The Safrane.Info Forum!

Good morning all,

My first post here as I just purchased a 1997 Phase 2 2.5 20v exec yesterday.
Done a 60 mile drive in it and so far, so good (fingers crossed).

There are a couple of bits it requires and wondered if anybody had spares.

The drivers armrest cover is missing, grey in colour. Don't mind a different colour (maybe black) if easier but then I would have to buy both sides so they matched!

Also the front fog light (drivers side) has a smashed lens - anybody got a spare.

And one last (technical) question. I have a great double DIN stereo (Alpine) from my old car which has bluetooth, USB etc and would like to fit it. Now the Safrane has a single DIN radio cassette but a big cubby hole under it. I have seen pictures of a Safrane with what looks like a factory fit double DIN unit - is it possible to fit my double DIN???? I know I will lose the separate display and the remote (although I can buy an Alpine to Renault remote lead) but really want the handsfree and streaming music.

Hi mmarks

I may have a spare foglight but I will need to have a scout around. It doesn't help that a lot of my safrane parts are buried in a box at the back of the shed (under more parts and boxes) but leave it with me I will see if I have anything.

As for the armrest, can you post a photo please? - Reason I ask is there are two shades of grey for a ph2 safrane. The second is rare to see in the UK but it does exist so we need to stand half a fighting chance of matching you up with the correct colour. One is a light grey and the other is a darker charcoal grey which is not far from black. Obviously no-one wants to send you the wrong part!

As for the DIN, I've no idea officially what DIN means but I gather that its basically the height of the unit? The safrane stereo does come out and the storage compartment under it it basically slotted in loosely. It should (from memory which is increasingly shorter - even though I'm breaking up a safrane now) simply pull out but failing that, you may need to temporarily unscrew the ashtray unit in front. Either way it leaves a nice large gap there that is slightly taller than two stereos though you'll loose the extra storage. Strange cars for storage these safranes, no glove box as renault claimed they couldn't fit it in with the blower motor being there (yet they managed it perfectly well in the RHD version - says a lot for their attitude towards the british eh?).

The ph2 is a good car, you won't get too much hassle from it as long as you are gentle when it comes to maintenance. The engines and boxes are very reliable but if you get a thud when moving into D or R on the gearbox, it's normal - even volvo owners complain about it. It basically needs the ATF changed at some point but it won't explode or anything (even though it can be quite an unsettling thud).

Welcome to the forum,did you buy your car from E-bay?
As Saffles correctlt says there are 2 shades of grey leather,i think the light grey is for very late cars 1997 i think is darker grey,but posting a pic would help...
Double DIN is what is fitted to my V6 its basically the same height as 2 stereos,i don,t see why a double DIN can,t be fitted if you remove the cubby hole,you may have to slightly alter the centre console but not much,give us a rundown of the car and some pics to show what you have.

Welcome. Hope your happy with your car. They are great motors if you find a good one. Just have a good look through the forum at things that are likely to go wrong and try and do a bit of preventative work if necessary. Can't see any probs with getting a double din stereo in there. I have a superb Sony single in at the moment which has ipod connectivity etc but will replace with double din if anything does go wrong with that. The early safrane's seemed to have double din's anyway but the Ph2's cut costs and put the single in. Haven't get any parts I'm afraid but always worth keeping an eye on e-bay for bits if the guys on here can't help.

Am I the only one who actually likes the renault fitted stereo? lol

Nah seriously it is a bit old I know but I am rather fond of it. I've even managed to scavenge the cd changer wires out of the safrane I'm breaking so hopefully I'll get the CD changer fixed as it broke a while back (it works but doesn't do anything and I've tried another changer and another head and I know both work but they didn't either - must be the cable).

Admittedly the renault supplied stereo is old now.. I'd love to custom fit a car PC in there but I'd then miss the retro feel and thats one of the things I like about the red glowing buttons and dash heh

This is what i have in the V6,CD was an option.
Old but looks fantastic when lit up,it has large orange graphic bars that adjust,very cool..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Lagun ... 1e783c6344

Yeah I've seen them before - I remember seeing one of those in a safrane in my local scrap yard and thinking it looked proper retro. Gotta be honest, the graphics would be the dogs but it wouldn't look right in a ph2 i don't think.

It must be said, i do enjoy the alpine stereo fitted in the ph2 plus it has some pretty decent sound fx too!

Thanks for the replies. I've been away for the weekend so will take some pictures early next week and let you know about my purchase.
I've been driving for nearly 30 years and honestly can't remember the last time I saw a safrane (if ever).I do remember my old boss having a 21 then a 25 but no Safranes. Only worrying thong so far (although I haven't used it yet apart from getting it home) is that my phone tries to replace safrane with satan. Hope this isn't a bad omen.

Satan LOL! I always abbreviate it to saf or saff. All safrane drivers understand that :)

You don't see many of them around, even years ago when they were more popular they were a rare sight to see even if you knew what they were. Now you have one you'll start to notice them a bit more on the rare occassion you see one. I've followed them, been followed, been overtaken by one (at 1:20am - what are the odds?) etc. Saf drivers tend to be a pretty social bunch especially face to face. I've met loads and all will tell you that they love their safrane.

I met a guy a couple of years back who said he'd never have a badge snobbery brand again (bmw, jag, merc etc) as he'd never had a car that he enjoyed as much as his safrane. I've also had audi and bmw people in mine and they're always lost for words. If I had to choose a replacement for it I'd go for a citroen C5 estate. The guy on youtube who made the safrane on ebay video has one and it's a stunning car with the same features as the safrane and more!

Yeah now you own one you might notice the odd one,but not many,never a big seller in the U.K but anyone who has one seems to like them and they often prove reliable cars,if a bit thirsty,you should read a few of the threads which are interesting and give an idea of issues Safranes have,rust seems like a major concern at the moment...
Look foward to the pics,was it the blue one on E-bay recently?