Adding the little driving lights on front..........

[ILuv4REs]

How difficult is it to add the two little driving lights onto the front of the Exige, in the front grill area??? Is the wiring already there, switches in the car there, or does it all need to be rewired, etc...???

[lotusforsale]

Originally Posted by ILuv4REs

How difficult is it to add the two little driving lights onto the front of the Exige, in the front grill area??? Is the wiring already there, switches in the car there, or does it all need to be rewired, etc...???

If you want to add the Lotus factory lights, the task is a bit more involved in the Exige than it is the Elise. The mesh grill in the Exige is bonded in and must be cut out to be replaced with the grill that will accomodate the lights, or I suppose you could simply cut the holes for the lights in the grill yourself.

Most folks suggest removing the clam to remove and replace the grill on the Exige.

In the Elise the grill is easily removed and replaced with the one designed to accomodate the lights, no need to remove the clam.

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by lotusforsale

If you want to add the Lotus factory lights, the task is a bit more involved in the Exige than it is the Elise. The mesh grill in the Exige is bonded in and must be cut out to be replaced with the grill that will accommodate the lights, or I suppose you could simply cut the holes for the lights in the grill yourself.

Most folks suggest removing the clam to remove and replace the grill on the Exige.

In the Elise the grill is easily removed and replaced with the one designed to accommodate the lights, no need to remove the clam.

What he said.

This link: Driving Lights in a "Non-PreWired" Elise shows how to install the driving lights in the Elise, but as noted above the clam usually has to come off to install them in the Exige. But other than that, the wiring is in place. The kit includes the brackets, the lights, the additional relay needed, the new switch panel (the part where the headlight switches are located) and the switch and harness that goes there.

It's a fairly simple job to do, on an Elise. It's be the same on the Exige except for the clam removal and grill changes (the kit for the Exige should include the new grill for it, I would assume).

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

(the kit for the Exige should include the new grill for it, I would assume).

It does, but you have to inform the parts guys when you order so the correct grill comes.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by RoadDad

It does, but you have to inform the parts guys when you order so the correct grill comes.

No kit when I got mine, so I had an Elise grille that I had to unload.


The clam has to come off and the OEM grille is finished out a little better than simply cutting the standard one in situ would be, but it comes down to personal choice.

http://elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21147

All other parts and wiring is the same though.

And just to add fuel to the fire (and tempt you further):
http://elisetalk.com/forums/showpost...55&postcount=3

[ILuv4REs]

Ok, that really sux that the front clam needs to come off. SO, that begs the question.......how hard is it to take off the front clam???

[alexandertg4]

I wouldn't do it. I tried on my exige and am pretty competent when it come to working on a car. Next thing you know, the car is at LoBH with Allen and a shop ticket of 900 bucks just labor.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by ILuv4REs

Ok, that really sux that the front clam needs to come off. SO, that begs the question.......how hard is it to take off the front clam???

I would peg the degree of difficulty somewhere between removing the sun visors and an engine rebuild.



Seriously though, I've heard that -much like pimpin'- it ain't easy.

[xxxotic]

Fred, Did you buy an Exige?

A friend of mine saiid that he ran into you at the dealers last week.
If you did get one, bring it to the dinner tonight!

[ILuv4REs]

So, it basically sounds like I will need 2 Wal-Mart flashlights and a roll of duct-tape to get front lights....................

[TimMullen]

I haven't removed any clams, but the front is easier than the back. The back has lots of plumbing that isn't there on the front.

Some that have removed the front clam have indicated that it's relatively easy - takes a couple of hours or less. Still, I guess it's not for the faint of heart.

But taking off the front clam isn't that big of a deal. It has to come off for a radiator replacement for example, and many people have done it to install stainless steel braided brake lines.

The factory Service Manual describes the process (if you don't have the manual, you need to download a copy for $25 from LCU's web site).

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by ILuv4REs

So, it basically sounds like I will need 2 Wal-Mart flashlights and a roll of duct-tape to get front lights....................

While spartan, the Exige does still come with headlights which, when upgraded to Xenon (much easier than installing the driving lights), are certainly ample. That being said, I certainly see the allure of the driving lights as they make the car look pretty cool.

[ILuv4REs]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

While spartan, the Exige does still come with headlights which, when upgraded to Xenon (much easier than installing the driving lights), are certainly ample. That being said, I certainly see the allure of the driving lights as they make the car look pretty cool.

Yeh, for me, I really like the 'look'.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by ILuv4REs

Ok, that really sux that the front clam needs to come off. SO, that begs the question.......how hard is it to take off the front clam???

You'll need two people - the Exige front clam is the right combination of size and weight to put it just over the edge of being controllable alone.

In addition, the grille is bonded to the clam. Have a look at the bonding of an upper grille, with an access panel removed - imagine that, thicker, all around the grille. In other words, it's going to be like pulling windshield adhesive off rough fiberglass.

It would be much easier to cut the grille in situ, respray it, and fit the lights. If you don't like how it looks, you can always pull the clam later and install the factory one.

I was one of the first in the States to do the driving lights on the Exige (maybe 2nd or 3rd owner?) and even Lotus thought I was nuts for replacing the grille instead of cutting it.


I understand where you're coming from though - I had to have 'em too!


What Tim's post doesn't show is all the crap that's attached to the underside of the front clam - like the oil cooler plumbing, radio antenna, etc.

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by codymac

What Tim's post doesn't show is all the crap that's attached to the underside of the front clam - like the oil cooler plumbing, radio antenna, etc.

Like I said, I haven't had to remove a clam.

But I thought the oil cooler and lines were attached to the crash structure and stayed in place. The antenna is however taped to the underside of the clam.

You are right however, there is lots of little stuff.

I think Sands Museum has directions on how to remove the clam on an Elise: http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elis...amremoval.html

Note the photo that shows the two plugs on the top of the radiator intake opening - those plugs are the Driving Light plugs. On the very early cars (known as non-pre-wired as they weren't wired for the switch - but were wired for power) they were powered with the high beams. On later Elises (mid '05 and on) and US Exiges, those are powered when the dash switch, harness, and relay (in the kit) are installed.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

But I thought the oil cooler and lines were attached to the crash structure and stayed in place. The antenna is however taped to the underside of the clam.

Definitely some great writeups on the Sands site.


See the "What Does It Look Like?" photos? Note how the oil cooler lines are just sort of flopping about? They're held to the clam on either side by a couple of those ratcheting squeeze clips that have their bases bonded to the underside of the clam.

They can be seen once the wheel arch liners are removed. Sands mentions it in the text for step #3.


My antenna was bonded in place every six or so inches to the underside of the clam.


I think you just have to be prepared to accept some variance with a hand built car.

[jkolb]

Don't be afraid of the Clam. It is actually fairly easy to remove. Read the Sandsmuseum write-up in post 15 and patiently follow the directions. At the end of the process it will seem like something is hanging up. It is probably the parking light connections that you forgot to take off earlier. In any event I even removed mine from the car without any help. Put a large piece of foam in front of the car and gently slid the clam forward and tilted it up to rest on its nose and against my work bench. Whole process took about 3 hours, but I was extremely deliberate and took a lot of breaks.

I removed mine to install stainless brakelines. If you have an Exige and think that you ever want to do this, you might as well do it when you have the clam off. Note that you will also need a Dremel tool or die grinder to relieve the fiberglass to get access to the brake hose fastenings. Obviously Lotus put the brakelines on before they added the fiberglass structure.

Jerry