European Conversion Advice

[Mavdaddy11]

Hey so I just moved to the UK and my maverick is getting shipped here as I write this. Probably wont show up for another 3 weeks but I am now aware that European law requires rear amber turn indicators, side amber turn indicators and a rear manual auxiliary fog light. I really want to avoid having someone splice into the existing lines just to add these lights in. Especially when I’ll be moving back to the states in the next 4 years. Any advice friends?

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[Glen Baker LLC]

I wonder if you are going to have to use auxiliary Amber turn signals in the back.
Does Ford make rear lights with an amber turn signal that you can swap?
I wonder if the lights picture below would work for the side markers?

 

[MavTime]

Maybe wire them into the trailer lighting? Maybe they have magnet lights that can stick to the tailgate and can be wired to a trailer light pigtail, so you can just remove and unplug them when you move back to US?

 

[MaVVy]

Hey so I just moved to the UK and my maverick is getting shipped here as I write this. Probably wont show up for another 3 weeks but I am now aware that European law requires rear amber turn indicators, side amber turn indicators and a rear manual auxiliary fog light. I really want to avoid having someone splice into the existing lines just to add these lights in. Especially when I’ll be moving back to the states in the next 4 years. Any advice friends?

That's interesting I'm American living in Germany. Headed back to the states in February. My 22 xlt is in American storage and im waiting on a build date for my 25 lariat hybrid awd. I'm using a rental here for a year. Wish I could help. Good luck. Welcome to Europe.

 

[Joe Strummer]

The UK is no longer a member of the EU. Check with UK MoT for current vehicle requirements, but amber turn indicators have been the norm for decades.

The UK drives on the left side of the road. You will need to sit a road test before you can get a license (the UK tests all drivers from countries that do not drive on the left). You may have to pay a premium on your insurance because of the Mav being Left Hand Drive. You may also be subject to VAT/Import Duties.

In addition, if your vehicle is more than three years old, it will have to pass a series of safety/emissions tests and be granted an MoT Certificate. This is a pre-condition of obtaining insurance.

Other than that you are good to go.

 

[Harry G]

Why not contact Ford/UK they may have some ideas already. At the very least they may be interested in how you make out in the UK with the Maverick and it wouldn't hurt to make some contacts at ford for parts , service etc.

 

[Panther City Outdoors]

I'm following this thread. Been thinking about shipping one to Ireland/UK. Whats it cost to ship now? I used to be $1500.

 

[Milqueman]

Just curious, but what are you doing in the UK? Are you a service member, federal employee or working for a civilian company?

You said your coming back in 4 years, so I assume this is a temporary arrangement.

I only ask because I was in the Army and stationed in Europe for many years. I (an many others) had a US Spec vehicle shipped there and drove it there the whole time without having to convert it. There are agreements in place between the US and many other countries that allow US citizens that work overseas in a temporary capacity to drive their US Spec vehicle without the need to convert. For the military, Federal Employees and Civilians that support those entities, it's called the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)

You may want to look into that.

 

[Milqueman]

Also,

I had a Buick Regal 3.8 Liter supercharged and it was VERY Expensive to fix. All parts had to be shipped from the states as there was none of these in Europe. Labor costs per hour were higher too as it was a foreign vehicle to them. A lot of people, myself included, ended up buying a cheap used European spec vehicle. Drove it while there and sold it when we left. Made things a lot easier. Plus being in the UK, if you did this, you would get a right hand drive vehicle which would be easier to drive there. Plus, as mentioned above, insurance on an American vehicle would be higher Vs a European vehicle.

Keep your Maverick in America, put it in park status for insurance and have a friend/family member turn it on once a month.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Mavdaddy11]

I wonder if you are going to have to use auxiliary Amber turn signals in the back.
Does Ford make rear lights with an amber turn signal that you can swap?
I wonder if the lights picture below would work for the side markers?

Checked with a local garage and they will have to add amber lights in the back. No OEM parts from Ford The pics you posted are actually kind of where I was thinking! The garage here agreed that those side markers would suffice.

 

[Mavdaddy11]

Maybe wire them into the trailer lighting? Maybe they have magnet lights that can stick to the tailgate and can be wired to a trailer light pigtail, so you can just remove and unplug them when you move back to US?

Reached out to a local garage about this and they said that many customers have done this in the past and issues have come up from plugging into the tailgate wire. Confirm or deny? Seems pretty straightforward!

 

[Mavdaddy11]

I'm following this thread. Been thinking about shipping one to Ireland/UK. Whats it cost to ship now? I used to be $1500.

Unfortunately I couldn't tell you. All on the governments dime for this one friend.

 

[Mavdaddy11]

Just curious, but what are you doing in the UK? Are you a service member, federal employee or working for a civilian company?

You said your coming back in 4 years, so I assume this is a temporary arrangement.

I only ask because I was in the Army and stationed in Europe for many years. I (an many others) had a US Spec vehicle shipped there and drove it there the whole time without having to convert it. There are agreements in place between the US and many other countries that allow US citizens that work overseas in a temporary capacity to drive their US Spec vehicle without the need to convert. For the military, Federal Employees and Civilians that support those entities, it's called the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)

You may want to look into that.

Lightly reading over it, it looks more geared toward German relations and requirements. Even if UKs name is on it, verbiage looks to reflect more German purpose. Wouldn't want to assume reqs/non-reqs with something like this I feel.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

First of all I would be super super super wary about driving LHD car in UK. Everyone I know who did so got into a wreck. I'd leave the Maverick Stateside and get a RHD car.

ANYWAY, I would second the "tail light" adapter solutions.
The Maverick uses the same red lights for brakes and turn signal- splicing the lights will result in turn signals lighting up with brakes.

Trailer brake light systems recognize when both tail lights light up as braking, and when only one side lights up as a turn signal. You could either wire that module to the existing brake lights or to an "under tailgate strip". If you unplug the existing tail lights you may get lots of warnings on the dash from the computer. SOOOO much of this truck is computer controlled, unlike older vehicles.

There have been writeups on how to wire a side turn signal to the plastic with the trim marking (right in front of front doors).

I had a 1991 Ford Taurus SHO in Germany in 2002-2004. It already came with a manual switch for the rear foglight, which was mounted under the rear bumper. (Car was bought in Colorado in April 1991 and registered in Germany October 1991 until the engine blew on the Autobahn at 171,000 miles. Then I learned the rod bearings should be changed out every 100,000 miles. )

 

[Darnon]

I wonder if you could get away replacing the reverse bulb socket with a three-wire high/low and use an amber/white switchback bulb.

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