My Focus RS500
22-04-2012, 11:17 AM
#1
...............
Thread Starter
My Focus RS500
Thought I'd show you all my latest acquisition, a 2010 Mk2 Focus RS500.
I'd always wanted a MK2 FRS and had planned on buying a new UG a couple of years back but one thing and another meant it didn't happen. I recently started looking again and had kept a close eye on FocusRSDirect for my perfect spec car. This time I was after a Frozen White with full spec, Lux1 & 2, bluetooth and of course the black leather upgrade. Anyway's one came up so I gave them a ring. The bloke was a complete dick on the phone and I quickly decided they weren't getting any of my money so back to square one. I'd also been monitoring Pistonheads, especially the RS500's but they were all up for more than I wanted to pay, until I spotted one that was well priced. I made a chance comment to the missus about the 500's, she said get one of them cos they look sexy in the black! This was sunday night, monday morning I phoned up the dealer and arranged to view it that day. I had to leave sharpish as I'm in Essex and the car was in North Yorkshire! 4 1/2 hours later and I'd put a deposit on it. The missus had been tracking my facebook statuses all day so knew summat was up. I returned home at half eight with a chinese to keep her sweet!
I had to wait a whole week for it to be delivered which they did f.o.c.
I'd made a space in the garage ready for its arrival
First job was a trip over the Chelmsford DVLA office to put the rego on that my missus had bought for my b'day a couple of years back, a matching plate to my Mk1.
Next up was what needed changing, I started with a Milltek cat-back ultimate edition system, I went for ceramic black tailpipes. I also ordered a set of H&R springs as the std car has a comedy ride-height. Both turned up in a couple of days so out with the spanners.
Std height
H&R's
Milltek
The car drove better on the H&R's but still felt a little loose at the front so I ordered a complete set of Powerflex lower arm bushes. These took me longer to fit than anticipated, a complete ballache to fit without a press, I had to rely on a gas torch & a selection of sockets, threaded stud, nuts & washers. I also fitted a set of H&R wheels spacers, 20mm rear, 15mm front. They brought the std wheels into line with the arches.
Around this time I ordered an Elevate torque mount, a very solid lower engine stabiliser. It was on back order so likely to take a few weeks to arrive.
Anyways the car drove better but compared to the Mk1 FRS still felt soggy. Springs were great but dampers were way off. I could have opted for a coilover kit but previous experience shows you never stop playing with them, instead I went for a Mountune Clubsport package, fully fitted and tracked up at the Mountune HQ.
Whilst in the Mountune waiting room, I spotted these wheels.
Here they are again on my car along with the Clubsport suspension.
At this point the H&R spacers were removed as the OZ's have a different offset meaning the spacers are not needed.
Having 2 Clubsport packages now meant I was eligible for the Mountune trackday at Bedford, Dave Moore very kindly invited me along.
Also by this time the Elevate torque mount arrived and so was fitted. This is one of the best value mods you can do to a Mk2 FRS, it tightens up the gearchange, makes pulling away much smoother and also helps reduce torque steer. A very worthwhile mod on a Mk2 RS or ST.
Now onto a mod you'll either love or hate. Whilst trawling the forums I've seen a few Mk2 with cages. After a few phone calls to various places I found a supplier local'ish to me. It was actually the same garage I bought my Mk1 FRS from nearly 8 years ago. I took a trip over to view their demo car but actually got to see a fellow FRSOC forum members car with the cage fitted. I was sold. They had a couple in stock so I loaded one into the Volvo after deciding to paint & fit it myself. The cage was degreased and keyed up with emery cloth then given a few coats of high build primer/filler. Once flatted back it was given numerous coats of matt black. I toyed with the idea of a red cage but decided to go for the stealth look.
Eventually it was all painted so I could get down to fitting it. I decided to remove the the whole of the rear interior so all the trim & setas were removed. There were no templates or fitting instructions so I did numerous trial fittings until I was happy with the fit. The hardest part was knowing where to put the holes in the parcel shelf supports for the rear legs. I ended up making an MDF jig up to transfer the location to the supports. It came out pretty accurately in the end!
Overall I'm very pleased with the cage. Looks-wise I think it suits the car. Not sure if the ass dyno is coming into effect but it does feel slightly stiffer at the rear.
Future mods are also planned, a week on Monday it's going back to Mountune for an MR375 upgrade. Now the car handles properly it's crying out for more power. I'm also contemplating going for the Mountune big brake kit. After that, who knows!
Hope you all like my car although I'm sure I'll get a barrage of "you shouldn't mod a '500" comments!
I'd always wanted a MK2 FRS and had planned on buying a new UG a couple of years back but one thing and another meant it didn't happen. I recently started looking again and had kept a close eye on FocusRSDirect for my perfect spec car. This time I was after a Frozen White with full spec, Lux1 & 2, bluetooth and of course the black leather upgrade. Anyway's one came up so I gave them a ring. The bloke was a complete dick on the phone and I quickly decided they weren't getting any of my money so back to square one. I'd also been monitoring Pistonheads, especially the RS500's but they were all up for more than I wanted to pay, until I spotted one that was well priced. I made a chance comment to the missus about the 500's, she said get one of them cos they look sexy in the black! This was sunday night, monday morning I phoned up the dealer and arranged to view it that day. I had to leave sharpish as I'm in Essex and the car was in North Yorkshire! 4 1/2 hours later and I'd put a deposit on it. The missus had been tracking my facebook statuses all day so knew summat was up. I returned home at half eight with a chinese to keep her sweet!
I had to wait a whole week for it to be delivered which they did f.o.c.
I'd made a space in the garage ready for its arrival
First job was a trip over the Chelmsford DVLA office to put the rego on that my missus had bought for my b'day a couple of years back, a matching plate to my Mk1.
Next up was what needed changing, I started with a Milltek cat-back ultimate edition system, I went for ceramic black tailpipes. I also ordered a set of H&R springs as the std car has a comedy ride-height. Both turned up in a couple of days so out with the spanners.
Std height
H&R's
Milltek
The car drove better on the H&R's but still felt a little loose at the front so I ordered a complete set of Powerflex lower arm bushes. These took me longer to fit than anticipated, a complete ballache to fit without a press, I had to rely on a gas torch & a selection of sockets, threaded stud, nuts & washers. I also fitted a set of H&R wheels spacers, 20mm rear, 15mm front. They brought the std wheels into line with the arches.
Around this time I ordered an Elevate torque mount, a very solid lower engine stabiliser. It was on back order so likely to take a few weeks to arrive.
Anyways the car drove better but compared to the Mk1 FRS still felt soggy. Springs were great but dampers were way off. I could have opted for a coilover kit but previous experience shows you never stop playing with them, instead I went for a Mountune Clubsport package, fully fitted and tracked up at the Mountune HQ.
Whilst in the Mountune waiting room, I spotted these wheels.
Here they are again on my car along with the Clubsport suspension.
At this point the H&R spacers were removed as the OZ's have a different offset meaning the spacers are not needed.
Having 2 Clubsport packages now meant I was eligible for the Mountune trackday at Bedford, Dave Moore very kindly invited me along.
Also by this time the Elevate torque mount arrived and so was fitted. This is one of the best value mods you can do to a Mk2 FRS, it tightens up the gearchange, makes pulling away much smoother and also helps reduce torque steer. A very worthwhile mod on a Mk2 RS or ST.
Now onto a mod you'll either love or hate. Whilst trawling the forums I've seen a few Mk2 with cages. After a few phone calls to various places I found a supplier local'ish to me. It was actually the same garage I bought my Mk1 FRS from nearly 8 years ago. I took a trip over to view their demo car but actually got to see a fellow FRSOC forum members car with the cage fitted. I was sold. They had a couple in stock so I loaded one into the Volvo after deciding to paint & fit it myself. The cage was degreased and keyed up with emery cloth then given a few coats of high build primer/filler. Once flatted back it was given numerous coats of matt black. I toyed with the idea of a red cage but decided to go for the stealth look.
Eventually it was all painted so I could get down to fitting it. I decided to remove the the whole of the rear interior so all the trim & setas were removed. There were no templates or fitting instructions so I did numerous trial fittings until I was happy with the fit. The hardest part was knowing where to put the holes in the parcel shelf supports for the rear legs. I ended up making an MDF jig up to transfer the location to the supports. It came out pretty accurately in the end!
Overall I'm very pleased with the cage. Looks-wise I think it suits the car. Not sure if the ass dyno is coming into effect but it does feel slightly stiffer at the rear.
Future mods are also planned, a week on Monday it's going back to Mountune for an MR375 upgrade. Now the car handles properly it's crying out for more power. I'm also contemplating going for the Mountune big brake kit. After that, who knows!
Hope you all like my car although I'm sure I'll get a barrage of "you shouldn't mod a '500" comments!
Last edited by S1; 22-04-2012 at 11:27 AM.
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22-04-2012, 06:07 PM
#9
Love that, and you won't get any don't mod a 500 comments from me - it's just a smart Focus, so knock yourself out 
Really like the mods you've done, and given the planned track use and power upgrade I'd deffo think the brake upgrade should be high on the list of "to do"
Nice to see one being used
Really like the mods you've done, and given the planned track use and power upgrade I'd deffo think the brake upgrade should be high on the list of "to do"
Nice to see one being used
24-04-2012, 01:43 PM
#15
Regular Contributor
You must have big cojones to cut up a 500!
That being said I think it looks great, those are the wheels that should have been fitted from the factory along with an AP brake setup.
That being said I think it looks great, those are the wheels that should have been fitted from the factory along with an AP brake setup.
24-04-2012, 08:16 PM
#17
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Looks awesome. 
Just don't like the wrap on them.
Just don't like the wrap on them.
01-05-2012, 05:01 PM
#27
...............
Thread Starter
Focus went in to Mountune for the MR375 conversion today! And what a conversion it is, it's amazing how much quicker it feels from the MR350.
Also got a new set of tyres, Michelin Pilot Super Sports and a Scangauge II turned up in the post as well!
Also got a new set of tyres, Michelin Pilot Super Sports and a Scangauge II turned up in the post as well!
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