2014 Fiesta ST
Discussion
Car's booked in for 23rd Jan.
Needs: bew front bumper, front upper and lower grilles, number plate and plate surround. Nothing else appears to be broken, on first viewing.
The bodyshop is also doing some small dent removals on my passenger side door, which were kind gifts from some
-ish colleagues in the work car park. I now park where no cars can be within 5 feet of me, either side.
They're also painting the rear valance 'grille', fog surrounds, front lower grille and door mirror covers glass black. the front end is mis-matched due to Ford's cheap approach - where the bloack plastics don't match in OEM form. They will now.
Needs: bew front bumper, front upper and lower grilles, number plate and plate surround. Nothing else appears to be broken, on first viewing.
The bodyshop is also doing some small dent removals on my passenger side door, which were kind gifts from some
-ish colleagues in the work car park. I now park where no cars can be within 5 feet of me, either side. They're also painting the rear valance 'grille', fog surrounds, front lower grille and door mirror covers glass black. the front end is mis-matched due to Ford's cheap approach - where the bloack plastics don't match in OEM form. They will now.
My car was in the body shop for a couple of days in the end,
- new front bumper
- new front upper grille
also had the other bits painted gloss black as I noted above. Happy with the work done,
Wheel refurb man dropped back my 2 wheels at the beginning of the week. Sadly the paint didn't match my other 2, the repainted wheels being a couple of shades darker. True to his word, "the man" took all 4 wheels away and they're all being painted the same darker shade I preferred at no extra cost.
Service due within the month as I keep to an annual schedule, regardless of mileage. I think I've done 10k km in the year, so not much.
(Also ordered a new family car which is due in about 10 days, replacing white Skoda Octavia vRS diesel wagon from 2012 with a new slate grey vRS 230 petroleum wagon, with *all* the toys on it!)
- new front bumper
- new front upper grille
also had the other bits painted gloss black as I noted above. Happy with the work done,
Wheel refurb man dropped back my 2 wheels at the beginning of the week. Sadly the paint didn't match my other 2, the repainted wheels being a couple of shades darker. True to his word, "the man" took all 4 wheels away and they're all being painted the same darker shade I preferred at no extra cost.
Service due within the month as I keep to an annual schedule, regardless of mileage. I think I've done 10k km in the year, so not much.
(Also ordered a new family car which is due in about 10 days, replacing white Skoda Octavia vRS diesel wagon from 2012 with a new slate grey vRS 230 petroleum wagon, with *all* the toys on it!)
Wheel refurb turned out to be a bit of a pain in the arse. The painters didn't do a very good job, more than once, so it means my wheels have now been painted 5 times. Yes, 5!
Each time painting is a trip in a truck back to Portugal, so the wheels have done as many miles off my car as on my car! Anyway, they're all back now and I'm happy with the work.
(I just hope the tyre fitters reinstalled the TPMS gadgets, or the tyres will be off the rims again
)
I bought some shiny new wheel nuts ready for the wheels to go back on - pricey from Ford for all 16 at €76! Car service was delayed as I wanted to have my wheels switched over from winter to summer, so that's now booked in for 3 weeks time, due to business trips.
Average fuel consumption has been between 6.2 and 6.4l./100km, so 44-45 mpg.
Each time painting is a trip in a truck back to Portugal, so the wheels have done as many miles off my car as on my car! Anyway, they're all back now and I'm happy with the work.
(I just hope the tyre fitters reinstalled the TPMS gadgets, or the tyres will be off the rims again
)I bought some shiny new wheel nuts ready for the wheels to go back on - pricey from Ford for all 16 at €76! Car service was delayed as I wanted to have my wheels switched over from winter to summer, so that's now booked in for 3 weeks time, due to business trips.
Average fuel consumption has been between 6.2 and 6.4l./100km, so 44-45 mpg.
Edited by RC1807 on Tuesday 9th May 13:34
Thanks Podie
One thing I forgot about when I took the summers off and put the winters on - TPMS
I've had a few motnhs osf tyre pressure warnings and bing/bongs every time I switch the car on, thankfully now gone
Given the amount of times my summer wheels were painted, so tyres/tpms on/off, I'm surprised the sensors are working
I think the ST will go in the new year and be replaced by a 595C
One thing I forgot about when I took the summers off and put the winters on - TPMS
I've had a few motnhs osf tyre pressure warnings and bing/bongs every time I switch the car on, thankfully now gone
Given the amount of times my summer wheels were painted, so tyres/tpms on/off, I'm surprised the sensors are working
I think the ST will go in the new year and be replaced by a 595C
Well, the ST is still in use - clearly not as much from 2017 to know as previous years, given the km covered, about 6-7k between services... it's now 4 years old and has 39.7k km on the clock 
(My car spent a LOT of time parked underground at Luxembourg Airport last year, to be fair)
It's likely the car will be replaced in the not too distant future, firstly for "my wife's" Octavia vRS 230 Wagon, since our eldest turned 17 yesterday and will now learn to drive, and then my wife will change the ST early 2019 for something smaller, but still practical and fun... CitiGo Sport of Up! GTI. Will have to test them.
My ST went in for a service yesterday, a little ahead of schedule, but the 4 year warranty just ran out (!!) and I've 2 issues I asked them to look at that will hoepfully be covered, since they couldn't take my car in before:
1. sticking handbrake (caliper not releasing) when the car's been parked overnight. Pulling away, the car goes *clunk* as the caliper releases. I'd asked in the previous 2 services, but they didn't look at it, or couldn't find a problem.
2. passenger side door mirror - the heating element no longer works.
However, when I went to collect the car yesterday evening, it wasn't ready. The garage hadn't phoned me to advise of a delay, and the workshop boss had gone home not telling the receptionist what was happening. The receptionist was very apologetic, and I was given the garage's demo EcoBoost 5 door for a couple of days - I've loads of meetings at work today until after the garage closes - and the garage will call me later to tell me what's happening with my car. I didn't see my ST in their workshop, so I hope it's OK....?
(My car spent a LOT of time parked underground at Luxembourg Airport last year, to be fair)It's likely the car will be replaced in the not too distant future, firstly for "my wife's" Octavia vRS 230 Wagon, since our eldest turned 17 yesterday and will now learn to drive, and then my wife will change the ST early 2019 for something smaller, but still practical and fun... CitiGo Sport of Up! GTI. Will have to test them.
My ST went in for a service yesterday, a little ahead of schedule, but the 4 year warranty just ran out (!!) and I've 2 issues I asked them to look at that will hoepfully be covered, since they couldn't take my car in before:
1. sticking handbrake (caliper not releasing) when the car's been parked overnight. Pulling away, the car goes *clunk* as the caliper releases. I'd asked in the previous 2 services, but they didn't look at it, or couldn't find a problem.
2. passenger side door mirror - the heating element no longer works.
However, when I went to collect the car yesterday evening, it wasn't ready. The garage hadn't phoned me to advise of a delay, and the workshop boss had gone home not telling the receptionist what was happening. The receptionist was very apologetic, and I was given the garage's demo EcoBoost 5 door for a couple of days - I've loads of meetings at work today until after the garage closes - and the garage will call me later to tell me what's happening with my car. I didn't see my ST in their workshop, so I hope it's OK....?
I haven't yet switched from winter boots back to summer wheels / tyres ... and just as well given recent comical weather events.
2 weeks ago it was >20C and sunshine.
Since then we've had electrical storms with inch diameter hailstones, then heavy rains, then back to 25C!
Last night it fking froze again!!
Bloody hell.....
Oh, and Podie mentioned TPMS sensors a year or so ago - (at least) one in my winter wheels has crapped out, so the car bings and bongs each time the ignition's switched on. Typical.
I'll take the winter wheels home with me this time instead of putting them in storage at the Ford dealer.
It now looks very much like the ST will go on to pastures new. I know I've mentioned getting a 595C many times before, but with a 17 y.o daughter about to learn to drive, I'm think an Up! GTI will be more than enough. I also need to keep Mrs RC1807 happy as we're going to swap her usual family wagon for my "runaround:, which means I get the Octavia vRS 230 wagon .... been looking at 300hp remaps for that locally, too (shiftech.lu)
The Octavia vRS was meant to be a lower km/p.a. car, but it's done 29k km in its 1st year with us, and it's prior diseasal model only did half that!
Oh, well....
2 weeks ago it was >20C and sunshine.
Since then we've had electrical storms with inch diameter hailstones, then heavy rains, then back to 25C!
Last night it f
king froze again!!Bloody hell.....
Oh, and Podie mentioned TPMS sensors a year or so ago - (at least) one in my winter wheels has crapped out, so the car bings and bongs each time the ignition's switched on. Typical.
I'll take the winter wheels home with me this time instead of putting them in storage at the Ford dealer.
It now looks very much like the ST will go on to pastures new. I know I've mentioned getting a 595C many times before, but with a 17 y.o daughter about to learn to drive, I'm think an Up! GTI will be more than enough.
I also need to keep Mrs RC1807 happy as we're going to swap her usual family wagon for my "runaround:, which means I get the Octavia vRS 230 wagon .... been looking at 300hp remaps for that locally, too (shiftech.lu) The Octavia vRS was meant to be a lower km/p.a. car, but it's done 29k km in its 1st year with us, and it's prior diseasal model only did half that!
Oh, well....
Quick update
"RC 1807" remains on the ST, and it's not been changed or swapped out for my wife's car, just yet....
The ST has only driven 45,100km (it'll be 5 y.o in Feb), whilst our Octavia vRS 230, which is about 20 months old, now has 40,000km on it.
I received a notice from Ford Belgium about a recall item, to change a cooling system pipe or some such. Dealer's taking the car in on 5th December, which is the soonest they've space to do so.
With our eldest now learning to drive, it's probably best not to have (a) 180hp under your right foot, and (b) hard to match paint on the alloys, which will get killed without a doubt!
The new year project for my wife is to find a suitable replacement for the ST that SHE will end up driving each day
She's already told me, "Nothing French!", which I don't really understand the logic of, really .... 10 years ago we never thought we'd buy a Ford or a Skoda, and here we are with 1 of each at the moment.
"RC 1807" remains on the ST, and it's not been changed or swapped out for my wife's car, just yet....
The ST has only driven 45,100km (it'll be 5 y.o in Feb), whilst our Octavia vRS 230, which is about 20 months old, now has 40,000km on it.
I received a notice from Ford Belgium about a recall item, to change a cooling system pipe or some such. Dealer's taking the car in on 5th December, which is the soonest they've space to do so.
With our eldest now learning to drive, it's probably best not to have (a) 180hp under your right foot, and (b) hard to match paint on the alloys, which will get killed without a doubt!
The new year project for my wife is to find a suitable replacement for the ST that SHE will end up driving each day
She's already told me, "Nothing French!", which I don't really understand the logic of, really .... 10 years ago we never thought we'd buy a Ford or a Skoda, and here we are with 1 of each at the moment.
It's been a long time....
The ST is still with us after 6 1/2 years and 60,000km. I've not owned a car here for that long in the 22 years I've lived in Lux!
It remains for a number of reasons:
- my daughters are both learning to drive. Hopefully the eldest will have her licence before she heads off to Uni at the end of this month. The youngest will start accompanied driving in September.
- the car hasn't had any issues at all. To only have ~40k miles after 6 1/2 years shows how much my commute changed when we moved closer to the capital village, but also how much my job meant the car spent parked underground at Luxembourg Airport!
- I took voluntary redundancy at the end of 2019, and the job I was supposed to sign a contract for in March to begin in April was pulled before I signed (pandemic cuts on hiring), so I've been enjoying a lot more time at home than expected .... 8 months! Not a good time to buy any more cars, eh? (I'm advanced on interviewing for a couple of roles now, so fingers crossed.)
WHAT'S NEXT?
When I had my winter / summer wheels changed, the mechanic noted I needed new front brake discs and pads in the next 5k km, or so.
I called the dealer and the parts guy to,d me their prices:
Brake discs: €198
Pads: either €98 for Motorcraft or €135 for Ford labelled items. I told the guy, but MC make Ford stuff.... Yeah, he replied, so guess which labelled items you'd get it we fitted exactly the same items?!
M'kaaaayyyy.... Off to the Autodoc application as they offered 28% discount for a few days, and th and they're cheaper than everything and everyone else.
Discs and pads by Febi Bilstein for €86!
Brake cleaner and courier P&P from Deutschland pushed me to a total of €97.....that's €200 cheaper than Ford, and their fitting would be about another €250!
I'll fit those myself then on Friday when my mate has a day off and we can use his air tools and garage.
Please keep your fingers crossed for my daughter passing her test 1st time and me getting a job bloody soon!
Thanks!
The ST is still with us after 6 1/2 years and 60,000km. I've not owned a car here for that long in the 22 years I've lived in Lux!
It remains for a number of reasons:
- my daughters are both learning to drive. Hopefully the eldest will have her licence before she heads off to Uni at the end of this month. The youngest will start accompanied driving in September.
- the car hasn't had any issues at all. To only have ~40k miles after 6 1/2 years shows how much my commute changed when we moved closer to the capital village, but also how much my job meant the car spent parked underground at Luxembourg Airport!
- I took voluntary redundancy at the end of 2019, and the job I was supposed to sign a contract for in March to begin in April was pulled before I signed (pandemic cuts on hiring), so I've been enjoying a lot more time at home than expected .... 8 months! Not a good time to buy any more cars, eh? (I'm advanced on interviewing for a couple of roles now, so fingers crossed.)
WHAT'S NEXT?
When I had my winter / summer wheels changed, the mechanic noted I needed new front brake discs and pads in the next 5k km, or so.
I called the dealer and the parts guy to,d me their prices:
Brake discs: €198
Pads: either €98 for Motorcraft or €135 for Ford labelled items.
I told the guy, but MC make Ford stuff.... Yeah, he replied, so guess which labelled items you'd get it we fitted exactly the same items?!M'kaaaayyyy.... Off to the Autodoc application as they offered 28% discount for a few days, and th and they're cheaper than everything and everyone else.
Discs and pads by Febi Bilstein for €86!
Brake cleaner and courier P&P from Deutschland pushed me to a total of €97.....that's €200 cheaper than Ford, and their fitting would be about another €250!
I'll fit those myself then on Friday when my mate has a day off and we can use his air tools and garage.
Please keep your fingers crossed for my daughter passing her test 1st time and me getting a job bloody soon!
Thanks!
Changed discs and pads on Friday. Pads were half worn, but I changed them anyway, and the discs, well.....
Anyway, new shiny discs from Febi Bilstein via the AUTODOC app:
The dealer said they’d need 2.5 to 3.0 hours labour for this. I replaced them kneeling on the garage floor in less time, the rip off bds. 
All sorted now.
Anyway, new shiny discs from Febi Bilstein via the AUTODOC app:
The dealer said they’d need 2.5 to 3.0 hours labour for this. I replaced them kneeling on the garage floor in less time, the rip off b
ds. All sorted now.
A little later than usual, but I went to collect my 17" summer wheels / tyres from the dealer today. They'd advised me 2 tyres needed to be replaced when they switched them over at the annual service about 7 months ago, so I knew an expense was coming. (I checked today and the 2 fronts were <2mm, the rears >3.5mm).
When I lifted a wheel from the trolley they'd moved them outside on for me, I was sickened to see the wheel faces had been smacked together, so all 4 wheels have badly damaged paint! The service receptionist was very apologetic, but I was a little bit miffed, shall we say. :rant:
The new service manager at the dealership only speaks German (I speak Englsh, French and Luxembourgish) so I went to get the dealership senior manager as I'd met him before and knwew he spoke English well. Anyway, he kindly acted as translator between the service manager and me and offered me a deal.... the dealership will get all 4 wheels repainted for me and they'll heavily discount the 2 new tyres I need.
I agreed and thanked him.
The service manager looked pretty pissed off, though. I guess he's footing the bll from his Service Dept. P&L.
I don't know how long it'll be before winter / summer wheels can now be switched over, but it looks like it'll be a while yet..... weeks, certainly, as most dealerships send wheels to Portugal to be repaired / painted as it's much cheaper to do so there.
Tyre choices? Currently still wearing the OEM BF Goodrich from 2014. The car's done 66k km and wear summer tyres ~6 months / year. Which replacement brand is recommended by other ST owners, please? Michelin? Pirelli? Other?
TLDR; went to collect wheels & tyres from my dealer's storage. The wheels' faces have been damaged whilst with them. They're repainting the wheels and discounting 2 new tyres that are needed.
When I lifted a wheel from the trolley they'd moved them outside on for me, I was sickened to see the wheel faces had been smacked together, so all 4 wheels have badly damaged paint! The service receptionist was very apologetic, but I was a little bit miffed, shall we say. :rant:
The new service manager at the dealership only speaks German (I speak Englsh, French and Luxembourgish) so I went to get the dealership senior manager as I'd met him before and knwew he spoke English well. Anyway, he kindly acted as translator between the service manager and me and offered me a deal.... the dealership will get all 4 wheels repainted for me and they'll heavily discount the 2 new tyres I need.
I agreed and thanked him.
The service manager looked pretty pissed off, though. I guess he's footing the bll from his Service Dept. P&L.
I don't know how long it'll be before winter / summer wheels can now be switched over, but it looks like it'll be a while yet..... weeks, certainly, as most dealerships send wheels to Portugal to be repaired / painted as it's much cheaper to do so there.
Tyre choices? Currently still wearing the OEM BF Goodrich from 2014. The car's done 66k km and wear summer tyres ~6 months / year. Which replacement brand is recommended by other ST owners, please? Michelin? Pirelli? Other?
TLDR; went to collect wheels & tyres from my dealer's storage. The wheels' faces have been damaged whilst with them. They're repainting the wheels and discounting 2 new tyres that are needed.
I’ve just put PS4’s on my ST. They are very good but I find they don’t turn quite as quick as the PZeros that were on before. But grip is good (wet grip is astounding) and due to the softer side walls ride comfort has improved. Overall very good tyres.
Ps. Sorry to hear about your wheels, what rotten luck!
Ps. Sorry to hear about your wheels, what rotten luck!
Thanks for the tyre recommendations.
The dealer called me and advised Bridgestone no longer make this tyre size, offered Dunlops (2 for €250 incl.) and some others... I asked them to price the Michelin PS4s and I'll see how they quote: I reckon they'll want €300 for 2, fitted and balanced.
The dealer called me and advised Bridgestone no longer make this tyre size, offered Dunlops (2 for €250 incl.) and some others... I asked them to price the Michelin PS4s and I'll see how they quote: I reckon they'll want €300 for 2, fitted and balanced.
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