2014 Fiesta ST
Discussion
t, I bumped the front of mine last week. There was a wooden frame around the base of a tree in a car park, and I couldn't see it. New front bumper required. 
Crazy Luxembourg prices means I run the risk of my car being written off.
Appointment at the body shop on 19 December for the Insurance Assessor to review and approve or reject the repair cost, likely to be EUR 3k. There's more damage than I thought, including a new right headlight as the mounts broke.
I really hope the car isn't written off for these minor repairs, especially for how low the mileage is and how much I have to pay for my insurance here.
Fingers crossed.
Appointment at the body shop on 19 December for the Insurance Assessor to review and approve or reject the repair cost, likely to be EUR 3k. There's more damage than I thought, including a new right headlight as the mounts broke.
I really hope the car isn't written off for these minor repairs, especially for how low the mileage is and how much I have to pay for my insurance here.
Fingers crossed.
Edited by RC1807 on Wednesday 4th January 10:50
RC1807 said:
Crazy Luxembourg prices means I run the risk of my car being written off.
Appointment at the body shop on 19 December for the Insurance Assessor to review and approve or reject the repair cost, likely to be EUR 3k. There's more damage than I thought, including a new right headlight as the mounts broke.
I really hope the car isn't written off for these minor repairs, especially for how low the mileage is and how much I have to pay for my insurance here.
Fingers crossed.
Car repair was approved by my insurer. Phew. Appointment at the body shop on 19 December for the Insurance Assessor to review and approve or reject the repair cost, likely to be EUR 3k. There's more damage than I thought, including a new right headlight as the mounts broke.
I really hope the car isn't written off for these minor repairs, especially for how low the mileage is and how much I have to pay for my insurance here.
Fingers crossed.
I put the car in on Mon 19th and got it back on 23rd as the bodyshop were closing until the New Year. The new front grille is on back order, so the broken grille is in place for the moment. When they have the part in they'll call me to fit it. They'll need to remove the bumper, they told me, which is good as I'm not happy with the alignment vs. headlights and bonnet at the moment.
Control Technique (local MOT) is due mid Feb, and the car will be 9 years old. I fear I need to replace the troublesome rear brake callipers as the handbrake mechanism vs. piston is a bit iffy. They've been off a few times now to sort it. They're not too expensive to replace from Autodoc at EUR53/side, with a return deposit on the originals of about half that amount. I don't fancy crawling under the car to fit them though....
Rotors and pads are still good, so they'll remain. Just a few extra EUR for some copper grease and a drop of brake fluid needed.
With the car being almost 9 years old, and the handbrake working well (for the moment) off it went to Contrôle Technique - local MoT - today.
It didn't go as planned.
Bummer.
It failed on 2 rear brake related items ....
1. there's rust on the disc surface .. DISC surface, not braking surface
2. handbrake travel was too high - worked OK, but too high
The rear discs and pads were changed at the end of August 2020, and the car's only done 13k km since.
I've now ordered from Autodoc,
- new rear callipers
- new rear discs
- new rear brake pads
- handbrake cable
Ford wanted EUR60 just for the cable.... so I didn't bother asking about the rest!
EUR250 from Autodoc, delivered.
"MoT" retest already booked for 8 Feb so I've time to receive and fit the new parts. It also gives me time, if the new callipers aren't already painted red as they are in the parts advert, to do that, too.
It didn't go as planned.
Bummer.
It failed on 2 rear brake related items ....
1. there's rust on the disc surface .. DISC surface, not braking surface
2. handbrake travel was too high - worked OK, but too high
The rear discs and pads were changed at the end of August 2020, and the car's only done 13k km since.
I've now ordered from Autodoc,
- new rear callipers
- new rear discs
- new rear brake pads
- handbrake cable
Ford wanted EUR60 just for the cable.... so I didn't bother asking about the rest!
EUR250 from Autodoc, delivered.
"MoT" retest already booked for 8 Feb so I've time to receive and fit the new parts. It also gives me time, if the new callipers aren't already painted red as they are in the parts advert, to do that, too.
Autodoc package received today. FINALLY!
I noticed Autodoc reduced the price of some items between order and despatch, and they refunded me some money automatically.
Final cost was EUR218, with EUR50 due back when I send them my old callipers, so it's actually EUR168.
A quick check of the newly received rear callipers, they're actually in different packaging - although I ordered the same label online.
They're refurbed and repainted (red) callipers. (That's one job I won't have to do now.)
One's stamped LUCAS in the casting, so OEM refurb with new pistons, seals and handbrake adjuster. The other's not stamped, and is a slightly different shade of red.
It's not a major deal as I've decided that I'm now likely to get a new annual ticket on 8 Feb (fingers crossed!) and then I'll part ex the ST against a newer (prob. ex demo) and less powerful car. Let's see. More on that as and when.
Copper grease is being delivered tomorrow. I bought some brake fluid too, as I'm sure some will escape and they'll need bleeding.
SATURDAY job then: replacing the rear brakes, again.
Thank goodness for a garage with lights and power, but I'm going to need a fan heater in there as it's only about 5C at the moment.
I noticed Autodoc reduced the price of some items between order and despatch, and they refunded me some money automatically.
Final cost was EUR218, with EUR50 due back when I send them my old callipers, so it's actually EUR168.
A quick check of the newly received rear callipers, they're actually in different packaging - although I ordered the same label online.
They're refurbed and repainted (red) callipers. (That's one job I won't have to do now.)
One's stamped LUCAS in the casting, so OEM refurb with new pistons, seals and handbrake adjuster. The other's not stamped, and is a slightly different shade of red.
It's not a major deal as I've decided that I'm now likely to get a new annual ticket on 8 Feb (fingers crossed!) and then I'll part ex the ST against a newer (prob. ex demo) and less powerful car. Let's see. More on that as and when.
Copper grease is being delivered tomorrow. I bought some brake fluid too, as I'm sure some will escape and they'll need bleeding.
SATURDAY job then: replacing the rear brakes, again.
Thank goodness for a garage with lights and power, but I'm going to need a fan heater in there as it's only about 5C at the moment.
Spent a couple of hours on the garage floor with my (more talented with spanners) mate Richard, changing the brakes today.
AUTODOC sent the wrong handbrake cable, but seeing where it’s routed, we’d probably still be under the car now.
We changed the rotors and pads on both sides and adjusted the handbrake, again.
I kept the replacement callipers to one side, untouched as they don’t have new pad carriers, and I wasn’t going to rub down and paint the old carriers as they could do with changing too.
I’ve already rebooked my Contrôle Technique for Wednesday morning, so keeping fingers crossed it will pass, then I’ll look at returning the unused parts to AUTODOC for a refund and quickly PX’ing the ST.
AUTODOC sent the wrong handbrake cable, but seeing where it’s routed, we’d probably still be under the car now.
We changed the rotors and pads on both sides and adjusted the handbrake, again.
I kept the replacement callipers to one side, untouched as they don’t have new pad carriers, and I wasn’t going to rub down and paint the old carriers as they could do with changing too.
I’ve already rebooked my Contrôle Technique for Wednesday morning, so keeping fingers crossed it will pass, then I’ll look at returning the unused parts to AUTODOC for a refund and quickly PX’ing the ST.
Edited by RC1807 on Wednesday 8th February 09:17
There are a couple of similarly aged, but higher KM used ST2 for sale in Luxembourg at the moment.
Private sale for EUR 13,000
Dealer sale for EUR 15,750, that's extremely optimistic for a 2014 Fiesta!
I think the right private sale level is around EUR11,000.
Part-ex offered by a VW dealer: EUR 8,200
I was pushing for my car + EUR11,000 for a car they're advertising at EUR22,000, a year-old 12k km Up! GTI 5 door ... I know, but I have young drivers at home.
The dealer wasn't interested in negotiating, so I walked. She's called me twice in the last week to ask if I'm interested, but still won't move from her sale price. I told her that's not how a sales negotiation works as she hasn't offered me anything in reducing the net cash difference payable. The only concession initially offered was for me not to have to pay their EUR300 registration fee (it doesn't actually cost EUR300 to register a car here... it's an admin thing.), nor for me to have to pay the EUR24 stamp (that is an actual cost) to transfer my personal plate (my PH username) to the Up!
It's crazy to me that with car sales in the recent annual Autofestival being an all time low in Luxembourg, where dealers are extending the same terms until the end of February, that this dealer won't budge.
I'll shop elsewhere.
Private sale for EUR 13,000
Dealer sale for EUR 15,750, that's extremely optimistic for a 2014 Fiesta!
I think the right private sale level is around EUR11,000.
Part-ex offered by a VW dealer: EUR 8,200
I was pushing for my car + EUR11,000 for a car they're advertising at EUR22,000, a year-old 12k km Up! GTI 5 door ... I know, but I have young drivers at home.
The dealer wasn't interested in negotiating, so I walked. She's called me twice in the last week to ask if I'm interested, but still won't move from her sale price. I told her that's not how a sales negotiation works as she hasn't offered me anything in reducing the net cash difference payable. The only concession initially offered was for me not to have to pay their EUR300 registration fee (it doesn't actually cost EUR300 to register a car here... it's an admin thing.), nor for me to have to pay the EUR24 stamp (that is an actual cost) to transfer my personal plate (my PH username) to the Up!
It's crazy to me that with car sales in the recent annual Autofestival being an all time low in Luxembourg, where dealers are extending the same terms until the end of February, that this dealer won't budge.
I'll shop elsewhere.
Times have certainly changed, Craikey!
I remember my first car here being about €600 fully comp in 1998.
My UK policy at the time was about £200.
New car ordered today as replacement. 6 month lead time as I wanted my new car to be blue, so not taking something from stock or currently in transit from the factory.
Garage offered me €8k part ex on my ST, assuming it would go to them early September.
I have the option to sell the car myself and not impact the sale contract, which is nice to have.
I think the ST is worth €11.5k privately, even in a few months’ time, so no hurry.
(2 for sale currently in Lux. 1 privately, many more km on the clock for €13,700, and another with a dealer at an extremely optimistic €15,750. I paid €19k in 2014.)
I remember my first car here being about €600 fully comp in 1998.
My UK policy at the time was about £200.
New car ordered today as replacement. 6 month lead time as I wanted my new car to be blue, so not taking something from stock or currently in transit from the factory.
Garage offered me €8k part ex on my ST, assuming it would go to them early September.
I have the option to sell the car myself and not impact the sale contract, which is nice to have.
I think the ST is worth €11.5k privately, even in a few months’ time, so no hurry.
(2 for sale currently in Lux. 1 privately, many more km on the clock for €13,700, and another with a dealer at an extremely optimistic €15,750. I paid €19k in 2014.)
RC1807 said:
New car ordered today as replacement. 6 month lead time as I wanted my new car to be blue, so not taking something from stock or currently in transit from the factory.
Garage offered me €8k part ex on my ST, assuming it would go to them early September.
I have the option to sell the car myself and not impact the sale contract, which is nice to have.
I think the ST is worth €11.5k privately, even in a few months’ time, so no hurry.
(2 for sale currently in Lux. 1 privately, many more km on the clock for €13,700, and another with a dealer at an extremely optimistic €15,750. I paid €19k in 2014.)
Call from the local VW dealer today confirmed my new car is ready for delivery next week!Garage offered me €8k part ex on my ST, assuming it would go to them early September.
I have the option to sell the car myself and not impact the sale contract, which is nice to have.
I think the ST is worth €11.5k privately, even in a few months’ time, so no hurry.
(2 for sale currently in Lux. 1 privately, many more km on the clock for €13,700, and another with a dealer at an extremely optimistic €15,750. I paid €19k in 2014.)
Sadly that means I don’t have long enough to sell it, so it’s going in PX instead. The PX value has increased a little as the car’s going to them sooner.
Looking forward to having new tech and much better LED matrix headlights in the new car.
I will miss the ST, though. Aside from recurring handbrake issues (return spring is too weak!), it’s been trouble free and, aside from a replacement battery needed a couple of years ago, it hasn’t broken down in 9 years and 80k km.
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