2016 Ford Focus 2.3 RS
Discussion
A wee update...
Mountune FPM375
The Mountune upgrade was fitted to my car in between Xmas & New Year by Harrisons of Peebles, the car was serviced at the same time. All completed in 3.5'ish hours while I had a nice cooked breakfast at a nearby Wetherspoons!
The only PITA was getting my insurer to accept the modification - it took almost as long on the phone as getting the kit fitted to the car! I was on hold for AGES. Anyway, all sorted in the end.
Now, the Mountune FPM375 is definitely an improvement. Previously when accelerating I felt like asking the car "Eh, hello, I've asked for speed here, how about delivering?" Sure it was quick, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that the car was holding back, whereas now hard acceleration really shoves me back into the Recaro. Fuel consumption appears to have taken a hit though, down to an indicated 26mpg. Not THAT bothered about the MPG though.
What I do have an issue with, and I hope this isn't taken as me being a stereotypical tight scotsman, is: I don't feel the upgrade is worth £1K. It's good, but it's not £1K good. It's how the car SHOULD have felt like when it was built.
It is, of course, all a ruse to get owners to upgrade their cars whilst retaining a reasonably 'safe' tune and getting more £££ out of owners pockets. Which I have fallen for. Like an eejit.
Recall
Ford have now issued a recall/fix for the cylinder head gasket issue experienced by MK3 Focus RS owners. This was publicised in early February but, I believe, a lot of owners have been booking their cars into Ford dealerships without having first received their recall letter from Ford and this has resulted in a shortage of parts. A slight revision was also issued to the recall with additonal parts required and this has had a further knock-on effect to owners trying to book their cars in.
I haven't received a letter from Ford yet, but I've made initial enquiries with Harrisons and the car will go in for the work to be done whenever is convenient for me/them. I'm not in any rush.
The work consists of a pressure test + a replacement cylinder head gasket fitted. If the engine fails the pressure test then a new cylinder head will also be fitted.
Other b
ks
The car is approaching 6.5K miles now, and has been used throughout the winter (no choice really) so it has picked up a couple of stonechips on the front bumper, I bought a touch-up stick from eBay for £8 which, when it arrived, looked very wattery and completely the wrong shade but once applied to the stonechips has made them almost invisible.
I've been keeping an eye on the recent RS special edition announcements, first the red and now the very limited orange Heritage edition. I'd like to be in a position to consider one of them, but unless the lottery numbers are favourable i'll be content with what I have!
Other than the above there isn't much to report. The Sync3 CarPlay app continues to be occasionally flaky but that's a fairly minor annoyance. The temptation to try out drift mode is strong, especially on quiet wet roundabouts or on the new sweeping u-shaped sliproad onto the M8 on the way home from work at night, however a reality check reminds me my 2nd name isn't McRae and the Drive Mode button remains untouched. The heated seats, heated steering wheel and heated windscreen have been very welcome recently!
Mountune FPM375
The Mountune upgrade was fitted to my car in between Xmas & New Year by Harrisons of Peebles, the car was serviced at the same time. All completed in 3.5'ish hours while I had a nice cooked breakfast at a nearby Wetherspoons!
The only PITA was getting my insurer to accept the modification - it took almost as long on the phone as getting the kit fitted to the car! I was on hold for AGES. Anyway, all sorted in the end.
Now, the Mountune FPM375 is definitely an improvement. Previously when accelerating I felt like asking the car "Eh, hello, I've asked for speed here, how about delivering?" Sure it was quick, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that the car was holding back, whereas now hard acceleration really shoves me back into the Recaro. Fuel consumption appears to have taken a hit though, down to an indicated 26mpg. Not THAT bothered about the MPG though.
What I do have an issue with, and I hope this isn't taken as me being a stereotypical tight scotsman, is: I don't feel the upgrade is worth £1K. It's good, but it's not £1K good. It's how the car SHOULD have felt like when it was built.
It is, of course, all a ruse to get owners to upgrade their cars whilst retaining a reasonably 'safe' tune and getting more £££ out of owners pockets. Which I have fallen for. Like an eejit.
Recall
Ford have now issued a recall/fix for the cylinder head gasket issue experienced by MK3 Focus RS owners. This was publicised in early February but, I believe, a lot of owners have been booking their cars into Ford dealerships without having first received their recall letter from Ford and this has resulted in a shortage of parts. A slight revision was also issued to the recall with additonal parts required and this has had a further knock-on effect to owners trying to book their cars in.
I haven't received a letter from Ford yet, but I've made initial enquiries with Harrisons and the car will go in for the work to be done whenever is convenient for me/them. I'm not in any rush.
The work consists of a pressure test + a replacement cylinder head gasket fitted. If the engine fails the pressure test then a new cylinder head will also be fitted.
Other b
ksThe car is approaching 6.5K miles now, and has been used throughout the winter (no choice really) so it has picked up a couple of stonechips on the front bumper, I bought a touch-up stick from eBay for £8 which, when it arrived, looked very wattery and completely the wrong shade but once applied to the stonechips has made them almost invisible.
I've been keeping an eye on the recent RS special edition announcements, first the red and now the very limited orange Heritage edition. I'd like to be in a position to consider one of them, but unless the lottery numbers are favourable i'll be content with what I have!
Other than the above there isn't much to report. The Sync3 CarPlay app continues to be occasionally flaky but that's a fairly minor annoyance. The temptation to try out drift mode is strong, especially on quiet wet roundabouts or on the new sweeping u-shaped sliproad onto the M8 on the way home from work at night, however a reality check reminds me my 2nd name isn't McRae and the Drive Mode button remains untouched. The heated seats, heated steering wheel and heated windscreen have been very welcome recently!
The car is now approaching 9K miles, still going well, it's now booked in for the end of May to get the head gasket recall done. Should be in for 3-4 days.
I've also booked the car into a local bodyshop to have the wheels painted gloss black, the standard finish on the forged matt black alloys isn't great and they are a pain to clean.
I fitted the 15mm spacers a couple of weeks ago, makes the car look slightly better.
Quick recent pic after a clean:
2016 Focus RS 01-05-2018 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
I've also booked the car into a local bodyshop to have the wheels painted gloss black, the standard finish on the forged matt black alloys isn't great and they are a pain to clean.
I fitted the 15mm spacers a couple of weeks ago, makes the car look slightly better.
Quick recent pic after a clean:
2016 Focus RS 01-05-2018 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrI seem to use the following phrase alot (despite me abhorring the phrase and usage) but Nitrous really 'pop's when sunny and clean, in many ways it reminds me of renault sport inferno orange, obviously not in hue or tone but how sunlight completely changes the way the colour looks from dull to vibrant and exotic.
It's been 2.5 months since my previous update so.....
The car is now showing just a shade over 11,000 miles so approaching 10K mileage in my ownership, it was the 17th August last year I picked it up so with it being it's 'birthday' weekend (lol) I thought I would give it a thorough clean inside & out:
19-08-18-06 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
19-08-18-02 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
What's been happening to the car since the previous update...
I got the car back from Harrisons on Friday 1st June after it had the cylinder head gasket replacement under warranrty/recall which took 5 days.No major issues, I was (very minorly) annoyed that the engine bay was left coated in grime when it wasn't in that condition before I dropped the car off though. Apart from that the car was as it was before the work was carried out, it actually felt slightly faster initially but I put that down to running around in a 1 litre 3-cylinder Fiesta courtesy car for a week!!
I also had the car into a local bodshop for a week in July while I was abroad on holiday - I asked them to repaint the standard matt black finish on the wheels with a gloss black finish. All went fairly well, can't say I am 100% happy with the finish on a couple of the wheels, especially when the bodyshop is one i've been using for over 25 years, but it's probably stuff only I would notice.
I could have asked them to sort the (again - minor) issues but I can't be bothered with the hassle of dropping the car off, arranging lifts or insurance for a courtesty car etc so I'll chalk it up to experience and consider not using the place in future.
Anyway, once I returned from holidays I fitted gloss black RS centre caps (the car comes with matt black 'Ford' logo centre caps) which come as standard on the 'Edition' RS, and I also gave the wheels a coating of Gtechniq C5 Ceramic Wheel Armour which should make them easier to clean for the next few months.
I also fitted black body accent stripes to the front & rear bumper from DMB Graphics, and purchased a set of 4 floor mats from CarMatsNI - they are black with the mid-blue edging and blue RS logo.
The front headlights and front foglights were covered with fly-eye vinyl recently & I purchased a pair of clear/smoked LED lights from Germany. They turned out to be a hassle, the 1st set were damaged and the seller initially wouldn't entertain taking them back & supplying a new set. They claimed I damaged them whilst fitting them (which is a 2/3 minute job per side) and then once I sent them photographic and video evidence showing the damage was INSIDE the lens they then claimed it was 'supposed to be like that'. After several more email exchanges they relented and sent me a new set.
Think that's all for now, still enjoying the car!!
The car is now showing just a shade over 11,000 miles so approaching 10K mileage in my ownership, it was the 17th August last year I picked it up so with it being it's 'birthday' weekend (lol) I thought I would give it a thorough clean inside & out:
19-08-18-06 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr19-08-18-02 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrWhat's been happening to the car since the previous update...
I got the car back from Harrisons on Friday 1st June after it had the cylinder head gasket replacement under warranrty/recall which took 5 days.No major issues, I was (very minorly) annoyed that the engine bay was left coated in grime when it wasn't in that condition before I dropped the car off though. Apart from that the car was as it was before the work was carried out, it actually felt slightly faster initially but I put that down to running around in a 1 litre 3-cylinder Fiesta courtesy car for a week!!
I also had the car into a local bodshop for a week in July while I was abroad on holiday - I asked them to repaint the standard matt black finish on the wheels with a gloss black finish. All went fairly well, can't say I am 100% happy with the finish on a couple of the wheels, especially when the bodyshop is one i've been using for over 25 years, but it's probably stuff only I would notice.
I could have asked them to sort the (again - minor) issues but I can't be bothered with the hassle of dropping the car off, arranging lifts or insurance for a courtesty car etc so I'll chalk it up to experience and consider not using the place in future.
Anyway, once I returned from holidays I fitted gloss black RS centre caps (the car comes with matt black 'Ford' logo centre caps) which come as standard on the 'Edition' RS, and I also gave the wheels a coating of Gtechniq C5 Ceramic Wheel Armour which should make them easier to clean for the next few months.
I also fitted black body accent stripes to the front & rear bumper from DMB Graphics, and purchased a set of 4 floor mats from CarMatsNI - they are black with the mid-blue edging and blue RS logo.
The front headlights and front foglights were covered with fly-eye vinyl recently & I purchased a pair of clear/smoked LED lights from Germany. They turned out to be a hassle, the 1st set were damaged and the seller initially wouldn't entertain taking them back & supplying a new set. They claimed I damaged them whilst fitting them (which is a 2/3 minute job per side) and then once I sent them photographic and video evidence showing the damage was INSIDE the lens they then claimed it was 'supposed to be like that'. After several more email exchanges they relented and sent me a new set.
Think that's all for now, still enjoying the car!!
9 months since previous update...
Still got the RS, still using it every week day for commuting to & from work, mileage is just over 18K now. Had it's 2nd year service at Harrisons of Peebles during the Xmas/New Year hols, no issues.
Had a set of Momo Revenge alloys fitted to the car last weekend at Skidz in Falkirk, I was never happy with the finish on the standard wheels after they were painted by a local bodyshop last summer. I've been using this bodyshop for over 20 years and although I could have asked them to re-do/sort the issues I didn't want the conflict and the hassle of having the car off the road again so after the winter was past I thought I would go for these:
2016 Ford Focus RS 11-05-2019 by Andy McMillan, on Flickr
They are 19" so I used my existing tyres and I went for the dark anthracite option. I did consider 20's, but with the car now having H&R lowered springs fitted I didn't want the harsher ride issues that 20's with 30-profile tyres would bring. I've retained the standard 19" wheels and I may put some tyres on them and use them as my winter set.
I also fitted a Maxton Design rear spoiler extension recently, only £99 + delivery and takes secongs to fit.
The only other thing i've done to the car recently (or had done to it) was some additional security fitted, I've read too many stories on facebook groups etc of performance cars going missing so while what I had fitted won't 100% guarantee the car won't go missing it does give me extra peace of mind.
Apart from the above, all i've been doing is driving it, cleaning it, filling it with fuel, driving it some more, cleaning it again etc! I've not had any mechanical issues with the car at all (touch wood) and it'll be coming up for its 1st MOT in 6 months time. I have no more plans for any more modifications, got to pay off the car + the new wheels before I am allowed to spend any more
but I can't think of anything else I want to do to it at the moment anyway.
Dash trip computer is still showing an average of 28mpg. Still want the car to have electrically-adjustable seats (I think that's how it should have been built) but that's a very minor niggle.
Couple of other very minor niggles - the black mesh grille inside the front bumper is showing some small rust patches, i've touched it up carefully with black paint for now - and the plastic cowl over/around the interior mirror on the windscreen rattles but the noise goes away for a few days if I hit it.
Still got the RS, still using it every week day for commuting to & from work, mileage is just over 18K now. Had it's 2nd year service at Harrisons of Peebles during the Xmas/New Year hols, no issues.
Had a set of Momo Revenge alloys fitted to the car last weekend at Skidz in Falkirk, I was never happy with the finish on the standard wheels after they were painted by a local bodyshop last summer. I've been using this bodyshop for over 20 years and although I could have asked them to re-do/sort the issues I didn't want the conflict and the hassle of having the car off the road again so after the winter was past I thought I would go for these:
2016 Ford Focus RS 11-05-2019 by Andy McMillan, on FlickrThey are 19" so I used my existing tyres and I went for the dark anthracite option. I did consider 20's, but with the car now having H&R lowered springs fitted I didn't want the harsher ride issues that 20's with 30-profile tyres would bring. I've retained the standard 19" wheels and I may put some tyres on them and use them as my winter set.
I also fitted a Maxton Design rear spoiler extension recently, only £99 + delivery and takes secongs to fit.
The only other thing i've done to the car recently (or had done to it) was some additional security fitted, I've read too many stories on facebook groups etc of performance cars going missing so while what I had fitted won't 100% guarantee the car won't go missing it does give me extra peace of mind.
Apart from the above, all i've been doing is driving it, cleaning it, filling it with fuel, driving it some more, cleaning it again etc! I've not had any mechanical issues with the car at all (touch wood) and it'll be coming up for its 1st MOT in 6 months time. I have no more plans for any more modifications, got to pay off the car + the new wheels before I am allowed to spend any more
but I can't think of anything else I want to do to it at the moment anyway. Dash trip computer is still showing an average of 28mpg. Still want the car to have electrically-adjustable seats (I think that's how it should have been built) but that's a very minor niggle.
Couple of other very minor niggles - the black mesh grille inside the front bumper is showing some small rust patches, i've touched it up carefully with black paint for now - and the plastic cowl over/around the interior mirror on the windscreen rattles but the noise goes away for a few days if I hit it.
6 months on... I've still got the RS.
It went into Harrisons in Peebles for it's 3rd annual service earlier this week, plus 1st MOT. All went well, dropped the car off at 8:30am, jumped into one of their courtesy cars to get to work, their driver brought my car back to me at work mid-afternoon.
Really happy with the service, dunno if it's solely down to the spark plug change but the car is pulling more strongly.
MOT just threw up a couple of advisories, one for a tyre near the limit (which I knew about) and a comment about the 'product' on the headlights but 'not seriously reducing light output'.
Both front tyres were a baw hair away from the 2mm wear indicator so with winter most definitely being upon us (minus 6 in Scotland this morning!) I decided to get them replaced, which was done at Skidz in Falkirk yesterday - replaced like-for-like with Michelin Pilot Supersports 235/35/19's.
I was planning to put a set of tyres onto my standard 19" wheels and use them as my winter set but finances haven't worked out favourably in the last few months so looks like i'll be running the Momo wheels through winter.
Mileage is now nearly 24k and the car continues to be used every week day for commuting to and from work aong the M8, no plans to do anything special to or with it next year, I am not planning to sell/trade-in the RS either. Just enjoy driving and cleaning it.
However, the Ford warranty has now run out so if I unexpectedly find I have a few bob kicking about spare I might look at a power increase from Litchfield or Collins but I doubt it. Or maybe changing the exhaust for a Mountune/Milltek/Cobra.
I insured the car with all mods declared through Adrian Flux a couple of months back, decent policy and very competitively-priced too. Hope I never need to claim on it though!
It went into Harrisons in Peebles for it's 3rd annual service earlier this week, plus 1st MOT. All went well, dropped the car off at 8:30am, jumped into one of their courtesy cars to get to work, their driver brought my car back to me at work mid-afternoon.
Really happy with the service, dunno if it's solely down to the spark plug change but the car is pulling more strongly.
MOT just threw up a couple of advisories, one for a tyre near the limit (which I knew about) and a comment about the 'product' on the headlights but 'not seriously reducing light output'.
Both front tyres were a baw hair away from the 2mm wear indicator so with winter most definitely being upon us (minus 6 in Scotland this morning!) I decided to get them replaced, which was done at Skidz in Falkirk yesterday - replaced like-for-like with Michelin Pilot Supersports 235/35/19's.
I was planning to put a set of tyres onto my standard 19" wheels and use them as my winter set but finances haven't worked out favourably in the last few months so looks like i'll be running the Momo wheels through winter.
Mileage is now nearly 24k and the car continues to be used every week day for commuting to and from work aong the M8, no plans to do anything special to or with it next year, I am not planning to sell/trade-in the RS either. Just enjoy driving and cleaning it.
However, the Ford warranty has now run out so if I unexpectedly find I have a few bob kicking about spare I might look at a power increase from Litchfield or Collins but I doubt it. Or maybe changing the exhaust for a Mountune/Milltek/Cobra.
I insured the car with all mods declared through Adrian Flux a couple of months back, decent policy and very competitively-priced too. Hope I never need to claim on it though!
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