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High Desert of Cali, Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

Started by FistyMcgee, June 29, 2016, 01:03:49 AM

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FistyMcgee

I have a 2014 Desert Metallic MKS ecoboost I bought off the dealership owner down in Lake Isabella, meticulously maintained and I plan on keeping it that way with a full body wrap, in metallic charcoal gray and a plasti-dip for the head and tail lights to protect from the insane winds we get up here with sand storms and winds hitting over 80 MPH.

It is also crazy hot, not as hot as parts of AZ get sometimes but enough to burn faux leather in my old VW Passat within the first month of ownership.

currently I have 2 levels cooler spark plugs, and the livernois stage 1 kit with intake, eco flash, thermostat, and MAP. next on the to do list is either protecting the car or adding the lower springs and a 100% meth injection system remotely installed in the ample trunk. I will likely opt for 2 reservoirs and a crossfeed valve because I don't trust my wife to tell me when its getting low and I don't want to be on travel and end up with a dead car.  already this system is as wonderful as people on this forum say.

I have no idea where the contempt for this legit audi/bmw fighter comes from. I know that you could get more comfortable seats in an audi, and tuning is equally simple but the up front cost to own an equivelant car is 30k greater and I have owned 3 Audis with disappointing service issues each time. I have a friend with the same problems with his modern bmw 335I x drive. having owned my lincoln Mark LT since 2008, and driving it personally for 120k miles (162 on odo now) with no more than needing to replace the belt, tires, and plugs I decided to go with what I know works.

I do wish the sound system were more elite than it is but at least I can stream my audio to it via bluetooth which is more than can be said for the Audi a6 from 2012 I was looking at.  spec for spec I don't see any competition for this car within 20k of its price range, other than possibly the crazy chrysler 300 hemi and its dodge brother, which are like the sho and MKS counterparts of the mopar world.

SHOdded

Welcome to EBPF, FistyMcgee, a body wrap sounds great for the conditions you describe!  How did you decide on the 2 levels colder spark plugs, and which ones specifically did you install?  The German "rivals" are great cars, ultimately it's the upfront price and/or service costs that get you, like you pointed out.  Lincolns though I feel are a hidden gem, and don't get the recognition they deserve.

How about some pics of your ride as it is now, and of course during/after the wrap!
2007 Ford Edge SEL, Powerstop F/R Brake Kit, TXT LED 6000K Lo & Hi Beams, W16W LED Reverse Bulbs, 3BSpec 2.5w Map Lights, 5W Cree rear dome lights, 5W Cree cargo light, DTBL LED Taillights

If tuned:  Take note of the strategy code as you return to stock (including 3 bar MAP to 2 bar MAP) -> take car in & get it serviced -> check strategy code when you get car back -> have tuner update your tune if the strategy code has changed -> reload tune -> ENJOY!

glock-coma

2010 red candy metallic non PP 402B
AJPTURBO 2 BAR Tune Stock 14.1@100.3 / Tuned 12.83@107.7
K&N panel, RX OCC, Sp-534 @.30 Tint 50%F-35%R BOV bypass
1997 SHO silver frost (sold)
1990 SHO triple black 5-speed (saved my life)

sholxgt

x2 on some before and after wrap pics.  Also...Welcome!
Current - 2019 F150 Platinum FX4 3.5 EB
Formerly -2013 MKS Ecoboost Premium
PPE Catted DP's, 170 Reische TS, K&N Drop In, AJP Tune only at track - 12.87@106

BiGMaC

Welcome!  :WELCOME:
Definitely understand the heat and dust!
Planning a clear wrap I presume.

•2013 Taurus SHO nonPP - All Ford factory options, 3BAR MAP, LMS v8 tune (mods for 3BAR, DPs, and T-stat), Paint & plastic correction, CQuart finest all exterior surfaces, limo black window tint,VLED Triton switchbacks, Daytime BrightLites switchback DRLs, full interior and exterior LED conversion, Lamin-X charcoal blackout tail lights and reflectors, PPE catted and coated downpipes, EBPP coated hotpipes with BoVs VTA, MDesign CAI
•2013 F250 CC Lariat 6.7EB Diesel -stock

Ryan02Stang

Welcome!  Lots of new MKS owners lately!!
2015 Explorer Sport
2012 Lincoln MKS ecoboost, Unleashed
2002 Mustang GT, Vortech Supercharged

Brucelinc

Glad to see another MKS owner on the forum!  It would be nice to see one at the track.  When I go, I am always the only one there with an MKS.   I have to park with the Camaros, Corvettes and other such riff-raff.   :)


FistyMcgee

Quote from: Brucelinc on June 29, 2016, 05:20:38 PM
Glad to see another MKS owner on the forum!  It would be nice to see one at the track.  When I go, I am always the only one there with an MKS.   I have to park with the Camaros, Corvettes and other such riff-raff.   :)



Nice, I wouldn't mind driving any of those, or a mid grade BMW or another A6, just so long as someone foots the repair and maintenance bills I have been eating with my previous cars of those brands.



Thank you all.  I have the creamy off white metallic paint scheme right now and I will have it wrapped in a gray metallic for the duration of my ownership. I does really look like a grandpa car IMO with this color which is not really bad when freeway driving. Since there are car shows and other events I'd like to be seen in I'm going with a naturally more aggressive paint scheme wrap. 

The colder plugs as suggested by LMS were to prevent pre detonation with more aggressive tunes however they are not needed for normal tuning up to 500 or so HP, I'd think if you upgrade your fuel injectors, pump, go with bigger turbos then it's useful.   I bought them because I was going to replace the plugs anyway along with the rest of the tune at the same time and they are basically the same price per plug. I replaced the plugs because I was sitting at 36k miles on the factory plugs and from my forum reading I find most change them out between 40 and 60k miles even though the interval on my owners manual says 90k I figure it doesn't hurt the car to have newer, colder plugs.

Is that correct?

sholxgt

Love your idea to wrap it.  Have you gotten a quote yet?  I am in a similar situation with a color that I truly do not like.  Mine is called Crystal Champagne Metallic.  Looks dirty white to me.  I much prefer the Diamond White, but would prefer gray or black even more.

Post a picture of yours when you get a chance. Like to compare colors.
Current - 2019 F150 Platinum FX4 3.5 EB
Formerly -2013 MKS Ecoboost Premium
PPE Catted DP's, 170 Reische TS, K&N Drop In, AJP Tune only at track - 12.87@106

SHOdded

As long as your tuner is ok with you running the colder plugs, you are golden.  They know best if there's an issue there.  If you drive your vehicle hard at all, you may even find yourself doing plugs every 30K :) especially if you DIY.  A lot of EB owners are OCD that way.
2007 Ford Edge SEL, Powerstop F/R Brake Kit, TXT LED 6000K Lo & Hi Beams, W16W LED Reverse Bulbs, 3BSpec 2.5w Map Lights, 5W Cree rear dome lights, 5W Cree cargo light, DTBL LED Taillights

If tuned:  Take note of the strategy code as you return to stock (including 3 bar MAP to 2 bar MAP) -> take car in & get it serviced -> check strategy code when you get car back -> have tuner update your tune if the strategy code has changed -> reload tune -> ENJOY!

FistyMcgee

#10
Quote from: SHOdded on June 29, 2016, 11:00:42 PM
As long as your tuner is ok with you running the colder plugs, you are golden.  They know best if there's an issue there.  If you drive your vehicle hard at all, you may even find yourself doing plugs every 30K :) especially if you DIY.  A lot of EB owners are OCD that way.

Yes, I was quoted $1500 for it, up to $2000 if I get some crazy colors as the company who supplies the vinyl do charge premium for the show off snazzy colors.  I know what you mean, Lincoln definitely didn't pick the sexiest colors for these cars. I think that shows who their real target market was while designing it lol.

FistyMcgee

#11
Quote from: SHOdded on June 29, 2016, 11:00:42 PM
As long as your tuner is ok with you running the colder plugs, you are golden.  They know best if there's an issue there.  If you drive your vehicle hard at all, you may even find yourself doing plugs every 30K :) especially if you DIY.  A lot of EB owners are OCD that way.

I noticed. I followed several forums before pulling the trigger on the tuning package. LMS is reputable and I have heard only good things about their tunes. the engineer I talked to at LMS was not pushing the hard sale either, but suggesting safe means of tuning while keeping the car running smooth so that made me comfortable to buy with them.

correction, it is 1 heat cooler. the plugs will be changed every 30-40k miles as you suggested because they are too cheap of a part to not be OCD over. better safe and happy than lazy with engine knock.