VDO electronic speedo conversion with part numbers and ebay links

[mark2]

I recently converted my 110 from a mechanical speedo to a VDO programmable electronic speedo. While I have an LT95, it works just as well with any LT230 running a mechanical speedo.
VDO speedo.jpg
It was motivated/necessitated by a diff ratio change to 4.11 and the fact that this seller on ebay has a number for sale at a good price:
VDO Electronic Speedo Cockpit International 12-24V 120km 100mm Diamete FREE POST | eBay
Get in quick because there are only 7 left at this price...(no affiliation to seller)
A 120 km/h max is enough for me and I like the detailed resolution that this scale gives, but there are are many other versions of this speedo, if your 110 is faster than mine, or you want it to look faster..
These 4" speedos drop straight in, with no modifications required to the dash.

These VDO programmable speedos will work with the Landrover sender YBE100530 which bolts straight in to either a LT95 or LT230 in place of the speedo cable:
FOR LAND ROVER DEFENDER 98-07 2.8 4.0 2.2 2.4 2.5 D GEARBOX SPEEDO SPEED SENSOR | eBay

I recommend this plug, which makes the connections to the back of the VDO speedo a snap.
8 TERMINAL PLUG with terminals SUITS VDO 80/85/100mm Speedo+Tacho Gauges | eBay

If you use the YBE300530 sender (as opposed to the GPS sender option below), you also need this plug to connect to the speed transducer (TD5 tail light plug) STC4637
Anschluss-Stecker Defender Rucklicht ab '95 | eBay

There are 3 wires which run between the sender at the transfer case and the speedo (+ve, -ve, signal). I used a 240v power cable with the plugs cut off and followed the old speedo cable routing. About 2.2m is needed.
Installed, it looks like this at the transfer case:
speed sensor.jpg

Alternatively, you can use a gps sender like this one, which updates at 10 positions per second (10 Hz) as opposed to a typical smart phone gps which only updates at 1 Hz. This will give a smooth reading with no lag.
GPS speed sensor / sender, GPS receiver, speedometer sender, Navigation receiver | eBay

Below are the wiring details if you use the YBE100530 3 wire sender:

• VDO pin 2 (12vconnect to YBE100530 pin 1
• VDO pin 3 (ground) connect to YBE100530 pin 2 and ground.
• VDO pin 8 (sensor signal) connect to YBE100530 pin 3
• VDO pin 4 to switched 12v input
• VDO pin 6 to bridged to VDO pin 8

Its a really easy conversion, giving the benefits of a super accurate, stock looking speedo, no matter your tire size or diff ratio, smooth needle movement and much better visibility at night.

[Tombie]

Looks good Mark...

The GPS sender is a no go for legality though..
Best to stick to the sender on the box.

[mark2]

Looks good Mark...

The GPS sender is a no go for legality though..
Best to stick to the sender on the box.

Good point. And with the programmable speedo, GPS accuracy can be easily attained.

[manic]

Have had a vdo speedo on the tdi for a number of years now. Solid. Great to be able to calibrate for change in tyre sizes. Nothing bad to say about it except that the light bulb carriers have popped out a couple of times.

I found best way to calibrate is with a gps distance measuring app on a straight stretch of road, using the speedo button to log 1km. Then fine tune the pulse per km count up or down a smidge to match gps speed.

[Red90]

I see that the speedo is the Cockpit line. Does it have through dial lighting or does the lighting reflect around the dial?

[p38arover]

The GPS sender is a no go for legality though..

Who is going to know it's fitted?

[Tombie]

Who is going to know it's fitted?

True.

But.... if you live in say Sydney... going to be a little difficult to know speed when you’re in a Tunnel
Or in the CBD where “Canyoning” occurs...

And *may* get picked up at roadworthy inside a garage where it can not receive a signal.

[mark2]

I see that the speedo is the Cockpit line. Does it have through dial lighting or does the lighting reflect around the dial?

Its not the Vision series which is supposed to have through dial lighting and a fibre optic pointer.

But in reality, the visibility is fine (much better than the old mechanical speedo). I'm using green led's.

[mark2]

Quick update on the wire colors:
Note that the wire colors on the STC4637 plug dont align with with what you'd expect for the speed transducer pins.
Black shown in the photo above is +ve, green is -ve, red is signal (pins 1,2,3 respectively).
I tried depinning the connector but gave up before I destroyed it.

[p38arover]

True.

But.... if you live in say Sydney... going to be a little difficult to know speed when you’re in a Tunnel
Or in the CBD where “Canyoning” occurs...

And *may* get picked up at roadworthy inside a garage where it can not receive a signal.

I do wonder about tunnels. Do they have a leaky GPS feed in the tunnels? My cars' (both) GPS seem to continue working just fine in the M5 tunnel.