How do you want your lights? - Back panel Mod

[Elanlover]

And here are Brian's pics too.

[F1 LOTUS]

... have you considered creating a one piece rear bumper and tailight piece? Doing so would allow for a lot of creativity in swooping the rear light panel down into the bumper section so the actual bumper wasn't so pronounced.

Am I describing that right?????

This way you could address the next question "Does my bum still look big with these lights?"

Surfers quote: -
as yet I'm not sure how many people are interested in this as a product. I was hoping to be able to produce several options and if I have the time, then I will produce them anyway.

Ideas for this project have always been very popular on the forum, right up there with roll bars, short shifts and brakes [to name a few]. You saw what happened with the Short-Shifts (Bus syndrome ), at the moment I believe LGM may be getting something together Stateside(?) but it seems like you have the momentum for to certainly get things going on your side of the pond? If you limit your options and keep the cost close to what you've guessimated, you'll probably end up doing a decent size run of these - 30 units?

[Monty]

Phil,

I`ll be up for the rear light conversion panel. Most important thing for me is that all the lights are intergrated like the Elise ie no seperate fog or reverse light. As money is tight (blame it on Track prepping ) and depending on cost i could always buy the lights at a later stage.

So whats the price of the old mk1 elise light units compared to the LED type?

Are u still going for the one piece panel?

IMO think the other thread wants locking to keep all the replys in the one thread other wise it gets a bit confusing

[surfboardfiller]

Bumper is a little out of my league, I always saw the Elise as not having a bumper, but now my attention is drawn to it, I have no idea what the back of the Elise is made from.
I'd hazard a guess at the bottom half being an impact resistant Polymer like most bumpers.
I can produce any shape you could wish for, but sadly I cannot form impact resistant material, this could also get into a legislative nightmare, especially in the 'nanny state' we live in (GB). (Look at the front end of a Federal Elan).

To be perfectly honest I don't have the ability to provide a safety standard that I would be comfortable with, regarding a rear end collision.

As far as impact resistance is concerned; GRP is not an impact resistant material and although I'd love to re design the whole rear end with rear diffuser, I have no way of producing it to a standard acceptable to me. (yet )

I believe the early Lotus Elans were designed around existing big car manufacturers bumpers, like Ford!

[surfboardfiller]

Phil,

I'll be up for the rear light conversion panel. Most important thing for me is that all the lights are intergrated like the Elise ie no seperate fog or reverse light. As money is tight (blame it on Track prepping ) and depending on cost i could always buy the lights at a later stage.

So whats the price of the old mk1 elise light units compared to the LED type?

Are u still going for the one piece panel?

IMO think the other thread wants locking to keep all the replys in the one thread other wise it gets a bit confusing

I'm with you on the old elise lights, I think they are the same size as the LED replacements.

Yes, there will be a single back panel not to different to Rogers, the tool is being made.

How do I lock the other thread and can it be pinned to stop the lock sending it into history?

Cheers,

Phil

[nissias]

i think the first design is the best one although Brian's design is the most extreme one. But could we do something like that if you think about it and how much would it cost?

[DeeAitch]

As far as impact resistance is concerned; GRP is not an impact resistant material and although I'd love to re design the whole rear end with rear diffuser, I have no way of producing it to a standard acceptable to me. (yet )

I may be wrong but I think you will find that some, if not all, of the aftermarket bumpers are already in GRP? Something about someone chucking the original tooling into the river
Lots of other pattern 'bumpers' are also reproduced in GRP so go for it with the usual caveat of course Not sure if a one piece would work tho'

at the moment I believe LGM may be getting something together Stateside(?)

I seem to recall she was also considering an EU version - worth checking on before you get too far down the line - you might be able to share a few ideas

[Monty]

Phil,

U`ll have to ask One of the Mods to lock and pin the other thread, if Sy reads this he`ll more then likely do this for u.

The M100 rear bumper is hollow and has no impact material so any new design should be fine, saying that i`m quite happy with the curvy rear end. But if adding a diffuser would help with aerodynamics/stabilty then i could be interested at a push (it`s got to look good thou) That would mean the front end will need a front splitter oh deer this could be costing a small fortune

[ailwyn]

That would mean the front end will need a front splitter oh deer this could be costing a small fortune

I think small has already left the building

[davidjt]

It looks great, but I can't see the rear 'diffuser' making any difference to the handling; even if it did, I couldn't face scrapping yet another exhaust system
But put me down for a rear light/number plate panel: agree with Nige that early Elise lights will suit the car perfectly. (Neon would definitely be just right for a certain white Elan with a gold-plated engine, though.......)

[Elanlover]

Phil, I think all you need to think about is designing a "skin" for the bumper, not make a new impact system. I haven't ever had the bumper off but I always thought that what was visible from the outside was just more plastic. The potential exists to simply wrap a new skin over the existing impact system.

Not that I'm trying to steer you there. Just thinking out loud really. Would be worth exploring quickly though if you had the skin off. Someone inexperienced like me would think that the only additional costs would be that of the extra fibreglass and labout to design it of course.

[Benmac]

Bumper is a little out of my league, I always saw the Elise as not having a bumper, but now my attention is drawn to it, I have no idea what the back of the Elise is made from.
I'd hazard a guess at the bottom half being an impact resistant Polymer like most bumpers.
I can produce any shape you could wish for, but sadly I cannot form impact resistant material, this could also get into a legislative nightmare, especially in the 'nanny state' we live in (GB). (Look at the front end of a Federal Elan).

To be perfectly honest I don't have the ability to provide a safety standard that I would be comfortable with, regarding a rear end collision.

As far as impact resistance is concerned; GRP is not an impact resistant material and although I'd love to re design the whole rear end with rear diffuser, I have no way of producing it to a standard acceptable to me. (yet )

I believe the early Lotus Elans were designed around existing big car manufacturers bumpers, like Ford!

You were right to think that the Elise has no bumper. Its just fibreglass at the back from top to bottom. For minor bumps there is a touch of flex as its fairly open behind the bodywork but beyond what fibreglass can easily shrug off and you can damage them pretty easily. Similar story at the front. Decent structures at both ends but neither end is good at shrugging off minor stuff. I can't remember the specific speed but in the states (or maybe just some states within the states) cars should be able to shrug off bumps up to a certain speed. The Elise doesn't comply so they got a waiver for a couple of years. When this runs out expect an rubber bumpered MGB style facelift!!!

[lotusgirlmarie]

CAlifornia is 2.5 MPH front and rear with no damage. 10mph front and 5 rear with "minor deformation" What is wierd is the VC does not go into spec about what is meant by "Minor"

Another section af said VC (equally vague)

Passenger Vehicle Bumper Requirements

28071. Every passenger vehicle registered in this state shall be equipped with a front bumper and with a rear bumper. As used in this section, "bumper" means any device designed and intended by a manufacturer to prevent the front or rear of the body of the vehicle from coming into contact with any other motor vehicle. This section shall not apply to any passenger vehicle that is required to be equipped with an energy absorption system pursuant to either state or federal law, or to any passenger vehicle which was not equipped with a front or rear bumper, or both, at the time that it was first sold and registered under the laws of this or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.
Amended Ch. 451, Stats. 1973. Effective January 1, 1974.

Amazingly enough this is still in the books..... real modern at 1974

[lotusgirlmarie]

This si the "loophole" that Lotus cited: The "Yank" lawmakers and their exacting vague-ness. BLOODY HELL!!

§ 32502. Bumper standards


(a) General Requirements and Nonapplication.— The Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe by regulation bumper standards for passenger motor vehicles and may prescribe by regulation bumper standards for passenger motor vehicle equipment manufactured in, or imported into, the United States. A standard does not apply to a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment—
(1) intended only for export;
(2) labeled for export on the vehicle or equipment and the outside of any container of the vehicle or equipment; and
(3) exported.
(b) Limitations.— A standard under this section—
(1) may not conflict with a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under chapter 301 of this title;
(2) may not specify a dollar amount for the cost of repairing damage to a passenger motor vehicle; and
(3) to the greatest practicable extent, may not preclude the attachment of a detachable hitch.
(c) Exemptions.— For good cause, the Secretary may exempt from all or any part of a standard—
(1) a multipurpose passenger vehicle;
(2) a make, model, or class of a passenger motor vehicle manufactured for a special use, if the standard would interfere unreasonably with the special use of the vehicle; or
(3) a passenger motor vehicle for which an application for an exemption under section 30013 (b) [1] of this title has been filed in accordance with the requirements of that section.
(d) Cost Reduction and Considerations.— When prescribing a standard under this section, the Secretary shall design the standard to obtain the maximum feasible reduction of costs to the public, considering—
(1) the costs and benefits of carrying out the standard;
(2) the effect of the standard on insurance costs and legal fees and costs;
(3) savings in consumer time and inconvenience; and
(4) health and safety, including emission standards.
(e) Procedures.— Section 553 of title 5 applies to a standard prescribed under this section. However, the Secretary shall give an interested person an opportunity to make oral and written presentations of information, views, and arguments. A transcript of each oral presentation shall be kept. Under conditions prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary may conduct a hearing to resolve an issue of fact material to a standard.
(f) Effective Date.— The Secretary shall prescribe an effective date for a standard under this section. That date may not be earlier than the date the standard is prescribed nor later than 18 months after the date the standard is prescribed. However, the Secretary may prescribe a later date when the Secretary submits to Congress and publishes the reasons for the later date. A standard only applies to

[GeoffSmith]

Every passenger vehicle registered in this state shall be equipped with a front bumper and with a rear bumper.

And bugger all use if the bumpers aren't at the same height.

[Rogerf]

I think you'll find the Elise lights are still very pricy!
Quoted nearly £500 for LED's and over £400 for the others.
There is also a ? mark as to whether the LED's can be wired up!

Roger

[lotusgirlmarie]

Here is a funny one. this is one really big reason you don't find many exotic cars in Idaho. Notice that for one of the biggest trucking states in the union where there are more accidents involving "big rigs" and passenger cars, the height of their respective "bumpers"

Idaho Statutes


TITLE 49
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9
VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
49-966. MOTOR VEHICLE BUMPER HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS. (1) With the exception
of motor vehicles registered pursuant to section 49-406, 49-406A, 49-407 or
49-408, Idaho Code, or motor vehicles where the original or predominant body
configuration of the motor vehicle, provided by a recognized manufacturer, did
not include a front or rear bumper or bumpers for vehicles meeting the
original specifications of a recognized manufacturer, a motor vehicle shall be
equipped with a bumper on both the front and rear of the vehicle.
(2) Bumpers, unless specifically exempt in subsection (1) of this
section, shall be at least four and one-half (4 1/2) inches in vertical height
centered on the vehicle's centerline by bolting or welding to the vehicle
frame as originally installed by the vehicle manufacturer. Bumpers shall be
horizontal load bearing and attach to the vehicle to effectively transfer
energy when impacted and shall extend in width to the originally manufactured
tread width for the vehicle.
(3) The maximum bumper heights for a vehicle shall be determined by
vehicle class and the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Maximum
bumper height is the vertical distance between the ground and the highest
point on the bottom of the bumper and shall be measured when the vehicle is
laden on a level surface with the vehicle's tires inflated to the
manufacturer's recommended pressure. For vehicles exempted from the bumper
requirements for reasons stated in subsection (1) of this section, a maximum
frame elevation measurement shall be made to the bottom of the frame rail.
Maximum heights are as follows:
Vehicle Class Maximum Height
Front Rear
Passenger Cars 22 inches 22 inches
Trucks and MPVs
4,500 or less lbs. GVWR 24 inches 26 inches
4,501 to 7,500 lbs. GVWR 27 inches 29 inches
7,501 to 10,000 lbs. GVWR 28 inches 30 inches
Four-wheel drive or dual wheel
with a 10,000 or less lbs. GVWR 30 inches 31 inches
(4) Vehicles which do not meet the requirements of this section on July
1, 1997, must be brought into compliance by July 1, 1998.

[lotusgirlmarie]

Back on topic...... Yes the Elise LED lights will work. One small catch is you will also need the "resistor pac" to ensure proper function. On a brighter note you could just get 4 of the Elise/Esprit bulb type units marked as "inner" (lotus has them marked at a cheaper price) and then upgrade to LED via the aftermarket at your leisure. the Esprit PN is A082M6690F

[Doug]

And here are Brian's pics too.

this is very close to the picture Brian gave me 6 years ago when talking about this topic.

I believe the rear of the Elan is its worst, "dated" side and Brian's pic is pretty close to my desire for it. I'd take that and the Kia Elan front bumper kit upgrade (have pic of it somewhere?) and a hardtop and a rear decklid like Marie's and that would be enough for me to get another Elan!!

I'll be watching . . .

[redvette6327]

I'd be on board for a 2 piece design similar to Roger's. The elise lights are my preference. I assume this design would fit US models. I love the "Shark" 1-piece design but I imagine our plates would not fit.