A&Q about Lotus
Q:
I'm having my chin gaurd put on tomorrow and I was wondering how much time it should take? I bought the clear one from Lotus that requires making the car holy.
A:
Which one?
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Where did you find it, I am not aware of a clear one!
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It's in the back of the MY2006 Elise brochure as a part you can order from the parts department. It's clear and thick plastic. Some people paint it to match their cars, others, like me, leave it clear.
A:
I installed my the Lotus chin guards and it wasn't a long process. I did it over two days because you have to put a bead of silicone on the inside and it's best to let it dry 24 hours before installing.
It shouldn't take the dealer long to do it, especially if they've done chin guard installs before.
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Originally Posted by Johnny B
I installed my the Lotus chin guards and it wasn't a long process. I did it over two days because you have to put a bead of silicone on the inside and it's best to let it dry 24 hours before installing.
It shouldn't take the dealer long to do it, especially if they've done chin guard installs before.
So how long? Should I bring the chin guard in one day and then my car the next day? Should I just leave my car over night? What is the actual labor time?
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Originally Posted by AgentTripleX
So how long? Should I bring the chin guard in one day and then my car the next day? Should I just leave my car over night? What is the actual labor time?
I'd drop off the guards to have them painted. While there, have them test fit the guards and use a felt tip pin to mark where the holes will need to be drilled under your clam. They'll need to put the bead of silicone on the inside of the guards after the paint has dried. The silicone will also need time to dry.
I would plan to go back to the dealership for the install a couple of days after dropping off the guards for painting. Should only take an hour for them to install them.
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Why would you need to let the silicon dry before installing? The purpose of using the silicon is to create a seal between the chin guard and the body so that dirt and such cannot get between the chin guard and the body and cause damage.
The reason that the chin guards are supposed to be painted is so that you can seal them with the silicon and not see the smeary mess through the clear plastic.
In my case, I ordered the chin guards pre-painted from Newport European and installed them my self. I placed them up to the car and marked the first hole to be drilled (in the middle if I remember correctly). Then I temporally installed the plastic rivet and, again holding the guard in place, drilled the next hole. I repeated this process for all the holes, there by ensuring that the chin guard fit tight to the body.
Then I removed the chin guards and applied a bead of silicon along the top and sides, and put the chin guard in place. Installed the rivets - permanently - and held the chin guards to the body with masking tape after pressing firmly to spread the silicon and get a tight fit (if you applied a bead of silicon and had let it dry, you would not be able to get the tight fit at this point). Then I did the other side.
All told, it took my less than an hour - and that's because I was going slow and taking photos. Check post #55 of this thread:
A:
Originally Posted by TimMullen
Why would you need to let the silicon dry before installing? The purpose of using the silicon is to create a seal between the chin guard and the body so that dirt and such cannot get between the chin guard and the body and cause damage.
I let the silicone dry and also used screws instead of the rivets because I want the option of removing the scuff guards. I did remove them once, because I was having a new clear bra fitted to the car. There was no dirt under the guards when I removed them.
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So I think it might be easiest to find someone locally to help me rather than the dealer. I've decided to paint the gaurd after all since it sounds like dirt and the silicone will show. So I need help painting, putting on silicone, drilling, and putting it on. Any volunteers in SF? I just don't want to mess it up.
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A3X, why don't you have your dealer just paint them for you? The rest is easy and shouldn't take you more than an hour to do. I'm sure if you're especially nice to your techs, they can do it in no time.
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Originally Posted by bmw1
A3X, why don't you have your dealer just paint them for you? The rest is easy and shouldn't take you more than an hour to do. I'm sure if you're especially nice to your techs, they can do it in no time.
Does that mean she needs to buy a Ferrari hat?
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Originally Posted by Serebo1
Does that mean she needs to buy a Ferrari hat?
Only if Qais does it
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Originally Posted by bmw1
A3X, why don't you have your dealer just paint them for you? The rest is easy and shouldn't take you more than an hour to do. I'm sure if you're especially nice to your techs, they can do it in no time.
They send it out to Cars Dawydiak for paint. I've been a loyal customer for 6 years, but after my last experience and some of my friends' experiences, I do not want to return. I haven't had a chance to scan my last invoice for 24K, but plan to do so after my vacation. I'm sure the techs will be super nice to me, I just wanted it to be a learning experience too. It seems simple enough.
What's this about a Ferrari hat? I'm a Lambo girl and have some hats already, thank you very much.
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Originally Posted by AgentTripleX
What's this about a Ferrari hat? I'm a Lambo girl and have some hats already, thank you very much.
Oh c'mon, Lambo? It's all about the Prancing Horse
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Originally Posted by AgentTripleX
What's this about a Ferrari hat? I'm a Lambo girl and have some hats already, thank you very much.
Qais liked my Ferrari hats, and somehow I got the imnpression that if I ever wanted my car back, it might be a good idea to bring him one. More than glad to oblige.
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Originally Posted by AgentTripleX
So I think it might be easiest to find someone locally to help me rather than the dealer. I've decided to paint the gaurd after all since it sounds like dirt and the silicone will show. So I need help painting, putting on silicone, drilling, and putting it on. Any volunteers in SF? I just don't want to mess it up.
You can order painted chin guards from Newport European. They will ship them to you. Of course, they will be going by your paint code, and not trying to match any small differences in the batch of paint used for your particular car. However, given the location of the chin guards, I doubt you could ever notice any paint color difference.
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Originally Posted by ChrisH
You can order painted chin guards from Newport European. They will ship them to you. Of course, they will be going by your paint code, and not trying to match any small differences in the batch of paint used for your particular car.
I ordered my pre-painted Chrome Orange chin guards from Newport European. The color match was perfect. Of course, your mileage may vary...
Originally Posted by Jonny B
used screws instead of the rivets because I want the option of removing the scuff guards. I did remove them once, because I was having a new clear bra fitted to the car.
Although the plastic rivets are "one way" if you remove the front under tray, you can reach the back side of the rivets. From there, you can push the middle plastic part back out of the rivet, and "un-rivet" the rivet and re-use them as necessary. I just liked the possibility that the plastic rivets could rip out if worse comes to worse and not damage the fiberglass as much as screws ripping out would probably do. But that is very unlikely in any case, so screws would probably work as well as the rivets.
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I already have the clear guards though. I don't want to buy them again just so they come painted.
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Take the guards to the local paint shop with paint code. Have them spray the inside of the guards.
1)Next time you go to the dealer for service and while it's on the lift, have them mark and drill the holes. 2)Take them home and place a bead of silicone approx. 3 mil. from the edge around the entirety of the guard. 3)Next day, carefully position them and push them in place. Insert the plastic rivets as per the directions. wipe off any excess silicone that may come out around the edge.
If you don't feel comfortable with step 3, have a friend help position them.