Difference between 01 and 03 406?

[PeterN]

I have just been to look at an '03' 2.0. Hdi 'S' estate to replace my '01' GLX, the only immediately noticeable differences are the white instruments and a different gearbox. Is there much else that is different and is it a better or worse car than the early one?

Thanks

Peter

[Doggy]

I don't think there's much difference - cosmetic stuff like white gauges with or without chrome bezels, 5-gauge setups are more common in later cars.
The gearbox isn't that different, yours is probably an ML5T with reverse beside 4th - the newer car will have a ML5C with lift-for-reverse / beside 1st.

Your 01 is probably a semi-mux car, the later one will have COM2000 stalks etc.

The last run-out models were from cheapest to poshest, (IIRC) Rapier, S and SE in place of the earlier L, GL, GLX, GTX, Executive.
Exact spec was a bit of a lottery as they progressively added more 'goodies' to the more basic models and sometimes reduced the cost and spec on the posher ones.
Many later cars have 16" wheels which look nicer, handle a little sharper, but crash more over the bumps.

Hope that helps?

[steve_earwig]

ML5T goes to ML5C, not a hell of a lot of difference that I can see, individual springs on the synchros go to single radial springs, different shift pattern, dofferent cables too I think. Loss of fill/level plug in favour of huge vent with removable lid. Going to "full-mux" (they were mux already but just got a lot more of it) with com2000 (arguably a step backwards). Cooling fan set up changed about 5 times across D9 production. Loss of heating elements on the cooling system to water jacket around EGR feed. Exhaust mountings moved. I'm going through it in my mind but I can't think of anything drastic, just a few small changed here and there really. I'd expect things to get a bit "cheaper" towards end of production. Mahle fuel filter will mean factors always give you the wrong one. Maybe 16" wheels as Doggy says but mine was built December 2003 and has 15", although it was sold originally in Italy.

[PeterN]

Thanks for that folks. I don't like the idea of 16" wheels and must admit I didn't check them, presumably I could fit the 15" ones from my old car. The only thing I would miss would be the electric seats, they have more adjustments for comfort.

Peter

[steve_earwig]

So just swap the wheels and the interior, sorted

[PeterN]

Problem is though the main reason I am thinking about changing it it that my seats are falling to pieces, how easy or difficult is it to change the upholstery over?

I am really only half hearted about changing the car, its done 244k miles but is still running perfectly but it is looking tatty.

Peter

[steve_earwig]

You could buy another interior, ebay 150 quid or less. The only real issue is if the rear seat if you're going D8 <-> D9 in a saloon, everything else is the same. You might have to do a small amount of wiring but if you're lucky it's already there.

At the end of the day it's your shout but I guess it really depends how good the replacement is.

[PeterN]

I had thought about doing that with this one but electric seats seem few and far between. There were a pair of leather ones on ebay a couple of weeks ago for £50 but only the front ones. They also look shorter than the cloth ones which is not so comfortable for me as I have long legs.

Peter

[steve_earwig]

Shorter? Mine seem exactly the same. Perhaps if there's someone local to you with leather you could have a fitting session

[PeterN]

Maybe its just me but they looked shorter. A friend of mine had a 1.9 with leather and they felt short like the old 405 seats, perhaps its the different material that makes them feel different.

Peter

[GingerMagic]

As you alrerady have electric seats then you can fit leather seats in, should a nice set become available. Its a bit of a faff but perfectly doable.

If the prospective purchase has got manual seats then you may not have the wiring for electric ones - I was going to fit my old GLX seats into a friends LX but although the wiring for the airbags was present, the yellow power connector for the seats was nowhere to be seen...

If you are happy with your car Peter, stick with it. A nice set of seats will come along at some point - you could probably get a whole car for less than the price of an interior anyway, and use the good bits for your current steed.....

[PeterN]

I had almost decided to keep this car and get a decent set of seat covers, then I saw this 03 at possibly a very reasonable price, if I don't get the car I think seat covers will be the way.

I fitted leather power seats into my C5 but the wiring was already there, just a fuse missing.

Peter

[steve_earwig]

It's only 2 wires to power the seats (unless you pick up a set with memory which would need some fiddling). You could even have a squint to see if they're there - mine were, I also had the heater wires, they just needed a relay.

[PeterN]

Thanks for all the info but its academic now, they have sold it.

Peter

[GingerMagic]

Hi Peter, I found this on a recent search on Gumtree - https://www.gumtree.com/p/peugeot/peuge ... 1138551831

Nice interior....