Do Mk2 Facelift models have a problem, or is it just mine that destroys its sidelights quickly? My current Focus is my second one, the previous being an early Mk2. The one I have now is one of the later, facelifted Mk2s on a 10-plate, which I bought in the summer of 2021. When I got it, the front sidelamps were bout out, and when I removed the bulbs to fit new ones, they had gone completely silver so obviously no light had been getting through. 

The bulbs just needed replacing again to get the car through its MOT, they were working but having removed t hem, they were well on their way to being solid again. Is it normal that they onbly last this long, or do I need to be investigating a potential electrical problem?

 

Just poor quality bulbs, nothing more sinister 😧

You could always replace then with LED's or buy better lamps.

16 hours ago, unofix said:

Just poor quality bulbs, nothing more sinister 😧

You could always replace then with LED's or buy better lamps.

Yep, soon after I got my car 3 years ago, I swapped sidelights to GOOD quality LEDs, (not cheap Chinese Ebay ones). Still going strong... Yes, these are sidelights alone.

 

 

Have to be a bit careful upgrading the sidelights on Mk2.5.  The bulbs sit very close to the lens, so if you chose any that are hotter or longer, they can melt the lens in front and make it go cloudy.