We are buying a Focus Mk2 for my wife from her dad.

The car does not have parking sensors and i have been asked to fit some. The Focus has a black textured strip across the rear bumper. The cars with factory fit sensors have them in a special version of that strip.

Does anyone know if the strip is removable from the bumper or is it part of the same molding but not painted?

If it is a seperate removable part I may try and get one from Ford rather than drill the bumper and them try to paint the sensors to match.

If you want to go that route I suspect you will need to get the official ford kit which will be costly.

You can however get kit that fit on to the number plate or surface mount kits that don't involve drilling

http://www.parkingsensors.co.uk/veba_avrsnp.asp
http://www.parkingsensors.co.uk/nikkai_4a.asp

You can also get systems that work by electromagnetic induction rather than ultra sound --- I have never seen one in action but from the specification they only work at close range.

http://www.parkingsensors.co.uk/PD1_parking_dynamic_1.asp

However drilling the bumper is no big deal -- most of the better kits include the correct 21mm hole saw so the sensor is a perfect fit. The system just connects to the reversing wiring light for power -- getting a good connection can be tricky as scotchloks don't work well on the thin gauge wiring of modern cars.

For both wiring convenience and psychological reasons the best place for the bleeper is on the rear parcel shelf.

It is important when selecting the right type that you look for a type that will work below 1 metre a lot of the cheaper kits go to a continuous beep at 1.2 or 1.5 metres which is no use for parking.
I have an older version Veba AVRS2 system with a wired display in the front --- the display isn't really used once you get used to parking using the beeper alone..
The Veba ultrasonic system have a working range from above 1.5 to below 450mm which is pretty well ideal.
http://www.parkingsensors.co.uk/veba_avrs2.asp

Running a wire to the front of the car is a pita so if you really want a display on the dash go for a wireless system.


A 4 sensor system should be fine on a Focus --- 6 sensor systems are really for cars with really restricted rear vision.







[Edited on 18/2/09 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 18/2/09 by britishtrident]

Thanks for the reply.

I had looked at some cheap sets on ebay and thought the distance at which the warning goes onto the last catagory was rather large.

She who must be pleased says she wants front sensors.

I think we might try the electro magnetic one.

Parking sensors tak thefun out of parking imo