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406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:16 pm
by Bailes1992
Due to insurance I'm looking at a Rapier for my next 406...
Does anyone know if any of them come with an armrest as standard?
I know my Uncles rapier dosen't have one.
Any decent aftermarket alternatives out there?
Bailes.
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:31 pm
by waue1978
No armrests on Rapier seats I'm afraid. Seem to be plenty of centre console mounted ones available, but to be honest, the standard seat mounted ones are much better - no battles between front passenger elbows.
You could always strip down a couple of seats with armrests & recover them with the Rapier cloth, but it's a job & a half.
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:39 pm
by Bailes1992
Hmm I know, I'm planning a leather retrim anyway.
Unfortunatley I'm going to have to go for the HDi 90 which means my choice is between the
'Sportier' Rapier or the
'Old manish'GLX.
Also what models come with Arm rests? The GLX, SE and the Exec? All of which have electric seats

Which is another thing I really want to avoid?
Can you put a manual subframe on an electric seat?
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:03 pm
by waue1978
Hmm I know, I'm planning a leather retrim anyway.
Probably better off going for a leather or half leather transplant. A set of SRi half leathers ended at £50 last night.
Unfortunatley I'm going to have to go for the HDi 90 which means my choice is between the
'Sportier' Rapier or the
'Old manish'GLX.
Also what models come with Arm rests? The GLX, SE and the Exec? All of which have electric seats
Exec, post 2000 LX & GLX, all GTXs, SEs & D9 SRis
Which is another thing I really want to avoid?
Can you put a manual subframe on an electric seat?
No, but you could put the covers on to a manual seat, but you'll be left with holes where the seat switch would be.
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:06 pm
by Bailes1992
How easy was your electric seat transplant?
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:17 pm
by waue1978
Not as easy (or tidy) as it would have been if I had the wires ready under the seat like we've seen on several other models. Have a suspicion that if you're looking at black interior Rapiers, then they may not have the wires ready as they changed at about the same time as the LX got all the extra kit that mine has.
I currently have a live feed running into the car on the passenger side & a fat wire running along the centre console to meet each seat with them earthed under the seats. As I said, not tidy, but working & (if the car stays) I'll be looking at getting a seat loom that has the extra plugs & try to make it all look a bit more factory standard. Will probably also be keeping an eye out for full leather as it's so much easier to clean.
That said though, if another SRi estate interior pops up, I'll happily fit that in place of the SE seats & make use of Steve's old driver seat as the electric seats are a fair bit heavier than manual ones.
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:20 pm
by Bailes1992
Just seen an ECU kit on ebay by Ade112 which is listed for the coupe? Says it only needs a positive and legative feed for the ECU and it should all work? Will these work on the normal 406's too? That sounds pretty easy to me if it does?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-406-C ... 4cf4fc80c9
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:39 pm
by plod
Bailes1992 wrote:Just seen an ECU kit on ebay by Ade112 which is listed for the coupe? Says it only needs a positive and legative feed for the ECU and it should all work? Will these work on the normal 406's too? That sounds pretty easy to me if it does?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-406-C ... 4cf4fc80c9
Hi Sam
Despite no pics of your mum i'll answer anyway
I bought the same kit off Ade to do my electric seat conversion
The wiring is shortened to make it look tidier but doesn't really suit function
The wiring needs extending to make it fit nicely
I also had to buy the ecu tray off Ade for another tenner
The passenger seat only needs a live and an earth, but the drivers seat has a lot more to it because of the memory function
The memory function won't work unless it's connected to the mirrors
The wiring kit doesn't include the wiring for mirrors, so all the extra gubbins is a waste
Keep your eye out for a drivers electric seat switch and wiring from a GTX
The GTX had electric seats but no memory function
This only requires a live and an earth to work like the passenger seat
Thus by buying a GTX switch you'll save yourself loads of grief, plus won't have a a box siting under the seat taking up space for no benefit
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:45 pm
by Bailes1992
Does this count for the D9 aswell then?
How often does a GTX plug and wiring turn up?
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:47 pm
by plod
D9 - yes
switch and wiring - can't say as I found this all out after doing my conversion so never looked for one
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:53 pm
by Bailes1992
Sounds easier to just get the kit Ade does... not too bothered about the memory function to be honest.
Unless I buy a set of GTX/GLX seats and get them retrimmed instead?
Either way... at least a year, if a little less utill I ever get a new car... Was just being curious, i like to plan

Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:06 pm
by plod
Bailes1992 wrote:Sounds easier to just get the kit Ade does... not too bothered about the memory function to be honest.
Really?????
So as i said, you need to strip the insulation off the wiring conversion, and extend all the wiring to the correct length - i.e the plugs to the passenger seat were 6ft short routing them correctly. Earthing connection inadequate and needs sorting.
- and this IS the kit Ade does!!!!!!!
I'm not knocking Ade, as he doesn't make the kit up, someone does it for him, just don't expect it to be plug and play Sam
Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:17 pm
by Bailes1992
plod wrote:Bailes1992 wrote:Sounds easier to just get the kit Ade does... not too bothered about the memory function to be honest.
Really?????
So as i said, you need to strip the insulation off the wiring conversion, and extend all the wiring to the correct length - i.e the plugs to the passenger seat were 6ft short routing them correctly. Earthing connection inadequate and needs sorting.
- and this IS the kit Ade does!!!!!!!
I'm not knocking Ade, as he doesn't make the kit up, someone does it for him, just don't expect it to be plug and play Sam
Not expecting it to... but I'm good at playing with electrics... As you'd expect for a soon to be apprentice sparkie
So it shouldn't be an issue

Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:00 pm
by plod

Neah bother then
Just wanted to make you aware

Re: 406 Rapier armrest?
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:04 pm
by Bailes1992
plod wrote:
Neah bother then
Just wanted to make you aware

I do love abit of soldering and heat shrinking
As long as that ECU works on D9 seats with no Ill effects I'm happy. Only I drive my car, so memory function is useless to me
