That twirly gear selector knob might be absolutely spiffing when you're picking out the rinse cycle for your dirty undies on a Sunday, but when it's on the L405 Range Rover? Absolute poppycock! It's like using a teacup to dig a trench. Saw a discussion over on FFRR – seems some brave souls are contemplating dropping in a stick shifter from a Range Rover Sport which some think is compatible.

 

From a quick look at the wiring diagrams (both 2017) the L405 and the L494 shifter assemblies use the same connections (to the same points on other modules), number of wires and wire colors. The actual connectors are different though. So, they should be electrically compatible (once proper connector is spliced in). However, they do connect to the CANBUS. So, the programming and CANBUS codes will need to be compatible also. That part is out of my pay range.

 

Mike, I saw that as well... The connectors are different, but someone said that only 7 of the ?12? wires are used.
Biggest problem he saw was that the RRS shifter runs 'up' the center console - so would not sit flat...
Were I more industrious and had a 3D Printer... I would be scouring the junkyards and retrofitting the RRS gearshift to fit in a kit for the L405.

I'd be lighting fat cigars with $100 bills - I don't know of anyone that likes having the "Delicates" button in their truck.

Phyrra - on FFRR they said that if you got the correct MY - you should be OK with regards to the CANBUS - above my limited knowledge as well...

 

Just based on functions I would guess that the CANBUS instructions are compatible, but not identical.

The L405 shifter raises on power-up and drops on key off (I assume, mine is a L494). This is not done by the L494, of course. The L405 doesn't have a manual gearshift forward/back stick motion like the L494. The L494 not only has a "sport" mode by moving the stick to the left, but will kick the stick back to the right from "normal" from "sport" automatically on power down.
The question to answer is if these differences can be accommodated without throwing codes. I'm guessing that they can, and errant/not used commands are simply ignored. I'd even guess that L405 will respond to the extra features that the L494 shift has.

Side note...there was recently a L494 in the local U-Pull type of junkyard. I grabbed a few things for a project, but never even thought to grab that shifter...Gonna be years before I see one again.