Reverse/Brake Lights - Moutaineer

[Black Mounty]

http://www.pbase.com/image/17272556

Hi! Im new to the forum and am just starting to share some of my mods. Ive seen so many people looking more lights on the back of their Mountaineers/Ex's. I came up with this extreeemly easy solution to perhaps the most hated feature of my 97 mountainner, those stupid reflectors in the rear bumper.

I lifted a set of rear bumper lights from a 97 Land Rover Discovery, and with a little modification, they fit perfectly in the slots. Also , PIAA lights were hooked up. I think it looks pretty sharp and makes the rear end look so much nicer.

Im trying to get more pictures up soon.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Cool!

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Very nice! What kinds of modification on the discovery lights?

Also, I have the same truck, Black 97 AWD Mountaineer... check my sig

 

[Black Mounty]

None really, just spliced the wires for stop/turn and the PIAA backup lights. One issue that has always plagued this setup is water in the lenses. THE Land Rover set up always shorted out the bulbs because water would accumilate in the lens. Land River had an aftermarket boot that has kept the water out most of the time. About once a year, i take a trip down to the Land Rover Dealer, buy the bulb holders (7.00 each) and reinstall them.

Overall, this really is not an expensive mod, and i think the North Face Explorers(2nd Gens) in the UK have this setup in them. Basically a Mountaineer bumper on a EB v6 explorer.

 

[Dre]

that would look cool on mine.... I was just looking for something like this but have replaced the rear bumper and now... need to find a different set-up to fit in between the rails... (I have pre-runner style rear bumper).
BTW... these reflectors (Mountaineer bumpers) were widely used on European version 1st generation Explorers... instead of reflectors they installed rear fog light on the left side and back-up light on the right side. I'm wondering if it's possible to get these replacements here in the US....

I need to look-up the picture of one of these....

 

[Crankcase]

Like this?

 

[Dre]

exactly! I was looking through all the pictures I took in Europe but looks like you were faster... different lights and license plate on the rear hatch. That's what I was looking for but noe with the prerunner bumper I'll have to see what fits in between the rails...

 

[RacerX]

Very inventive. I'm happy to see there is something that can easily replace those reflectors - I don't care for 'em much, either.

Which circuits and switches do you have controlling the Discovery and PIAA lights? Are the Land Rover lamp assemblies spliced into the existing taillight harness? I bet they could be easily plugged in via the trailer light connector right behind the bumper (if you have the trailer towing option).

 

[Dre]

and most likely that would be the best way to do it.... other than splicing into the taillight harnesses...

I'm installing an extra fog and back-up lights on my wife's 98 Sport now but seems that I might need a bumper off the Mountaineer....

 

[ibuytoys]

Where can I get one of those European bumpers? Can anybody get a Ford part # for one of those and I'll see if I can order one through the local dealer. Thanks, ibuytoys.

 

[RacerX]

It appears that Ford simply used the UK/European rear bumper on the '97 Mountaineer, albeit with reflector inserts instead of lights.

The bumper is easy to get - finding part numbers for the Ford light assemblies (export) is the tough part.

 

[Dre]

ar we can simply check with the European crowd and have them check around.... I'll be in Europe in July so I'll check myself... one thing though... for now I'm looking for the Mountaineer bumper to replace the one on my wife's 98....

you will have to run seperate wires to feed the bumper lights as these bumper lights are simply your rear fog light and back-up light.... original back-up lights on European Explorers is being used for turn signals... (these have got to be amber in Europe)....

Anybody in Europe that can check on the part number for this bumper?

also................ can someone in Europe check on the European headlights for me (1st generatin Explorer) - (these are very much different from American stock).

 

[Black Mounty]

take a close look

I lived in the Uk in 1997 and 1998 and Im almost sure that the bumper lights on the UK Explorers were smaller than the cutouts for the the 97 mountaineer. They even look smaller in the picture.

Also all the wiring took was a spilce of the rear lights, and spilt the backup lights.I did however wire them to switches (ill post pictures) in the compass console to turn them on on their own.

 

[Dre]

then I'd have one question.... on first generation how do I split brake and turn signal and make them seperate? I need to chabge that before I can take my truck overseas...... do I just cut the wire that goes from brake light switch to hazard lights switch and run wires?

 

[ibuytoys]

If I can get one of those bumpers I want to install strobes in the bumper cutouts. I use my X to do escorts when we're transporting an oversize load and an extra set of strobes in the rear bumper would be neat. Can "export" parts be ordered through a US dealer? Thanks, ibuytoys.

 

[Dre]

you can't order export parts... I've tried already - I do have an account open at local dealership...... but we can set something up... although prices are just plane rediculus...

 

[ibuytoys]

We have an account at our local dealership also, that"s why I was asking. Dre, aren't you planning a trip to Europe soon? Wanna bring back a bumper?(Please...)

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by ibuytoys
Dre, aren't you planning a trip to Europe soon? Wanna bring back a bumper?

I can picture it now:

"Sir, please stow all your carry-on luggage."
"Can't you see I'm trying, it just doesn't seem to want to get under the seat."
"Sir, we can't take off until that is stowed."
"Give me 30 seconds, I can get this!"

 

[Dre]

remember Lampoon's European vacation? they got a bumper as a souvenir.......

I can also picture it.... taking this sucker on the plane..... stewardes would go like WTF??? I'm going to Europe but I will not be bringing any bumpers with.... I'd rather buy those lights there and bring them here.... I think I can cut openings in the existing bumpers to house them...

 

[Harry5150]

What model piaa light is that? How did you squeeze them in there?