Focus ST3 Estate Petrol - Buying advice please

[neiljohnson]

DR_SMITH said:

Cheers Neil,
I was going to joke about climate, given that it is F1 today with tyre choice always a favourite.
Goodyears when new - noted.

On another topic, my footwell has a mountine mat, don't know if this standard issue, or suggests someone has had engine work done.

The matts were on special offer last year I bought a set as they are nicer quality than the ones supplied with the car

If the 275 kit is fitted the economy gear change display is disabled so it won't suggest what gear you should be in

[DR_SMITH]

Aha, I have the gear change display, so the name on the mats is just for show.
Thank-you.
On subject of mats,I want to put muddy bikes in the back of the estate. I have seen boot space protectors on eBay/Amazon,but need something to cover all back including upturned squab and sides. I will get a thick plastic sheet from wickes in short term, but looking out for something better.

[neiljohnson]

There is a proper plastic liner available from ford

[DR_SMITH]

Thank-you Neil.
Re Boot protector found:
http://www.ford-accessories.co.uk/focus/2011/prote...
but on clicking the log picture in boot, bottom right, 'not found' so possibly discontinued.
Most of the protectors I have seen only cover the boot space not the back seats down area, with dog owners seemingly the main market.

Edit.
Just found this, but boot only:
http://www.ford.co.uk/OwnerServices/FordAccessorie...

Edited by DR_SMITH on Monday 30th November 08:32

[All that jazz]

Hub said:

For a reasonably rare car there seem to be quite a few estate owners on here!

Had mine a while now.

Seats are tight on the upper body side bolsters but I can confirm as a bit of a pie muncher that they do shape to your body after a while and you won't even notice them.

Mine's a 2013 62 and I've not had any issues with the sill plates. I have had a rough idle issue for a long time which seems to be related to the DEATC climate control as it disappears when I turn it off. Also have the dreaded flickering DRLs some days, particularly bad when just on side lights for some reason. Not been able to find a resolution to this on any of the forums - seems to be somewhat intermittent but there's talk about it being caused by poor alternator regulation or bad earthing.

Warranty is out on mine next month so need to get it in to get looked at "they all do that, sir", but primarily to their bodyshop to get the bonnet aligned properly and the bonnet gap gone as it annoys me beyond reason.

I like mine a lot. You soon get used to the torque steer and twitchy electric steering. You also soon remember not to bother booting it on a wet surface as don't go anywhere .

[DR_SMITH]

Hi All that Jazz aka Pie muncher ;-) Personally I'm a pastie mucher.
I had to look up DRL (daytime running lights), I didn't notice them for a few says and thought that it was sidelights. I've noticed the headlights don't come on automatic when I expect them too on dark afternoons presumably DLR deemed sufficient.

Re flickering, does you phone have video? Record slickering with a newspaper alongside (to date it) and prove it was faulty prior to warrantee expiry. If you can find anything else on the same fuse, maybe that will also show dodgy connection and help find the cause, though under warranty you shouldn't have to spend your own time on it.

Re bonnet aligment, mine has a large gap above grille, but doubt it can be lowered as other bits wouldn't then line up, but interested to hear the outcome. Wasn't sure if it was for extra airflow.

Yesterday, I was trying to leave a parking bay in car park, with tight spacing. I couldn't drive out to one side as lock wasn't sufficient, but OK the other way so I could escape. Maybe the lesson is better to drive nose in for more manouverability to get out of tight spaces.

[All that jazz]

DR_SMITH said:

Hi All that Jazz aka Pie muncher ;-) Personally I'm a pastie mucher.
I had to look up DRL (daytime running lights), I didn't notice them for a few says and thought that it was sidelights. I've noticed the headlights don't come on automatic when I expect them too on dark afternoons presumably DLR deemed sufficient.

I believe there are 2 different types on the mk3 STs. The xenon headlight ones have a long bright LED strip above each headlight but the non-xenon ones have a slightly different design which is more subtle and not as bright. Mine is an ST-3 model so has the xenon headlights. I don't use the auto lights function and always turn them on and off manually so can't comment on your dilemma.

OP said:

Re flickering, does you phone have video? Record slickering with a newspaper alongside (to date it) and prove it was faulty prior to warrantee expiry. If you can find anything else on the same fuse, maybe that will also show dodgy connection and help find the cause, though under warranty you shouldn't have to spend your own time on it.

It does it all the time now, albeit rather subtly but I don't think I'd have any issues with "we've been unable to replicate the fault, sir" at the dealer. It goes if I increase the engine revs slightly so I think it is down to poor voltage regulation. Most of the other Ford models around this age seem to suffer with the same issue if you believe what you find online.

OP said:

Re bonnet aligment, mine has a large gap above grille, but doubt it can be lowered as other bits wouldn't then line up, but interested to hear the outcome. Wasn't sure if it was for extra airflow.

No, just bad QC. Some are worse than others. There are a couple of rubber knobs on the slam panel that can be adjusted to help the bonnet gap but even with mine wound all the way down there's still a bad bonnet gap because it's now the bonnet catch that's preventing it from going down any lower and the bonnet latch can't be adjusted as it's welded inside the inner bonnet skin if you look. There are a couple of bolts on the latch that *may* loosen it so you can adjust it but because it's inside the bonnet skin there appears to be no way of controlling what happens to it and it may disappear inside the bonnet skin which would cause a whole set of new problems. My mechanic reckons the bonnet needs adjusting at the hinges, moving it back slightly, and then the front end positioning would be better but then it might not clear the tops of the headlights. Definitely a job for Ford's own bodyshop to sort out and they'll have come across this before as they all have that annoying gap to some degree.

OP said:

Yesterday, I was trying to leave a parking bay in car park, with tight spacing. I couldn't drive out to one side as lock wasn't sufficient, but OK the other way so I could escape. Maybe the lesson is better to drive nose in for more manouverability to get out of tight spaces.

It is poor but you do get used to it. I find reversing in to spaces works best and driving out.

I'm just looking online for some new front tyres for mine. A lot of people rave about the Michelin PS3s but as an all-rounder I don't rate them on the ST at all. They are fantastic in the dry but in the wet they are below average. I actually thought mine were worn a lot more than they actually are but they're about half worn if that. Yet I find them very very poor to get traction when pulling away from junctions/lights at anything more than a light touch on the gas and those riverlets of water than you often find running across motorways/DCs on rainy days make the fronts aquaplane unless you really slow down a LOT. I never had this problem even with well worn Uniroyal RS2s which are only 2/3 of the price. The PS3s even at half wear have become very tramliney on urban roads too, yet they were fine when new. I've really grown to dislike them and even thought they're only half worn I want to change them because they're no longer doing anything well, especially at this time of year now.

I was aiming for another set of Michelin Primacy 3s which I liked on my previous motor but I see they don't do them in 235/40R18 size which is a bummer . Wondering whether to try some Conti Sport Contact 5s which get good reviews (esp. wet) as they're marginally cheaper than the Michelin PS3s on camskill site.

[DR_SMITH]

Thank-you again All that Jazz.
I have the xenon with LED strip. I assumed they were on auto by deafult, but from your comment, I have checked the manual and see it is the 'A' setting on light ring.

I downloaded some ST photo's to make up some PC wallpaper, including a Cosworth version.
Each photo has a largish gap above the grille, except one, an artist style impression, so I'm inclined to believe this isn't fixable, and there isn't a like gap above the lights though I do see what your Mechanic says.

Tyres: Short list for me was down to Eagle F1 (£466.32) or Michelin PS3 (£540), so other things equal I went for the Eagles.
Prices include fitting/balancing etc at F1.
The old tyres oddly had about 1.5mm on the right (front and rear) more than the left (3.5 compared to 2).
Due to clockwise roundabouts maybe or a side effect on the anti-skid gizmo, god knows.

[browna]

DR_SMITH said:

Thank-you Hub.
What is an ipod? ;-)
I copied some cd's I have on pc to usb stick and find it easy to play from the aux button.
I'd read somewhere you had to go deep into menus to use it, possibly that was a different verion.
I've got Matt Monroe 'Days like these' lined up for when I find a switchback mountain road (hopefully digger free).
You need to be a film buff to understand that.
I'll leave it to another poster to throw back the catch phrase. :-)

I have bridgestone on front and eagles on back, circa 18,600 miles all on limit.
I guess the front are 2nd set to explain difference, unless some go for different maybe softer front tyres as driving wheels.
Naturally would normally go with same all round, unless there was a known good reason to differ.
Is there a standard tyre make/type from new?

dramatic 5 year pause...
"your only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!"

or my fav..
- "You must have shot an awful lot of tigers, sir."
-"Yes, I used a machine gun."

Any updated advice on early mk3 ST estate reliability, I want a mk 2, but theres so many reliability issues floating about.

Edited by browna on Tuesday 18th February 08:13

[RichardDastardly]

browna, the MK2 is pretty reliable if you’re willing to upgrade/check the bits that are known to be weak (clutch, boost solenoid, block mod, bushings, rusting between panels and wheel arches).
Not that the mk3 isn’t nice tho...

[Hub]

I still have mine, 5 years on!

Common issues now I think are water leaking into the boot/spare wheel well. Although it seems to be more common on the hatch, mine has had issues. There are a couple of areas on the estate where can come in - seals around the top of the boot/roof rails, or in my case behind the bumper.

I needed a new radiator last year because it had corroded at the bottom where it sits on some sort of foam pad, but those are the only issues I've had I think.

I'm on the facebook forums and there aren't really any major issues that I've seen. Some engines have suffered piston failure, but not that many and mainly mapped engines. It seems avoidable if you don't risk flooring it from low revs in a high gear (Low Speed Pre Ignition).