Just a question about parking sensors, I got them fitted from the main dealer when I bought the car in March 2013, at the time I said I wanted the parking sensors fitted to the car, I asked if they would be as if it left the factory with them and he assured me they would be exactly the same, now at the time I was unaware exactly what the factory fitted ones looked like so when I got them fitted to my fiesta I was happy with them, but overtime I started to notice that they were not 'factory fitted' ones.

Also I noticed not only did they look slightly different they didn't work the same, I found out that when you put the car in reverse it comes on the screen saying 'parking pilot' or something similar with a little picture of a car with the bars at the back. mine doesn't do this, it just beeps with nothing on the screen.

I know this may seem a rather small thing but when you've been told that they would be the same and they aren't I left feeling a bit annoyed, Especially when I started to notice others.

Can anyone suggest what I could do to get the factory fitted ones fitted? I know its more than likely to be too late to go back to the supplying dealer but I would now be more than happy to pay to get them done.

Especially as ones the finance agreement is over i will be wanting to keep the car.

Thanks!

To add "factory fit" sensors may be very difficult and expensive. If it interacts with the cars in-built entertainment system then you might need it activating by a dealer...that's assuming that you have the appropriate wiring loom present in the car itself and have the factory spec'd parts.

The actual sensors themselves may be different sizes to your current sensors - fine if they're bigger, just re-drill the holes. Smaller? Potentially need to replace the bumper...

Honestly, if the current system works - stick with it

18 months after taking delivery is a bit much to expect anything from the dealer

Sounds like they fitted the x-vision ford accessory sensors, was your car a factory order or from stock? They work just as well as the factory sensors, the park pilot screen is handy but not essential.

I had x-vision on my ST2, but made sure they were fitted where the factory sensors would be.

I had x visions aswell on old st and zetec s they look so much better than the factory sensors which stick out from the bumper and are a lot bigger. Ford can only make park pilot work with focus x vision sensors (I looked into this a fair bit) but in all honesty should be looking out the mirrors when reversing not on the screen :P

TBH I dont look at the screen when reversing, I look into my mirrors and listen to the beeps.
I would rather rely on my mince pies than a gimicky screen.
But yes, I would be pigged off if I were told they would act like factory sensors and they didnt..

Hi

I have purchased to Fiesta Mk7's and the first was in 2010 and I chose the rear parking sensors as an option. When in use, they just beep with nothing on the display screen.

My 2013 Fiesta Titanium also has rear sensors and when in use, besides the beeping, the display also shows a vehicle with coloured lines.

The sensors on both cars are fitted in exactly the same place on the rear bumper.

So, maybe in 2010/2011, that's the way the sensors were fitted and how the work and, the later cars now have a display aid to help if needed. I think Clarky2013 and DaveTheDog have the right idea, like them, I'm also too busy looking through my rear view mirror to watch the display.

As a check, you could look on Ford ETIS for clarification. My 2010 Fiesta shows 'with reverse proximity sensors' and they work fine, my 2013 Fiesta shows 'with rear parking aid' and they work exactly the same but with the display.

Question for MarksST:

I have had xvision rear sensors fitted on my 2015 ecoboost Fiesta and they look awful! They have not been put on with equal spacing and 2 of them stick out! The paint is coming off after 2 days as well!

I was also told that they should be able to map them into the park pilot system but when I collected the car they said this can only be done on the Focus! Do you know if this is correct?

Any help would be much appreciated Thank you

Hi, yes they can't be linked to the park pilot on the fiesta, on the focus and possibly other models they can.

Doesn't sound like they painted or fitted them very well, the paint should stay on longer than 2 days, there's no excuse for the in equal spacing and if they used the correct hole cutter they should sit flush.

My ST with x-visions

Paint making them flush could be sorted easily but the spacing would mean a new bumper to start again with.

Thank you Marks St for all your help. Okay so no park pilot which is a shame as my hearing isn't great. Ford said they could install a block of lights from xvision that goes in the rear above window do you know if this is correct? They said they need to cut a square from roof lining to fit it but I would have thought that they could fit it on top. Do you know anything about this light bar and fitting it?

I notice on your beautiful car that the sensors have been positioned where factory ones go. Did a Ford dealership do this or did you do it? Does the xvision work okay with them in that position as I was told that they need to go where they have placed them!

Finally regarding cutting of the holes and correct spacing do you know if the xvision come with a template? When I complained about the paint coming off they said they can't put too much on as it affects the sensors.

Thanks again for all your help

Have a lovely weekend

Yes, they were fitted by the supplying dealer, I asked for them to be placed like that for a factory look, they worked fine exactly like the factory ones on my current ST.

Not sure about a template probably just certain measurements.

They should be able to put enough paint on that it stays on, nearly ever sensor you see is painted.

Yes X-vision have a optional display should be able to fit it without cutting any holes ( have a look on the x-vision website or search x-vision display)

Hi Marks St

Thank you for all your invaluable help. I might pop down to Ford this morning and have a bit more of a moan to see if they can fit them correctly with enough paint on them!

Mind you that would need a new bumper to be fitted.

I didn't moan too much initially as they fitted them at a discounted price because I have had problems with Ford from the off. First the manager let the door go and it swung open and chipped the paintwork, then their service guys scratched the paint work fitting scuff plates and then when it was in to have these areas sprayed they scratched the rear window and I needed a new window! The car was bought from new in may and hasn't had much luck so far!

There isn't much in it just a centimetre out on the fitting but I noticed it and so did my next door neighbour. And as he pointed it out they only did them cheaper due to all the problems so far and that's no excuse not to fit them perfectly. He said its not hard just mark the centre of the bumper and work from that drilling holes at equal distances!

Mind you if they can put them where factory ones go like yours then it shouldn't be a problem!

Oh I feel like every time I go in there I am always moaning!!

Thanks again

Doesn't the bumper have the positions marked on the inside?

The Focus Mk2/2.5 had mouldings for where the factory sensors go.

Doesn't the bumper have the positions marked on the inside?

The Focus Mk2/2.5 had mouldings for where the factory sensors go.

Yes they do have markings on the inside, no excuse not to get them positioned correctly.

But acording to xvision the should be all be angled sensors on fiesta 2015. So they shouldnt be flush fit, from that im assuming all the holes should be low down on bumper like the factory fit one are on 2015 non st fiesta.

Well I went to Ford this morning to moan again armed with my piece of paper with measurements of how far from the centre of the bumper each sensor is, and they said as there is only approx 1cm in it on each sensor then it's acceptable!

From the centre of the bumper the first right hand one is 232mm. The far right one is 685mm from the centre.

From the centre of the bumper the first left hand one is 218mm. The far left one is 670mm from the centre.

They also said that it can never be exact as there are obstructions behind the bumper restricting where each sensor can go.

They will however respray the sensors and try to fit them more flush.

A question for iantt - as they have put the flush sensors on is this incorrect then? It is a 2015 Fiesta so is it supposed to have angled ones fitted lower on the bumper where the factory fitted sensors are located? Also is the bumper marked on the inside for the higher fitting as opposed to the lower factory fitting location, do you know?

Thank you everyone for your help

Cant say if theres markings higher up the bumper, there maybe if the st uses the same upper part of bumper, but lower ones will be there. Got the fitting instructions in pdf but dont know how to post them up on here.

Thanks iantt for your reply. Yes the bumper probably just has the markings on the lower section where the factory fitted ones are positioned, not helpful for fitting the higher xvision sensors!

Mind you I probably could have measured the spacings more accurately to the nearest mm not the nearest cm like Ford! Perhaps I am being too fussy and the mechanic said there are obstructions behind the bumper which prevents them being positioned to exact measurements and he knows better than me!

Yes the xvision instructions would be good if you could post or send them but I don't know how to upload pictures or pdfs either unfortunately! I have looked on the net but can't find any instructions

Thanks for all your help

Have a lovely weekend

Think I may be able to put up link to my dropbox

Try that and let me know if it works

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kr0llxsau0uaa6v/FIESTA%20UK%202015%20REAR%20Rev%200.pdf?dl=0

Hi iantt

Yes thank you that worked perfectly well done !

I will have a good read of that and then maybe have another moan to Ford as I don't understand why they couldn't have measured accurately because when I am drilling things I measure to the nearest millimetre not nearest centimetre! Mind you I know they have time constraints whereas I would take a couple of hours marking it out perfectly!

Thanks again

As you will see , theres no measuring of the sensor holes required. Just poke a hole through existing markings fron inside, then drill holes out using correct 2 stage cutters from outside

Thanks iantt

Crikey no wonder Ford get confused! The first picture shows the sensors located where the factory fit ones go then the later pictures show them located where Ford have put mine which is higher up the bumper!

Maybe Ford have put the incorrect sensors on as mine are not angled, they are flat. Perhaps I should telephone xvision tomorrow and they may be able to tell me which ones they should have used.

Either way it's no excuse for not measuring correctly and like you say if they had put them lower down then the holes are marked.

Where did you find the documentation if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks again for all your help

Hi, they should have followed the most up to date instructions and fitted angled sensors low down, but theres nothing stopping them from fitting flush ones higher up if they so choose, why they would want to I dont know, more difficult to measure and fit , also have to paint all 4 sensors.

I asume the lower middle section of bumper is non painted black therefore only 2 sensors would have to be painted.

Maybe that could be why they put them up higher, perhaps they all got painted prior and that then decided where they had to go?

The actual sensors are all the same , but with either flush or angled trim pieces clipped on.

Its a case of either accept where they are and have the refitted and painted better( the operation and range will be unaffected) or ask on having them lower down on a new bumper.

Thanks iantt for all your invaluable advice I really appreciate it. Are you a Ford mechanic?

Yes it does sound simpler for them to have fitted them lower down and only paint 2 sensors. They told me the paint is coming off because the mechanic sprayed them and then fitted them almost immediately so the paint did not really dry.

I would prefer them to be lower down as the holes are pre marked but I can't see them offering me a new bumper!

I only wish they had asked me where I wanted them located but they did not give me a choice.

I assumed that they would use the correct sensors and put them in the correct position but it seems not!

Thanks again

Hi iantt

I just wanted to say thank you for all your help. I contacted xvision today and they told me that correct sensors for my car are the ones Finis number 1804063 and that they are fitted lower down on the bumper where it is pre marked so exactly where you said they should be!

I telephoned Ford and they said that they have recently been on a training course telling them to fit them higher up the bumper and this is why they were fitted there. I told them I wasn't happy because the invoice clearly states that the correct sensors were ordered so they are angled so it is not surprising they don't fit properly. Anyway long story short they are having the car in on Wednesday to sort it out and they said if it means putting a new bumper on then that is what they will do. (I do not know how else they are going to resolve it without putting a new bumper on because it would mean having 4 holes left in the bumper if they relocate them!)

Anyway because of all your invaluable help it looks like the matter will be resolved so thank you so much!

Best wishes

Perhaps they need retraining on how to paint them and fit them , regardless where they fit them. Lol, shouldnt paint and fit same day, as paint and laquer needs to harden sufficiently , fitting requires firm pressure with hand/finger and soft paint can leave your id(finger print)

Good to hear your getting it sorted.