Retrofit Cruise Control

[r11co]

...and I don't mean just 'buying a stalk and getting it activated' as this is not an option with the vehicle in question - a 2003 Peugeot 206SW 2.0HDi dTurbo.

I know it can be done relatively straightforwardly without needing actuators as the car has a 'drive-by-wire' electronic throttle and there are plenty kits on the market (from the like of SPAL, Waeco, Gold Cruise etc.) that are almost 'plug-and-play' as custom loom kits can also be bought for them.

What I am wondering though is if anyone knows of any trade suppliers of these kits in the UK rather than middle-men who would prefer I paid them a small fortune to fit it for me.

Also, does anyone know of any other kits on the market that might be more cost effective than the above ones that I'd have to purchase from Germany/Holland (which the exchange rate isn't exactly conducive to ATM)?

Many thanks in advance.

PS. If anyone has a suitable second hand kit for any vehicle lying around I'd be glad to take it off their hands.....

Edited by r11co on Thursday 23 December 10:39

[5lab]

i bought a waeco kit from Ebay a couple of years ago, for my diesel mondeo (which again, never had cruise as an option). Installation was fairly straightforwards, but a bit fiddly. I wouldn't reccomend buying a used kit as there are a lot of parts that are different for each car (ie the mounting bracket has 5 or 10 different options) - unless the original owner kept all these when installing on their car, you'll have a pain to try and get it to work.

Hardest thing on my car was getting the cables through the firewall - just really fiddly. Kit works well once installed, although it has had the occastional glitch (self cancelling)

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc...

[Compo_Simmonite]

Drive by wire will probably need the ECU activating to receive the signals even from an aftermarket system so doubt you can fully DIY anyway.
Dealer will only be interested in original fitment software for the ECU and if not a manufacturers option then doubt they can help so you'd still be in the hands of an aftermarket specialist. Seeing the physical fitting of a stalk isn't going to take much time or effort the biggest cost will be the software licence and labour for software installing / setting up so I doubt you will get much saving over quotes you have already got.

FWIW I've got a genuine Mercedes cruise control for my Smart. Cost just £48 from main dealer. Fitting is easy but software and licence is going to cost me around £150 plus labour even if I save a few pence fitting stalk myself. As I say the physical aspect is cheap but getting it to interact with the car ECU is the expensive part.

Paul H

Edited by Compo_Simmonite on Thursday 23 December 11:04

[r11co]

5lab said:

i bought a waeco kit from Ebay a couple of years ago, for my diesel mondeo (which again, never had cruise as an option). Installation was fairly straightforwards, but a bit fiddly. I wouldn't reccomend buying a used kit as there are a lot of parts that are different for each car (ie the mounting bracket has 5 or 10 different options) - unless the original owner kept all these when installing on their car, you'll have a pain to try and get it to work.

Hardest thing on my car was getting the cables through the firewall - just really fiddly. Kit works well once installed, although it has had the occastional glitch (self cancelling)

Thanks for the reply . What you are describing sounds like the 'actuator' type cruise that physically 'locks' the accelerator using a potentiometer and stepper, which is what is needed for cable operated throttles.

From what I have found out so far about my car this won't be necessary as the system doesn't require any cables to go into the engine compartment and all I need to do is intercept the signals down at the accelerator pedal plug and get a speed signal from the ECU (which can be taken from the back of the stereo using the input for the auto-volume level).

Compo_Simmonite said:

Drive by wire will probably need the ECU activating to receive the signals even from an aftermarket system so doubt you can fully DIY anyway.

This is what I mean when I said 'stalk and activation' was not the route I was taking. I know for a fact that it can be done as Waeco list their MS800 unit with a dedicated loom for connecting to the 206. The systems are smart enough to replicate the electrical input from the throttle pedal so the car's original ECU doesn't even need to know the system exists.

What I am wanting to know if there are any UK suppliers of these kits or if anyone can point me in the direction of a used control module. I'm prepared for there to be bits that won't be compatible!

[5lab]

you're right, mine was cable actuated (no dbw throttle here). The speed sensor was the same though, took a link off the back of the stereo - I guess if yours comes off the loom it might not be necessary? not sure.

When I looked (4 years ago) I found a couple of UK suppliers but they were all a bunch more pricey (20% or so) than getting one from a german ebay shop.

I don't think you'll have a lot of luck getting one second hand - Its the kinda thing that, once fitted, probably never gets removed.

[r11co]

5lab said:

you're right, mine was cable actuated (no dbw throttle here). The speed sensor was the same though, took a link off the back of the stereo - I guess if yours comes off the loom it might not be necessary? not sure.

The speed input signal is still necessary, it is just the way the cruise module controls the speed that is different (worked from the pedal end because the pedal just talks to the ECU rather than actually pulling a throttle open and shut).

5lab said:

When I looked (4 years ago) I found a couple of UK suppliers but they were all a bunch more pricey (20% or so) than getting one from a german ebay shop.

Unfortunately the shift in exchange rates has put put an end to that. A lot of the ebay sellers from a few years ago seem to have disappeared also

5lab said:

I don't think you'll have a lot of luck getting one second hand - Its the kinda thing that, once fitted, probably never gets removed.

I'm hoping it's the kind of thing someone might have lying around after removing it from a write-off or scrapper or something. Y'never know...

Edited by r11co on Thursday 23 December 12:05