Elise reflector halo conversion

[BenBristol]

Hi first time poster here. 
Having recently purchased my 2004 111s, I wanted to do something about what I consider the ugly reflectors on the rear. 
I found some very cheap halo fog lights on eBay and with some red lens spray, smoked black plastic and some adaptation and experimentation, I managed to make something that really compliments the GRP V3 lights. 
All fitted for less than £25

[Bibs]

Hi and welcome Ben! 

Nicely done! The Transforged look but at 10% of the price! 

[BenBristol]

Transforged ? Does someone already manufacture something like this to replace the reflectors ? I searched for something like a mini GRP light but couldn’t find anything so was forced to mod something I could find. 

[Bibs]

https://www.gregsraceparts.com/collections/aero-exterior/products/grp-v4-tail-lights-for-2001-elise-exige-02-04-esprit?variant=44218119454953

[BenBristol]

Those are tail lights. I modified some 2.5 inch lights in replace of the reflectors 

[Bibs]

That makes the price make more sense! I thought you'd made the Transforged/GRP ones for £25!! Very smart though, nicely done! 

[jep]

Very neat. Good skills. 

Though I rather like the cheapo parts on a Lotus, as it's sort of part of the DNA and reminds that you're paying for the ride, handling and steering - the rest of the car is free.

Justin

 

[BenBristol]

15 hours ago, jep said:

Very neat. Good skills. 

Though I rather like the cheapo parts on a Lotus, as it's sort of part of the DNA and reminds that you're paying for the ride, handling and steering - the rest of the car is free.

Justin

 

I know what you mean. However the previous owner had changed a lot of the aesthetics. GRP lights & mirrors, side skirts, front splitter, spoiler, lots of carbon fibre, black lotus badges and gold wheels. If it were stock I wouldn’t do anything to it, but I happen to like everything he did to it ( he left the engine and mechanics completely stock otherwise I wouldn’t have touched it) so as a bit of a tinkerer, I don’t mind adding a bit to it with some minor and inexpensive  projects. Halos fitted to the headlights is a possible next project. 

[DH2]

Not sure how much they will enjoy the exhaust heat, but cheap enough to try - I've seen many a melted reflector.

Also you will need some reflectors for MOT (in theory).

Dave

[BenBristol]

Yes I did think the heat may damage them but I’ve been on some long hard drives and so far they’re good. 

For the MOT I’ll simply zip tie the old reflectors to the new lights and take them off after. The absence of a fog light didn’t seem to affect the MOT in May for the last owner, but as an added bonus the centre parts of the new mini halos will do just fine as fogs 

[Spitandpolish]

This looks really smart, is this the car on YouTube?

[BenBristol]

It is but I’m the new (4 months) owner and not the guy in the videos. I’ve been putting my own finishing touches on it and those lights were one of them. I actually changed those lights for bigger ones that fill the hole better. They’re now 3 inch rather than 2.5 inch 

[snowrx]

Decided against some extra reverse lights?

[BenBristol]

18 hours ago, snowrx said:

Decided against some extra reverse lights?

Didn’t even consider adding extra reversing lights ? For what reason ? 

[snowrx]

I've found many cars to have minimal rear illumination, I tend to at least find a brighter bulb for the stock socket to help backing in dark locations. The Elise may have fine illumination.

With those halo lights presumably already having white centers, they could have been tapped into the reverse light circuit. Although they are mounted pretty low.