Moved the "Engine Start" button to the center console on my Elise - LotusTalk

vao4v · 01-22-2013, 04:42 PM

I pondered doing this for quite awhile and finally figured it was time to do it. Thought I would post pics in case anyone wanted to see what it ends up looking like.

Wasn't as hard as I had feared. The start button and its trim ring fit like a glove where the hazard button used to be (your mileage may vary with a non-fabric-covered console), and I relocated the hazard button lower on the console (under the gauges on the driver's side). Then, from behind the start button's original location, I extended its wires under the dash and into the console. Lastly, I bought a used passenger side access cover from Zwhitaker, wrapped it in Alcantara, mounted the light switches in it, and installed it.

keatre · 01-22-2013, 04:44 PM

Very cool! Points for creativity and ingenuity.

Formula313 · 01-22-2013, 05:04 PM

that looks awesome. i think i just might try it.

addertooth · 01-22-2013, 05:49 PM

Were any wild Alcantaras harmed in the making of this article, or were they all domestic Alcantaras?

carphoria · 01-22-2013, 05:57 PM

looks great.. you eliminate the key as well?

Hello Kitty · 01-22-2013, 06:42 PM

Your airbag will not deploy correctly

pray4mojo · 01-22-2013, 06:44 PM

Omg is that a Venom GT interior?

Jk. Neat idea

SwingLo · 01-22-2013, 07:01 PM

Nice work and very creative, but can I ask the obvious question...

Why?

Not to sh*t in the punch bowl, but just wondering what this mod does for you? I'm sure it's purely aesthetic, but what's the purpose of it?

The panel looks lonely now. Maybe tweak that to add a 12v outlet or remote for a radar or sumthin'

Again, very nice work and ingenuity.

And let's be honest - the interior this car is actually NICER than the Venom's interior.

And that's real!

pray4mojo · 01-22-2013, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwingLo

Nice work and very creative, but can I ask the obvious question...

Why?

Not to sh*t in the punch bowl, but just wondering what this mod does for you? I'm sure it's purely aesthetic, but what's the purpose of it?

The panel looks lonely now. Maybe tweak that to add a 12v outlet or remote for a radar or sumthin'

Again, very nice work and ingenuity.

And let's be honest - the interior this car is actually NICER than the Venom's interior.

And that's real!

I'm thinking symmetry? Now the passenger and driver panels are both lonely

t955152 · 01-22-2013, 07:25 PM

awesome work Anthony! what a creative mod!

Brian C · 01-22-2013, 07:38 PM

you will damage any potential resale on the car with that modification.

pray4mojo · 01-22-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian C

you will damage any potential resale on the car with that modification.

*looks at your sig*

vao4v · 01-22-2013, 08:43 PM

Thanks guys... hey, I gotta stir the pot occasionally around here, right? It's been almost two years since I put on the '10 Exige clam for god sakes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by addertooth

Were any wild Alcantaras harmed in the making of this article, or were they all domestic Alcantaras?

Don't call PETA on me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carphoria

looks great.. you eliminate the key as well?

Stop planting ideas in my head.

No, j/k, but I would have in a heartbeat if it was a dedicated track car. For my purposes, I don't mind the key.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hello Kitty

Your airbag will not deploy correctly

Due to SRS faults that have plagued this car since a shop which shall remain nameless worked on it awhile back (and of course, the shop will take no responsibility for this (EDIT: I better just say that the shop in question is *NOT* VSA, in case anyone remembers my post about the car being fixed there)), I decided to manually disable the airbags. Many will judge my decision to do this, but please try to keep in mind that I did so only after having a local Lotus dealer which shall remain nameless diagnose and attempt to fix said issue and it proved impossible for them (unless I wanted to write a blank check and leave it there for an indeterminate amount of time). After paying invoices that would cause some forum members to lose their dinner, and ending up with a complete lack of positive results, I've accepted that the car will simply never have a working SRS system during the remainder of my ownership.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwingLo

Nice work and very creative, but can I ask the obvious question...

Why?

I was waiting for this question.

You win the prize, which is my next big idea: moving the e-brake handle to the location where it should have been all along -- the passenger side a-pillar. No, I swear, it's going to be the new "in" thing.

Yeah, I did it only for aesthetics. I suppose I could have wrapped the factory plastic panel in Alcantara, but it looks like a nightmare because of the recesses and decals for the light switches. They wouldn't do it when I had the whole interior done, and I lived with it for years, and then I had this idea. Not saying a killer upholsterer could not do it, though -- I would love to see the stock panel wrapped with the switches and decals back in place on top of the suede.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian C

you will damage any potential resale on the car with that modification.

You are probably right, Brian. Between the different front clam, supercharger, airbags disabled, etc., it would not be fun to sell it. I am extremely realistic and would basically sell this car as "track-only" and price it $10k under book or something to have any real chance of attracting a serious buyer. I've taken more massive beatings on exotics than I would if I sold this one for $5k, so no worries, and that's probably where my lack of concern emanates from.

6i9 · 01-22-2013, 10:25 PM

Points for originality, but pretty small beans... you gotta do something to top the 2010 Exige Clam...maybe a 2013 Exige clam

vao4v · 01-22-2013, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6i9

Points for originality, but pretty small beans... you gotta do something to top the 2010 Exige Clam...maybe a 2013 Exige clam

LOL

Name: 2013exige.gif
Views: 383
Size: 11.9 KB

6i9 · 01-22-2013, 11:32 PM

epic gif is epic

Flash G · 01-23-2013, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hello Kitty

Your airbag will not deploy correctly

What does the start button location have to do with the airbags deploying?

.

Brian C · 01-23-2013, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pray4mojo

*looks at your sig*

Ahem, my car is stock looking, just engine mods, thank you very much.

David Craig · 01-23-2013, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash G

What does the start button location have to do with the airbags deploying?

.

I don't think moving the start button has anything to do with it. It is that the airbag cover has been re-trimmed and might not break free.

David Craig · 01-23-2013, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwingLo

Nice work and very creative, but can I ask the obvious question...

Why?

Obviously SwingLo wants you to do his car next.

When it comes to mods + alcantara SwingLo is a legend on this site.

Anyways the end result looks really nice. Congrats.

01-22-2013, 04:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
vao4v Anthony Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 426	Moved the "Engine Start" button to the center console on my Elise I pondered doing this for quite awhile and finally figured it was time to do it. Thought I would post pics in case anyone wanted to see what it ends up looking like. Wasn't as hard as I had feared. The start button and its trim ring fit like a glove where the hazard button used to be (your mileage may vary with a non-fabric-covered console), and I relocated the hazard button lower on the console (under the gauges on the driver's side). Then, from behind the start button's original location, I extended its wires under the dash and into the console. Lastly, I bought a used passenger side access cover from Zwhitaker, wrapped it in Alcantara, mounted the light switches in it, and installed it. Attached Images __________________ '06 Elise - partial list: BOE REV300TVS supercharger w/ 85mm pulley, VSA Motorsports tuned engine built by DRS, PPE header, BOE exhaust, BOE intake, BOE catch can, S111 gPAN2, S111 ULTRAdiscs, Ohlins, BOE clamhinge, '10 Exige front clam w/ shaved signals, HIDs, LED DRLs, Reverie side scoops, Denag skirts, Elise SC rear spoiler, S111 aluminDIFFUSER, EliseUSA stainless engine cover grilles, bandit mask, custom alcantara interior. Last edited by vao4v; 01-22-2013 at 04:51 PM.

01-22-2013, 05:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
addertooth Painful Novice Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,985	Were any wild Alcantaras harmed in the making of this article, or were they all domestic Alcantaras? __________________ Storm titanium 2005 Elise with carbon fiber spoiler, BWR sway bar, BOE toe links, gPan2, LidBone, sector 111 wheel studs, Grey RAC Monolite wheels with toyo R1R, Team Dynamics 1.4 with Hoosier A6/R6s, Katana2 Supercharger, ECU with 265 flash. PPE headers w/decat, CEL angle eliminator, Silent touch catback, Rear Panel Eliminator, HKS intake, V2 fuel tank, Walbro255 fuel pump. HID lights.

01-22-2013, 05:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
carphoria Shade-Tree Mechanic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern California Posts: 883	looks great.. you eliminate the key as well? __________________ 2006 Exige KoldFire270 modified

01-22-2013, 07:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
SwingLo All Hail King Joffrey! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago-ish Posts: 6,191	Nice work and very creative, but can I ask the obvious question... Why? Not to sh*t in the punch bowl, but just wondering what this mod does for you? I'm sure it's purely aesthetic, but what's the purpose of it? The panel looks lonely now. Maybe tweak that to add a 12v outlet or remote for a radar or sumthin' Again, very nice work and ingenuity. And let's be honest - the interior this car is actually NICER than the Venom's interior. And that's real! __________________ '08 Elise SC (Chrome Orange) - Stock...so far... '05 Elise (RIP) - sauteed, flambed, bar-b-qued, fried '69 Leyland Mini Moke - good times! '12 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara - daily fun The Wife's Car - who cares?

01-22-2013, 07:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
t955152 Terry Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA/ Cupertino, CA Posts: 1,277	awesome work Anthony! what a creative mod! __________________ t955152athotmaildotcom free replacement screws, upgraded stickers for the Unikey

01-22-2013, 05:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Formula313 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 292	that looks awesome. i think i just might try it.

01-22-2013, 06:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hello Kitty Goodbye Kitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,783 Images: 87	Your airbag will not deploy correctly

01-22-2013, 06:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
pray4mojo All Show and Slow Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 630	Omg is that a Venom GT interior? Jk. Neat idea

01-22-2013, 07:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
Brian C Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 164	you will damage any potential resale on the car with that modification. __________________ 2007 Exige S graphite grey, , PPE headers, sport cat, ST5 exhaust, RLS 3 way shroud, RLS intercooler, 2.9 pulley, SSC adaptronic ecu, 750 cc injectors, BOE surge tank and catch can, Aussie clamhinge,water meth injection, Nitron race pro shocks, pro alloy radiator upgrade, SSC toe link, Shroth 6 point harness, SSC custom rear diffuser.

01-22-2013, 10:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
6i9 Chris Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,463 Images: 1	Points for originality, but pretty small beans... you gotta do something to top the 2010 Exige Clam...maybe a 2013 Exige clam __________________ 2005 Magnetic Blue Lotus Exige Drivetrain: Honda K20A Type R \| Innovative Mounts \| Arqray Ti \| Innovative Exhaust \| Custom Intake \| Hondata KPro \| proRAD \| Setrab Cooler \| Innovative Shifter \| KTuned \| V2 Fuel Tank \| Radium Coolant Tank \| Aero: Exige Clams \| Reverie \| TWRD \| Craftsquare \| Denag \| IMRP \| BSK Hatch Suspension: Nitron SA \| V2arms \| RTDbrace \| Volk CE28N \| Toyo R888 \| DBA4000 \| Pagid RS14 Interior: Recaro SPG \| Willans \| WorksBell \| Sparco Wheel \| aspec Ti knob

01-22-2013, 11:32 PM	#16 (permalink)
6i9 Chris Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,463 Images: 1	epic gif is epic __________________ 2005 Magnetic Blue Lotus Exige Drivetrain: Honda K20A Type R \| Innovative Mounts \| Arqray Ti \| Innovative Exhaust \| Custom Intake \| Hondata KPro \| proRAD \| Setrab Cooler \| Innovative Shifter \| KTuned \| V2 Fuel Tank \| Radium Coolant Tank \| Aero: Exige Clams \| Reverie \| TWRD \| Craftsquare \| Denag \| IMRP \| BSK Hatch Suspension: Nitron SA \| V2arms \| RTDbrace \| Volk CE28N \| Toyo R888 \| DBA4000 \| Pagid RS14 Interior: Recaro SPG \| Willans \| WorksBell \| Sparco Wheel \| aspec Ti knob

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