retrostevieee

[retrostevieee]

2016 Renault Clio RS 220 Trophy EDC

My tumblr-blogs: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/germancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/frenchcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/englishcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/italiancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/japanesecarssince1947

[retrostevieee]

The forgotten Mk3 Mondeo engine - the 1.8 SCI

Walk into a car parts store, any car parts store, and ask them for a set of spark plugs for a Ford Mondeo 1.8 SCI. What will likely happen next, is they'll guide you to the spark plugs for the regular 1.8 petrol, the one that goes almost hand-in-hand with many of the Edge and Zetec models up and down the country. At this point, you respond with "No, not *that* 1.8, the direct injection one!", to which they'll probably look at you like you've just told them they have six heads. On the way home, you'll stop to fuel up, and quickly glance over at the fuelling bay beside yours, in which the owner of a regular 1.8 has just paid significantly less for their tank of fuel than you have. As you mutter something about the government's decision to change standard petrol to 10% ethanol and leave the E5 fuel exclusive to the premium grade, a tear drops into your coffee, which you place back into your slide-out cupholder before driving away home while questioning why you didn't just buy the standard 1.8.

The Mondeo SCI is one of those strange anomalies mostly forgotten now, but still deserves some love and attention. Exclusive to Ghia and Ghia X models, the 1.8 SCI could be identified by a small badge on the back of the car. A direct quote from an old Ford Mondeo brochure reads "The 1.8-litre Duratec SCi engine uses direct petrol injection for improved fuel economy and lower emissions." It is worth noting that the 1.8 SCi also has slightly more power than the regular 1.8. Of course, literally anyone currently alive on this planet will agree that this is a fantastic thing. And that's because it is. Anyone who disagrees is lying to you. Or the boss of an oil company.

Searching up the Mondeo 1.8 SCI online will provide you with some very interesting results. One person from many years ago stated that even the Ford mechanics did not recognise what it was. And if you're searching for parts - good luck - it's almost impossible now. The fuel injectors especially so.

The very helpful HowManyLeft website shows some interesting statistics. As of quarter 2 of 2023, 73 Ghia models are currently licensed and taxed on UK roads. A further 42 are currently registered as SORN, which for readers outside of the UK, means that the car is currently not used on public roads. The slightly more expensive Ghia X model is even more rare - with 22 licensed and just 13 SORN. Very sad. Sadly, with the price of premium fuel, and the fact that it's almost impossible to find parts, this particular Mondeo variant will soon be lost to time, only remembered in ancient forum posts, old photos, and stories spread by families and friends... "Remember when Dave put the wrong petrol in the car and Vanessa nearly killed him using nothing but an empty cardboard box? Those were good times... I loved that car."

Mondeo SCIs do occasionally come up for sale online, usually in questionable condition. Keep a look out for them! Thank you for reading this post. If you found this by trying to find parts, I am sorry that I am unable to assist! However - don't give up - keep searching the used/refurbished parts market! It would be a shame to let something like this become completely forgotten.

Thanks for reading.

-The Mondeo Fan Club

[retrostevieee]

1964 Turner Sports 1600 Mk III

My tumblr-blogs: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/germancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/frenchcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/englishcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/italiancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/japanesecarssince1947

[retrostevieee]

Not Mondeo related today! Some photos from my recent trip to Kent. I love visiting this part of the country. Not my first time - and I hope to return again in the future! All photos taken with an Oppo A9 smartphone.

[retrostevieee]

1. Minecraft. Because Minecraft. I still have my Wii U copy.

2. Jalopy. I played it on my laptop. Probably not ideal for it, but it certainly got me through a house move and inspired a family holiday we did a few years later.

3. Pokémon Black. I played it about 5 or 6 years too late! I distinctly remember playing it when our new kitchen was installed. Not sure why I can remember that so clearly.

4. Mario Kart 8. I have no idea how many times I've played it now.

5. Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. One of my favourite GBA games. First Zelda game I ever played, found it in a second-hand store around 2018.

@retrobreakgames

Minecraft, DDLC, Yandere Sim, FNAF, and Animal Jam 🫡

[retrostevieee]

are the

twinto

many times

[retrostevieee]

hi twingotime. did you know that the 1st gen twingo and the ferrari 308 share the same wheelbase. this led renault designer axel breun to conceptualize a mid-engined, ferrari-powered "twingo MAXI" (the basis of which would shape the renaultsport clio v6) with styling cues very similar to renault's own espace f1 concept. i love renault because they just loooove to shove engines in the middle of things that should not have engines in the middle of them

bholy shit

THEY MADE HER FAST

[retrostevieee]

Help I was just at the store and I heard a little kid repeatedly saying “mom can I get this??” and I expected it to be a toy or something but when I looked he was holding a bottle of ibuprofen

[retrostevieee]

Spotted in Monchique, Portugal in October 2022. License plate blurred on behalf of owner.

[retrostevieee]

The radio options of the third generation Ford Mondeo (2001-2007)

Hello Mondeo fans! Welcome to another Mondeo Fan Club post. Today we will be focusing on the many radio options which were available in the Mk3 (2001-2007) Mondeo. This post will focus (not to be confused with the Ford Focus!) on both CD/radio and CD/radio/navigation units, divided into two categories.

CD/Radio Units

We will start with the pre-facelift Ford 6000CD. This is one of the most basic units. It has 6 preset buttons (with removable 2, 3, 4 and 5 buttons to prevent car radio theft), and a volume dial on the left hand side. A small rectangular display shows station and track information. This unit can play CDs, and receive AM and FM stations. It is also compatible with an optional 6-CD changer, mounted elsewhere.

Next up is the Ford 6006E. Similar to the 6000CD, but with a built-in 6-CD changer. This model also has a rectangular display and left-side volume dial, but does not have removal buttons.

In the facelift Mk3, Ford kindly offered the facelift Ford 6000CD. This model was updated and made to look more visually appealing. This model has a higher mounted display which is shorter but wider, and a centre-mounted volume dial. In later models, this unit could support Bluetooth connections and AUX Input. Unfortunately, not all units have this. To find out if yours supports these features. Please press either the button labelled "PHONE" or "AUX". If pressing either of these stops the audio and displays "MUTE" on the screen, your car does not support these features and is simply an AM/FM/CD receiver.

Now we're getting into the fancy stuff. On higher end models, such as the Titanium and Ghia, you could get a Sony CD/MP3 unit. This model features a glossy design, rectangular screen and centre-mounted volume dial. This unit can play CDs, receive AM/FM stations, and supports AUX and MP3 players. Even by today's standards, this unit is known for its excellent sound quality.

CD/Radio/Navigation Units

Some Mk3 Mondeo owners may find themselves with a satellite navigation unit pre-installed in their car. This section of the post will cover each one.

The Blaupunkt TravelPilot DX unit seems particularly rare in the UK. It offers AM/FM radio, a CD player, and a navigation system with voice instructions. This unit provides navigation in the form of arrows on-screen, and does not display maps due to the technical limitations of the time. A rectangular display sits in the middle, with volume and scrolling dials located at the bottom left and right of the unit.

Pre-facelift Mk3s could also receive the 9000 VNR navigation system. This advanced unit offered colour map navigation, a CD player, an AM/FM tuner, and radio-based traffic updates. Fancy.

Next up is the Blaupunkt TravelPilot EX. This unit in particular I have a lot of memories with! Like its sibling, it can only provide arrow-based navigation due to the limited screen size. This unit features a CD player, 6-CD changer support, an AM/FM tuner, radio traffic updates and Bluetooth phone support. If you are planning on fitting one of these to your car, please ensure it is the correct unit for your car - the Mondeo units are a slightly different shape to the ones used in other models of Fords! Unfortunately the TravelPilot EX appears to be getting rarer now in the UK. It can be identified by its rectangular centre screen, with a volume dial to the left of the display, and a scrolling dial to the right. There are many variations of the TravelPilot EX, which would deserve its own post altogether, which I may make in the future.

Finally, we have a very advanced unit commonly found in ST220 models - the Denso Nav, also known as the Visteon. This unit is very easy to identify with the following features:

A large, centre-mounted touch screen colour display with map view for navigation.

Integrated climate and AC controls which can be controlled via buttons on both sides of the screen, or via the touch screen.

A centre volume dial located underneath the screen.

The Denso unit has various features, such as an AM/FM tuner, colour map-based navigation, integrated AC controls and a colourful display. Some units support Bluetooth phone connection, but not all do - some will simply mute the radio when pressing the PHONE button.

Frequently Asked Questions:

I am not a technician - simply an enthusiast of Mondeos! However, I will answer some questions anyone may have.

"What is my radio code?"

This varies depending on your car. There should be a piece of paper located in your glovebox or with your owners manual which tells you the code. If not, you can contact a car audio specialist, download the Ford Radio Codes app, or use a code unlocking service online. If in doubt, contact your nearest dealership!

"I want to connect my mobile phone, but trying to do so simply mutes the radio?"

As stated before, some units do not contain Bluetooth modules. Trying to press the phone button will simply mute the radio. As tempting as this seems, don't mute your radio to take a call - please wait until you find somewhere safe to stop! A safe and enjoyable drive is more important than a telephone call.

"Why is my radio not working?"

The earliest Mk3 Mondeos are now 22 years old! Thankfully, specialists out there will be willing to repair your radio for you. If not, you can purchase a used unit from a local scrapyard, or online.

In conclusion...

If you've stuck around to the end, thank you very much for reading my post which I've spent nearly 40 minutes writing. Please let me know if you enjoyed this - I'd love to meet more Mondeo enthusiasts!

[retrostevieee]

Walmer Castle, Walmer, Kent, England, September 2023.

[retrostevieee]

affirmations for when you have to send emails

[retrostevieee]

reblog to bonk the person you reblogged it from with a hollow cardboard tube

[retrostevieee]

Mondeo Duct Tape Syndrome

If you live in one of the countries where the Ford Mondeo was sold, you've likely seen a first, second or sometimes even third generation model with the front and/or rear bumper held together by duct tape!

Due to the increasing rarity of early Mondeos, examples with duct taped bumpers are now a rarely seen sight, and nowadays people are more likely to spot a third generation Ford Focus with its door seals hanging off, or a Vauxhall Insignia with its front badge missing.

Why duct tape?

A common problem with early Mondeo bumpers was that they would crack very easily. At high speeds, you could actually see the bumpers flapping around on the back of the car. The fragility of these bumpers led to most people applying tape as a repair, some owners going to the effort of colour-matching the tape to the paint colour of their car.

Why was the tape referred to as 'gaffer tape' in some communities?

Apparently one's stronger than the other. I'm not really sure of the difference, but if it goes on a Mondeo, it works!

Why can't I find one for sale?

Most of the badly maintained ones have been scrapped now, and most of the survivors are decent ones. The occasional duct-taped example comes up for sale sometimes.

When did you last see one?

October 2022, on this UK-registered Mk3 Mondeo estate which now seems to live in southern Portugal. I've cropped the image down to the taped part of the bumper, for your enjoyment and convenience.

[retrostevieee]

He be crusty

[retrostevieee]