Lotus Elise tail light conversion (fed spec)

[lotusgirlmarie]

I wanted a more finished look than that of my original design which is currently on the car. BAsically eliminating that stupid black plastic eyebrow above the light. It draws a line right through the middle of the car's rear that just drove me up the wall. They are built of glassfibre and repalce the Light and the eyebrow. I left out the Lotus lenses so the housing is more visible + I really didn't want to have to disassemble my other lights again jsut for the photos. I will post more shots as the housings progress futher.

On a good point though, I will be moulding this set once complete. I will be making a very limited # of these. That # is still to be determined but I'm thinking I may keep it under 6 sets. it depends on how good of a mould I do. So far 4 of thede sets are spoken for.

As for the UK guys.... I have my original set of lights (still on the car for now). After ai finish this set I may build a second mould utilizing these if there is any interest in a euro version.

[ab2cv]

Won't this new version fit the UK spec cars as well - I can't see an obvious diffeence in size or shape?

Alan

[lotusgirlmarie]

I was looking at the eyebrows for the UK spec Elans and noticed that the "bump" over the turn signals was flat on this version (see the last picture in the previous set). The Fed spec cars use tis "bump" to mount the eyebrow to the rear part of the fendernext to the wing. On the UK verion, the wing's sides are attached to the decklid meaning that the "bump" isn't there.

Don't get me wrong. They may stil fit the UK cars. I"m just going off of what I have seen and know to be different about the two models of Elan. Thant "bump being the most noticeable difference.

[ab2cv]

Ah ok - I think I see it now. Looks like it's something to do with the differences between where the spoiler/bootlid (trunklid?) arrangement splits, between the fed and UK versions.

Alan

[lotusgirlmarie]

Yep, exactly. I dont think the UK version has a notch for this in the rear wing mount.

[Monty]

Marie,

I`d be interest in buying u`r original white conversion set if u decide to sell them

Those new lights are going to look great, just a shame the uk car is slightly different to the fed

[algirdas]

Dear Marie:

Please put me down for a set. Just planning for the contingency of someone ass-ending me after I do the Wilwood upgrade.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Fubar1764]

I'm good for a set as well, if it's available.

[Doug]

I'd like to reserve a set for Ekapol if he wants them for Spripey -- assuming there is one left?

[lotusgirlmarie]

The 4 that were spoken for were for

1 Kjeld
2 Matt S
3 Algirdas
4 me

These were primarily as thank you's for the continued help and support of my little projects. I had asked each of the afore mentioned if they would like a set should I get the moulds made. Now that this is becoming more of a reality I'm willing to make a few extra.... mould providing. As for the UK gents. My offer will stand for them as well. If there is enough interest I will sacrifice one of the fed spec ones and modify it to UK spec. again only if there is interest and again the numbers will be limited. Yes I know this is a double edged sword and rather counter-intuitive. I'm a chick..... what do you want.

Doug, I can hold one set in reserve for Ekapol. This is all again assuming that I"m happy with the mould. The new prototype has taken quite some time to get to sit right and I'm still not 100% there yet. Soon though.

The purpose of this thread is primarily to gauge interest in something like this and to bring out one of my many projects for the Elan. Pricing will be based on materials and the cost of the moulds. As I have not yet completed the moulds I can't yet give a price.

[DeeAitch]

I'm a chick..... what do you want.

As for those stupid 'eyebrows' I couldn't agree more. The price we pay for having Renault lights Another example of the Lotus pedigree??

I'm in for a set if you do get around to a production run. Now about those Esprit gauges!

[ailwyn]

I'd be interested in UK spec lights, anything to improve on the Renault ones!

Ailwyn

[Elanlover]

Hmmm.....can't say if I'm interested or not as yet but, in looking at the cut outs for the lights I'm wondering if I couldn't source a set of pre-built round LED plug-in modules for those if there's interest. Would need to have the diameter and depth of the holes and I'd be happy to re-contact some of the folks I chatted with when I did my LED upgrade project.

[Fubar1764]

Fit shouldn't be a problem nor should the Elise lenses. The 2006+ Elises are LED for their rears, so this would be a nice bright choice over the incandescent. . . and a lower power drain on that tiny alternator!

[Elanlover]

Fit shouldn't be a problem nor should the Elise lenses. The 2006+ Elises are LED for their rears, so this would be a nice bright choice over the incandescent. . . and a lower power drain on that tiny alternator!

Ha! Well then, there will be no need for looking up a retrofit LED solution then. However, there's probably going to be no less alternator drain though.

The reason is due to that turn signal module. In order for it to work you'll need to install load resistors somewhere on the line(s) to trick the module into thinking there's incandescents in there or it will think a bulbs burnt out and blink rapidly. I'm no electrician but I was assuming the resistor still sucks up the same amount of current but "stores" it or something similar. That's why they get so hot when installed.

If a module could be found that would handle LED's as well (now becoming available on the market) then we would be in business. I think the stock module used is referred to as an EP26. There are other ways around that problem too though:

http://www.mesa4x4.com/tech_articles/fl ... asher.html

[Elanlover]

Hmm......this requires looking into for those with LED aspirations


http://www.stu-offroad.com/electrical/led1/led-3.htm

[jabrown39]

Marie,

Put me down for a set. Now that I have added the spoiler lights, these would just finish it off nicely. Love to lend a hand if ya need one.

Cheers,

Jim

[Fubar1764]

Point well taken. Over the buzz of the free flow exhaust, I'm not sure if I could hear the quicker blinker!

[Ekapol]

Thanks Doug for reserving my spot
Turn signals and reverse lights will be all there in those round thingy correct?

Please count me in.

2007 is year of the LED ... must have more LED on my LGM Roll Bars whoopie~ put those trailers to shame..

[lotusgirlmarie]

On the Lotus pedigree...... the M100 had the highest R&D budget of any Lotus production vehicle... we all know that. The sad part was that when it came tome for the detail items i.e. the tail lights, heater/defroster vents, gauge cluster.... the engineers eithe rdropped the ball or more than likely ranlow on funding and chose to utilize available parts. Sadly enough Ferrari does the same thing but, they keep it more or less in the Italian nation for parts. In my opinion Lotus went a bit "nut buster wild" in various co.s parts bins. Understandably so in wanning time and budgetary needs to get the car into production. This brings me back to one of the points I made earlier somewhere in the forum and a pseudo elaboration on the lights....... I want to keep this Lotus...well Lotus. 2 ways to accomplish this in my warped mind. #1 get rid of as many of the "non" Lotus parts as possible and refit "respectable" or actual Lotus components. I.e. the tail lights, the Elise steering wheel and the Esprit chin spoiler that now reside on my car. Option #2 keep the car entirely stock and do not modify change or alter anything about it. either route I could have gone to maintain or even increase the value of the car. Me being me though, I just can't stand having too many alternate makes of parts on a car like this.

On a briefyet related side note, and this will make sence once you really think about it in terms of car pricing and know how the cars are made, there is a running joke in the exotic car mechanic world about the three "exotic" sports car manufacturer's: Lotus, Ferrari, and Lamborghini. "When you buy a Lotus your buying a car, the engine comes for free. When you buy a Ferrari your buying an engine, the car comes for free. When you buy a Lamborghini,..... nothing is free. Elaboration needed?

Anyways, back to the lights. I just couldn't take the fact that the same lights where on another car of a different make. Aaaaaaarrrrgh! When Lotus finally developed their own lightset for the Esprit, I jumped at the chance to get rid of the "elan's"/Renault tail lights. In essence trimming the fat, so to speak.

Back to fun stuff. I'll be Gel-coating the one pod I have fiberglassed and try to get it finished this weekend along with a couple of other looming projects. More pics will be coming then Monday-ish. I'll be taking to a casting friend of mine later next week and see about moulding it.

On to LED's and the new '06 elise lights. Honestly I don't know how those are mounted and if there is any diff. in the mounting holes. The LED lightbulb replacements look promissing. My only concern is the # of bulbs used in the conversion is greater than in the stock version. I wired my light to use 4 of teh 1157's for both parking and brake. 4 of the 1156's for just brake. 2 of these 31watt lamps for the signals and 2 of the same 31 watter's for the reverse. this is alot of lamps compared to the renault lights. Even the fed Elise eliminates 2 of the 31 watt lamps for the signals and just uses the outer lens' "high" powers for the signals. All of the heat generated from the reistor packs......... do-able but abit scary for me. Too much heat and the load would be almost the same. Major advantage though, never having to replace lamps again. Now if the resistors were mounted in some sort of box with a heat sink......... Plausible, reliable and much safer. LED's for the older Elise and Esprit lenses then becomes viable... at least to me.