Esprit Rear Light Conversion

[Paul504]

Seen the round rear light conversion on LEW - Parts come from the States. Is there a UK supplier? Anyone done this mod? Would like some opinions before I fork out around a grand!

[superdave]

Not a grand though if you give me a grand I'll gladly supply you. Forhalf that price, try PNM Engineering on 0151 630 6101. They have a rear panel in stock for £150+VAT. Lotus lights are about £70 Each + VAT. Whole lot should come under £500. They will have to order the lights in from Lotus.
I know lots of people who have had theirs done.
Karl Sherratt, Doors Hendrie, to name but a few.
Fitting is pretty easy for any competant bodyshop.

Cheers,

[karmavore]

Remember... if you buy the Lotus panel you can never go back! If you buy the LPbC kit you can reinstall your Toyota lights, for resale say.



Luke, kit owner

[unity1]

I did the full Upgrade Sometime ago. Cost was around £500 in all. Can be seen on my site.

www.unity1.co.uk/Lotus/Project/Lights/rearlightsmod.htm

Steve
89 Turbo
www.unity1.co.uk/Lotus

[Paul504]

Thanks for the info - I think I'll go with the LPBC kit - $1150.00 equates to around £600.00. The fact that it's only "small cuts to the inside of the light pods" appeals. I've got the painting sorted - can the badges be swapped or will I need extras?

[greezmunky]

I have the original lotus panel and I'm wondering if I can just cut away from the panel instead of cutting from the car.. I am not concerned about resale but I really dont want to damage the paint on my car with flying dremel debris. Also.. should I decide to just cut the car is it safe to get the panel painted first or will the required trim / fitting work cause undue stress on the finish. I'm pressed for time on this little project so any help would be great.

[karmavore]

* If you're going to buy the Lotus part and cut it you might as well save some money and buy the knock-off.

* If you use the Lotus part and cut the bumper which, incidently, does look cleaner than LPbC retofit, then you'll need to respray the rear bumber to avoid it looking sloppy.

* I had the "V8" indent filled in with fiberglass and bought the correct Lotus emblem from JAE for the other indent.

Luke.

[greezmunky]

hmmm.. i was hoping to pull this off without having to leave my car in the body shop. I am going to make a plug of the original lotus panel and play around different cuts to see what works best. In the end I'll most likely wind up cutting the car anyway.

[Paul504]

Now I'm uncertain - got a mail back from LPBC and the panel, delivered comes in at $640.00 (£340.00!!) - Is the PMN panel (£150.00 plus the dreaded) the same retrofit-no-cutting-of-the-outer-bodywork type as LPBC's? I don't want to chop around too much so what ever I do, the original lights must be able to mask all mods if I decide to revert.

On a separate issue - one thing that's bugging: When I go over a certain speed (cant list it on here!) the wiper moves from it's park position and slides at least 75mm round it's travel. (Bugger for passengers & doesn't look great when you park up - shouldn't have to get out and poke it back down) Dealership that I bought it through said "It's normal" - Can't believe it, it never happened on me '91 Turbo. Are they fobbing me off cos they don't want to fix it under the warranty?

[superdave]

PNM one is the one you have to chop the body though I have heard of someone cutting the panel itself. Can't say that's a good thing as you'll take all the rigidity out of the panel.
Personally I think the only way to do this mod properly is the way Lotus intended it. The retro way looks retro and DIY to me as you see an unsightly ledge under the panel. doesn't blend in like the other one.
At the end of the day it's all about personal preference. If you don't want to cut your body then go for the other one.


Dave

[Paul504]

Thanks Dave - I'll ponder some more. I appreciate that the "don't-need-to-cut" kit is DIYish but for resale, the purists may not like the round lights. I'm still amazed that I have to go to the US to get this panel - I was reading through some old chat on this subject - There was some talk about the UK number plate not fitting. Do you know anything about this?

[karmavore]

I can measure the panel for you if you like, but not till Firday.

Luke.

[chia9876]

Steve (Unity1), your site on the rear light conversion is great.
I need to have paint work on my rear (the car that is) and I guess while I'm at it, I'll have the real 02 conversion done. Does any one know what it costs in the USA for the rear tail light section and lights? Is it the actual 02 part from lotus?



ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º- Christian Waldron -º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø

99 Esprit "New Lotus Yellow" #178

Lotus, It's not my hobby. It's my obsession!!!

http://members.cox.net/chia9876/

[superdave]

Yes, if you buy the Us version, your plate will not fit. I didn't know the other one was from US.
You could always try SJ Sports Cars. They do the whole kit for about £480 not sure if it's plus VAT or not. Bad side is that it's at least a 3 months waiting list for the panel. Doors Hendrie waited nearly 6 months for his and then had to get his bodyshop to add 6-10mm to the length because it was short or something.

Dave Walters

Paul504 said:

Thanks Dave - I'll ponder some more. I appreciate that the "don't-need-to-cut" kit is DIYish but for resale, the purists may not like the round lights. I'm still amazed that I have to go to the US to get this panel - I was reading through some old chat on this subject - There was some talk about the UK number plate not fitting. Do you know anything about this?

[karmavore]

Aren't the 2002 panels the same in both the UK and the US? Take a second look at my kit...



Luke.

[superdave]

Yes you're absolutely riight Luke. My appologies. I was thinking about the standard rear licence plate surround.
I'd say go for this kit then...

[Paul504]

Luke,
Would appreciate you taking a few measurements, just to be certain.
Thanks,
Paul.

PS - Nice arse!

[Paul504]

Luke,
UK plate measures 520mm x 110mm - Should be easier to say if this fits, rather than taking measurements.
Cheers,
Paul.

[karluk29]

heres mine, got it from pnm and it came to:-

lights £69 each not inc vat
rear panel £150 not inc vat

but i had all mine blended into the rear and the spoiler etc etc




>> Edited by karluk29 on Friday 17th December 13:24

[flowers]

Karluk29,

Do you have any problems with air collecting under your rear valance at speed?

Rich Flowers
'95 S4s ...SHF63000
'79 JPS #040