Dash Skin

[maz_r]

Swapping the gear lever gaiter is dead easy - if you push it down the gearstick it reveals a very small allen grubscrew at the bottom of the gearknob. Undo that and the gearknob simply unscrews, then with a bit of gentle teasing out of its recess, the gaiter will just lift off.

The handbrake gaiter is a bit more tricky - ideally the centre-console needs to come out. The gearknob should be off first.
There are a couple of crosshead screws in the bottom of the oddments tray underneath the armrest - remove them and lift out the tray.
Now you'll see 2 big screws securing the rear of the armrest to the chassis - take them out.
There are 2 similar screws hidden by the electric window switches. Gently prise the switches out, disconnect them and remove the screws.
The centre console should now be moving reasonably freely, but you need to unplug the mirror controls at the front (and the alarm LED if it has the standard early Lotus system).
At the back there is a piece of trim covered in carpet that slips under the map pocket. This can be slid out sideways.
The handbrake needs to be on fully - in fact you may even have to loosen it a bit to get it up at more of an angle, but with a bit of jiggling back and forth, and angling up and down, the centre console should now come out.

After all that lot, the handbrake gaiter just slides out!

And if you've gone to the trouble of removing the centre console, then the gear lever gaiter is a snap to replace.

If I can do it, anyone can

[Elanlover]

I've done the handbrake gaiter without removing the centre console. The gaiter is held in place by pushing the metal wire (ring) around the bottom of the gaiter into little slots on all 4 sides of it. The slots sit just out of view under the edge of the finished surface of the opening for the handbrake (much like the gear shift gaiter). You can simply pull the existing gaiter out by working it around a bit then replace it and gently tuck the metal wire into the slots. It works but takes a bit of fiddling to get it right (and a soft tool to push it in - NOT a screwdriver!) - easier than removing the centre console overall though.

[epipete]

I've done the handbrake gaiter without removing the centre console. The gaiter is held in place by pushing the metal wire (ring) around the bottom of the gaiter into little slots on all 4 sides of it. The slots sit just out of view under the edge of the finished surface of the opening for the handbrake (much like the gear shift gaiter). You can simply pull the existing gaiter out by working it around a bit then replace it and gently tuck the metal wire into the slots. It works but takes a bit of fiddling to get it right (and a soft tool to push it in - NOT a screwdriver!) - easier than removing the centre console overall though.

Nah, with all due respect, I've done it both ways it's better to remove the console, you'll end up doing it that way eventually anyway.

And whilst the consoles out, you may as well change those old gear cables!!!! The ultimate in project creep

[lotos]

And whilst the consoles out, you may as well change those old gear cables!!!! The ultimate in project creep

Hmm, good idea.

[Elanlover]

Nah, with all due respect, I've done it both ways it's better to remove the console, you'll end up doing it that way eventually anyway.

And whilst the consoles out, you may as well change those old gear cables!!!! The ultimate in project creep

Well I'm not saying one method is better than the other. I'm just saying it can be done without removing the centre console - since that's what I did. Some people (like me) might not need to change the gear cables or do other work at the same time they are installing the gaiter.

[Elanlover]

Is there someone in the UK who can do a favour? I'd like to see some detailed pics of a RHD dashboard. I'm aware of many of the differences between the UK and FED dashboards (steering column comes to mind obviously) but I need to get a sense of some specific differences. Special attention given to the side air vents, passenger side dash and glove box, and the entire area in front of the windshield. I'm having some conversations with these folks about a number of issues including:

1) can they make other leather pieces (since good ole Mel Broome and the Lotus trimmers aren't doing stuff like this anymore)
2) are they open to group buy discounts

Thanks!

[Squirtydog]

Both gaiters now in.

As for centre console out or in...
...somewhere in between for me.
Remove centre tray and bolts underneath, remove window switches and bolts. Raise centre console a little.
Remove old gaiter and handbrake handle. Slide new gaiter on inside out slide handbrake handle back on, and zip tie gaiter in place somewhere near the angle beneath the front portion (about 4" of excess gaiter for mine).
Feed base of gaiter through opening in console.
(Sitting in driver's seat) Left hand through tray opening to underside of console, right hand on outside - fiddly job to get the thin wire to mould and stay in place, requires a bit of work from above whilst preventing it moving out of place from below. Wedge corners in firmly from below also.

I just couldn't do it with the console fully out.

Already done the cables so no need to have it all out anyway

[cliff]

Looking good Ian, I went for a gear knob with similar stitching..

Good write up btw.

CIMG0750.jpg

[Elanlover]

Is there someone in the UK who can do a favour? I'd like to see some detailed pics of a RHD dashboard. I'm aware of many of the differences between the UK and FED dashboards (steering column comes to mind obviously) but I need to get a sense of some specific differences. Special attention given to the side air vents, passenger side dash and glove box, and the entire area in front of the windshield. I'm having some conversations with these folks about a number of issues including:

1) can they make other leather pieces (since good ole Mel Broome and the Lotus trimmers aren't doing stuff like this anymore)
2) are they open to group buy discounts

Thanks!

With all the pics floating around in this thread there isn't ONE person who can take some of their UK dash?????

[novacaine]

heres a couple plucked from google. Hope they help, if not I will try to remember to take a few pics of mine for you

[cliff]

I don't have many dash pics, maybe these will help.

CIMG0744a.jpg

CIMG0745a.jpg

CIMG0746a.jpg

CIMG0747a.jpg

P6200793.jpg

[Elanlover]

Thanks folks, that helps quite a lot. it appears that the FED and UK dashes are mirror images with a couple of exceptions. The side vents are different with the FED side vents being identical to those in the fascia centre (the UK ones are larger and vertically oriented) and possibly the glovebox location although that looks pretty close (and likely is the same).

I'm going to ask them about how to adhere the skin and if they've accounted for the depressions and ridges on the top of the dash.

[Elanlover]

Ok, I've had some phone conversations with this company located in Southwest London (New Malden). They are open to pretty much everything I've asked about. That includes making leather trimmed pieces for practically everything in the car, possible group buy discounts, etc. I've opened a new topic in the group buy section to discuss the company's offerings, etc. in more detail. So, if you're interested, drop by.

[Mikee]

Looking good Ian, I went for a gear knob with similar stitching..

Good write up btw.

CIMG0750.jpg

Hi cliff where did you get that gear knob?
Thanks
Mike

[tb10]

I've bought both and they are fine. I did put some SLK seats in my car so I have black seats now so I cannot say how they would match the grey

any pics of the SLK seat in your elan?

It's taken a little time but here they are!

[novacaine]

I've bought both and they are fine. I did put some SLK seats in my car so I have black seats now so I cannot say how they would match the grey

any pics of the SLK seat in your elan?

It's taken a little time but here they are!

Nice! I'm surprised they fit

Looking good Ian, I went for a gear knob with similar stitching..

Good write up btw.

CIMG0750.jpg

Where did you get that gear knob from? Look smart

[Fredjohn]

Looking good Ian, I went for a gear knob with similar stitching..

Good write up btw.

CIMG0750.jpg

Hi cliff where did you get that gear knob?
Thanks
Mike

Keep up at the back there!!!! Try the first post in this thread

[maz_r]

Hi cliff where did you get that gear knob?
Thanks
Mike

Is this what you meant?

I got mine from fleabay, but I did mail these guys and they answered, so despite the website looking a bit 'rare', I believe they are for real. I couldn't find anywhere else selling them.

[cliff]

Hi cliff where did you get that gear knob?
Thanks
Mike

Finally found the details (it was a while ago), same company Maz posted the link for - Motors Concept through ebay.