2022 Ford Fiesta ST: First batch loses B&O premium audio

[Aussie Falcon]

2022 Ford Fiesta ST: First batch loses B&O premium audio due to mix up at the factory

$500 doesn't seem like fair compensation for missing out on the premium audio.

For me the biggest deal breaker would be the omitting of AM radio of cars. There is no way I would buy a car without that


https://www.drive.com.au/news/2022-f...udio-misbuild/

drive.com.au
2022 Ford Fiesta ST: First batch loses B&O premium audio
Alex Misoyannis
12:00 27 May 2022


The first batch of Ford Fiesta ST hot hatches will go without premium sound systems, after a mix-up at the factory in Germany. Affected buyers can get a refund of their deposit, wait for another car, or accept a credit.


Ford Australia has offered buyers of the first 2022 Ford Fiesta ST hot hatches a full refund or $500 compensation, after a factory mix-up saw them built without premium sound systems.

The first 73 Australia-bound examples of the updated Ford Fiesta ST were built without the intended 10-speaker B&O Play sound system, Ford Australia has advised, due to an unspecified "issue" in the Cologne, Germany factory.

All 73 vehicles have arrived in Australia, with 44 of them already "contracted" – referring to a formed sales contract, with the vehicle soon (or already) delivered to the customer.

These customers will be offered the choice of cancelling the contract entirely and having their deposit refunded, cancelling the contract and waiting for a car with the correct sound system, or accepting the vehicle with a $500 cash-back "as a remedy".

Ford Australia has confirmed the omission of the 10-speaker B&O Play sound system – and fitment of a six-speaker non-branded system instead – was not due to the semiconductor shortage, but rather a mix-up on the production line.

Earlier this year, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were omitted from the facelifted Fiesta ST's equipment list due to semiconductor constraints. As reported previously, there is no update on when these important features will return.

Meanwhile, AM radio was also cut from the facelifted Ford Fiesta ST, compared to its predecessor – however Ford Australia has advised AM radio will return, and will be fitted to all customer-delivered 2022 Fiesta STs in Australia.



AM radio is being phased out in Europe, but in Australia it remains an important source of emergency communication in regional areas – where there is no phone signal – during natural disasters such as fires and floods. AM radio can also be the only source of news and information for people in remote areas.

The basic feature was omitted from certain models from Ford, Volkswagen, Volvo and Tesla – with some of these manufacturers working to re-install AM radio.

As for the missing B&O sound system in the updated Ford Fiesta ST, a statement from a Ford Australia spokesperson reads: "Unfortunately, the first 73 new MY22 Fiesta ST vehicles for Australia were built with a non-branded, six-speaker audio system instead of a Bang & Olufsen Play 10-speaker system with subwoofer (Branded Audio System).

"The issue has now been resolved and all future arrivals will have the Branded Audio System, as intended.

The statement continued "44 of these 73 vehicles were contracted, and we are in the process of contacting those customers with several options: they can cancel their contract and have their deposit refunded, or cancel their contract and wait for a Fiesta ST with the Branded Audio System in the next few months, or if they would like to proceed with their purchase we’re offering them a $500 cash payment as a remedy.

"We apologise for any inconvenience."

[kypez]

First the Mach 1 fiasco and now this?! Whoever is checking orders couldn't run a chook raffle at a pub! $500 isn't enough IMO.

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[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Aussie Falcon

2022 Ford Fiesta ST: First batch loses B&O premium audio due to mix up at the factory

$500 doesn't seem like fair compensation for missing out on the premium audio.

For me the biggest deal breaker would be the omitting of AM radio of cars. There is no way I would buy a car without that


https://www.drive.com.au/news/2022-f...udio-misbuild/

I'm not sure if sarcasm over the AM radio

Most of the mainstream AM radio stations have DAB equivalents anyway so if you want your 3AW I'm pretty sure they're also broadcasting over DAB.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I'm not sure if sarcasm over the AM radio



Most of the mainstream AM radio stations have DAB equivalents anyway so if you want your 3AW I'm pretty sure they're also broadcasting over DAB.

Or you can use Tunein radio

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[turbo4]

Originally Posted by kypez

$500 isn't enough IMO.

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I checked the price of the B&O option in the UK and its a bit over 600 AUD. So yeh, they are short changing people a bit. The car is cheaper here, compared to over there though

[kypez]

Originally Posted by turbo4

I checked the price of the B&O option in the UK and its a bit over 600 AUD. So yeh, they are short changing people a bit. The car is cheaper here, compared to over there though

Would cost significantly more to retrofit the same system.

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[Franco Cozzo]

I'd be cancelling and waiting for the one with the B&O system if that was my car - $500 is nothing I want my fancy stereo.

[turbo4]

Originally Posted by kypez

Would cost significantly more to retrofit the same system.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

100%, if you were wanting a fancy sound system, you'd definitely wait for the next batch. It wouldn't really worry me though, I'd probably just want a slightly better refund.

[EBSXR6]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I'm not sure if sarcasm over the AM radio

Most of the mainstream AM radio stations have DAB equivalents anyway so if you want your 3AW I'm pretty sure they're also broadcasting over DAB.

DAB has very limited range.
The regulators set it up this way to protect the Country Stations.
If you are getting a phone signal nothing to you streaming you favourite station.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Bit like these new Ranger Wildtraks we ordered with the Premium Pack for April - June build. None of them have been given a build date.... yet all the ones without the pack have been... Instead of contacting customers / dealerships Fords just sitting silent while people who think they were the first to order won't be getting cars.

[Adamz Ghia]

Why can’t they just ship some systems over and install them?

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

Why can’t they just ship some systems over and install them?

Cause it would them more than they're offering as compensation

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[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

Why can’t they just ship some systems over and install them?

One would assume there's going to be panel, wiring loom and electronics differences between povvo spec stereo and the fancy ones, that would be a huge job to retrofit, just offer $500 and hope that the buyers fall for it

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I'm not sure if sarcasm over the AM radio

Most of the mainstream AM radio stations have DAB equivalents anyway so if you want your 3AW I'm pretty sure they're also broadcasting over DAB.

No DAB outside the big smoke Franco, in Queensland at least. DAB only in Brisbane or some parts of the Goldie. Nothing outside there. I understand it is similar interstate?

[EBSXR6]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

No DAB outside the big smoke Franco, in Queensland at least. DAB only in Brisbane or some parts of the Goldie. Nothing outside there. I understand it is similar interstate?

Similar in Melbourne.
As I posted earlier the owners of Country Radio Stations wanted protection from DAB so it has very limited range.
DAB is good in Melbourne for AM Stations on tram routes, don't get interference when the Trams nearby.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by EBSXR6

Similar in Melbourne.
As I posted earlier the owners of Country Radio Stations wanted protection from DAB so it has very limited range.
DAB is good in Melbourne for AM Stations on tram routes, don't get interference when the Trams nearby.

You'll still get good DAB service out to 75km+ out of Melbourne,

I had an early aftermarket stereo with it with an external antenna input, had the stick on windscreen job, and was still getting DAB reception close to Tooborac before it finally drops when you're about 10 mins out.

[Aussie Falcon]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I'm not sure if sarcasm over the AM radio

Most of the mainstream AM radio stations have DAB equivalents anyway so if you want your 3AW I'm pretty sure they're also broadcasting over DAB.

Re-reading it now it did sound like I was being sarcastic. I do however listen to AM radio. It was a habit I picked up when my first car was an XC and it only ever had AM radio

As others have mentioned DAB has range limitations and similar if you stream the station.

[EBSXR6]

https://www.digitalradioplus.com.au/vehicles-with-dab
I am not sure of how upto date this is but you can download PDFs which have maps of coverage areas.