55 replies to this topic

[haggi961]

This is another reason why ive converted my car to a exige to get rid of the cheap nasty crap lights that the vx has. The lotus lights are so much better made.

[AlfaAversion]

I think you could make something like the 4c lights that are simple generic lamp ( all be it 1k worth of bi zenon)frame and surround easier than trying to adapt production lights from another car. Think fez will be the vx saviour when the lights are ready

[mbes2]

If a 307 has any chance of fitting the VX will need to eat its weetbix 

 

The VX light is SO small!! 

 

 

But for £20, its such a better build than ours... 

[FLD]

I think we need to wait for (or help) Fezza with the lights.  IMO bodging in alternatives looks wrong.  One option would be to use Fezzas lenses with a fibreglass copy of the black plastic housing part and possibly generic lamp units.  It may have to go without a rear cover.  How the lamp units are attached to the main body would be dependant on the lamp unit and should be left to the ownder IMO.

[fezzasus]

If resin casting comes back at a reasonable price then i'm not far from being able to offer them.

[CocoPops]

How long has it been now Fez? Your suppliers seem to work on Spanish time? Mañana!

[smiley]

It would also help to know how many vx and speedster lights will hit the market when they are released on the lotusmotorsportauction.

(Before fezzazus get's stuck with a big investment)

 

I vaguely remember someone reporting having a 2012 sticker on a cluster when bought new, so i asume a new batch has been made.

 

So whoever has a copy of the list. Spill the beans please

 

Edited by smiley, 28 August 2015 - 11:07 AM.

[fezzasus]

How long has it been now Fez? Your suppliers seem to work on Spanish time? Mañana!

 

Unfortunately phoning up and asking for 'one VX220 headlight please' doesn't really work. Here's a list of issues:

 

1. Headlight surround needed reverse engineering - done

2. Headlight mounting needed redesigning to avoid plastic cup mounts - done

3. Different dipped beam projector size, mounting - mostly addressed

4. Hella/Wypac modified main beam mounting as cast mounts too large for packaging, needed cutting and new part casting - not solved yet

5. Injection molding quotes between £40-60k, due to the way the part needs to be drawn from the mount - identify lower cost route.

 

So where am I with this? Well I have 3d printed versions made to check projector geometry works, however these aren't usable due to the material constraints of low 3d printing - they simply can't take the load applied by the weight of the projectors and other mounting points. Until I have pricing for resin injection casting, i'm not going to work something that may not be financially viable, as it really will be a one shot deal.

 

Add to this the fact that i've almost got to an end of my house renovation, I hope by the end of September i'll be able to get some momentum for this. However I have to get it right first time as I simply can't afford to mould more than once. 

[fezzasus]

It would also help to know how many vx and speedster lights will hit the market when they are released on the lotusmotorsportauction.

(Before fezzazus get's stuck with a big investment)

 

I vaguely remember someone reporting having a 2012 sticker on a cluster when bought new, so i asume a new batch has been made.

 

So whoever has a copy of the list. Spill the beans please

 

 

Can guarantee they won't have any on the list. Lotus didn't stock them, or make them. They were contracted to a company in Buckingham called Wypac by Vauxhall. Lotus will have received headlights while the VX220 was on the production line, but after than stock will have gone from Wypac to Vauxhall.

[AlfaAversion]

Would the lotus solution make the 3d printing viable if the costs make a fully oem replacement prohibitive , I guess this comes with its own problems of packaging sealed lamp units

[fezzasus]

Would the lotus solution make the 3d printing viable if the costs make a fully oem replacement prohibitive , I guess this comes with its own problems of packaging sealed lamp units

 

No, the materials used for 3D printing are simply too brittle and melt at too low temperature. there are of course more exotic materials, but the cost goes up and availability goes down.

[vtvx]

Hi fezzasus, have you had a quote from Graphite, we use them at my workplace quite a bit for rapid turnaround tooling and jigging. http://www.graphite....ces/ceramic-sla

[mbes2]

The lights are the only thing left yet to be fully replicated Given age of the car it's such a shame vauxhall / lotus don't help clubs but I known that will never happen. You can buy replica parts for much older cars, goes to show the vx is super rare Who ever ends up making these units could be the savor of the vx220 from being lost in history

Edited by mbes2, 30 August 2015 - 07:08 AM.

[mbes2]

I'm now on the hunt for a astra mk5 headlight unit.. this pug one will be no good even to re-use the light units as these are not individual units.

[Kieran McC]

I'm now on the hunt for a astra mk5 headlight unit.. this pug one will be no good even to re-use the light units as these are not individual units.

Mark are you making a housing so it will fit the front clam. Or redoing the calm ?

[GiGo]

Surely using a smaller light cluster and making an insert/surround for the VX light is much cheaper and easier?

[mbes2]

For the odd £40 I'm spending on a few lights it's worth a shot We know tom makes the lens, just front facing light beam units with the bracket the same as the Std vx mount inside the vx unit.. So far from my finding is the vx unit is really small The lotus ones are the same light beam units but they cost near £200 new. If you check how they fit theirs makes more sense I'm going to fix mine today.. after stripping my o/s light it got me thinking of options

[mbes2]

Looking at motorbike lights as these are used on many kitcars

[Kieran McC]

For the odd £40 I'm spending on a few lights it's worth a shot We know tom makes the lens, just front facing light beam units with the bracket the same as the Std vx mount inside the vx unit.. So far from my finding is the vx unit is really small The lotus ones are the same light beam units but they cost near £200 new. If you check how they fit theirs makes more sense I'm going to fix mine today.. after stripping my o/s light it got me thinking of options

The Lotus Eliese S2 complete head light unit assembly £655

[AlfaAversion]

Could fit just one bi halogen unit , use the rest of the space for drls ,fogs