Converting standard ford fiesta into zetec S
Discussion
So i trying to convert a standard mk5 2001 fiesta into a zetec s (just in terms of looks engine maybe later on when funds permit) i managed to acquire zetec s alloy wheels and bumpers (bumpers need a respray quite bad looking) I took this to my mechanic this evening to see if he could fit these for me and check if they were any good before i spend time respraying them....his first reaction was alloys sound like be fine and good move for the car (currently running on 13s) but his view was taking old bumpers off an old car is high risk as it might snap off and if the new bumpers don't go on then be even worse, is he right is it high risk? also my car was involved in a slight bump years ago and he fears bumper screws and bolts could have been affected making it coming off even harder.....only thing upset me a bit is he said to me its like i am trying to improve a piece of turd though why am i wasting time and money on it :/
advise pls
advise pls
Edited by jamesters on Tuesday 25th September 08:12
Bear in mind that insurance on a car modified in that way will be pretty eye-watering - probably far more than on a real Zetec-S, even without the engine mods.
In answer to your question, yes there's a risk that some of the mountings will snap rather than coming off cleanly then you'll have to dismantle the car further to replace the mounts... nothing insurmountable but if you're paying someone to do it the bill could add up. It's the sort of job I'd much prefer to do myself because unlike a garage which will put a high value on both space and time, I can get away with spending a few days spraying things with penetrating oil and letting it soak in.
Also, before you try to take anything to bits check that the three-door rear bumper will fit the five-door car. It's probably the same behind the wheel arches but it's quite possible that it's not.
In answer to your question, yes there's a risk that some of the mountings will snap rather than coming off cleanly then you'll have to dismantle the car further to replace the mounts... nothing insurmountable but if you're paying someone to do it the bill could add up. It's the sort of job I'd much prefer to do myself because unlike a garage which will put a high value on both space and time, I can get away with spending a few days spraying things with penetrating oil and letting it soak in.
Also, before you try to take anything to bits check that the three-door rear bumper will fit the five-door car. It's probably the same behind the wheel arches but it's quite possible that it's not.
J3PTF said:
Your mechanic is right.
Buy a zetec-s if you want one...
Sorry to say but J3PTF is right on this one. Buy a zetec-s if you want one...
Don't try and build a car which you can buy. If you want a Zetec-S (whatever that is) and you can buy one which Mr Ford made then do so. It'll be less heartache and tears in the long run.
Yes, less of a challenge too. And less of a sense of achievement when you have one. However bear in mind that both of these come at a price.
i checked with the insurance company before hand they said it would not affect my insurance at all :/ so either guy was lying or telling the truth and told me to ring once modifcation had been done, i believe bumpers will fit 5 door car the side skirts are same length and saw someone before who put zetec s bumpers on a 5 door fiesta, but yeah he basically said stick alloys on they will look good but really unsure with the bumpers 
which is a real shame i guess its a job for a bodyshop which will cost the earth
which is a real shame i guess its a job for a bodyshop which will cost the earthSadly another voice of reason here, don't waste money modifying your car. It won't actually improve it and will mean you MUST declare the mods to your insurance. You'll end up with a car that looks like a very old warmish hatch, but doesn't go like one.
Save the money and put it towards saving up for a better car. Blow it now and you'll have to wait longer before you can afford something nice. Be patient and you will be much better off.
Sorry to be all boring on this one, but I assume you are young? Another year (which will fly by) of saving and you will have some money to put towards something nicer, like a Fiesta ST or a Polo / Golf GTI. Blow it now and you'll still have a old Fiesta with the wrong wheels and bumpers stuck on.
Save the money and put it towards saving up for a better car. Blow it now and you'll have to wait longer before you can afford something nice. Be patient and you will be much better off.
Sorry to be all boring on this one, but I assume you are young? Another year (which will fly by) of saving and you will have some money to put towards something nicer, like a Fiesta ST or a Polo / Golf GTI. Blow it now and you'll still have a old Fiesta with the wrong wheels and bumpers stuck on.
yeah i am young feel stupid wasting £150 on alloys and bumpers now he said i should put 15inch alloys on prob make car safer and stick to the road more but prob going to look dumb giant 15inch zetec s alloys on a standard fiesta without the bumpers ? if i did do just the wheels will it affect the insurance?
he said i should put 15inch alloys on prob make car safer and stick to the road more but prob going to look dumb giant 15inch zetec s alloys on a standard fiesta without the bumpers ? if i did do just the wheels will it affect the insurance?There's nothing wrong with putting the wheels or bumpers from a more upmarket model onto your base model, but only if you are doing the work yourself (or with friends who will work for beer), if you are having to pay a mechanic or a bodyshop then you might as well save your money for your next car.
jamesters said:
yeah i am young feel stupid wasting £150 on alloys and bumpers now he said i should put 15inch alloys on prob make car safer and stick to the road more but prob going to look dumb giant 15inch zetec s alloys on a standard fiesta without the bumpers ? if i did do just the wheels will it affect the insurance?
Don't be hard on yourself, I suspect the majority of people on here would have had similar ideas when they were running their first or second cars. But the advice to save your cash for a better car is good advice, get those wheels and bumpers back on ebay! he said i should put 15inch alloys on prob make car safer and stick to the road more but prob going to look dumb giant 15inch zetec s alloys on a standard fiesta without the bumpers ? if i did do just the wheels will it affect the insurance?You could always shove the wheels on, see what it looks like, then take them off again if you don't like them. Assuming they have tyres on and you have the car's jack and wheel spanner thing, it should be a trivial job. Just shove something sonid under the sills while you do it to be on the safe side in case the aging jack decides to let go.
I'd be moderately surprised if it didn't change the insurance but every insurer is different in terms of what they charge extra for.
I'd be moderately surprised if it didn't change the insurance but every insurer is different in terms of what they charge extra for.
They're 4 on ebay less than £1200.
Not too bad really considering once you've got the bumpers on and sprayed and any additional work for that and then the alloys.
I'm sure it would come to nearly 1200 to get the car looking right, then why not just buy one and save the hastle?
If you sell yours with the alloys on and sell the bumpers separately you may surprise yourself and have nearly the right amount of cash.
Not too bad really considering once you've got the bumpers on and sprayed and any additional work for that and then the alloys.
I'm sure it would come to nearly 1200 to get the car looking right, then why not just buy one and save the hastle?
If you sell yours with the alloys on and sell the bumpers separately you may surprise yourself and have nearly the right amount of cash.
CP12 said:
They're 4 on ebay less than £1200.
I would imagine a 1.6 mk5 zetec-s for £1200 would be pretty knackered. I haven't checked, but you might be thinking of the mk6.To the OP: I mucked around with trying to get a mk3 fiesta to look good a couple of years ago, and did the same as you - bought bumpers and then sold them after I decided to stop mucking around throwing money at a banger.
To my eyes, it looked sort of all right with alloys (which it came with) and fog lights (which I added). It would have been a lot better as a three door...
Anyway, the joy of these old sheds is in the driving, rather than the looks. The mk5 should be pretty fun to tool around in. I agree with the consensus. Do the alloys, and maybe even the little spoiler that sits at the top of the boot, and leave it. Or do nothing and save money.
This is a situation where the sum of the parts are worth more than the whole.
By the time you've fitted the bumpers and had them sprayed you'll have spent £750+ and then an engine conversion will be £1500+ minimum and at the end you will have a car that is heavily modified and worthless. And cost a bomb in insurance.
By all means put on the wheels. That isn't a difficult job but the rest I wouldn't bother with. Cheaper in the long run to buy a decent Zetec S as it'll hold its value and cost far less to insure. And you won't look like a knob with a modified car.
Generally turning a cooking model in to a better one is much more expensive than just buying the better one.
By the time you've fitted the bumpers and had them sprayed you'll have spent £750+ and then an engine conversion will be £1500+ minimum and at the end you will have a car that is heavily modified and worthless. And cost a bomb in insurance.
By all means put on the wheels. That isn't a difficult job but the rest I wouldn't bother with. Cheaper in the long run to buy a decent Zetec S as it'll hold its value and cost far less to insure. And you won't look like a knob with a modified car.
Generally turning a cooking model in to a better one is much more expensive than just buying the better one.
thanks for all the posts on here. yeah i meant mk5 zetec s which is true any cheaper ones are pretty knackered and need a lot of work as well, mine not without its faults with the bodywork but mechanically it is very good for its age, if it wasnt for the body it be completely mint but sadly im sure you can imagine ford body work is never designed to last (back arches been the main issue). i will try the alloys at least see how it looks but my gut feeling is look little out of place without the bumpers. will the insurance go up just adding alloys alone does anyone know? also yeah i did get the spoiler off the seller as well but i wasnt so keen on this as it does mean drilling holes into my hatchback boot door :/ i can see that causing a rust issue if not done properly haha, maybe i be like delboy and store car and bits in a garage maybe worth a fortune one day haha!!
i did see someone convert exact same car as mine same engine with zetec s bumpers and alloys a year ago as i remember he trying to sell it for quite a sum of money (prob trying his luck) anyway i try the alloys and send before and after photos for some opinions if not i sell parts on seperately see if i can make same or more bk :/
i did see someone convert exact same car as mine same engine with zetec s bumpers and alloys a year ago as i remember he trying to sell it for quite a sum of money (prob trying his luck) anyway i try the alloys and send before and after photos for some opinions if not i sell parts on seperately see if i can make same or more bk :/
Edited by jamesters on Tuesday 25th September 10:07
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