Guide: Fitting Ford Rs Led Rear Light Units Focus Mk2.5

[Lenny]

Hi all, I have recently purchased some upgrade l.e.d tail light units from ford. Took 4 weeks to arrive as ford didn't have them in stock, this is very true as the manufacture date on the units is dated 8 days after my placement of order last month.

Guide now available in PDF Format see link:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/62561-guide-fitting-ford-rs-led-rear-light-units-focus-mk25-pdf/

Tools Required:

1 x Philips head screwdriver

1 x socket driver

1 x Torx T25 Screw driver bit

so in the big box we find two smaller box's with ford fitting instructions, These units are very light weight at only 2.4kg including packaging.

Ford instructions are not very helpfull as you can see below lol

So let's see what's inside the inner box's

To my surprise they are supplied with bulbs, But I don't like the fried egg effect of the indicator bulbs so I'm immediately fitting some silvatec BA++ offset bulbs.

Before:

After:

Much better :)

As above images only opposite side,

If purchasing these from a breakers or ebay; you can strike lucky and pick up a bargin as some sellers are not aware of the l.e.d units value. Such as this seller: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Focus-ST-3-59-reg-3-door-O-S-rear-light-drivers-side-rear-offside-gen-ford-/221224879856? pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item338207c6f0

Notice the difference in the lens; the ford l.e.d unit has straight lines etched on the lens. The standard dual filament bulb units have a diamond etched lens.

[Lenny]

Now for fitting:

open the boot compartment and remove the parcel shelf,

Store the parcel shelf in an elevated area where it is not liable to be stood on while you are working on the car.

Then choose a side of the car that you wish to change first.

I chose the passenger side.

Using the Torx screwdriver undo the two screws supporting the side panel,

I recommend getting a cup or as I have used in guides before; an empty drinks bottle to store all removed screws while operating on the car,

Once the 2 side panel screws have been removed,

Put hand on inside of panel and gently pull towards the opposite side of the car.

Please Note: you will not require to remove the panel,

Just gently part it to allow your hand to fit in the rear and your other hand from underneath to unclip the connection between the tail light unit and car loom.

This much of seperation is sufficent.

Next step is to reach inside.

Insert left hand through rear of panel

Insert right hand under panel.

Use the square cut outs in the under side of the panel to look through and see the connection plug&socket you require to unplug.

push the top leaf clip in towards the plug connection and gently pull while gripping the socket section in your right hand.

They should easily seperate.

Next step is to unscrew the tail light unit from the car.

Using a Philips head (Star) Screwdriver; remove the two screws on the inside section of the tail light unit.

Again I recommend storing these screws in a safe place for later returning to the car.

When both screws have been removed.

Grip the tail light unit with both hands and pull upwards.

The unit may seem stiff but this is because the unit is still attached to the car via 2 steel ball point pins.

You need to pull upwards to release the unit from the sockets.

When lifted the unit will become detached in to your hands.

Take care at this point not to allow the unit scratch your car.

While holding the light unit,

It is required to unplug the rubber grommet beneath the light unit.

I personally found the easiest way

Was to grip the light unit under my arm

Thus freeing both hands to allow manipulation of the grommet.

When the grommet is free,

Gently remove the loom from the panel,

Unit removed store in a safe place for listing on eBay or follow fords instructions and throw it in the Bin.

I took the chance to clean and wax the area prior to fitting the new unit.

When removed,

You may find a black L shaped section that looks much like a pad section on the bottom of the unit on removal, please note: this is not a pad, it is an accumilation of dirt that has been carried from the roof via rain water and gathered in the inside bottom section of the tail light units.

Now for fitting

Fitting is the exact reverse of removal on this one guys,

Here are some images.

Again grip the unit in one hand,

Feed the loom through the hole and push the grommet securly in to place,

Gently line the tail light units ball head bolts up with the sockets on the car and gently push in to place,

Followed by refitting the 2 philips head (Star) screws on the side of the unit.

Reach inside the panel and plug the new unit in to the loom socket,

Press car key fob to check indicator function,

Also turn the lights to parking position to check tail light function.

Then relocate the side panel and re-insert the 2 Torx screws in to the panel while also ensuring the rubber boot flap seal overlaps the panel again.

Then repeat the process on the drivers side light unit.

Thanks for reading,

Hope this guide helps,

Please see links to my list of Guides in my signature below this post for more modification info on your Mk2/Mk2.5 Focus

[Stoney871]

Any night photos yet?

I'm betting these won't fit on a MK2 without modifying the connections??

[Preee]

They look great Lenny and a great fitting guide m8

[Lenny]

Any night photos yet?

I'm betting these won't fit on a MK2 without modifying the connections??

Not taken any night photos yet, I'll hopfully get some taken later and upload,

They would require modification to fit to a mk2 but the only difference is the shape of the loom plug&socket.

Its still a 4 core connection,

If you can get some loom sockets from a mk2.5 in the breakers,

You can use the plugs and loom from your existing tail light units to create a cross over loom.

This would allow you to plug in your Mk2 plug and provide a Mk2.5 loom socket for you to plug in either clear lensed units or these l.e.d type without cutting in to your cars loom.

They look great Lenny and a great fitting guide m8

Thanks Preee,

I didn't expect the change to be as easy as it was,

More pictures than text in this guide but it really is very straight forward, I had a good laugh at the ford instructions too,

They could have displayed more detailed images of screw locations and panel removal but they didn't,

Just a single page with 2 steps lol take it off and bin it, then fit these,

[salsheikh]

very nice Lenny and thanks for the guide too, I'm sure somebody will find it useful

[Lenny]

[ quote name=salsheikh" post="259273" timestamp="1368291834]very nice Lenny and thanks for the guide too, I'm sure somebody will find it useful Thanks Sal mate,

Keep your eyes out on eBay mate these would look great on your motor too.

Any night photos yet?

As requested Clive, here are some pictures taken at 21:45 last night, Im on night shift next week so I'll get some more scenic night photos, its hard to capture correctly because the really are super bright,

The indicator is clearly visible when active but the camera has displayed it as almost a white blur.

[Stoney871]

Very nice indeed.

[Captain Haddock]

Very nice Lenny, but given the price of them I think my wallet would need CPR afterwards.

[Lenny]

Very nice Lenny, but given the price of them I think my wallet would need CPR afterwards.

Thanks Rob,

I must be honest mate,

I didn't buy them with my own hard earned, I wouldn't as theirs not a huge difference except for 100% illumination instead of 50%

I fitted 18" snowflake ST rims and sold my 16" snowflake rims on an e-bay auction,

I made more than I was expecting on the sale so I used the winnings to buy these tail lights.

So in effect they cost me nothing.

Cheapest seller I've found is 238.28 inc. VAT from here:

http://www.sandicliffeshop.co.uk/product/Ford_Focus_Rear_lights%2C_LED_technology%2C_3%7C5dr_F1673850-1618

If purchasing from Sandicliffe use 5% Discount code: ADV1

[Tom2108]

Hi Lenny

looking at changing my rear lights as you've done above for my focus. Great guide also!

Only question is, would I need to change any wiring at all when it comes to changing the units or is it purely 'plug in' and they work as I have a 09 focus?

Help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Lenny]

Hi Lenny

looking at changing my rear lights as you've done above for my focus. Great guide also!

Only question is, would I need to change any wiring at all when it comes to changing the units or is it purely 'plug in' and they work as I have a 09 focus?

Help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Hi tom,

These units are a straight plug in and they work in all hatch focus 2008-2011

Its the older mk2 2005-2008 that requires splicing of the loom,

But your facelift model (has clear tail units not half red half clear) will be straight swap unplug and plug,

Just like the guide.

[Tom2108]

Fantastic. Ill make a call to order them tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help Lenny.

[Lenny]

Fantastic. Ill make a call to order them tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help Lenny.

No problem,

Your existing tail light units are a great upgrade for the mk2 driver if you were considering sale there worth around 80 pounds with the looms,

If I was a mk2 driver and I wanted t fit facelift units,

There's just one problem,; the facelift has different plug&socket on the loom,

So to fit, Id need to cut my loom rite?

No,

I wouldn't cut my main loom for anything,

Id get on to eBay and find a breakers with a mk2.5

Id ask them to supply the facelift loom sockets with 2" of cable on them.

Id then cut the loom from the mk2 trail lights,

Giving me a mk2 plug with cable,

Id then splice the mk2.5 socket to the plug loom from the mk2 tail lights,

This creates a conversion adaptor mk2 plug with mk2.5 socket,

Everything plugs together without cutting the loom on your car.

This may help others driving mk2 and upgrading to mk2.5 units

[Kye]

Bit of a bump here.

Is each unit completely LED? Or is there a normal incandescent bulb in there? What are the indicator bulbs?

[troy45]

It's not completely LED - the tail lamp is but you have coloured bulbs for brake lights and indicators.

It's possible to get silver effect indicator bulbs (offset pins) but not many options for upgrading the brake light bulbs as they're a rare style of fitment - offset and staggered pins.

[mercman02]

Is there any way to splice my original mk2.5 cables that go to the side/brake light and then attach the side light cable to the led of the new st light, then making the original cable now just a brake light. This is because i have been told by the seller that the led is built into the new st cluster?. The Indicator light can just be left as is?.This way would make it more affordable to me.

[Lenny]

Is there any way to splice my original mk2.5 cables that go to the side/brake light and then attach the side light cable to the led of the new st light, then making the original cable now just a brake light. This is because i have been told by the seller that the led is built into the new st cluster?. The Indicator light can just be left as is?.This way would make it more affordable to me.

Not possible mate the led have moulded sockets built in to the units,

The looms have brown cables with specific plugs which connect to the sockets,

Sorry ford haven't made things simple

[mercman02]

Thanks for that mate, will have to save up abit more money before i decide to get them or put the leds into my original clusters

[firefighter]

https://youtu.be/h02QI0hLKAg

[sean.kerwin]

I have these fitted as standard :)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jayw18]

Does anyone have the FINIS number for the plugs? Got bare units just need the loom

[salsheikh]

On 25/06/2016 at 7:41 PM, jayw18 said:

Does anyone have the FINIS number for the plugs? Got bare units just need the loom

Hi James

do not have the code for the loom but i know it is bloomin expensive. i think i saw one (one loom not both) on eBay for £50!

you are in luck - a quick search on another website got me this -  Finis 1520746

[MikesFocusZS]

I won a set of these off eBay and got an absolute bargain! They're immaculate, not a mark on them.

I fitted them in the dark. I finished work late and was to excited not too. Couple of powerful torches helped me out though.
I took a couple of pics. However they're not the best. You know what its like trying to take pictures of lights. Both new led lights fitted with the silver indicator bulb.

This makes a massive difference to the back end. Looks more modern. Pictures dont do justice and highly recommend doing this little upgrade.

Massive thanks Lenny, This is easy to follow and appreciate the guide.

Left normal and right LED


Left normal and right LED. Side view.


Both LEDs

[Lenny]

16 hours ago, MikesFocusZS said:

I won a set of these off Ebay and got an absolute bargain! They're immaculate, not a mark on them.

I fitted them in the dark. I finished work late and was to excited not too. Couple of powerful torches helped me out though.
I took a couple of pics. However they're not the best. You know what its like trying to take pictures of lights. Both new led lights fitted with the silver indicator bulb.

This makes a massive difference to the back end. Looks more modern. Pictures dont do justice and highly recommend doing this little upgrade.

Massive thanks Lenny, This is easy to follow and appreciate the guide.

Looking great 👍

the larger illumination on the premium tail lights are ideal for racing Vauxhall's because they remain visible from greater distances at night compared to standard focus tail units,

So the Vauxhall driver can see you really are that far ahead of them on the road and not hiding down a side lane with your lights turned off 😎