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Hi all, after a few years of not owning an ST badged car (sold my ST170 in 2010 and have owned a couple of focus titaniums since then) I decided it was time to put that right!
I looked at a few cars through the early part of the summer but found nothing that ticked all of my boxes. I was ideally looking for a 16 plated diesel ST3 in tangerine scream or deep impact blue, that didn't have too much mileage, had fsh and showed signs of some love!
I viewed a few cars that weren't all that, before this this turned up only nine miles away...I had to go and have a look! ST2, just under 26,000 with 6 service stamps in its book, 2 owners (both of whom were ...shall I say mature drivers!), good tyres (though three were Goodyears and a single conti...not good for my ocd lol) but unmarked interior and good paintwork.
The ford dealer selling it had sold it brand new, took it back in at 2 years on a trade in and resold it, then took it back in this year - they have also done all of its servicing and both of its mots.
It drove like brand new..so I had to have it!
The only negatives were the odd tyre.. which is easily remedied, the calipers weren't painted and looked shabby and it didnt have privacy glass...again easily remedied.

Three pics, one on the forecourt, one with my old Titanium X and one on the day of collection (the dealer had actually painted the calipers silver for me).
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Once I'd got it home, I set about removing all of the dealers window stickers (4 in total, I can't stand dealer stickers in windows!), then fitted the obligatory wind deflectors and took it to get the odd continental tyre changed to a matching eagle f1.

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- not sure why those pics have turned over, but dont know how to right them on iPad!
 

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I've actually had the car a couple of month and not posted any of the bits I've done on it so have a bit of a backlog lol

My aim is to keep the car standard and well maintained, but as clean and smart as possible!

So in the second week of ownership, new plates and rear tints were added... Motor vehicle Automotive design Car Font Automotive exterior
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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
They look so much better with the privacy rear windows.
Prior to the RS, my ST was Deep Impact blue, lovely colour.
Yes agree 100% .....though could've been an expensive day when the tints were done... the guy backs it out of his lock up and nearly drove it into a massive trolley Jack his mate was about to use! I was filming the car backing out and had to drop my phone to run and move the jack out of the way as he hadn't seen it!!

I just love the colour too, looks mega when it's clean!
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
So with the basic appearance of the car ok, it was on with cleaning! It looked particularly grim underneath the roof rails, so they had to come off! The tailgate spoiler bolts were pretty dirty and rusty, so removed those, wire brushed them and replaced after painting them satin black.
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Discussion Starter · #8 ·
Moving on with cleaning, though the calipers had been painted by the dealer... (without removing the wheels!) I felt they could be better.

I also wanted to paint the edges of the brake backing plates and the discs in satin black, then the centre of the discs in silver - followed by another coat of silver on the calipers.

I also gave the trailing arms a clean and a coat of satin black whilst I was at it.
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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Had an interior day, wet clothed everything, then hoovered and treated the leather. Though the car has clearly been looked after and loved, there are two things that it has never had done... the first being leather treatment (it drank the bloody stuff lol)....
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The second thing it has clearly never had done to it is being clay barred... I used 1/2 of a megs bar, then nearly two bottles of autoglym detailer and a full bottle of smartwax detailer! Its seriously smooth after all that effort though... VERY happy with it indeed! :woohoo: :woohoo:

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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
With the whole car clayed, it was on with the polishing! So first a good polish with autoglym super resin polish (the best imho), 2 coats of smartwax wax...(the pink almondy smelling one!) then two coats of smartwax sealant. I have to say Im really pleased with the shine it gave the car.

Two pics, both a reflection in the drivers door.

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Discussion Starter · #13 ·
Last few bits bringing it up to date for now...

I got hold of a pair of ST3 illuminated sill plates with oe wiring which were a straightforward fit.... Automotive tail & brake light Automotive lighting Car Automotive tire Motor vehicle


Then club stickers! Obviously I havent used the focus part, there was a light scratch on the glass on one side, so I wanted the sticker to hide it... in doing this I had to do away with part of the sticker, but it has hidden the scratch!
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And finally, I got hold of a steering wheel with cruise switches for pretty reasonable money (its not quite as mint as the original wheel... but might transfer the switches over to the original one at some point)..... car is booked in on Tuesday for (fingers crossed!) cruise control activation...
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Discussion Starter · #15 ·
Where did you wire the cills into? I have some in the shed Ive been meaning to install
Do you have the oe wiring for them Matt? The oe link cable has three connections on it... a black one which connects to the sill plates, then you disconnect the footwell lights.... the male link cable connection plugs into the female footwell lights, then the unplugged male from the footwell lights plugs into the empty female on the link cable.
I assume that they are lit all of the time the same as the footwell lights when the lights are on.... as they take their feed from the footwell... it it's hard to know with them hidden under the door!

If you don't have the oe cables and want the numbers, give me a shout as mine have the ford tags on so I'm sure I can get you the part numbers.
 

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Discussion Starter · #17 ·
Not so much an update with the car, more an update to my collection of cleaning kit! Ive always kept away from pressure washers... but having looked at karchers full control system, I felt it was time I dragged myself into modern day car cleaning!
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So snow foam time it was!

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Discussion Starter · #19 ·
Picked up a few bits from ford....
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Gearbox breather... rubber cap was damaged on mine,

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Replacement third brake light in red - Im not keen on the standard clear one, it makes the car look a bit anemic imo...
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New cruise switch, had cruise activated by a local specialist but still not working, so I replaced the steering wheel switches to see if that did it,
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No luck with that one.. starting to think it hasnt been activated right... Ive put the standard wheel back on for now as I cant be doing with switches that dont work staring at me!
 

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Discussion Starter · #21 ·
Hi Steve, its a Standard ford item.. was about 49 quid with the vat, Part number F2085739 - My dad has an 18 plate focus and his is red so just went in with his reg. as they looked identical!
 

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Discussion Starter · #24 ·
The next job (and in all honesty probably the last one this side of Christmas 🎄 lol) was to change some of the bulbs. My last focus had the bi xenon lights, which tbh I do miss a bit, so it was time for some upgraded bulbs. Im fully aware that Im not going to get the effect of xenons with some upgraded bulbs, but certainly upgraded bulbs will improve what I have!

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I purchased Osram nightbreaker laser bulbs for dip and main beam, as well as chrome indicator bulbs for front, rear and side repeaters.

Headlights out, I cleaned around the vacated space!
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New bulbs in, must admit I love the subtle blue tinge... it complements the colour of the car perfectly!

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It looks so much better with the chrome indicator bulbs in imho.
 

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Then I did the rear indicator bulbs.... my god it was manky under the lights!! I think I need to take the bumper off at some stage and clean under it.... once its off Ill Remove and seal the rear vents to prevent the dreaded water ingress.

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All cleaned and lights back in, rear of the car looks miles better.... with the red third brake light and the chrome bulbs its much smarter and colour coordinated.

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Quite a few other things I want to do.. but all about the money so will be after christmas now!!
 

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Christmas done with I can buy a few bits for the car again!

Bought this today and fitted it....

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I have a few plans for under the bonnet, but before they go into action I needed to find out if it would run with anything other than a standard filter.... seeing as the diesel version is known to be temperamental with high flow filters and modified air boxes. I'm keeping the standard airbox - and so far so good, no EML, no limp mode, fingers crossed!

Its certainly more responsive with this compared to a paper filter!

Fitted it in the rain so no under bonnet pics!
 

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