Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

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cmm303
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Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by cmm303 » Tue Dec 16, 2014 4:00 pm

I am considering fitting cruise control and have a stack of questions. Pretty please .....

I have read this thread from last year about Waeco MS 50. I have also searched for a fact sheet but could not find one (senile moment?)
  1. The Waeco MS 50 seems to have been fitted by a few experts so is this the one to go for?
  2. Any preferred suppliers? (Only positives please. Negatives by PM to keep within Forum rules).
  3. Is it a DIY fit (I am not a pro or an expert but know about getting my hands dirty)?
  4. Do Insurance Companies have requirements about the mod? Does this rule out DIY fit?
  5. CC controls - I would really like these on a nice looking stalk, in the absence of steering wheel controls. (I saw just the thing a while ago in a pic posted by Simon Jones!) Do these come with the CC unit or a separate purchase?
Suggestions will be much appreciated. Thx.
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teenmal
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by teenmal » Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:54 pm

Best to contact your Insurance cover provider, they may not allow this mod or they may require a professional official engineers report.

Good Luck..
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by mickc » Tue Dec 16, 2014 7:05 pm

I fitted a Waeco, installation carried out by Wheelquicks auto electrician. After a couple of problems locating the correct speedo pulse connection it has worked fine after 2 years, best mod for an auto 2.5TD in my opinion. Kit cost £109 posted from Holland (Conrad Electronics)

Just to add re insurance, I contacted my ins co and they said no problem.
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by Dodgey » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:31 pm

Amazon have it at £105 at the moment too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Waeco-MS-50-Cru ... B0000WPNLE
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by Bob » Tue Dec 16, 2014 8:44 pm

I fitted one of these on a Sunday morning, no probs.

From memory there are two blue/white wires benind the speedo, now you know this it is fairly obvious which one you need.

If you're south of Bristol you're welcome to look at my fit, I used the little switch panel fittes down by my left knee.

If you can wait we will be at the Golden Swan.
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by Simon Jones » Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:04 pm

If you PM me your email address I can send you my work-in-progress factsheet which should cover most questions. I'm using this Waeco stalk which needed some tweaks to the wiring. I'm planning on fitting a Mazda 6 steering wheel with built in controls.

Image

No problems adding it to my insurance policy as a modification and there were no queries about the fitting of it.

Image
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by cmm303 » Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:40 pm

Thanks everyone for such helpful replies. I reckon that is all questions answered unless I have to find an auto electrician.

Bob, I've just been down to the South side of Bristol today to pick the Bongo up from ADS. Had it for two years and this is the first ever visit to a specialist "clinic" and they have said that its a good'un so I have invested in some welding underneath and hanging onto it. Hence thoughts of cruise control. I'll certainly keep your offer in mind.

Simon, PM'd you. Your pic is definitely of the stalk that looked the part. Guessing it straps on somehow.

Dodgey, Teenmal, MickC, good encouraging stuff. £109, unbelievable. Has to be the best value "upgrade". I'll be onto the insurance company first thing - it could affect whether it gets done using Christmas free time or waits until insurance renewal time!

Again, thanks.
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by Bob » Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:43 pm

ADS Have looked after mine for some while, with a bit of help from Allans and Ian Taylor, depending where I am.

Oh yes, some tyres from Wheelquick. 8)
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by Simon Jones » Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:58 pm

Chris, email sent. The stalk requires a hole around 6mm to be drilled into the plastic cowl around the steering column. Somewhere I've got some photos showing where it needs to go which I'll try to dig up.

Fitting process is slightly different for the V6 (if anyone is thinking of doing it) as the vacuum take off is different and the actuator connects to the butterfly valve on the centre of the the inlet manifold.
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by cmm303 » Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:06 pm

teenmal wrote:Best to contact your Insurance cover provider, they may not allow this mod or they may require a professional official engineers report.

Good Luck..
Direct Line insurance: Tick! No premium increase. Just need to be told, no evidence or certificates required. :lol:
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by Dodgey » Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:06 pm

It's a great price for cruise control and I love mine.

I've done some epic miles and you just set it at 70 ish (I keep my revs below 2500 for best economy), hit the button, and sit back. If you start gaining on the car/truck in front you just double tap the res button to lose 1 mph, and double tap the set button to gain 1 mph (might be the other way round).

My little "puck" is mounted to the right of the wheel on the switch blank area. Works just fine there. I'm sure a stalk would be more convenient but it really isn't an issue. You press it so few times.

Also very useful with the ever increasing amount of average speed cameras in place now.
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by cmm303 » Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:15 pm

Woohoo, Bought Waeco MS 50. After two different payments methods were rejected on Conrad's site I flipped over to ebay to find an ex-demo for £70 =D> . He says everything is in the box [-o< . Could be the bargain of the century it if all works.

One little niggle, Waeco's product description mentions diesels needing a brake booster thingy:

The MS-50 can be installed in nearly all vehicles with 12 volt electrics and an accelerator cable, regardless of whether they have manual or automatic transmission, although diesel vehicles require an additional brake booster with a source of negative pressure. The delivered kit includes all the mechanical and electrical components needed to install the cruise controller.

Enlightenment needed! What is this and do I really need to buy something extra for the Bongo?
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by munroman » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:09 pm

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No, nothing extra needed, all diesel cars that I know of have a pump for the brake booster, Simon's excellent guide shows where to get a 'vacuum' from the existing pipework on the Bongo.
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by cmm303 » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:48 pm

munroman wrote:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No, nothing extra needed, all diesel cars that I know of have a pump for the brake booster, Simon's excellent guide shows where to get a 'vacuum' from the existing pipework on the Bongo.
:D :D :D Yay, thanks, it must be Christmas! I have Simon's guide, which I was going to match up against the bits in the box when it arrives.
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Re: Fitting Cruise Control - First thoughts

Post by Bob » Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:14 pm

And there's no need to cut the pipe.

There is a short T piece accessable from under the passenger seat. This is proteced by a rubber sleeve.

Either grip the very end with pliers or cut off with a knife. Don't grip the pipe with pliers.

Hope that helps.
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