Hey everyone. I've done a full review on this car - I thought some of you may enjoy it! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/faqZprOHvtq3k6M.html

Really good presenter, if they do a Scottish top gear you would be a shoe in! Great, informative advice mate 👍

Brillian review mate. Excellent cars, I had a 59 plate ST3 back in Dec 2013 and kept it for 3 years. Initially bought it with only around 12,000 miles on the clock and absolutely loved the car from the 1st moment I picked it up. The only issue I had with it in all the time I owned it, was it went into limp mode once. Took it to a main Ford dealer and it was diagnosed with an unseated relay somewhere (can't remember where exactly) Took them 4 hours to find and fix the fault. As you say the only things I went through were tyres, pads and disks on the front. I upgraded it very shortly using Bluefin, but as you say after a day or two the clutch started to slip. Took the mod back of the car and had no other problems with the clutch. Eventually traded it in for a MK3 ST2 on a 14 plate and kept that for almost 3 years as well and didn't have one issue with that car the entire time I owned it.

Great video and very informative however I have worked on these engines for many years and one of the very annoying problems I get is the customer saying he or she may have cracked liners when infact its a blown head gasket! The head gaskets fail very easy on these and under inspection its due to age, along with movement in the liners and over boosting IE running too much power, Your point on the removal of oil filler cap and check for mayo is infact quite missleading as take a car that has done very little mileage and is used infrequently as these cars will have condensation on the oil cap as a result and defo not cracked liners! I estimate I have replaced over 100 head gasket sets on the Focus ST 2.5 so I speak in confidence! Run these on a budget and you will end up with a pile of_ _ I love them great cars if serviced well and treated with respect and please wait for it to warm up first before boosting! and any blow by from exhaust on over run can be and is more likely to be worn valve stem seals and to scheck if has worn stem seals just let the car tick over then slightly rev and watch for smoke that clears

picking an st3 tomorrow, only car review I think I’ve ever watched to the end. Great stuff thanks bud

10/10 from me, your a fantastic presenter.. well done.

You have such a lovely Scottish accent, I could listen to you all day. You get the thumbs up. Very thorough buyers guide.

I always wondered why Ford never fitted Volvo's 2.4-litre D5 diesel engine into the Mk2 Focus ST. It literally bolts straight into the Focus. Volvo actually de-tuned it slightly down to 180bhp / 400Nm (down from 185bhp) when they dropped it into the shared chassis of the Ford Focus and Volvo S40/V50 simply because the original massive intercooler from the big Volvos wouldnt fit into the Focus chasiss, so they had to fit the shitty small one (same intercooler as the stock ST intercooler). Stage 1 remap of the Volvo D5 will spit out 230-240bhp and 480Nm... So they COULD have given you a proper hot diesel Focus ST, with a 5 cylinder growl, and decent MPG!

Very handy as I’m currently looking for one of these

Quality production and presenting bud!

Great review, bought mine 4 weeks ago. I fell victim to the dreaded cluster failure which I believe is a common fault, though not sure how you could diagnose it early on as it seemed to progressively get worse!

Had one. Was an absolute weapon. Was 9 mths old. Epic. No issues

You certainly don't have to know 100% English to realise that this review is excellent. Best regards from Spain. Sin duda alguna . Te dejo mi like. Que pasada. Suscribed

I wish we had the mk2 in America, they look so good.

Got to love an ST 😍

Had an orange one, did all the checks you suggested and all passed ok but altenator went 2 weeks after purchase and MAF sensor a few months later, no liner or turbo issues luckily and drive shafts replaced 3 years prior were genuine Ford, paintwork was terrible, but despite all that, it was so much fun to drive, engine pulled like a tank, was brutal and sounded awesome,popped and cracked a lot lol, hoping to get another one day with better paintwork 😁

Heated windscreen in my mk2 (not st, sadly) was one of its best features!

Fantastic video, really helpful and well presented. I'm looking at an ST this week and will be trying to remember all of these points... I think I need a written list!

Great video man not the kind of car I'd thought I see at the cricket club lol. Loved your information short snappy and straight to the point.

Had 1 for a couple of days! Thanks for this video! Saw a few lemons till i found my standard 1 apart from an exhaust! 80k miles fulm service history! Bodywork is mint just 1 little dink on passnager door! Love it

Another common fault is not only the water pump which you need the timing tool but also the cam shaft position sensor. It throws the engine idle off and the timing of the engine can be read wrong as well as throw codes for your exhaust cam sensor and more. Then you end up needing your timing checked just to be safe and all your sensors because the ecu doesn't tell you 'exactly' what the fault is!!! I had a few of these cars and they all had these problems I've said. None of the others that were said thou!!! 😊

Common misconception not a dodgy bonnet lock, the key wears out from constant interaction with the ignition barrel changing the characteristics of the key, if there is a spare key use that on the bonnet lock.

Just seen this now and mate thanks so much for this literally now I can see when I view an st in the future exactly what to look out for! Subscribed

Great advice recently purchased my first st this video has given me a lot of confidence that I’ve found the right one very informative thanks

This video was ace, I'm looking for a focus ST3 and will definitely have alot more confidence when viewing due to this video!!

Great little buyers guide, and I do love the noise of a 5 pot ST.

Had my facelift st3 for 3 and a half years. I had to upgrade to a full rs clutch upgrade which was my fault for remapping the car. literally only had to change tyres disk and pads!!. Make sure it's a good example you get and look after it properly. Most who get issues buy them and they dont maintain them properly

Great video. Thanks. What I heard is don’t get 1. The ST170 is the best but even for that car finding parts is hard and a replacement Getrag MT 285 doesn’t exist (also the parts).

Nice quality video, surely goung to do these checks when i am going to shop for a mk2 st in march.

Going to look at and st3 today. Some really good stuff on this video. Glad I know what to look out for

Thanks for this! Viewing an ST this Friday, got all the info I need 👍🏻

Top quality and informative . Armed and ready Subscribed 😇

Excellent video buddy! Well done

Good buyers guide looking into maybe swapping my ST180 for one found the video handy specially pointing out the common faults :)

Love the channel 👍 Do u think the mk2 st are better than the newer st models ?

Great review. Thanks for this. Gonna buy one in the next few days, so this was really helpful. Liked and subbed ❤😊

Hey random Australian here I'm looking to buy an XR5 turbo hopefully I find one in good nick seeing I don't want to buy a commo or an XR6 like every p plater Cheers m8

Very informative. Great advice. Many thanks.

Epic video and a stunning example look like your enjoying the car 😄

Really good guide and my home town! 👍

Great review I've subscribed

Great Video!! I have a question. My 2006 ST225 in Japan with 178km is that the near side front sems to wandering and is a handful to control on any crowned road. Is it better to replace the entire arm or arms and or just buy some Puma bushkit for the lower arms? Would it be smart to just also do both tie rod ends? The stablizer end links have been replaced. Also what is a best menue course for the engine mounts? Thnx!

Top quality video 👏🏼

Good points to look out for 👍🏻

Glad I went with the Impreza 😃👍

I got my st for 2k and had it for 7yrs and is all standard and I got it then had an heart attack so I don’t work anymore bud for a dole st I call it I can’t complain and love mine and it hard to keep on the road but done 30k in mine now

Just a quick message 9.44 minutes in u have nail varnish on 💅 but 2 seconds before you don't 😮😂

Excellent presenter very informative top notch should be a top gear presenter 👍

Did you mention the faulty fuel light? ⛽ It's always on.

I've gone 4 years with only 2 maf sensors and a crank sensor .

Amazing video, keep at it! Just one question: do the problems with these differ if you opt for a facelifted vs. pre-facelift model, as in are some problems you mentioned solved, or did new problems pop up?

Pre 2008 models can suffer from ABS module failure too. No over the counter OBD reader will turn the fault off. New unit only unless you know someone who can remove and rebuild the unit.

Tnx mate

Great presentation - really enjoyable, apart from the blasphemy :/ I wonder if you could mention approx. prices for say a clutch job, or driveshafts (or even 'gulp' engine liner fix) etc. Looking forward to more of the same 👍

Hade my st MK2 a while now even done track days one other thing to look out for is water hose bingeing to wear out also boost hoses...boost leaking etc

Only thing that would/ is stopping me is the road tax WOW

To prevent the problem with the cracked Zylinder wall I wanted to install “Blockmod”. But when I opened up my engine, the Blockmod doesn’t fit inside, because it was a RS Block. I got one of the latest ST facelift editions. Does this prevent the Zylinder wall from cracking? Sry for my Bad englisch.

My st gave me errors tried everything battery...always came up with pedal sensor..took the car to mechanic...he said it's the cluster ...but I was not convinced..I tested almost every thing ...then the last was map sensor...cleaned it put it back errors was gone but after a while it came back ...replaced the map..am error was gone

Great review. I have a 5 door "family" st😁 the car was already lowered on eibachs and has full powerflow decat. 86000 miles but recently had cam belt and aux belts, rs clutch, new genuine Ford front disc matched with ferodo ds2500....love my 5 pot.. Oh, and its running around 280

Decent channel 👍

Bottoms of the front wings are always bad in behind skirt

Great review I'm not a young boy racer anymore so I'm looking at a mondeo estate 2.5t do they also have weaker drive shafts I'll be going for 350hp gonna sell my 330d as I no longer need a diesel my commute is only a Mile now Block mod is easily enough done anything I should look out for

I bought a 59 plate ST3 2 months ago - really pleased with it. Where is the best place to get genuine cosmetic parts from - such as new gear knob and rear light clusters ?

Theeeees vedeo es sooo coool

love these cars, but the fiat made 2 liter 5 cylinder turbo is much stronger more reliable its closed deck no need for block mod internals good for 350bhp at a push 400bhp safely. no oil diaphragm to go wrong either.

Buy the car, then buy a 10 pound bonnet lock ebay, 2 liners ,buy one that hasn't been battered,.

always wanted an st but the reliability is just not there, just like scoobs. the best most popular cars are problem cars.

U wanna buy a mk4 seat Ibiza fr they are amazing once u get them modified I’ve gone right off fords

Quality 👏

Legend

and if you find none of these faults be prepaired to pay the money for a good example

I’ve got a significant squeak when I let off the throttle suddenly, mostly happens when going up or down a hill rather than flat ground. Is this likely to be the front lower arm bushings? And how can I confirm this before ordering the parts? Thanks.

What is this front end kit??????

i got the st2 but i dont have xenon

Trying to buy one. Sorry to say but all the ones I have looked at have been hammered or and have had cheap repairs like sub standard driveshafts etc. So many dodgy moneypits around. Even seen ones with seriously rusty front wings and sills. Very hard to spot due to the bodykit. And that's ignoring all the badly modified ones or ones with no history... the search continues...

what does M,K mean???

Mine boosts to 3/4. Owner told me it was stage 1 but it just doesn’t feel that fast. So guessing it was a shit Remap

They are so dated inside and out but that engine noise and handling has me on the verge of buying one!

Is t that mk1 lights

9:10 EML light on lol

what year is the st2?

9:09 engine management light on LOL. This example has many secrets. The ECU has been moved to allow for another air intake. In fact this whole video is bogus and should be "How to buy a modified Focus ST" .....even then it doesnt cover the mods. I have a 450 brake one of these so i know. PS. I have the block mod.

bit late now oof

Ticking time bomb then I think I’ll pass lol

If only they had dropped the legendary but more up to date version of full fat 2.3 t5 from the 850R, A De-tuned for the ST and full vindaloo for the RS and this photocopy pile-o-shite 2.5 left where it belongs, as recycled coke cans. People fell for the it's got the legendary "Volvo T5" BS...not even close. I mean even in standard tune these things are known to have cracked liners and having to knock a few slices of metal between the cylinders just to make them useable is utterly disgraceful. Lovely looking motors that sound glorious before they decide to take a four sometimes five figure shit on you.

dont buy one, owned 2 and they are money pits. owned 3 20vt's before and those cars where alot cheaper to run, and just as much fun.

Thas is ford focus st & thas" tf

Got to be the ugliest car on the road

Dump the track'ee and wear some rolled up bottom jeans and brogues....!