Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
D4 Wheel with Tiptronic on a D3
In recent days, i have, as no doubt many of you have also, seen a number of threads related to steering wheel upgrades / conversions including group buy & heated. Certainly as i myself have done and attested to, retro fitting any later steering wheel is a very worthy improvement.
My close associate Pete (bell auto services) has already detailed the simplicity of what is involved in respect of retro fitting heated wheels to both D3 and D4.
However the recent interest level and activity on this subject compels me to openly declare where we are at in respect of a related aspect.
Although upgrading to a later smooth leather D3 wheel with or without Heating as well (as i have) is nice, obviously upgrading to a D4 or better still 2010 Sport wheel, with perforated leather or color coded option and with flappy paddle (Tiptronic) gear shifting would of course be an even more desirable upgrade to a D3.
So i have been looking at what would be required to achieve this most desirable possibility.
Physically the D4 / 2010 sport wheel will fit, and indeed they use the same clock springs as well, but from a technological point of view the wheel mounted switches on the D4 / 2010 Sport communicate with the rest or the vehicle systems quite differently, using something known as a LIN bus. This is quite different to how the switches on a D3 communicate.
Although things are indeed at an early stage, i have little doubt that we will soon be able to come up with a small and relatively inexpensive circuit that would allow the D4 / RR sport wheel switches to work on D3 vehicles, and there is even the possibility to expand this to getting the flappy paddle control working as well, albeit, that might be a bit more difficult.
There is no of course no absolute guarantee that i can do this at all, but based upon what i already know, i am quietly confident, and i am working on it as fast as i can.
Hopefully within just a few days i will at least be able to say with more authority how possible it will be to do.
warmest regards
Colin
Last edited by BBS SPY on 11th Jan 2010 8:57 am. Edited 1 time in total
10th Jan 2010 6:29 pm
pom
Member Since: 10 Feb 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 1790
looking good colin.
I'm not really bothered about the paddles, but latest wheel + heating would be great.
Pom
10th Jan 2010 6:33 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
I am amazed at how these breakthroughs in moving on the vehicles just keep coming, even in the short time I have been on this forum!
simply outstanding!2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
10th Jan 2010 6:35 pm
MikeS2005
Member Since: 13 Sep 2008
Location: Midlothian
Posts: 920
Hi
How come LR are never as quick at finding a software fix or able to sort an electronic problem as some of the people on this forum and LR have millions of pounds at their disposal to supposidly get the best people for the job Mmmmmmm it doesnt bear to even think about it does it and so the new D4 carries on the renowned un reliability of LR electronics
cheers
mike
10th Jan 2010 6:44 pm
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
Thanks Guys
We do our best.
In any event, i promised to keep everyone updated as soon as i knew anything worth reporting.
Although i expected it would be a few days before we could spend any time on this, today we have managed to squeeze in quite a bit of further investigative research work and although the potential for disaster and un forseen difficulty lies in every corner, i am pleased to report that it really is already looking rather good.
Conversion of the D4 / 2010 Sport switches to control the D3 Audio and Cruise control is looking really very highly probable, although i have a small concern about the ability to implement both left and right 5 way audio controls into the singular set that the D3 has.
We thought there might be a problem with the heated versions, but after much more pawing and fathoming of stuff we now think that this is going to be incorporable too.
Which really means we are now only left looking at how possible it might be to incorporate the tiptronic / flappy paddles before we proceed further.
It would be of help and interest to know how many are really interested in having that if it is possible so we know if we should discontinue research on that and concentrate on implimenting all the other stuff we feel sure we can do.
12th Jan 2010 9:20 pm
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
Back again with an update
I have all but concluded all the required research and fathoming.
First off, let me say i am now absolutely convinced that it can actually be done. I am also quite sure i can also support the heated wheel functionality too.
However the Tiptronic gear changing is not possible (well not easily enough)
and i cant think of a way to get the round 5 way switches working on both sides at the same time, meaning one of them will do nothing, although i could possibly make it user selectable as to which side is the working one.
I will have to design and build some modules that i will have to retro fit inside the D4 switch packs. The expected cost of converting the switches will be about 100 to 150 GBP and i would have to have enough confirmed interest to make it worth committing the time and money required to develop the required modules although i may produce a prototype anyway to prove the concept.
I would be very interested. One thought for the extra control pad would be to have those as AUX outputs. It would be really handy for me as I could use those as hard keys for my carputer to scroll through menus or gps which would be amazing. I know I would need to have my own interface for computer, which are available. I'm sure other people could find other uses for the extra outputs too.Sceen name use to be "wantsanlr3"
Club Traxide
Club RLD winch mount
Club MTRs
-MY05 SE
-A frankenstein Mini '66 sportspack with a vauxhall lump
-'64 AH Sprite
15th Jan 2010 6:34 pm
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
Yea, i already thought of that too, seems a shame to waste them
17th Jan 2010 7:31 pm
Verydisco
Member Since: 02 Jan 2005
Location: A bit there, a bit over there and sometime at home, France
Posts: 1006
Hi colin,
can you provide complete set (D4 steering wheel + Module) or (RRS S/C steering wheeel+ module) ?
cheersl=Oo\________/oO=l l:Ool======loO:l
Current
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L TDV8 - 2012 - Orkney Grey, on Black, on Piano Black.
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L V8 - 2002 - ex-2003 G4 Challenge Event Vehicle, Stage 3: Australia
FREELANDER 2 Td4 HSE "000" - Santorinin Black on Black
Gap Diagnostics' Classic and BT IID Tools!
Previous:
RANGE ROVER TDV8 x3
RANGE ROVER Td6 x1
RANGE ROVER Classic 3.5L V8 x1
DISCOVERY III x3
DISCOVERY II x3
DISCOVERY I x4
Last edited by Verydisco on 1st Apr 2010 11:46 pm. Edited 1 time in total
18th Jan 2010 7:52 am
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
bit confused what you mean there chap
As far as the proposed mod is concerned D4 switches on a D3 is the same as Pre 2010 to post 2010 sport
22nd Jan 2010 12:34 am
D4JWW
Member Since: 20 Oct 2009
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1318
Will D3 HSE steering wheel work on S model,for cruis control
Slightly of the topic, but in your experience is it viable to fit cruise control to a D3 S model? Or do it require more hardware than just the steering wheel with switches?
1st Feb 2010 7:31 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
yes it can be done you just need the switches and someone with the relevant bit of kit to activate them - I think Baben can do it in RSA10ForCash can do it in UKSteve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
1st Feb 2010 7:36 pm
pom
Member Since: 10 Feb 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 1790
Colin
How is the heated wheel coming along for the D3. Possible ?
cheers
Pom
1st Feb 2010 9:48 pm
BBS SPY Site Sponsor
Member Since: 15 Jun 2007
Location: Sunny Cyprus
Posts: 3054
Hiya Pom
I assume you mean D4 heated wheel on a D3
I am quite sure it is possible, but i need to get my hands on some heated wheel switches and a heated wheel of course. which is a bit annoying as thats one upgrade i wont really need living out here in Sunny Cyprus
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
