Clear Front Indicators/Sidelights

[Enright]

Paul,

When you speak to him could you ask a question about the fronts?
I notice that mine seem to have bowed slightly (despite them not being overtightened), and there is now a gap in the centre.

This is probably just a function of the clear plastic, but I am concerned that they are not watertight and so could short out in wet conditions.

Can you find out if it possible to apply gentle heat to them so that they can be re-formed to the profile of the bumper?

[M100 TWO]

Enright if you take them off you might find a manufacturing tit right where the lights divide on the reflectors cut tit off with craft knife

[M100 TWO]

Enright did you get them to the right curvature in the end ?

[Enright]

Oops, thanks for jogging my memory!

Just been outside after seeing your post and popped them off.

Upon examining them closely there were no tits (apart from the one holding the lenses!!! ), but they were decidedly banana-shaped.

So I just got my hairdryer on them for a minute - after all it's not used for anything else these days - and within a minute they were completely flat and now fit perfectly again.

If the weather gets really hot again then maybe it's something I'll need to keep my eye on, but it's really not a problem.

[M100 TWO]

there was no interference where the two lights separate in the cut out?

[Enright]

None at all.

[M100 TWO]

it should not go out of shape in the future then, but can not understand why it did it in the first place

[markiep]

just wanted to say after reading this thread got in touch with richard & now have a set of clear front indicator covers on my car.lovely! cheers guys.

[Enright]

Post a pic, post a pic!

Then do the sides (dead cheap) and think how good the rears will be to finish off the set.

[wolfie308]

Good Morning and err..... Hi !

I can't believe I hadn't got round to registering here til now, but it finally came to the top of my 'things to do' pile

Firstly by way of introduction, I'd like to thank all those here who have bought my clear fronts and/or rears. I'm sure you agree they just add a subtle but effective upgrade which takes a few years of the car. Similar effect when I fitted clears all round to my '90 944 S.2

Secondly, I must thank PaulN for helping make this all happen, for his lenses he provided as masters and the illustrated fitting guide he has produced to help you. Without his input, I doubt I'd have thought of/ got round to doing the rears.... Cheers Buddy

You probably saw the pair of fronts I put on eBay last week - bought by somebody on here I suspect I occasionally stick one of my items on there really to showcase my products, which seems to work quite well from the subsequent enquiries.

In addition, I've been working on some other Lotus products which have been very well received. Link below shows an S.3 Esprit wearing the first pair of my fronts, and very smart it looks too - see what you think.
The rears for the S.4 Esprit are probably my finest work to date and I am only aware of 5 of these installed worldwide. Excuse the large pic, but ain't she a beauty?



Reckon I've now got the most comprehensive range of Lotus clear lenses available anywhere

For those who'd like to de-Tango their cars, I am offering the fronts and rears together with a pair of amber and a pair of silver bulbs for £150 including first class recorded post. I can usually supply both on clearance of payment by cheque(to avoid PayPal robbery receiving charge)

Need to pull some lenses out of the oven, so I'll catch up later. In the meantime, you can contact me by mail with any questions, and I' ll try to reply promptly.

Richard AKA The Lensmeister

[PaulN]

Cheers Buddy,

Glad its a project your proud of.... i am.

I still cant believe what a difference the clears all round make!

Cheers

PaulN

[Elanlover]

Richard, what are the chances of you doing clear lenses for the side markers? The fed setup is different from the Euro setup and I (and perhaps others) would be interested in the fed setup.

[wolfie308]

Ooops !

Just realised I forgot to add the link to the Esprit S.3 fronts.....see what you reckon.

http://www.glcforum.com/esprit/forums/i ... topic=5431

Regards Fed side markers, pardon my ignorance and to save time, could you give me the dimensions and post a close up pic. Also are they same units for right and left(as for the fronts) Are there front and rear side markers?.

I would then need to know how many people would order them,(after giving a price guide) and then need the loan of the original items(or cost in having to buy them new)

I suspect it would be marginal in terms of financial viabilty in all honesty, but I can give a better idea when I get a bit more info.

It would of course add a new exclusive product to my Lotus range, which is tempting

Richard

[Elanlover]

I think that Matt RI and TommyK may have had an interest in getting these pieces done (at the risk of putting words in people's mouths ). The parts manual provides no spec for them (perhaps someone with more skill than I could post a pic of them from the parts manual?) so I'm guessing someone would need to pull them off or use their spares to have you look them over.

Any volunteers??????

[lotusgirlmarie]

Wolfie,
The side markers on the fed elans are the same as on the Ferrari 348, 355, Testarossa, BB512I and some of the later model Lamborghini Diablo's. All of them use the indicators on the bumpers rather than the 1/4 panel.

Marie

[Monty]

IIRC The side indicator lens are the same as a Rover and are cheap as chips, i got smoke coloured ones off ebay.

Richard,

Have u thought about reproducing the rear outter lens as these are what normally get cracked and there should be a demand for them.

[Elanlover]

Wolfie,
The side markers on the fed elans are the same as on the Ferrari 348, 355, Testarossa, BB512I and some of the later model Lamborghini Diablo's. All of them use the indicators on the bumpers rather than the 1/4 panel.

Marie

Is there nothing this women doesn't know about the Elan?????




Monty, the fed Elan markers are different than the euro ones. I believe people have already found clear, aftermarket lenses for sale for the euro Elan (as you yourself have found). The fed Elan lenses can't be found in clear and would need to be made. Looking at the parts manual it almost looks like the lens and "bulb holder" (new automotive technical term) are one piece. Someone who's had it out could comment better though.

[wolfie308]

Wolfie,
The side markers on the fed elans are the same as on the Ferrari 348, 355, Testarossa, BB512I and some of the later model Lamborghini Diablo's. All of them use the indicators on the bumpers rather than the 1/4 panel.

Marie

Hi Marie,

Many thanks for that. If so, that MIGHT put a different complexion on it. I'd really love to sell parts for Ferraris'

However, I have a sneaking suspicon that these side markers are going to be complete units which will not be separable by the hairdryer/oven technique.

This would mean me having to cut the 2 parts apart to cast the lenses and then the customer would have to do the same to his/her units to rebond the clear lenses.......not an operation many would want to undertake - and I'd fully understand.

The other option (much more hassle and expense for me) is to get hold of set myself, cut them apart, then make 2 casts, 1 in clear and the backing in grey/black/white ABS and then find a way to bond the 2 halves together with clean looking watertight seal.....not easy, very time consuming and wouldn't end up cheap as a result.

I think this is about the point I got to when looking at the same thing for the Esprit US guys.

So, before I can go any further, can anyone clarify the construction of these and are they 'handed' and are the units different front and rear?

How many folks on here with Fed spec Elans would be interested - maybe as part of a clear set, although if your rear turn is already red, the desire to change it to a clear is a bit reduced. However, you'd have a pretty exclusive and unique upgrade

Monty, the rear cover has been mentioned before and the simple answer is it's outside the scope of what I can do. To make a commercial mould for injection moulding would cost £'000's (PaulN knows about these things too cos he's a Lensmeister aswell

Catch you later

Richard

[lotusgirlmarie]

They are complete units. The lenses are glues to the reflectors via epoxy resin for a strong watertight seal. they're had pretty cheap though. You can usually find them on ebay for around $20. The fronts are amber and the rears are red on all of the afore mentioned cars. I also just realized that on some of the fed Esprits use these side markers as well. Primarily on the early S4 models I.E. before 94 1/2.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari- ... enameZWD1V

The lotus Esprit

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lotus-Es ... dZViewItem

Oooooo and on the knowledge note, I used to own a speed shop catering primarily to Ferrari's, Lamborghini's Lotus, and the eventual Porche. We used to build show cars for large corperations as demo vehicles til I sold the shop. I also used to own a lamborghini Countach 500S with the extroverted versions of the same lights. I really hated those things on the 'ghini. That why I converted it back to Euro spec.

[Elanlover]

Richard, can't speak for anyone else but I'd be wanting clear lenses all around for the side markers. I'd stick in my own LED bulbs as I plan a slight mod to have them blink in conjunction with the turn indicators which they don't do now.



LGM, excuse the cliche but you da man!