Metra dash kit for 2012 focus

[Tiger-Heli]

Hard to tell, but in the last pic - is the Metra Button illumination red even though the Focus Interior is blue lighting?

(Missed a whole page of the thread somehow - saw where it was confirmed later).

That would almost be a deal-breaker for me (although I imagine you could swap out some LED's, but you shouldn't need to.)

[tha1mar1986]

where did u purchase it and what is the model #

[Tiger-Heli]

Reply #2 has the model number. Google that - Amazon, E-bay, SonicElectronix online has them. Best Buy carries Metra, but not sure if they have the Focus kit yet.

[tech10002]

Originally Posted by Tiger-Heli

Hard to tell, but in the last pic - is the Metra Button illumination red even though the Focus Interior is blue lighting?

(Missed a whole page of the thread somehow - saw where it was confirmed later).

That would almost be a deal-breaker for me (although I imagine you could swap out some LED's, but you shouldn't need to.)

I'm wondering the same thing. Every picture I have seen, the buttons look orange or red. You would think there would be a way to switch the color, but the directions make no mention of it. My kit is sitting on my workbench with the harness all soldered up. I just haven't had time to actually install it in the car. I might try to do it this evening, so I should have the answer soon. I ordered some blue LEDs to replace the orange ones, but they're 470nm, which is closer to blue than blue-green like the Focus lights. Anything closer to 500nm that would be blue-green is impossible to find in surface mount. I'm thinking of using light green photographic gels glued over the blue LEDs to match the color better.

[Tiger-Heli]

I'm really wanting to see how that comes out.

I didn't realize the Metra kit was also surface mount LED's.

I would think gels would work - it also would probably be possible (but expensive) to use the surface mount LED's that Ford probably used in the headunit, window switches, etc.

(Assuming they are blue led's - on the Gen 1 Focus, they were often white lights shining through green plastic with translucent white paint.

[sk8parker94]

Originally Posted by Texasdawg

The dash kit its self is easy. two torqs screws holding it in. instructions on how to remove it and install it are in the kit. getting the wiring right involves following the instruction accurately and is the hard part. just follow the directions and you can do it. the car harness and steering wheel control harness are dependant on what stereo you get.

(THis might have been mentioned already) But aside from the dash kit, do any extra wires need to be purchased to install a single DIN radio with no Bluetooth or navigation?

EDIT: from readin earlier I only need to get the wire harness and antenna? ( can i purchase an antenna adapter and save some $$)

[tech10002]

Originally Posted by Tiger-Heli

I'm really wanting to see how that comes out.

I didn't realize the Metra kit was also surface mount LED's.

I would think gels would work - it also would probably be possible (but expensive) to use the surface mount LED's that Ford probably used in the headunit, window switches, etc.

(Assuming they are blue led's - on the Gen 1 Focus, they were often white lights shining through green plastic with translucent white paint.

It looks like I won't get a chance to install the stereo until the weekend due to all this crappy weather from the east coast hurricane, but I played with the control panel a little. It looks like the LEDs I ordered are too small. I measured the Metra ones, and they're 3.25mm x 1.65mm, so it looks like they're 1206 SMT package. I found these on ebay in blue: http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-Twenty-Br...item4cff05c7df

Here's the same thing in green: http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-Twenty-Ja...item35bb0bfe60

Here are the gels I ordered: http://www.ebay.com/itm/260769002895...84.m1423.l2649

I thought about using the Ford LEDs, too, but I can't find them anywhere. Any part that has enough of them would be at least a couple hundred bucks, and you'd probably destroy half the LEDs removing them anyway, so I'm just gonna go with cheap LEDs and try to match the color with gels.

I'm not sure if a blue LED with a green gel filter or a green LED with a blue gel filter is best, so I just ordered both. There are 14 LEDs total on the board, but I think a couple should probably stay the reddish color for the hazard button and the lock indicator. With 20 of each color and a bunch of gels, I should be able to screw up quite a bit and still have plenty of spares. The light conductor on the Metra buttons is just clear plastic, so whatever color the LEDs emit will be the button color. The LEDs are actually mounted upside-down from the component side of the board, so it'll be really easy to glue the gels on the button side to shift the colors.

Wish me luck hacking up on my $180 bezel. LOL

[sk8parker94]

I know this Metra kit comes with instructions but has anyone made a walk through video for installation?

[mrpeaches]

Originally Posted by sk8parker94

I know this Metra kit comes with instructions but has anyone made a walk through video for installation?

I don't think so, but it's pretty simple. Any particular questions that you have? I just finished installing my setup

[Tiger-Heli]

http://www.metraonline.com/files/pro...-5827B_web.pdf

YouTube Video

Actually, their own video briefly shows part of the install.