[Anth0ny]

Well, firstly some of you know about my little "accident" in December, and saw the pictures... :roll:
Anyways, I was thinking about getting a brush-guard that is similar to the one that 02escape had on his Escape (see picture at bottom). The reason I want one for my Escape is because in the event I ever am in an accident again (rear-end someone, or someone backs into me), the brush guard would take the brunt of the impact and lessen the damage on my escape. I believe that if I had a brushguard on prior to my latest accident, the escape would have came out un-harmed (for the most part).
If somebody can point me in the right direction of a similar brush guard it would be appreciated.

Also, I am mildly interested in getting some new Headlights and tail lights for my escape. What should I be looking out for when purchasing head lights and tail lights? I like the cool-blue look of Audi headlights (see picture at bottom). When it comes to the tail lights, I am looking for led's for sure, and something thats not to over the edge. It is a 2003 escape, so something too "Blingy" would simply look stupid.
Any ideas?

Sorry guys, when it comes to these car modifications I am a complete newbie! I have been reading lots of "How to" threads on here, and most of you guys know what your doing! Grade 10 mechanics is all I know about!

 

[Anth0ny]

Also, i don't have any fog lights on my Escape. So I am wondering if I should put some in, or wait until I get a brush-guard, then install some lights on the light bar of the Brush Guard?? OR Both?

 

[Spark757]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Esc ... ccessories
or go to ebay.com and type in "2003 ford escape brush guard" and tons will come up. Most have mounts you can put lights on like the link I just posted ^^

 

[Squishy]

Brush guards won't reduce collision damage. They'll help keep branches from scratching your bumper and headlamps in low-speed hits, but will actually increase damages in most two vehicle collisions. Instead of a broken bumper cover, you now have a dented hood and damage to the subframe. We have very poor attachment points for the brush guard and it's mostly for show. The "roo bars" they have down under are a different story, but I don't know of any made for the Escape (again, because of poor attachment points).

I have amber fog lights along with a brush guard (to help with our huge snowdrifts) and 100 W lights switched into my high beams. The fog lights help with finding lane markings in fog and heavy snow. The 100 W lights, while not technically "road legal", are only used when no other car is in sight and really lights up the country roads.

If the fogs are just to "look cool" while driving in the city...I say don't bother.

 

[Surfscape]

I always liked the WAAG frontrunner cause it is not too big but protects the important stuff...
http://www.everythingsuv.com/waag_frontrunner_bumper_guards-esuv.asp

 

[Anth0ny]

Brush guards won't reduce collision damage. They'll help keep branches from scratching your bumper and headlamps in low-speed hits, but will actually increase damages in most two vehicle collisions. Instead of a broken bumper cover, you now have a dented hood and damage to the subframe. We have very poor attachment points for the brush guard and it's mostly for show. The "roo bars" they have down under are a different story, but I don't know of any made for the Escape (again, because of poor attachment points).

I have amber fog lights along with a brush guard (to help with our huge snowdrifts) and 100 W lights switched into my high beams. The fog lights help with finding lane markings in fog and heavy snow. The 100 W lights, while not technically "road legal", are only used when no other car is in sight and really lights up the country roads.

If the fogs are just to "look cool" while driving in the city...I say don't bother.

Thanks for the insight squishy! When I do think about it, the brush guard really wouldn't actually help that much. When I was thinking about it earlier, I was under the impression that the guard over the lights would take the punch in a two vehicle accident, sparing the head lights and their housing. However the guard would really just get punched further into the lights, and as you said, cause more damage. :doh: :doh:

As far as the fog lights go, I really would make use for them. I live in Western Canada, and as you alluded to, blowing snow is an issue when trying to see the lines on the road. I quite frequently (2-3 times per month) make a five hour drive "home", usually at night. The fog lights would really help light up the road, as generally the road is vacant after dark.
Are your fog lights factory or after market?

 

[Squishy]

They're "Blazer" fog lights from Canadian Tire; plastic package with purple inserts, I think. They fit perfectly in the 01-04 square fog light openings. There are two different types - driving lights and fog lights. The fog lights have an amber reflector instead of relying on increasingly rare yellow bulbs, and I find the amber really helps in differentiating road from snow. I even wear shooting glasses in bad storms to help me see better - scares my passengers if they think I'm wearing sunglasses at night.

My 100 W driving lights are the "Blazer Baja" lights from Canadian Tire, with upgraded bulbs and wiring to handle 100 W. They come with 55 W bulbs.

I'll go take some pictures of the lights and how I attached the fog lights after I finish reading the posts on here.

 

[Anth0ny]

They're "Blazer" fog lights from Canadian Tire; plastic package with purple inserts, I think. They fit perfectly in the 01-04 square fog light openings. There are two different types - driving lights and fog lights. The fog lights have an amber reflector instead of relying on increasingly rare yellow bulbs, and I find the amber really helps in differentiating road from snow. I even wear shooting glasses in bad storms to help me see better - scares my passengers if they think I'm wearing sunglasses at night.

My 100 W driving lights are the "Blazer Baja" lights from Canadian Tire, with upgraded bulbs and wiring to handle 100 W. They come with 55 W bulbs.

I'll go take some pictures of the lights and how I attached the fog lights after I finish reading the posts on here.

Awesome! Thanks Squishy!
Canadian tire has EVERYTHING! Hahaha!
I am going to go and take a look at both those sets tomorrow!

 

[Squishy]

Here are the fogs:

Here are the auxiliary driving lights:

To mount the fogs, I made a rough template the size of the visible part of the glass lens, then cut it into the fog light opening. I didn't have the right Dremel attachment to smooth out the edges, but it's hardly noticeable so I didn't bother. I used the metal cutting disc to make the rough cut. Make sure to leave enough room on each side for the screws. I used the screws that came with the lights, which originally screw a metal collar around the glass lens to hold everything together. I just barely had enough screw to bite into the Blazer light housing, so you may or may not have to get longer screws. Edit to add: I kept the metal collar on the light to keep everything mounted tight. The screw basically goes through: plastic bumper -> metal collar -> light housing.

I spent $20 at a Ford dealer to get their stock fog lamp switch. All the wiring is there, including behind the bumper. Plug and play.

 

[Spark757]

*interrupts*

Squishy, I didn't know that license plate in your signature was your real license plate! Ahahaha I love it!
On my Facebook, I have an album of 110+ personalized license plates that I've collected from taking pictures and friends sending them to me... mind if I snag yours to add?

 

[Squishy]

*interrupts*

Squishy, I didn't know that license plate in your signature was your real license plate! Ahahaha I love it!
On my Facebook, I have an album of 110+ personalized license plates that I've collected from taking pictures and friends sending them to me... mind if I snag yours to add?

Sure

 

[kluge9]

by the way...

, thats a mustang, not even close to an audi (i knows, used to have one)

 

[Anth0ny]

by the way...

, thats a mustang, not even close to an audi (i knows, used to have one)

OH I know, I just ment like the color of the lights. I didn't mean to say that the car in the picture was an Audi. I just have seen some Audi's locally that have the same blue headlights. Also, I was under the impression that all stock Audi's have these blue type of headlights?

Sorry for the confusion guys!

 

[kluge9]

No worries. Its becoming more of a stock thing, but i believe they are just HID's. Probably cost you a pretty penny to retrofit those to an e/m/t. havent even looked behind the bumper to see how much room there is to mount the ballast but i am sure it can/has be/en done. Good luck either way.

 

[Anth0ny]

No worries. Its becoming more of a stock thing, but i believe they are just HID's. Probably cost you a pretty penny to retrofit those to an e/m/t. havent even looked behind the bumper to see how much room there is to mount the ballast but i am sure it can/has be/en done. Good luck either way.

Thanks. I am not exactly a pro when it comes to electrical wiring. But looking at that other retrofit thread, it looks "pretty" complicated. Does anyone know if a Ford dealer would take on an HID headlight retrofit project?

 

[kluge9]

umm..wow. doubt they would take that on. if youre just looking for "whiter" headlights, the 05-07 retrofit looks very straight forward and really easy...you would just upgrade your normal bulbs. use like silverstar hyperwhites or something.

 

[Scooter Scott]

I doubt that they would do that retrofit. That would be more for a specialty shop I think.

 

[jpark]

...and the '05 to '07 headlamps use H11 low-beams, which don't have any SilverStar or other reliable retrofit bulbs.

I crack up every time I see a Sylvania SilverStar commercial, when they don't (and won't) even make a SilverStar for the most common low-beam bulb. I've e-mailed them dozens of times.

:cuss:

 

[Scooter Scott]

How recently?

 

[Squishy]

SilverStars are overrated anyways.