Elise Rear Lights (again!)

[jHamshaw]

Just a thought, but with all of the various plinth and light discussions past and present, the (almost!) universally accepted use of Elise rear lights as an alternative, and with the few remaining original M100 light units around going for up to £375 each from breakers, I was wondering if it would be possible for someone with the skills and facilities to produce, instead of a full plinth replacement, an "adapter" moulding that would directly replace the original rear lights.

Ideally this would be a bolt-on to the existing mountings, that would enable light replacement in case of accident or choice, but would also allow a return to stock lights without "fettling" or damage if possible/desired in the future.

Plug and play wiring harness adapters would be an added bonus too.

My only doubt (and I haven't the wherewithal to measure) is that this hasn't been done before because there may not be room within the existing light unit footprint (or the hole behind) for this to work, in which case an alternative and smaller lamp unit would have to be used, subject to not looking too aftermarket. Possibly the Evora single units with seperate reversing lights Looks to me as if these have integrated reflectors too, solving another issue? Could look good in a suitably "frenched" panel if the sizes are right....

2010-Lotus-Evora-Rear-View.jpg

Any comments? Anyone prepared to take this on if it makes sense?? Would this be common to Euro and federal cars as well if produced (an added bonus!)???

[nyssa7]

Anyone investigated what the Renault GTA owners do? They must be in the same boat, and while there probably aren't that many in the UK, can't remember when I last saw one (although I've only seen one Elan this year), there should be a few about in Europe to brings numbers a lot closer

[jHamshaw]

Anyone investigated what the Renault GTA owners do? They must be in the same boat, and while there probably aren't that many in the UK, can't remember when I last saw one (although I've only seen one Elan this year), there should be a few about in Europe to brings numbers a lot closer

This apparently.....

[jHamshaw]

Had another dig around - the long-defunct Dax Kamala kit car used Elan/GTA lights to start with, then when they became unavailable looks like they did something like what I'm suggesting -

[trig]

Had another dig around - the long-defunct Dax Kamala kit car used Elan/GTA lights to start with, then when they became unavailable looks like they did something like what I'm suggesting -

That's interesting, really like the look of the lights on the orange car , they would very cool on the Elan

[J46_MAV]

Like this?

Rear%20LightsS[1].jpg

More info here: -

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17220&p=231400#p231400[url][/url]

[jHamshaw]

Like this?

More info here: -

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17220&p=231400#p231400[url][/url]

Exactly - but "They were a one-off deal and no tooling exists"

Did they fit with no fettling/are they reversible?

[J46_MAV]

They did fit straight in, no fiddling about, using the same mounts. They can be swapped over directly with the originals.

[daveiow]

Just a random thought but when you look at the number of Saxso,BMW 3 series and Mk4 Golf's running round with those hideous clear lens after market rear lights fitted there must be someone knocking them up fairly cheaply somewhere
(China?)Perhaps they could be interested in making a copy of the OEM Élan rear clusters if we could make up a reasonable order.I for one would have a set


daveiow

[Nickydee]

Just a random thought but when you look at the number of Saxso,BMW 3 series and Mk4 Golf's running round with those hideous clear lens after market rear lights fitted there must be someone knocking them up fairly cheaply somewhere
(China?)Perhaps they could be interested in making a copy of the OEM Élan rear clusters if we could make up a reasonable order.I for one would have a set


daveiow

Thats a good point especially as the main problem is the clear plastic covers being damaged. As these simply unclip could replacements be made.

[Nickydee]

Just a random thought but when you look at the number of Saxso,BMW 3 series and Mk4 Golf's running round with those hideous clear lens after market rear lights fitted there must be someone knocking them up fairly cheaply somewhere
(China?)Perhaps they could be interested in making a copy of the OEM Élan rear clusters if we could make up a reasonable order.I for one would have a set


daveiow

Thats a good point especially as the main problem is the clear plastic covers being damaged. As these simply unclip could replacements be made.

[addict]

volume is the problem buddy a bmw how many million out there world wide ? deffo a few 100k m100 i am not sure what the total number made was 5k ?

[rip]

Anyone investigated what the Renault GTA owners do? They must be in the same boat, and while there probably aren't that many in the UK, can't remember when I last saw one (although I've only seen one Elan this year), there should be a few about in Europe to brings numbers a lot closer

This apparently.....

But they kept the Renault electrical parts which were a complete pile of
Sorry, but I find that really funny & sad at the same time.

I believe ABMunro had the cluster conversion done too & I'm pretty sure that is not his Elan pictured in the other thread, so maybe the tooling does exist somewhere?

[rip]

volume is the problem buddy a bmw how many million out there world wide ? deffo a few 100k m100 i am not sure what the total number made was 5k ?

Volume may not be as much of an issue for us. Our alternatives are harder to source & far more expensive when you can find them, so we would be prepared to pay more for something.
A smaller run may therefore seem more feasible for us than for a VW or Beamer.

[tweetdriver63]

I tired to post this earlier, when I was at work, but got a message that said the IP I was using had been blacklisted. WTF? I don't get that at all. I was on my work computer, which I've posted from plenty of times before, and it's a .mil computer.

Anyway, a few years ago I contacted one of those companies that makes and sells "Euro" tailights for a lot of different cars. They said there would have to be a potential market for at least 10,000 sets for them to produce the things. Holy s**t! 10,000 sets! Otherwise, the per unit price would be astronomical.

I figure a smalled company, or an individual with the right kind of facilities and equipment to make the re-usable molds could do it affordably. A local boat repair shop, where the best fibreglass man around here is, said they could do it for me, but I can't remember how much they wanted. Seems like it might have been a couple hundred dollars for each light unit. I really can't remember though. I'm sure somebody could find a place to get them made though.

[jHamshaw]

Personally, I'd still prefer to keep the Lotus look, either with a bolt-in adapter moulding for Elise or Evora lights or, as some have suggested, just replacement clear covers. I'm guessing that the former in ABS, GRP (or carbon fibre for the extravagant?) may be easier/cheaper than the latter in injection moulded perspex?

Mine are still intact at present, but I'm sure the day will come.....

PS - I get "blacklisted" at work as well, but only if I try to upload an attachment and place inline....

[rip]

I'm guessing that the former in ABS, GRP (or carbon fibre for the extravagant?) may be easier/cheaper than the latter in injection moulded perspex?

My rear panel is CF. Phil said it was so much trouble to get right in this material that he would not consider doing another.

[Aoki Magic Pants]

I was lucky (fast) enough to procure a pair of light pods a few years ago and I think they look great! They're much clearer & brighter than the original lights, definitely worth doing if you can find them. Also looking at the price to replace the OEM lights today the conversion works out cheaper too. I've no idea who made them originally or whether or not somebody has a mould out there. Somebody must know.

[theelanman]

They did fit straight in, no fiddling about, using the same mounts. They can be swapped over directly with the originals.

Could you let us have the info for the place that did them as i certainly would like a chat with them about producing a pair
Thanks

[jHamshaw]

They did fit straight in, no fiddling about, using the same mounts. They can be swapped over directly with the originals.

Could you let us have the info for the place that did them as i certainly would like a chat with them about producing a pair
Thanks

forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17220&p=231400#p231412