Discussion
Didn't bother with a thread for my M135i as never really planned to do anything with it, it is a blue 2016 5 door, I stuck a tuning box on it and washed it.
Have had it three years and it goes very well but thought its a great car, does everything pretty well its just never really struck me as the drivers car I was expecting. Was planning and saving to replace it with an M4 but my eldest decided he was selling his ST and wanted something else. I lent him the cash so he didn't have to sell the ST before he could buy his Golf so I now own a Fiesta ST.
The idea was he goes back to Scotland where he lives and I have a Fiesta ST to flog, at that point I get my cash back and it goes back in the M4 fund.
I woke up one morning and though, why not keep them both ? Which is a ludicrous situation as I do very few miles now I work from home and being afflicted with liking 2 wheels without an engine, I do more miles on a bicycle than I ever do in a car, so two cars is an extravagance. In fact it would be three cars with my wifes and we are about to buy one for my youngest to use, plus the eldest regularly comes home so it would be five.
So, I have made the decision to move the BMW on, no point keeping it costing money in tax, insurance and depreciation, plus the M4 can wait as have always pinched the keys for the Fiesta to go for a blast, it just feels a whole lot more alive than the BMW, partly down to being a manual. The auto box in the BMW is superb, but for the driving I do, its wasted. My thinking is if I regret it, there is no shortage of them and I wanted an M4 anyway.
But, couldn't pass up having this wee beastie for a while. Its a 2015 Race Red ST2 in pretty decent condition on 33k miles, standard except for a Mountune exhaust and Mountune Springs. Its got brand new Michelins on the front, just had an oil change but needs a brake fluid change and possibly rear disks and pads.
However, its not quick enough as standard, not dog slow, its adequate most of the time but it feels held back and runs out of puff at the top end, like it has way more to give and the capability in the rest of it to handle it.
Not going to change how it looks, they are a bit lairy and embarrassing enough when you are 50 like me anyway but I don't care, had barges in my twenties and this is the reverse, I don't care really as long as its fun.
Its booked in with Collins Performance in Congleton on the 19th of May which is 12 miles from where I live so that's who gets the job, other tuners seem to muster bigger figures but Collins have a superb reputation for providing excellent packages that work well on the road and not just peak numbers.
Key thing is to just give it a bit more and remove that feeling of being held back. I reckon as standard I can probably make similar progress than in the M135i just as it inspires so much confidence, Remember following a Mountune badged one in my 350Z and was struggling to keep up down country roads.
To start with, Its having the CP2E package, which is about £1100 and consists of an intake, remap and intercooler, the E bit stands for "Enhanced" which adds a new turbo wastegate actuator which gives better boost control and produces and holds power better. They reckon 240 ish bhp which should be perky enough in a car weighing less than 1100 kilos. I am going to option the bigger intercooler, the packages includes their stage 1 Airtek intercooler, to futureproof it I will get them to add the bigger stage 3 one to future proof things in case I decide to take it further.
There are options for up to about 360 bhp on these on standard engine internals, but I want to try it with 240 bhp first, it may well be enough for me and its easy to ruin a car with too much power and create something less satisfying. But, will possibly go for a bigger turbo set up if I get bored and god knows what other goodies will arrive in the post.
I fancy doing a track day or two, would be more confident in this as its worth less and has more feedback.
Will post some more pictures when I get them but its an entirely unremarkable looking Fiesta ST and I intend to keep it like that, but will add my thoughts on the upgrades and the general ownership, might be a long and happy one, or I may scuttle off and buy an M4 after a couple of months.
Cheers All !
Its quite liberating realising something like this is actually so enjoyable, can see how an MX5 is and have pondered that but there wasn't one sat outside that I now "owned".
I feel the need to mess with it as after much more powerful cars, it just needs a little bit more to spice it up, not after big numbers or Dragy times as there are much more effective ways to do that if thats your thing, such as the M135i but just want a fun car, one that after a blast you want to pat when you get out
Just got a new road bike myself, a Trek Domane SL5, was out on it last night, not the lightest but oh so comfy and I like the isospeed "suspension", initially wasnt that enamored with disk brakes but did a full stop from 35 mph last night and oh my god its like dropping an anchor. And the internal storage is rather nice as well. Not the pointiest, fastest, raciest bike but suits me.
Its quite liberating realising something like this is actually so enjoyable, can see how an MX5 is and have pondered that but there wasn't one sat outside that I now "owned".
I feel the need to mess with it as after much more powerful cars, it just needs a little bit more to spice it up, not after big numbers or Dragy times as there are much more effective ways to do that if thats your thing, such as the M135i but just want a fun car, one that after a blast you want to pat when you get out
Just got a new road bike myself, a Trek Domane SL5, was out on it last night, not the lightest but oh so comfy and I like the isospeed "suspension", initially wasnt that enamored with disk brakes but did a full stop from 35 mph last night and oh my god its like dropping an anchor. And the internal storage is rather nice as well. Not the pointiest, fastest, raciest bike but suits me.
mooseracer said:
Checking in to the PH 50 year old ST owners club. Although I've just sold it actually! As I think I said, replaced with a 140.
CP Stage 2 power wise + supporting suspension (shocks, springs and bushes). It was nigh on perfect for the road.
Not actually driven it since I got it, its blocked in and getting lavishly dumped on by the local Pigeons, am just giving a it a good clean first, will have a move around tomorrow and one less car.
cerb4.5lee said:
I really like it in that colour Mark. 
I think you will have a lot of fun it for sure(I fell for my Cooper S because it was loads of fun).
Look forward to hearing how you get on with it, enjoy it.
Cheers, already know I like it, been rattling on about it for ages I think you will have a lot of fun it for sure(I fell for my Cooper S because it was loads of fun).
Look forward to hearing how you get on with it, enjoy it.
Just couldn't bring myself to sell it, need to scratch the itch. Fancier stuff can wait.
They are kind of enough if you know what I mean, they are fairly well built and dont feel like a flimsy budget hot hatch of old, the fact the engine puts up with so much is impressive and they dont rust like Fords of old is good.
Very much a hot hatch in the old school style though, fairly light, front wheel drive, manual and great fun.
Its looking very smart after an afternoon of cleaning, despite the Wood Pigeon squadron that seem to be bombing it on an hourly basis, those bloody things must excrete their body weight in a 24 hour period. Will finish it off tomorrow morning then thats done, Race Red is a really bright red and the paint finish is leagues ahead of the M135i. Will finish the machine polish and then apply a coat of Colonite. Will give the seat centres a wet vac, not filthy but could be cleaner.
Need to change the brake fluid, went to the car spares shop but wasn't sure whether what they had was suitable, any suggestions on what to get ?
OppoLocksmith said:
5 years and 70k on mine with the Collins CP2 map it hasn't missed a beat with regular servicing. Honestly not sure what I'd change to as it does everything I need.
I do think the suspension would benefit from a refresh - has anyone changed the rear beam bushes and was it worthwhile?
Thats good to hear.I do think the suspension would benefit from a refresh - has anyone changed the rear beam bushes and was it worthwhile?
Just been out in it, was worried I would have an "Oh my god what have I done moment" but it didnt come, not actually done anything yet and still have the BMW. Will sell the BMW once my son has done his test on the 6th of May, dont want to upset the apple cart selling it and changing his practice car for something unfamiliar. Will wait for that and regardless of the result, will sell it and procure a more suitable auto (he is doing an auto test)
Really do like the ST, you feel more connected and to be honest I didnt feel it lacked performance even as standard today, it pulls very nicely so like Kaveney says, reckon the 240 ish should be plenty.
Oebviously doesnt sound as nice as the BMW, but am hoping the induction kit adds a bit more noise, but its always going to lose against a six pot.
The Dirty Pigeons got at it again last night though, I can feel their beady little eyes on me when I am cleaning it, I get intimidated by them...
Todays jobs involve shampooing the interior, further polishing, glass clean, bit of under bonnet cleaning, wheels and glass. Will check the tyre pressures as think they are a bit uneven.
Will make a list of things to order s well, first one being brake fluid.
It should be cheap to run as well, £150 tax I think, insurance was £180 ish and its telling me its doing nearly 40 mpg. Also, not overly worried about it at 8 grand, would be a bit paranoid with all that money tied up in an M4.
Spending some on mods I wont get back isnt cheap but it isnt exactly depreciating, and its nice that unlike a six year old quick Ford of the fast the rust isnt consuming it. The paint its really goo, when polished in sunlight it is such a bright red, couple of little touch ups to do.
cerb4.5lee said:
J4CKO said:
Spending some on mods I wont get back
What I like about modding a car(whether cosmetic or performance related) is that "you" get the benefit from it. You never get the money back(I think I ended up spending about £400 dechroming the Mini and I sold it on as is) but I got pleasure from it because I felt that it looked better. It was the same with my 200SX and I spent around £800 on that to take it from 200bhp to around 250bhp, but the pleasure I got back from it was immense and well worth it I thought.
I reckon that your ST with around 240bhp will be an absolute riot for sure.
Have always wanted to just take a car in and get it tuned properly rather than just bits here and there, could send it in and take it to 300 plus but think its sometimes about the journey rather than the destination, been following Kaveneys build diary for a while and he has made considered purchases that have by and large added to the cars function on track.
Anyway, need to crack on with the shampooing ! I have a PC in my garage, my happy place, beer, internet, polish and tools
t I have to deal with !
hepy]4CKO said:
.
The Dirty Pigeons
...Parklife!
Yep, no turds today, but have plonked the M135i in the hotseat.The Dirty Pigeons
...Parklife!
Took it out yesterday evening and gave it some stick, dont think I would go any quicker in the BMW to be honest and not have as much fun. The M135i is ace but this just hits the spot better, not for everyone but for me its like coming home.
Everyone moans hot hatches have got too big, complicated and automatic, but you can get one of these from five grand up, then pay 20 grand for an 80s hatch when this is a sweet spot in so many ways.
Not perfect, bit jiggly, but its a miles better car than 80s/90s stuff in most ways whilst having a good dollop of that feel, not "premium" but who cares.
MC Bodge said:
HazzaT said:
MC Bodge said:
I've driven the 100ps & 125ps in the Focus. I was thinking more about the chassis- ride and handling, in the Zetec/S versions.
I had a Fiesta Metal which was the 'warm' prefacelift car with a ~135bhp NA 1.6. It was a really good car to thrash about, but was a pretty firm ride and the steering let it down for me. Fords typically have had good steering in my experience, especially pre epas, but even on later models
MC Bodge said:
J4CKO said:
We have a 2014 Ecoboost with a 140 bhp remap and its a great car, not that far behind a standard ST, a bit floaty in comparison but will settle down and handle really well when you lean on it. For most folk its a lot easier to live with than an ST having 5 doors, normal seats and a much more comfy ride.
Cheers. I can see us getting an Ecoboost Fiesta when the current "classic" one expires (if it ever does!).She wasnt keen on going in the ST as it is "too jiggly" but she bloody loves her bog spec Ecoboost one and I have to agree that its a decent car. When we bought it they had that and a 125 BHP Titatium and it was 2 grand dearer, she wasn't bothered about the spec, just that she thought that the performance wasn't quite enough in the 100 bhp one so I said it could be remapped to provide the extra grunt she required and we ordered the Superchips Bluefin which has been on it for five years. She normally isnt impressed with stuff like that or says she cant tell the difference but was uncharacteristically positive about the change it made.
She has no plans to change it, she grew up around posh cars, classics and whatever and really isnt interested in anything beyond her Fiesta, she could go out and get a new Mustang which she has a thing for but quite happy in the Fiesta, you could do a lot worse. Just make sure its been well maintained, plenty of oil changes as the fibre belt runs in oil and it can shed into the oil and block the strainer.
MC Bodge said:
J4CKO said:
I drove ours the other day to take my wife to a romantic meal at the Macclesfield McDonalds
She wasnt keen on going in the ST as it is "too jiggly"
Classy. An ST might have been the ideal transport for sucha a venue She wasnt keen on going in the ST as it is "too jiggly"
"too jiggly" wouldn't go down well and wouldn't suit carting the family about with exuberance.
Got stuck in traffic today, first time i have missed the BMW with its lovely slush o matic but the clutch isn't heavy, resolved to avoid languishing in bed and hitting the school run, or go on my bike and pedal past the gridlock on the rare days in the office.
Definitely not really a family car really, certainly not in 3 door form, possibly in the rare 5 door variant but think the ride would be a bit much, sure people do use them like that but plenty of better options, not least a normal Fiesta with more ride comfort.
First modification this weekend, eBay special Short Shifter,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193716905377
Seems really well made and finished to be fair.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193716905377
Seems really well made and finished to be fair.
HazzaT said:
If you're after ideas I got Eibach Redlines, a Milltek exhaust and a Revo dog bone mount fitted at the start of the week! The dog bone mount is a very good 'small' mod that makes a huge difference in terms of the quality of the gear change for moderately more NVH. This is the Mk8 though, so the three pot will be a bit more vibey than the old 4cyl
Its on the list the dogbone, seems a common upgrade on the Mk7, mines in bits on the path now and of course its pissing down, and will be the rest of the week so dont fancy messing with it trying to get the short shifter to fit in the rain. Plus am working supporting an upgrade so screwed this weekend, will take some time in lieu next week and set to on it. Its a fiddly job and the sodding thing wont clamp round the shifter arm.No plans to get wet doing it and my half a garage isnt even big enough for a Fiesta.
Got the Short Shifter on after work, for £30 its a worthwhile improvement, its a pretty good gearchange anyway but this takes it up a notch or two.
Bit fiddly to fit but was mainly me making a meal of it.
Roll on next Wednesday when it goes into Collins. Always wanted to do that, i.e. take my car in to be tuned rather than me farting about, going to drop it off and go far a walk to McDonalds for a Sausage and Egg McMuffin, visit my uncle who lives locally, maybe do some shopping and then go and collect it. Ladies would call it a "Pamper Day"
Will discuss options to take it further when I am there, kind of thinking just go for their Stage 5 but am getting ahead of myself.
Bit fiddly to fit but was mainly me making a meal of it.
Roll on next Wednesday when it goes into Collins. Always wanted to do that, i.e. take my car in to be tuned rather than me farting about, going to drop it off and go far a walk to McDonalds for a Sausage and Egg McMuffin, visit my uncle who lives locally, maybe do some shopping and then go and collect it. Ladies would call it a "Pamper Day"
Will discuss options to take it further when I am there, kind of thinking just go for their Stage 5 but am getting ahead of myself.
dragonflyjade said:
I've Powerflex bushed my MP215 ST2 right through. Overall, the car feels alot more taught. Not has raw has my previous EP3 but feels more focussed.
I feel that most of the rear axle playfulness was removed upon lowering. It was expected but not to the degree. It is something that I do miss. However, the grip provided in fast bends is very good - composed and settled.
Once the car is flowing on a decent road, it is a joy to drive. Eight years of ownership and I'm going to struggle to get a similar replacement.
In my opinion, a hot hatch should be an affordable granny-base-model hatch with the engineering built into it. Keep it around £20,000, accounting for inflation, and driving it should be a happy and simple experience with no distractions from infotainment or multiple driving settings.
Yeah, we have another Fiesta and you can feel that the basic package is sound, impressive car really as they are light, fairly good in terms of crashworthiness, enough tech but keep a foot in the hot hatch past/original recipe, before they got a bit Elvis mid seventies, all spangly suits and a bit heavy.I feel that most of the rear axle playfulness was removed upon lowering. It was expected but not to the degree. It is something that I do miss. However, the grip provided in fast bends is very good - composed and settled.
Once the car is flowing on a decent road, it is a joy to drive. Eight years of ownership and I'm going to struggle to get a similar replacement.
In my opinion, a hot hatch should be an affordable granny-base-model hatch with the engineering built into it. Keep it around £20,000, accounting for inflation, and driving it should be a happy and simple experience with no distractions from infotainment or multiple driving settings.
Whats it like putting the bushes in, big job ?
Hmm, think I will get the back engine mount done whilst its in as well as the CP2E.
Dont want to spend too much, too quickly just for the sake of it, will get the engine mods done and live with it for a bit but summers coming and the thought of drilling bushes out sounds tempting...
Will do a bit of reading on how to do them and whats needed rather than just piling in, maybe get some arms and refurbish them for example, put the new bushes in and just swap them over so the car isnt out of action, that kind of thing.
Also, will need to change insurers, as Admiral were getting a bit funny about number of mods so a specialist insurer may be more appropriate.
And, going to add to the security next week, not putting all this effort in and leaving it easy to nick, done the usual but adding a few improvements.
Dont want to spend too much, too quickly just for the sake of it, will get the engine mods done and live with it for a bit but summers coming and the thought of drilling bushes out sounds tempting...
Will do a bit of reading on how to do them and whats needed rather than just piling in, maybe get some arms and refurbish them for example, put the new bushes in and just swap them over so the car isnt out of action, that kind of thing.
Also, will need to change insurers, as Admiral were getting a bit funny about number of mods so a specialist insurer may be more appropriate.
And, going to add to the security next week, not putting all this effort in and leaving it easy to nick, done the usual but adding a few improvements.
Yeah, I have a good budget having sold the BMW and bought this from my M4 fund, but its easy to get like you got a load of credits in Gran Turismo or Forza.
I will see what its like at circa 240 bhp, may well be enough, might not quite grab me or I might have a rush of blood to my head and go for the top package.
But I agree on handling and brakes, will do the brake fluid this weekend as not sure when it was done, cost £10 and clean around under the wheelarches, clean the inside of the wheels, assess the condition of the brakes and decided what to do pad and disk wise, plenty of life in the pads but the disks have a bit of a lip. That can wait a little while until I decided on what to go with.
Will have a look at the bushes, drop links etc, touch up a few chips and generally fettle it further, oh and might even drive it a bit. I feel a bit guilty as feel like should get my fat arse out on the bike, can do that as well I guess.
The window cleaner was admiring it today, he showed me photos of his tuned Mk2 ST, my mother in law couldnt understand why I would trade a BMW in for a Ford.
I will see what its like at circa 240 bhp, may well be enough, might not quite grab me or I might have a rush of blood to my head and go for the top package.
But I agree on handling and brakes, will do the brake fluid this weekend as not sure when it was done, cost £10 and clean around under the wheelarches, clean the inside of the wheels, assess the condition of the brakes and decided what to do pad and disk wise, plenty of life in the pads but the disks have a bit of a lip. That can wait a little while until I decided on what to go with.
Will have a look at the bushes, drop links etc, touch up a few chips and generally fettle it further, oh and might even drive it a bit. I feel a bit guilty as feel like should get my fat arse out on the bike, can do that as well I guess.
The window cleaner was admiring it today, he showed me photos of his tuned Mk2 ST, my mother in law couldnt understand why I would trade a BMW in for a Ford.
Hmm, my son came back from Scotland and has nicked (his) my car !
And, people want to race you, a 66 plate Polo GTI, didn't bother with that, but then had a McLaren something or other appear behind me, moved over and let him through then attached myself to his bumper, as much as you can when you are giving away 400 bhp
And, people want to race you, a 66 plate Polo GTI, didn't bother with that, but then had a McLaren something or other appear behind me, moved over and let him through then attached myself to his bumper, as much as you can when you are giving away 400 bhp
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