or upshift once with the right paddle, and it'll revert back to D sooner than it if you just wait with the car running at a higher RPM.

I need to clarify my 2nd paragraph. If the car is in D and you've downshifted with the paddle to 4th, and you're varying your RPM's between, say, 3k and 5k, it'll remain in 4th unless you change it. But if you settle down and run at a lower RPM, it'll revert back to D.

 

Got a set for sale. Pretty much brand new for $200 plus shipping.

https://www.myg37.com/forums/private...ifter-kit.html

 

just installed ambiance lights in my infiniti, was buy far the most challanging car i have ever worked on! so if i get paddle shifters anyone in kansas city willing to help me

 

Thanks guys, now I understand. I'm just not sure if my car is pre-wired for this. It's a 2010 X with premium pkg/backup cam. If it is prewired, then I will start dropping hints to my girlfriend, just in time for the holidays

 

^^^
its pre wired.

 

I confirm - it's pre-wired. Installed a set of paddle shifters on my '10 G37x myself in 15-20 minutes.

 

So... what do ya think?

It took me a bit to get used to it, but now I use them daily.

 

Did you have to take out the air bag? I read the DIY thread and it looks complicated to me. I don't really want to mess with the air bag.

In any case, congrats for doing it in about 15 minutes. Hope you enjoy your paddle shifters.

 

I never use the paddles.

 

I dont have them and proably wont get them for awhile. But good thing about paddle shifters is quicker down shifts. Coming to a light at higher speed, or taking a turn, down shift click of the paddle is much easier and faster.

 

I definitely like them, use them every time I'm driving all alone

I didn't have to remove the wheel/air bag. You can just turn the wheel all the way to the left and to the right in order to install these shifters.

 

There is a way to do without having to take out the air bag. The info is buried somewhere in this forum