Do I have the Elise-disease?

[Mr.C]

Ok, so I was just out in the garage painting my embellisher rings for the head lights. It was an interesting story...

Since the rings are a warranty item the Lotus dealership could not just give them to me so I can install them myself. The deal was that I had to buy the rings, paint them, and then have the dealership install them on my car in order to get reimbursed for the price I paid for them...weird, but ok.

I could have installed them myself within an hour, but now I have to go back to the dealership...

So within the last two weeks I've done the following to my car:

Installed the V1 and concealed display on the bracket I designed and fabricated for the mounting:



Plus I bought a set of black LSS rims in addition to the silver ones I have.
I had ONE track day and decided it's time to save those AO48's and have some Toyo's for the daily drive...( guess that's called the track-bug...)

And I got the embellisher rings and painted them:




But back to the subject:

While painting the embellisher rings I had to wait for 30 minutes between the multiple coats of paint. I could have gone back into the house and watched TV or something.

But instead I just stood in the garage and looked at my Elise from all different angles for 30 minutes per coat.

I had my Elise for a year now, and this excitement just doesn't want to stop

AM I SICK???

[AttAkker]

No, I don't think so at all. I detailed my Elise just to get rid of it tomorrow. I just wanted more time with it before it goes away for the Exige. I guess we are all a bit sick over these machines. BTW, that bracket is simply beautiful.

[Dietrich]

who cares about the rings, that bracket is beautiful!

[gameson]

I like the bracket. Any chance you are making few more sets?

[Bleu Omdurman]

Indeed, bracket is great. I may need to upgrade mine. Could you PM me the details?

[Mr.C]

I just used some velcro to attach the V1 to the bracket



Some of the soft side of the velcro at the bottom of the V1



And then just plug it in...

[AttAkker]

Absolutely brilliant design, look and function.

[Mr.C]

Originally Posted by gameson

I like the bracket. Any chance you are making few more sets?

Gameson,

Interresting that you are asking...

I had to have 10 brackets made in order for the laser cutter to even do it.
I figured "what the hell" since I was kind of obsessed with the idea to do something that apparently nobody on this board has done before.

But I also didn't want to upset the folks on this board who make a living out of selling parts for our cars.

That's why I didn't want to post them as being for sale, except for maybe to show them to some of the local crowds to see if they like them...

I wanted something that doesn't require a harness bar (since I don't have one) and still looks like it's part of the Elise.

So I spent some time doing measurements, some pencil drawings and finally detailing everything in CATIA to have it laser cut.


I also went through several different iterations of attaching the bracket to the firewall. I had to order a few different types of hardware until I found a system I liked...
So if you ever have a question about fastening systems - I'm kind of an involuntarely expert by now!

But I found a system which I like since it isolates the V1 from the vibrations of the firewall as well as it doesn't involve any drilling of new holes...

Steve

[jriva]

I want one, where do i send money?

[JoshS]

What a really professional job. Why don't you contact some of the vendors, they'd market it for you and you could take a small commission. If you priced it too low you might lose on every sale, but you'd make it up in volume!

Neil are you lurking out there, this is something a lot of people will want.

[ajp33]

I'm interested. Please PM me

[Mr.C]

Originally Posted by RegGuy

The embelishers will need to dry for at least a month before you install them or they will "out gas" and fog the interior of your lenses. You can speed that process by "baking" them at a low temperature in the oven.

Thanks for the tip.
I used VHT high temperature paint, and it says to bake the parts at 200 degrees for an hour.
I just put the rings in the oven a minute ago...

[Mr.C]

Ok, so since some peope seem to be interested:

How about $45 plus $5 shipping?

But give me some time since I still need to finish the other brackets I have.
It took me about 2 hours to finish my first one with Scotch-Brite in order to get the brushed look.
And I don't have a buffer so it's all pretty labor-intense...

PM me if you're interested.

Steve

[Bruce]

What's the part no. for the embellisher rings? I want to buy them and install them myself.

[Mr.C]

Originally Posted by Bruce

What's the part no. for the embellisher rings? I want to buy them and install them myself.

Bruce,

unfortunately I sanded the part number off during the preparation to paint them.
But your dealer should know what they are since they are a warranty item.
Just give them a call and ask.

BTW: they charged me $28.30 for the two rings...
The rings look like it shouldn't cost more than a few cents to produce them!
They are just very cheap plastic parts..

Steve

[pixlpush]

I want one! private mail sent. Very nice design and implementation.

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by Mr.C

But your dealer should know what they are since they are a warranty item.
Just give them a call and ask.

I avoid my dealer whenever I can. They suck. Even buying parts from them sucks.

[Mr.C]

Originally Posted by Bruce

I avoid my dealer whenever I can. They suck. Even buying parts from them sucks.

Bruce,

I just found the receipt for the rings with the part number on it.
It's A117B0721F

Steve

[Bruce]

Originally Posted by Mr.C

Bruce,

I just found the receipt for the rings with the part number on it.
It's A117B0721F

Steve

Thanks.

[buzzy]

I love that V1 bracket, and I've sent you a PM.