05 Cobra style taillights !

I'm in the UK too. You may want to have the lights converted by professionals who understand the electrics as the 2005 Mustangs are being plagued by burnt out junction boxes as a result of drawing the wrong currents which cost about £500 to replace. Many UK Mustangs have suffered the problem. Have a look at www.mocgb.net/forums

I see exactly where you're coming from and it will cost you £500, if not more. I have imported a Corvette Z06 and done all my own conversion work and it was no problem. The old Mustangs were no problem either. The new Mustangs however, apparently monitor currents and voltages through the computer and this multi function junction box and is very easily upset into throwing a hissy fit. It is sophisticated electronics not the old school stuff. On mine, the conversion at the rear was done using LEDs for this reason.

There have been multiple reports of these junction boxes burning out - even after SVA conversions done by recognised "conversion specialists" who are supposed to know what they are doing. the box doesn't burn out straight away but can do so at any point down the line.

As a result, the burning question to any Mustang seller in the UK is whether the SVA conversion has been done properly by a recommended conversion specialist. Symptoms include failure of one side of the indicators, failure of both sides, failure of the brake lights or brake lights staying on permanently.

So while it's up to you to do it yourself, and possibly save money, bear in mind that you may still be paying out down the line. I actually bought a set of those UK rear lights and didn't fit them for this reason.

If you check the link, I'm sure someone raised your question recently and it seems the brake switch also goes through the computer so it's not as simple as it might appear. I'm only repeating what I've read, I have no first hand experience nor do I know the part they're referring to but if you go to the site, someone will be able to explain more fully.

Note to moderators: I'm not pinching your members (ooh-er..), it's just that this is a UK specific problem.

Here's one link:
http://www.mocgb.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12843

LV51FER said:

Note to moderators: I'm not pinching your members (ooh-er..), it's just that this is a UK specific problem.

Click to expand...

no worries, i realized the limited target audience in this example.

Good luck with it. Might be worth ringing one of the places recommended about this (like Mildenhall) for advice before you do something you might not be able to repair. The other thing is that possibly the £500 might include the £100 or £150 SVA test fee and is guaranteed to pass rather than possibly failing if they don't like the way you've done it. I know how picky SVA testers can be.

I hope you get it sorted. It really is a car that's worth it in the long run.

........fat lot of good this will do but may I add.......

My thought is if an automobile feature is not legal in another country, why is a car dealer able to sell it that way? Shouldn't they make the modification (and warrant it)?

Or maybe another argument: shouldn't Ford manufacture their exports to meet the destinating country's requirements?

Oh, and do you guys have right hand drive?

Cheers

Kevin

bluecar said:

My thought is if an automobile feature is not legal in another country, why is a car dealer able to sell it that way? Shouldn't they make the modification (and warrant it)?

Or maybe another argument: shouldn't Ford manufacture their exports to meet the destinating country's requirements?

Oh, and do you guys have right hand drive?

Cheers

Kevin

Click to expand...

They don't. Ford don't import the Mustang into the UK. There are a number of dealers who import cars and sell them fully tested and registered for UK use. What we are talking about here is importing your own car from the US and doing the conversion work to pass the SVA test yourself and then registering it yourself.

I don't really understand why America persists with red turn signals at the rear when half the cars (Camaros and Cadillacs, Chrysler 300 etc) have orange anyway. It's a real problem when importing cars to Europe because the orange signals have to be in a specific location. The last Mustang was easier because we used the Cobra lights with orange signals.

Interestingly, when GM imported the Camaro to Europe between 1998 and 2000, they did have to alter the car to comply with European regs and you should see what they have to change - all the glass for a start. The Euro Corvette C6 which we do get here officially (in LHD only) has to ahve orange sihgnals at the rear and a different fender to accomodate the longer European number plates.

No, we don't have RHD Mustangs. there are companies who convert them to RHD but the quality isn't great and the cost is about £5000 which you'd never get back when you come to sell it because most American car drivers over here actually prefer LHD.