Sorry guys about adding quite a few posts for only joining yesterday but this is such a great forum and I have a lot of questions to ask.

This one has probably been asked before but in case not here we go. Right I need to know some things about the MK4 Escort XR3i and the MK4 Escort Series 2 RS Turbo. We all know some guys buy a XR3i and then change it into a RS Turbo. Are there things on a genuine RS Turbo that no matter how good you change a XR3i into a RS Turbo is there something on a real RS Turbo that you cant put or make on a XR3i?? Or is it the case that you can buy all the stuff for the RS Turbo and fit on a XR3i and you wont be able to know any differences between the XR3i and a genuine RS Turbo??

 

the logbook lol

 

OK so if the logbook says "Escort RS Turbo" thats it. So even if a guy changes his XR3i into a RS Turbo and it's all like for like the DVLA can never change the logbook from say a car showing originally as a XR3i to then showing as a RS Turbo? Is there is anything on a RS Turbo that cannot be put on a XR3i no matter how good you make it?

 

im not really sure mate im 100% sure u cant change the logbook legally if its says xr3i on it thats what it will always say

 

Myn is a xr3i shell cuz the Rs 1 was fucked rust n rot n it's got a fuel cut of switch in the spare tyer well n not got elec sunroof I think the petrol tank is smaller and on the exhaust the bracket to hang it on just past the back box ain't there I have owned it over a year and can't think ov anything different.

Joe

 

all rst turbos came with sunroofs, heated front screen, electric windows, electric mirrors and xr3 didnt come with some of those

From already said, i work for a dealer and you cannot change the name of the log book from xr3 to rs turbo. The log book will always say xr3 and if engine has changed this will be different. Reason for this is the shell and car was originally registered as an xr3 and just be changing the engine and the parts doesnt mean it becomes a different car

 

Some will be ringers and might have had the RS Turbos plates and floor no swapped. However the roof drain gutters run right round to the boot lid on an RS shell, whereas on base model and XR shells it stops about 2cm shorter.

 

Yeah thats interesting to know. When I think about the roof gutters on mine they do run right to the back near the bootlid. You know how on the RS turbo's there is a little flap on the floor down the side of the drivers seat and when you life the flap it reveals the VIN number or identifier. Does the MK4 XR3i's have this same flap as well??

 

Yes they use the same carpet.

 

Re shelled Series Ones are much easier to spot lol.

 

My roof gutter runs the full length of the roof.

 

Not actually true, early S2's were offered without the Lux pack;
Electric windows
Electric mirrors
Central locking
Sunroof
Heated windscreen
Trip computer
Green tint glass

One of my neightbours had an 88 car with manual windows and mirrors, was very tidy until somebody stole it off the drive

 

my s2 doesn't have heated front screen or electric mirrors so not all came with those as standard.

 

That's right Steve. It was also called the Custom Pack, same as on the Series one. But it only actually contained a sunroof, electric mirrors and windows and central locking IIRC. The fuel computer, heated front screen and the famous graphic equalizer stero enhancer were further options. I'm also pretty sure that on the very early cars, Recaro seats were also an option, not standard issue. TBH though, the Custom pack was only Ł500 so 95% of cars had it.

The 90 spec cars had EVERY option as Standard to run them out before the MK5 came along.

 

Yeah my 88 RS has got manual mirrors, no heated windscreen and clearwindows. not green tint.

 

My RS Turbo is a 90 spec one so has all the options Is it true that some RS turbo's were registered right up to J plates?

 

There was a K plate Escort RS Turbo in Mercury grey which popped up somewhere. But I've never seen a J I don't think.

 

correct
think theres a black j plate knocking about too

 

tbh mate lift the carpet up and check carefull for any suspecting id swaps!
the shells are more or less identical, so other than log books check for any dodgy cut and shut

 

davie ive checked your rst when murdoch had it and its genuine,so dont worry

there used to be a black j plate kickin about aberdeen way many years ago,sure theres pics on here of it

 

That's it, Custom Pack not Lux pack. Doh!

 

non customs were the ones with bare minimum!
no elec windows
non sunroof etc....id say quite rare infact

 

Ironically, back in the day, that was the poverty model that no-one wanted, however now it's by far the most desirable.

 

found out off someone if you look under the front crossmember there is a bar code metal strip he told me only rs turbos had this on

 

i was told that as well. Wasn't too sure on its truth though.??

 

Jxi 117 ?

If it's this one it was a d reg on a irish plate

 

my cabrio has this

 

i have a 3i shell because the guy said the rs shell was fooked so used a 3i shell and from what ive been told the logbook will say 3i derived rs turbo (i think) the exhaust hanger is missing on a 3i (between the rear arms) under the rear bumper the shell is cut out on an rs were the spare wheel sits (basically remove bumper and youd see more of the wheel well on an rs ?) rs turbos have a rear roll bar but the 3i doesnt ?

 

mine too

 

an there was 2 j reg ones in a shop that used to be in leigh on sea called days of grace but its gone now, was a red 1 an a white 1

 

my rs is genuine and does not have the exhaust hanger between the rear arms

 

Well blow me, here is the Mercury K plate!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K-reg-Escort-R...item3efd00cbdc

 

it was 90spec 1s that had the extra hanger iirc

 

So does it have factory fitted fuel computer , RS 3 spoke leather steering wheel and separate graphic equaliser with upgraded speakers?

 

Yip mine has the trip computer, graphic equalizer although this has been removed as mines has a clifford alarm and some of the controls are now in the place where the graphic equalizer used to be. It probably would have had the upgraded speakers however my car has had a full new sound system fitted to it with new front speakers and 2 tweeters. There is a huge bass unit in the boot and professionally fitted. The guy who did the sound system work got this done in 1998 and from the receipts I have it cost Ł800 for the sound system. It also has the RS 3 spoke leather steering wheel but I've seen pics of other S2's and they have the standard crappy looking normal steering wheel it. Did the S2 90 spec models have a different steering wheel from the earlier S2's?
I don't even know how to check if there is a rear roll bar on my Series 2 just don't know what I'm looking for Embarrasing your probably thinking for a guy like me who loves S2's and I should probably know more about them than I do but that's why I'm on here to learn. I work in the IT profession so I dont tinker with motors during the day and stuff.

 

I'm pretty sure one of the easiest ways to tell is by the spare wheel well, the xr3i had a smaller spare wheel well wich would not accomodate the RS turbo alloy as its an inch bigger than those on the 3i...

 

There are two way to tell if a S2 ERST is a genuine shell.

 

Thanks for that nugget of information

 

if u notify dvla that u have turbo'd an xr3i shell,they change the logbook to escort xr3i turbo. a mate of mine had it done a few years back

 

You could call your car a "ringer edition turbo" on your logbook if you wanted.