Black Panther - My Focus Mk2(.25) Build Thread

[ScorpionSX]

Hi guys! So finally, I managed to get some pics together to create my own build thread for my Focus. I like to call it facelifted pre-facelift :) - as it's not completely Mk2, but not Mk2.5 either. To me, it's the look the Mk2 should have from beginning. But enough chit-chat, let's move to facts! :)

Tech specs:

VIN: REMOVED BY MOD.

05.09.2005

Focus 04-08/Focus C-MAX 03-07

5 Door Sedan

Series 15 / ZETEC

Lynx Diesel 1,8 TC(115 k) HPCR

5speed manual - MTX75

LHD FWD

Emision level IV

Maunal Airconditioning

(+)"SK"

Black Panther (met)

Police/ Dark Flint

first registrered: 15-12-2005

Speaking about tech specs, the engine is "classic" 1.8TDCi, with 85kW as standard, now re-mapped to "God-knows-how-many" kW :D - it's not measured yet, it's still in process of being tuned to fit my needs :) ... other than that, I fitted an EGR blanking plate and K&N air filter. Also, the car is lowered by Eibach springs for 30mm.

A bit of history first, this is how it all started, back in 2003, our trusty ol' Focus Mk1.5 1.6Duratec:

Still runing today, though was sold to someone in 2006-7 I think...

Back to the point of discussion, here's the car as it looked before anything was done to it:

Just a regular, everyday Focus, as seen million times before...

Over time we've been through a lot together:

...caused by too used winter tires, ice all over the road and covered by fresh layer of snow...luckily, insurance paid the whole thing and surprisingly, there wasn't that much damage, other than shown on pics...

Back to tweaking the car, March 2014, updating the multimedia:

...this stereo was later replaced by Android version, and later back with WinCE version and oval design

Next up, lighting:

DEPO headlights, with angel eyes for parking lights.

Sometimes, they're getting little foggy, currently they're ok, but I'm in process of upgrading them little bit, more on that later:

First upgrade to them was switching from the classic bulbs to LEDs:

Next, as mentioned before, I switched to oval stereo, at first silver with black frame:

this was also changed later on...

This summer, I decided to facelift the front a bit, but first, some chrome needs to be prepared:

...and this is how it looks on the car

...clearly missing the centre chrome grille...but we'll get to that :)

After going through few guides, I realized that my car is prepared for the rain/sensor, only the GEM needed to be changed:

changing it was really a no-brainer, thanks to fantastic support from guys from this (and one other) forums - thanks! ;)

And there's the sensor installed, along with electrochromatic (autodimming) rearview mirror:

...OEM-ish look thanks to some black tint...

Now the sensor switches between my DRL/fog combo and main lights:

Closer look to the interior:

...now with silver frame - actually a plastidip paint over the original black one :)

Look over the stereo:

...iPod playback, thanks to my ol' iPhone 3GS:

...also with 3G internet:

...and a rear view camera is a must:

That's about it with the current modifications...here's how the car looks now:

I have some stuff planned for future:

- Angel Eyes LED circle rings for DRLs are already on it's way, they are gonna dim when switched to parking lights...

- reseal the headlights while I'm on it

- I'm probably gonna do something with the car antenna, as the radio reception is a bit poor and I already needed to change the antenna on the roof, as the old one practically stopped holding on to the base...

- maybe fix the paint job on the rear doors, it's all scratched from gravel on the winter streets...

- next summer I'm probably gonna replace the brakes, they don't need to be replaced yet, but it's been ages since the last time I did it, so...just to be sure :)

And probably I'm gonna figure out something else, I just didn't thought about it :D

So this is it guys, let's hear it from you now :)

[Dan P]

Nice work - I look forward to seeing what else you do!

I was reading about your auto wipers in another thread - it sounds like it needed some perseverance to get done.

Those rear lights look really smart against the black bodywork.

Is it a Mk2.5 front bumper and spoiler?

[ScorpionSX]

Thanks! ;)

Oh yeah, the sensor seemed as pretty easy job at first, but turned to bit of a pain in the a**, though it was partly my fault, that I didn't do my research properly...but now it's all done and working like a charm :)

Front bumper is from cabrio model - Mk2. I has similar "curves" as the Mk2.5, but it's still Mk2. That's the "facelifted pre-facelift" part :D

Rear lights are pretty neat, one of my favourite mods, not very expensive and the effect is pretty big :) ... they also make them in "chrome", but I thought they would "shine" too much on the back...now they go nicely with my front lights - also dark :)

[ScorpionSX]

Little update, winter tyres are on, looks kinda small, though they are only 1" smaller :D ... I just got used to the larger rims I guess :)

Also, I changed the front lights back to stock ones, angel eyes are currently home, ready to be disassembled and upgraded to LED DRLs :)

[ScorpionSX]

Not many updates going on with the car currently, but finally I got the clutch fixed, together with DMF, and also the exhaust - but nothing fancy, just the standard one. 

Also, I exchanged the stereo for another chinese one, hopefully this will be the last time as I'm pretty satisfied with this one and I finally got myself to put some LEDs to footwell lights and finished the wiring on them.

And, yesterday, I washed the exterior completely and waxed it with turtlewax. Ready for the season :)

  

[ScorpionSX]

Hi guys (and gals), it's been quite some time since I posted some new updates on the car (found my topic on the 4th page, lol!), so here's something new that's happened over the last few months:

- regular oil and filters change

- timing belt change (after 10 years in my case, since I don't have the 160k kilometers driven yet) - no complications, didn't even need to change the water pump

- auxiliary belt change - this, however, didn't go so well, I had to get it done twice, first one got torn apart because one of the pulleys got loose and I ended up changing the belt again and two pulleys...luckily I guess, because this could easily went much worse...

- finally, I got all my engine and transmission mounts changed - finally silence in the car! ...it's amazing how many noises were actually caused by bad and worn out mounts...I definitelly recommend doing this for everyone, and even sooner than I did, not after 10 years...

- also, I finally got my windscreen replaced, I had a minor crack there for few years (passed at least 2-3 MOT checks with it), but about a month ago I got a bigger one right under my rearview mirror, so I decided to use my extra insurance for the windwscreen and got it replaced. Now it has original sensor mount, so it looks as it's supposed to with sensor - see pics below

- thing I thought I will never get no.1 - got my windows tinted...rear sides and trunk have 15% visibility (could have gone with 5%, I don't see anything in the dark anyway, even now), front sides are only UV, as it's illegal here in Slovakia to have dark tints on front windows, it still has some veeeery light tint, but it's certified to use, so it's ok :)

- thing I thought I will never get no.2 - I switched my turn signals to my wing mirrors, I had a rebuild set bought since forever, but I was afraid of the cabling I had to go through, but I had nothing to do last weekend, so I decided to do this little mod...I think it went very well, only piece of wire that's visible is on the drivers' side, but I will put some tape over it, so it will be fine...also see pics below for details :)

 

Before tints, turn signals and windscreen:

After tints, turn signals and new windscreen:

Detail on the new turn signals and cover on the old ones:

Turn signals wire on the passenger side (not very visible, but it's there):

And on the drivers' side, there you can see I cut the isolating tape a bit too much:ň

 

Basically that is it for now, currently I don't have many plans for the future, maybe if I go completely crazy, I will transform the windows to all-electric , but other than that, I think the car is "done". Oh, and I'm still thinking about getting spacers under my wheels, to make them a bit wider, so there's that too...

Mechanically-wise, I only need to fix the rear brake calipers, as I have to put some brake fluid once in like 6 months, which is "nothing" now, but I'd like to get it done sometime before winter. 

So I guess that's it for now :)

[ScorpionSX]

Just a small update, winter tires are on again, so changing from 17" to 16" again, but, this time it's much better than before, I also installed the wheel spacers on the front and the back. Front has now 20+20mm and back is now 25+25mm wider. Looks awesome! Literally the best mod I could have done! Forget all the spoilers, wings, bumpers, etc...if the car has wheels so deep inside as the mk2, it just needs to get wider. And since I like the OEM looks, I didn't want to put on aftermarket wheels, so spacers are the way to go. Now, enough words, here are the pictures! (I only put on "after" pics, "before" ones are up on top)

[ScorpionSX]

Wow, 6th page in the build threads! :D Looks like it's been some time since the last update, lol :D

Aaaanyway, here's what's new :)

1. Finally got myself to do the boot light upgrade, so now I can actually see something there in the evening/night :D

 

2. While doing the lighting upgrade, I also decided to put in the rear interior light, I found a good looking one, also with map lights for the rear, so why not :) 

 

3. I "upgraded" my stereo back to the first one that I had some time ago, but that one wasn't oval, so I needed to change the trim and I found this "light carbon" one for sale, so I got it :) It's an OEM version, so no worries about tint removing, etc. :)

 

4. Aaaaand back to lighting again, during the winter I decided to upgrade my headlight a little bit, so I split them apart and put in new angel eyes LED halos with switchback function. Also, during this upgrade, I bought a turn signal LED bulb with switchback function, that's been used alongside with the halos for parking lights. The halos have their own controller, so no power without key in, but the turn signal LED is connected to the original parking light wire, so it's on in the "P" position on headlight switch. Halos are bright enought to be used as DRL, as demonstrated on one of the pics below, it's during a direct sunlight right to the car and you can still see how bright they are. Together with this, I also put H7 LED Bulbs into my projectors, they are 36W, 6000K, so far only in testing phase, I'll see how they will perform. But I like them so far :)

 

Next on the plan is to finally change the brake pads/rotors, as the stopping power is getting veeery below awerage, next to that, I recently purchased parts to change the door windows to OEM all 4 electric windows system, so I'll be doing that in few weeks/months and maybe, but very big maybe, I will change the climate control to OEM dual zone climate. That's very much depending on the prize of the parts. Luckily, the car runs perfectly, I'm doing just the regular oil/filter changes, so I decided to keep it at least for few more years. No reason to upgrade now :)

[zain611]

I like those halo lights which work as both DRL and indicators. I have halo lights like that on the fog lights of my fiesta. Good thing also you changed the boot lights. I don't get why manufacturers be cheap and add just one light in which hardly lights up much. On my car I put an extra bulb holder on the opposite side and fitted LEDs. 

[ScorpionSX]

Yeah, I don't get it with the boot light either 

I saw your halos, I wanted to get similar as you have (only different size), but they wouldn't fit to the original halo ring place, as they are a bit wider. So I went with these, I found a seller on Aliexpress which allows you to combine the size as you need, so I didn't have to buy 4 rings from each size (they are 100 and 106mm in diameter).

[b4zz]

loving the updates and rear interior light

[yunii]

Great build mate. Like you 6th page. Soon like me 933 pages. Although a bit to catch up but will get there.
Yunii

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[ScorpionSX]

Wow, so it's been quite a while since I posted some update here, so lets get to it, shall we? 🙂 

As mentioned before, I got a set of internals for the conversion to 4-electric windows system and so with a help of a friend, I retrofited this sometime last year. Don't really have a picture, they are windows...you know...they look the same as before 😄 

 

Next, I found cheap rear tweeters from Mondeo (I think), so I put these in as well, it may be a placebo effect, but the sound is improved a bit:

huh, I guess there you can also see the rear window control upgraded 😉

 

Next on the list are the original AFS lights. For those who don't know what that is, they are projectors that turn based on the turning of the steering wheel, so you go left, headlights turn left and vice versa. Very good upgrade for night time driving and much better in combination with some good LED "bulbs". Much better than xenons I think, but also much harder to get all the parts. 

 

Next is cruise control. This was on my list for some time, but I never got to it, since I don't usually drive that long distances to appreciate it fully, but finally got to it anyway. I have the 3-spoke wheel, so the original buttons are not an option for me. I went with the next best thing, which is the stereo control stalk. This is completely from China, but it's an OEM part only with added buttons. 

 

Halfway through the list of upgrades now 🙂 ... next are the mirrors. Since I already had the door modules for the all-4-electric windows, it was much easier to retrofit puddle lights and finally plug in the turn signals properly. I didn't go with the folding, since on the pre-facelift mirrors they fold like 2-3cm, which doesn't make any sense and I don't like the shape of the facelifted mirrors, so I stayed with what I had. Found some nice ones with puddle lights and swapped them. I like this upgrade very much, in the night it's much better look than just the angel eyes that turned on before on unlocking the car, because this lights both sides of the car fully with the high power LEDs that I put in. 

 

Back in the interior, the most recent updates are for the instrument cluster and the stereo (and backup cam). Few days ago I fitted the facelifted IC, this was also very low on my list, because I didn't like the red backlight that much (but starting to like it actually 😄 ), but it became basically mandatory with my stereo going out of service. As you know, on the Mk2 Focus, the time is only displayed on the stereo, and when it broke, I didn't have any idea what time it is when driving the car (I don't always wear watch and I don't want to look at my phone) - I'm just used to, after 12 years of driving this car, to look somewhere in the centre console and see the time. Now I have to look on the IC, but the time is there and that is good. And I also had to replace my backup cam, after 2 years it just stopped working (I think maybe water damage), so I went with the "fisheye" version, which is...fine. When it breaks I'm probably going back to the regular type. And today I also got a new stereo, which goes nicely with the "fine" theme of the backup cam, advertised with a bit more functionality than received, I have to manage to get some upgrade from the manufacturer. And, I also ordered the black version and got a silver one, so there's that too...ehm...

 

And one last upgrade, this time on the outside, the rear "smoked" aftermarked LED lamps were replaced with OEM Ford LED lamps (you know, the ones from Titanium/ST/RS), which is a nice change for me, I wanted to change the look of the rear a bit, it was too dark I guess.

 

 

 

Soo that's it for now I think, I'm probably not really done with the car, I'll see what comes next, I'm slowly collecting some parts for dual zone AC and also heated seats should be nice 🙂 

 

Thanks for reading, like, comment, subscribe, and I'll see you later 😉 

[zain611]

You've done some really nice mods 👍. I'd say that's OEM+ which is the way I like to mod my car. 

[ScorpionSX]

Thanks. Yeah, I’m trying to stay OEM as much as it makes sense. I was thinking also going with Ford stereo, but functionality-wise, the china one is a better choice. 

But aside from that, I think most of the stuff is just taking what was OEM and making it the best version possible. 

[Dave sport tdci]

Have you had it on a rolling road after the re map also any other engine mods ?

I have same 1.8 tdci and would like a remap

nice job on the car looks good

[ScorpionSX]

I didn’t but all was fine, though it ruined the clutch quite fast at that point...but it was worn pretty bad at that time already. Got it replaced soon after that. Now I got the remap out and I’m running with stock map, only with K&N and that’s absolutely no problem. 

With a “standard” remap, there should be around 140-145 horses, but I still have to try it, I just didn’t have the time yet 😕 

[yunii]

Hi mate ,in your build you have or had audio stalk you got from China with res which I believe is for cruise control , does this feature work from that stalk ?

I have the voice stalk which control audio plus bluetooth . the cruise controls are on steering wheel .
yunii


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[Stoney871]

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[ScorpionSX]

Not a dead thread, I just don't have much time to post the updates 🙂

@yunii Yes, I have the stalk with cruise controls. It's integrated with the radio controls, so basically there are 5 more buttons added to it. It works just like the buttons on the steering wheel, it has the same functions. It can be connected to the factory wiring, either instead of the factory buttons, or as a new install - the wiring is usually already there.

If you have Voice on the stalk, you have to decide if you want to keep it, or have the cruise controls. As far as I know there isn't an option with both - you would probably have to build one stalk by yourself. 

[Solis]

Shall I revive your thread again? 🙃

@ScorpionSX I basically have the same car as your, 2007 5-doors with the 2,0L petrol engine. I really dig the CC bumper conversion that you've done on yours, always wanted to do that myself too! 

Could you give me any pointers into what I really need to be able to mount the bumper? I have seen your comment in another thread talking about the required spacers (1497321, 1497322 & 1497323) seen below:

If I however search up those part numbers they come up fitting all models of Focus Mk2, are you positive they are different on the CC than on the standard bumper? (They are ***** expensive 😞)

Thanks!

[Solis]

 

Did some more digging around and found out they are indeed very different. So I should get those as well as the bumper itself, the foglight (surrounds) and the triangle support bits. Might be more expensive than I thought.

[ScorpionSX]

Hi there @Solis, sorry for the late reply 🙂 ... I'm still here, car is still alive, just not posting very often 🙂

But to your question - yes, those 3 plastic pieces are required. Otherwise you would have a gap between the bottom engine cover and the bumper. You can of course tie the bumper to the cover with lets say some of those plastic ties, but that creates a tension in the bumper which it's not really meant for. So lets say if you would scratch something with the bottom of the bumper, you could crack it much easily than if there wasn't any tension in that area. 

I know it is expensive, but if you don't want to pay the full price at Ford, you can ask some breakers if they don't have any CCs around, they have that plastics there too, you can get them (hopefully) cheaper. I did go to Ford, I didn't have the nerves to explain to every breaker what exactly is that what I need, lol 😄 (they all thought I'm talking about the whole bottom engine cover).

 

With those triangle pieces around the back of the foglights it's better, you absolutely don't need those and to this day I don't have them. It's also part of the "support" for the bumper, but when you would hit something, the bumper breaks either way, this will not help it in any case 😄 

And yes, of course you need the front foglight surrounds, but that's obvious - it's a different shape than regular ones. Those are very cheap and you can get them from aftermarket manufacturers for like 5€ a piece.