So, I just bought my third Ford in a row (second Focus). Had the choice of a 15 plate with 10 miles on the clock or a 64 plate, 1 user, 3,000 miles but every safety feature under the sun included. I went for the 15 plate but now wondering whether it would be possible to have some of the safety features included on the other car to be installed on mine, or whether that has to be done on manufacture.

I have a Titanium with active city stop, rear parking sensors and cruise control. Road sign and lane recognition and blind spot alerts would all be nice. I am wondering whether it is relatively easy to add on the features that use the forward facing camera behind my rear view mirror (ie whether it is just a case of updating the software used for the acitve city stop). I assume adding blind spot recognition would be pretty pricy as it would need side sensors and new wing mirrors?

Does anyone have any experience of having such features installed by their dealer after purchase and the approximate cost?

should just bought the 64 plate and saved your self cost of retro fitting

A bit late isnt it,

Perhaps add bubble wrap to the dashboard and centre of the steering wheel if you want extra protection

Next time

Choose a car that has all the features that you require instead of regretting it days later like you are now

Jamie

Lol. Thanks, guys. yes, I know. I wasn't too bothered about those features when I was mulling it over- the delivery mileage and free warranty outweighed them in my mind at the time. Just interested to see now what the cost/hassle would be of having at least some of them added. Or I could try to pay more attention when I'm driving and not rely on electronic gadetry!

The 64 plate with all the toys would have come with the outstanding balance of Fraud's warranty until 2017 anyway . . .

Active City Stop does not use a camera. Active City Stop uses a laser and a sensitive receiver. Both are build into the console behind the windshield.

The camera used for Road sign and lane recognition and automatic high beam is only present if the car has one of these options. If not the camera is not present and in most cases the wiring will also not be present.

Blind spot alerts requires the sensor modules behind the rear bumper, wiring looms, side mirrors and suitable door modules.

The parts needed to retrofit these options are quite expensive. Next to this it will also be difficult to activate these functions in the central car configuration. The Focus MK3.5 can not be configured using an ELM327 interface and the ELMconfig software. Currently the easiest way to configure all possible options on a MK3.5 is by using the Ford IDS diagnostic system in Engineering mode. The biggest problem will be to find someone who has access to the Engineering mode of the Ford IDS system. Normal Ford dealers do only have the standard functionality and no access to the Engineering mode.

Take it back and swap it

Ippy's suggestion seconded.

It will probably be cheaper to change the car than try to fit all those things.

Everything is so tightly integrated nowadays.

Especially safety features, is that really something you want to mess around with....?

3k is bugger all on the clock, i blow that in a couple of months, in fact id even go as far as saying with 3K under its belt its a lot more bedded in and less likely to go wrong...

change the car, save your sanity trying to retrofit stuff and have what you want in the first place