The Lotus Grand Tourers

Having followed me for many hours of driving on a two-car trip to Suffolk, my beloved wife informs me that she can hardly see my rear lights. Looking at them from inside the boot it is clear there is sod-all silvering left on the reflectors, since significant amounts of daylight can be seen through the plastic. So...

1) How do you remove the rear lenses? I found a bolt inside the boot which I removed with a 10mm spanner, but no other obvious fixing from inside. However, it didn't come free - is there something else to remove, or do I just need to apply more force?

2) Any bright ideas on how to renew the silvering behind the lenses?

Thanks!

Richard

think you need to remove rear bumper to find other fixings. I think bumper is held on with two fixings behind number plate.

rbgosling wrote:Having followed me for many hours of driving on a two-car trip to Suffolk, my beloved wife informs me that she can hardly see my rear lights. Looking at them from inside the boot it is clear there is sod-all silvering left on the reflectors, since significant amounts of daylight can be seen through the plastic. So...

1) How do you remove the rear lenses? I found a bolt inside the boot which I removed with a 10mm spanner, but no other obvious fixing from inside. However, it didn't come free - is there something else to remove, or do I just need to apply more force?

2) Any bright ideas on how to renew the silvering behind the lenses?

Thanks!

Richard

Yep u have to remove the bumper. Could just go for the Cree LED's.

<ahem> http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... f=8&t=2784

(Always worth a look in Tech. Articles)

And it's still possible to get brand new rear light clusters from Rimmer Bros. http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID009038 though they ain't cheap.

I would second the use of cree LED bulbs. Made a very significant difference to my rear lights.
Improvement in brake lights: Cree LED on the left

Improvement in side lights: Cree LED on the left


Also, not sure the original lights had silvering.....mine were just white (ish) plastic but that may be because the silvering had totally disappeared...... ?

DWH wrote: Also, not sure the original lights had silvering.....mine were just white (ish) plastic but that may be because the silvering had totally disappeared...... ?

Yes it has!

I followed the OP amongst others down a rain soaked A1 a few years back (the Croft do) and remarked on this forum at the time that the rear lights on an aged Excel are completely invisible if there is road spray.

KevW sorted his with LEDs which sounds lot less hassle and more cost effective than splitting fragile old plastic mouldings with a dremel, spray painting, and re-sealing. A high level brake light is also essential on the Excel IMHO.

I've always wanted to fit a flush mounted led brake light into the rear lip of the spoiler.
as per Ian Gotts Excel....here


Ideally the LED could be wider and more "flush".
Has anyone else gone down this route ?
Cheers

You can tuck it underneath which doesn't require paint and glassfibre.

Where is Kev when you need him? (taps foot)

My ears were burning! Have a look at this post about rear LEDs Richard http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... =27&t=8432.

This is about making use of the whole light cluster http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... =27&t=8462 If you look carefully at the first photo you can just see the high level brake lamp that Mark referred to tucked under the rear spoiler.

Yes the silvering will be completely gone as shown in the piccy. You could do this but most people wet themselves laughing

Lovely "glitter ball" effect.....

DWH wrote:
Ideally the LED could be wider and more "flush".
Has anyone else gone down this route ?
Cheers

I am playing with various Hi level light fits.

One taken from a Rover 45



Doesn't obscure the rear view too much - never use mirrors anyway

This worked ok and there was little red light pollution into the cabin

The current version is based on the audi A7 rear light that runs the width of the roof line. It is fixed via strip of electrical u-shaped trunking cupped over the edge of the roof lining. No screws required. Easily visible but I haven't aced the light pollution yet

http://vid372.photobucket.com/albums/oo ... 0light.mp4

The view from outside is great, but as you say you don't want the inside lighting up too....
Whas the LED strip originally fitted inside the window on the A7 ? ...if so Audi must have come up with a solution
Good luck

Hawaiis0 wrote:Yes the silvering will be completely gone as shown in the piccy. You could do this but most people wet themselves laughing

Laugh? I think it's an inspired idea.

Rich,
I have done this and getting the lights apart is the hardest part. Follow the tutorial and getting the lights out is not too bad. Getting the lens off the plastic back is not easy. I chipped a few spots when cutting through the glue to get them apart. I used a "chrome" paint on mine and it did turn out pretty well. I think it was much easier than trying to glue all those mirrors in, but his probably works better. Mine had all the original paint peeled off and sitting inside the light assembly. I then regaled them back together with a silicone adhesive, and made sure the drains were clear in the bottom of the lens. Hope this helps.
Jeff