Scarlett - My Fiesta Mk3

[Mrmark941]

Hi!

So, I'm FINALLY (after 7 months of having the car) getting round to creating a build log for my Fiesta. Now, I've done SO many mods over the last months (trial and error) that most of them haven't been included just because!

So heres the car when it was being stored for me by my garage at the MOT center, this was a couple of days before picking up. Me, being a 17 year old, couldn't get over it, and took about 15 pictures, I gathered only the one was needed for this!

The first thing I did to it was Debadge and took the 'Fiesta LX' badge off.

Before:

After:

I then added the famous 'Monster' badge to the petrol cap, it is still on there to this day! :P

When I picked it up it was Showing 51,000ish on the clock, all service history and some MOT's

I had added footwell lights (which are still in the car) but I barely use them and I don't have a good photo of them, but you know what footwell lights look like! ;)

I then didn't do much for a little while. During the the March/April bank holiday we had some god weather and had just picked up a carpet cleaner (with a hand extension) so I took out the seats and cleaned them....this is my car gutted.

I then got a surprise through the post (my FOC sticker) so I applied it the same say whilst waiting for the seats to dry, which wasn't actually as long as I thought. (I've edited the bottom sticker out as this was where I got the car from/work for)

Since then I have applied a sun strip on my car, I've got no pictures of it on the car but here it is,

Here comes the big one.... So, a few months back, I bought some Cossie/XR2i/Escort Mk4 14" alloys to go on my car.

I then had to find (the hardest part) and then order the wheel nuts and wait for them to be taken off of a breaking XR2i and posted.

Today I finally got round to fitting them, so off came the ugly steel rims (Don't worry I've kept the original hubcaps which came with the car!) and on went the beauty's

and from the side:

So heres my fiesta to date

Now I need some ideas what to do next to the car, I'm looking at investing in the XR2i Bumpers (with the fog-lights) and fit them.

Feedback is appreciated, as you can see I'm over the moon with my little Fiesta so please nothing too negative... I'll happily take constructive feedback though, it's always interesting to see what others think :)

If you have any ideas what I could do the car please let me know :)

Before anyone comments about it, yes I have notified the insurance of the alloy's! :)

[vince_13]

Wow this takes me baxk to when I had a mk3, a lil mod I did was to remove the speedo clocks and remove the green filter under the bulbs and then replace with whatever colour bulb you want I.e blue etc

[Boydo15]

WHEEL FRIEND!!! car looks ace mate, credit to you for keeping a MK3 on the road. One of these was my first experience with a fiesta

[Mrmark941]

Wow this takes me baxk to when I had a mk3, a lil mod I did was to remove the speedo clocks and remove the green filter under the bulbs and then replace with whatever colour bulb you want I.e blue etc

Aha thanks mate! That's a good idea! Sounds sweet! Small mod = big difference =)

WHEEL FRIEND!!! car looks ace mate, credit to you for keeping a MK3 on the road. One of these was my first experience with a fiesta

Wheel fwend! ;) Cheers! I try my best, service her often, treat her with respect and she does the same back :) I wouldn't say no to a Fiesta ever, if my Mk3 was to fail I'd get another and another, and another! I really want an XR2i but insurance just is a no no!

What is annoying though, and I wonder if either of you could help with this... I've noticed at full lock my wheels rub, apart from that it's fine! I've only gone an inch bigger so there should be no issue, the wheels were the stock 13" one's... Any ideas what I should/can do?

The tyres are 185/65/R14 I've heard about 'Low Profile' tyres but would these be needed in this circumstance?

Thanks again though you guys, any other small mods you reckon?

[Boydo15]

Aha thanks mate! That's a good idea! Sounds sweet! Small mod = big difference =)

Wheel fwend! ;) Cheers! I try my best, service her often, treat her with respect and she does the same back :) I wouldn't say no to a Fiesta ever, if my Mk3 was to fail I'd get another and another, and another! I really want an XR2i but insurance just is a no no!

What is annoying though, and I wonder if either of you could help with this... I've noticed at full lock my wheels rub, apart from that it's fine! I've only gone an inch bigger so there should be no issue, the wheels were the stock 13" one's... Any ideas what I should/can do?

The tyres are 185/65/R14 I've heard about 'Low Profile' tyres but would these be needed in this circumstance?

Thanks again though you guys, any other small mods you reckon?

Could be the offset of your wheels (the ET value) try adding a 3mm or 5mm spacer shim to help if needs be. Can be had from Halfords or from eBay if you want to be sensible with money haha.

[Preee]

Hi and welcome to the Forums

[Mrmark941]

Could be the offset of your wheels (the ET value) try adding a 3mm or 5mm spacer shim to help if needs be. Can be had from halfords or from eBay if you want to be sensible with money haha.

Yep, could do I suppose, just annoying aha, I thought you could go up to 3" bigger without these problems, I spoke to a mechanic and he said just pull the mud guards out, not sure if that's so sensible though aha!

Hi and welcome to the Forums

Thanks =)

[Aldoo]

looks good mate - miles better than a corsa most 17yr olds get! :D

..as for recommendations, would a proper machine polish get much results? cant tell the paint work from the pictures

[Mrmark941]

looks good mate - miles better than a corsa most 17yr olds get! :D

..as for recommendations, would a proper machine polish get much results? cant tell the paint work from the pictures

Thanks so much :) I instantly loved it when I saw it!

I need to get round to doing that if I'm honest, a couple of scratches to repair (on the bonnet) and and proper waxing. I've got a buffer I've been using it on test pieces to get used to is, my boss sort of showed me but before I do the whole car I want to make sure I'm not burning any paint! :)

You think the paint with withstand a good buff considering the age of the car?

[Boydo15]

Yep, could do I suppose, just annoying aha, I thought you could go up to 3" bigger without these problems, I spoke to a mechanic and he said just pull the mud guards out, not sure if that's so sensible though aha!

i pulled the mudguards off mine, but them i'm lowered 45mm and the curb into my old driveway was vicious and they caught all the time so i pre-empted them being ripped off haha

[Mrmark941]

i pulled the mudguards off mine, but them i'm lowered 45mm and the curb into my old driveway was vicious and they caught all the time so i pre-empted them being ripped off haha

Ah really? You reckon It's fine to do that? Won't be a MOT failure or anything? They're not important at all really then?

[Boydo15]

Ah really? You reckon It's fine to do that? Won't be a MOT failure or anything? They're not important at all really then?

Well I've not failed an mot without them. Just be sure to check behind the mudguards to see if the paint work is ok and it can get badly scratched.

Also the age you your paint shouldn't matter as long as the machine pad is kept damp/wet. Just take it carefully.

Hope this helps

[Mrmark941]

Well I've not failed an mot without them. Just be sure to check behind the mudguards to see if the paint work is ok and it can get badly scratched. Also the age you your paint shouldn't matter as long as the machine pad is kept damp/wet. Just take it carefully. Hope this helps

Sweet cheers for that man.

Another problem has arisen now though! I think my alternator is on the way out. My battery light is only very faint, looking at posts on the net it's the alternator, what would you think?

[vince_13]

sounds like it, check the tension on the belt first could be bit loose and not turning the alternator enough

[Mrmark941]

sounds like it, check the tension on the belt first could be bit loose and not turning the alternator enough

Going to take a look today to see what's going on with that.

Could be the offset of your wheels (the ET value) try adding a 3mm or 5mm spacer shim to help if needs be. Can be had from halfords or from eBay if you want to be sensible with money haha.

I've been looking into get some spacers but it's finding the right ones and where to start with them.

I've found some from Halfords - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_837821_langId_-1_categoryId_261895#tab3

But when I've looked at videos and stuff they look totally different!

Any ideas what I should do or do you think 9.5mm would be enough.

[Mrmark941]

So I've resolved this issue. Got some spaces (from Motorworld) and they work a treat.

Now I have ANOTHER issue :( When will they stop, But I guess it's due to the age of this car.

My passenger door will lock with the key but not unlock?! I've done some research online but cannot really find out what the issue is, only others writing about it. It's not too much of an issue but is annoying! Any ideas?

[vince_13]

i presume they aren't electric? if not id take the door card off and have a look inside the door at the barrel and make sure the rod that is on the end of the barrel moves with the rotation of the key,

either the rod doesn't move enough or its stuck, or the mechanism on the end of the barrel is nakered, mine did the same for the last 12 months i had it i couldn't use the door i had to unlock drivers reach in and unlock the passenger door,

you could replace the door barrels but then you would have a key for the doors and another key for ignition (and possibly another key for the boot if not the same as the doors)