Just bought a 1998 FORD COUGAR 2.5 V6 24V 3dr Coupe

lesk said:
No, I'm not that chap, and I bought the car in Torquay, as I am only up the road from there in Seaton (by the sea). :) I got a PM with some usefgul info this morning but, not worked out how to reply yet( Don't worry I will sort that out tonight just been busy today... well, busy'ish mainly looking at the modded cats on here).
Click to expand...

Hmmm...I wonder if that was "Tainted Badgers" Coug - as he lives in Torquay and haven't seen him on here in a long time.
 
Hi. Get some spares bulbs as the small side light's are pre-focused and cost about £5 each. These could be difficult to source later. Replace the oil with the correct grade Ford Formula E only and replace the spark plugs (at 60K they could still be the originals and been there 12 yrs) only use Motorcraft originals as noted in the manual. The drivers guide manual is a download from the subscribers section I believe. Check all tyres and grade before you go speeding about and spare in boot, car jack, some tools should be there also. Air con working OK?
Have a safe and great holiday.
 
totalsolution

I have done everything except the bulbs which I am now trawling through - oh Gee, which ones should I get? its pretty confusing.. and by the way I am migrating to Corfu not going on holiday (although I might be back if things don;t work out). I didn't have a jack (ebayed one) and I have the original cougar alloys on which I assume are 21mm? so am wondering about a wheelbrace (please let me know on this someone). I also bought a car cover and my international emergency kit. haha!! Hope I don;t need that.
 
The OEM wheel nuts are 21mm and I would advise getting a sliding T bar or knuckle bar and 21mm socket as the OEM wheel brace is not the strongest.
 
is it better to get ice white LED or Ice blue LED or Xenon lights? I'm a noob with this... havena cloo :( I need to have a set of lights for the continent and really don;t want to mess up as I go next Monday and need to order tomorrow
 
Are we talking headlights here? I didn't even know one could get LED headlight bulbs, is all. Virtually everyone on here who has fitted HID headlights (what I assume you mean by xenon) seems very happy with them and, at around £50, they represent a fairly sensible upgrade when you think that the bulbs appear to last a lot longer and that decent halogen bulbs can cost upwards of £25 a pair. There has been some debate recently about HIDs becoming outlawed in MOT testing, but the general conscensus is that the Cougar is fine as it has the required 'projector' style headlights, rather than the multiple reflector and diffusing lens type.
 
I'm currently lookingere [here] and I don't need a 100% full set but I do need one of each. Side repeaters I have just ordered the crystal balck smokey ones so that takes care of spare lamps for them. I probably will order a full set anyway because I'm sure corfu doesn;t have a ready supply of them.
 
Ah, sidelights. LEDs will work fine but make sure you get the H6W fitment with offset pins, rather than the push fit wedge type that a lot of modern cars use. Most LED sidelights will trigger the bulb fail warning light in the overhead console, as they do not create as much resistance as a filament bulb. This is easily remedied with a resistor soldered into the circuit or you could even hust leave it - the LEDS will work fine regardless, it just depends how much the warning light bothers you.
 
bum, I don't want any warning lights... :D bad enough driving 1000miles across Europe without having a ? over anything. I will just have to go for these... unless these are not good to go? if these are good to go, then I can order these first thing along with sidelights and reversing
 
Yes, I have ordered another set of side bulbs at £1.95 to go with that set so I think I'm covered. So far I have had to buy a jack, wheelbrace, emergency kit, light deflectors, GB stickers, and now lights.... phew!!! I think I'm done :)
 
If you're going to be driving through France at all, ensure that you have a high vis jacket for each occupant, accessible without exiting the car. The French made this law a few years back, but neglected to publicise it anywhere outside France. The Gendarmes then set about pulling as many Brit plated cars as possible for 'spot checks' - their particular favourite targets being sqauddies travelling to and from Gernany on leave and Brits travelling down to Le Mans - and handing out on the spot fines to anyone who either didn't have one or had to get out of the car to retrieve it from the boot. Similarly, don't get out of the car to put money in a péage till, either get your passenger to do it or lean across, you'll risk an instant fine if you get out of the car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.