Best Way To Transform Your Pre-facelift

[Armz]

I've had a few requests for before and after pictures after what i did to my car so here they are.

Still lots more work todo, seems like it never ends.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Then came the XENONS! :)

All the information needed for parts is listed in my pinned Parts number thread. Ask if more info and pics are needed.

Cheers

Armz.

[smoftah]

The car looks great! Really updates it!

About the xenons, how much did they cost and how much to fit? (if you don't mind me asking) Can it be a DIY job to fit or not really?

Also have you thought about buying the facelift rear lights? I think that would finish the back off perfectly!

[tsporttinny]

I've had a few requests for before and after pictures after what i did to my car so here they are.

Still lots more work todo, seems like it never ends.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Then came the XENONS! :)

All the information needed for parts is listed in my pinned Parts number thread. Ask if more info and pics are needed.

Cheers

Armz.

Nice pics Armz - one question why the hell have you spent the money changing it to a facelift version when you can go out and but one ??, Not having a go or anythin but i got an 04 preface lift and would rather wait a couple of years and buy one on the 06 plate or something around that.

Oh by the way are we are talking four figures for the facelift then ??

Cheers Karl :D

[Armz]

Thanks mate. :)

The xeons were from HID4u, used the coupon code secured by ED Shek and got 50 off at 199 + free delivery. I added LED sidelights and silver indicator bulbs to the total ended up 213 delivered.

I did have a bit of bad luck tho, one complete side decided to stop working 4 days after fitting. Bought the spare buld at 40 pounds in a haste thinking the bulb had gone, but it seems maybe the ballast or the control unit became faulty. Been a complete nightmare everytime changing anything the complete car must be put on a ramp and the front end taken apart, bumper/spoiler et al.

The HID4u guys have been great though, sent the faulty units back on friday, they are processing it today hopefully should be with me tomorrow or the next day.

As for the fitting, i haven't been charged a single penny so far, my bodyshop guy is a real gem. He's spent over 5 hours in total removing my bumpers trying lights, control boxes etc.. Over 7 times in total the past 2 weeks. It's a DIY job if you have the time. I helped him fit them, drilling the holes on the light plastic back plates to run the xenons thru etc.. If you need any more info just ask. I am going to take some proper pictures next time i get the faulty side fitted. I'm mounted my main ballasts behind the main bumper reinforcement bar so looking in the engine bay you'd have no idea it has xenons fitted. Also keeps the engine bay looking tidy and factory.

The facelift don't have different rear lights if i'm not mistaken, do you mean the front headlights? Too much work to convert it to facelift as the bumper etc would need changing, the foglights etc..

cheers

Armz.

[Armz]

I've had a few requests for before and after pictures after what i did to my car so here they are.

Still lots more work todo, seems like it never ends.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Then came the XENONS! :)

All the information needed for parts is listed in my pinned Parts number thread. Ask if more info and pics are needed.

Cheers

Armz.

Nice pics Armz - one question why the hell have you spent the money changing it to a facelift version when you can go out and but one ??, Not having a go or anythin but i got an 04 preface lift and would rather wait a couple of years and buy one on the 06 plate or something around that.

Oh by the way are we are talking four figures for the facelift then ??

Cheers Karl :D

LOL, i wanted to trade up to a compressor 6 months ago, got put off with the petrol situation (even though i only use v-power in my TS, i can risk not finding a Shell when out and about, but not with a compressor). Also insurance quotes were silly. Amd i didn't really want to pay 8-9k for a nice facelift, as the pre-facelift would have more around the 5-6k. I ended up deciding i'm going to keep the car for atleast 3-4 years so may aswell make it nice and play around alittle. This is the first car i've ever decided to mod like this, so it's abit of fun too. :D but i do understand your point. I bought the car from my sister so i knew the history very well never used lift at all. unlike if i was to buy the car elsewhere. You find out major problems well after parting with your cash. By then its too late.

Cheers

Armz.

[smoftah]

Great, thanks.

If you could get some pictures of fitting the light in that would be brilliant!

I do mean changing the rear lights, they are different, they have a crystal finish and circles in the cluster.

Here is my rear end :D

and yours!

I think they are £60 a cluster

[tsporttinny]

I've had a few requests for before and after pictures after what i did to my car so here they are.

Still lots more work todo, seems like it never ends.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Then came the XENONS! :)

All the information needed for parts is listed in my pinned Parts number thread. Ask if more info and pics are needed.

Cheers

Armz.

Nice pics Armz - one question why the hell have you spent the money changing it to a facelift version when you can go out and but one ??, Not having a go or anythin but i got an 04 preface lift and would rather wait a couple of years and buy one on the 06 plate or something around that.

Oh by the way are we are talking four figures for the facelift then ??

Cheers Karl :D

LOL, i wanted to trade up to a compressor 6 months ago, got put off with the petrol situation (even though i only use v-power in my TS, i can risk not finding a Shell when out and about, but not with a compressor). Also insurance quotes were silly. Amd i didn't really want to pay 8-9k for a nice facelift, as the pre-facelift would have more around the 5-6k. I ended up deciding i'm going to keep the car for atleast 3-4 years so may aswell make it nice and play around alittle. This is the first car i've ever decided to mod like this, so it's abit of fun too. :D but i do understand your point. I bought the car from my sister so i knew the history very well never used lift at all. unlike if i was to buy the car elsewhere. You find out major problems well after parting with your cash. By then its too late.

Cheers

Armz.

Nice one mate

[borodaz]

nice one armz ! lot of work gone into it ! you thinking of different alloys yet ?

[ae102]

said it before..... nice car armz - always liked dark blue. wouldnt put facelift rear lights on - circles on rear and squared off on the front doesnt seem right. still cant make my mind up to put skirts on - have to paint them and test fit before i drill a couple of holes. probably keep original rear bumper when if i put skirts on. got better things to buy first though - mine looks sound as it is tbh thats why i got thunder grey. would love a set of 18's but could get a trd lsd and flywheel for the same which would give me more pleasure. thank god i dont do credit cards!!

[UKDM323]

For some reason i actually thought u had fitted a TTE front lip hence why i asked u on the other thread how its fitted on! still looks great there ! hopefully mine gonna look like that give me a month or so! lol well minus them side skirts cos i got the half ones that im happy with....

[Armz]

For some reason i actually thought u had fitted a TTE front lip hence why i asked u on the other thread how its fitted on! still looks great there ! hopefully mine gonna look like that give me a month or so! lol well minus them side skirts cos i got the half ones that im happy with....

The lip is still to come, but reason i know how it fits is cos it had to be removed with the bumper when fitting my xenons. Those mounting point pics still to come.

Cheers

Armz.

[Ed_Shek]

I think I must the original CTS owner to have Xenons fitted here.

Good to see you've taken up the deal I got from HIDS4U.

I didn't need to remove my bumper to fit my xenon Kit but it was difficult to do and I had a mate with really small hands help me do the drivers side.

Think I need to get round to changing the sidelights at the moment as I still have the yellowish ones. Any suggestions on what to get and the right fitting?

[Armz]

I think I must the original CTS owner to have Xenons fitted here.

Good to see you've taken up the deal I got from HIDS4U.

I didn't need to remove my bumper to fit my Xenon Kit but it was difficult to do and I had a mate with really small hands help me do the drivers side.

Think I need to get round to changing the sidelights at the moment as I still have the yellowish ones. Any suggestions on what to get and the right fitting?

I had a bit of bad luck with one complete side of the ultimate xenon kit, completely failed 4 days after fitting. Still waiting for a warranty replacement.

As for the sidelights, i got them together with silver indcator bulbs from HID4u at the same time as buying the ultimate kit.

Here exactly what i got.

part number 501HP, 501 LED High Power 1W Upgrade bulbs (pair) £11:50

HID581SLV, 581 12v 21w Silver Upgrade Indicator bulbs (Pair) £5.99

Considered converting my foglights to xenon too but opted out after my main side stopped working. So I've ordered some Crystal blue HB4 fog lights off eBay for 9.99 which will arrive tomorrow, maybe my xenon replacement ballast and ignition kit will arrive aswell, i'll get the xenon fitted and the foglights and take more pictures.

Ofrcourse you can get more expensive bulbs or go for the phillips premium bluevision ones, but they are rated 4300k i think, i'm much happier with the 6000k look.

Cheers

Armz.

[mark18gxi]

Your motor looks great, Armz.

It's great that there aren't that many t-sports on the roads.

It's one of the reasons I bought one (then another).

You can then personalise your own with the TTE stuff.

I've got TTE lowering springs, TTE Lip Spoiler, TTE silencer, mini side skirts.

Mine's a black 3-dr and I think it looks great, still nicely understated.

Never been that sure about the front grille. how much is it and is it easy to fit?

I think next would be a K&N typhoon or a personalised plate just to take the age of

the vehicle away. (I keep my cars for years).

[Armz]

Thanks mate.

TTE grill was 190 inc vat and del from Chris.S on the forum. front grill is very easy to swap. almost too easy, however it comes in mat black, so it must be primed and painted which is the longest part.

Fitting takes no longer than 5mins, i removed and fitted mine about 8 times in the past 2 weeks while trying different lights as my front bumper had to be removed.

The personalised plate is a must! Mine went on before the major mods last october.

Cheers

Armz.

[Armz]

Great, thanks.

If you could get some pictures of fitting the light in that would be brilliant!

I do mean changing the rear lights, they are different, they have a crystal finish and circles in the cluster.

Here is my rear end :D

and yours!

I think they are £60 a cluster

I love those lights, i always looked at your picture and noticed the candy red lights and wondered why yours looked so red. Never spotted the round clusters!. I think i will keep mine as it is, although i love the colour of yours. Let's see, maybe i will swap them after a few months when i've done my more important mods.

Cheers

Armz.

[emsii]

Did you have to change the whole rear bumper or just install the diffusers/splitters?

How much did those upgrades cost?

Looks pretty nice :)

[farhanali89]

nice one car looks great! and that balaeric bluee ohhh i like it i like it!

[Armz]

Did you have to change the whole rear bumper or just install the diffusers/splitters?

How much did those upgrades cost?

Looks pretty nice :)

Hey emsii, where you been? lol.

The upgrades i can't rememebr all the prices. but heres what i do remember:

TTE springs, = price 120 + 140 fitting.

Fitting, painting and entire respray of car was 1000 at my local bodyshop.

Sideskirts full length = 150 from a previous member on the boards

Rear diffuser bumper skirts = 80 or so from Parts-King.

Rear Facelift bumper = 60 from eBay salvage.

Various parts to fit the sideskirts and little clips/gromits, spacers etc 60. from PArts-Kind again

TTE front grill = 190 from Chris.S

TRD shortshift kit = 140 (fitted myself) from Envy i think.

Colour coded tyre air valve locable caps. = 5. eBay

Alloy colour coded taxdisk holder = 5, eBay

Cusco strut brace = 142 delivered from australian ebay seller.

K&N 57i Air filter = 94 delivered from an ebay seller. fitting 40 at local garage.

Stainless Steel Aprio heatshield = 5.99 from ebay seller.

Various other internal mods which arent really that important right now ;) but i'm not finished yet.

Still to go in a leather interior, some entertainment for rear passengers ;) TTE exhasut

, and TTE front lip :D

Cheers

Armz.

[nim23]

Still to go in a leather interior, some entertainment for rear passengers ;)

That doesnt mean your gonna cut holes into the head rests of those lovely new leather seats you just bought does it??

[Armz]

Still to go in a leather interior, some entertainment for rear passengers ;)

That doesnt mean your gonna cut holes into the head rests of those lovely new leather seats you just bought does it??

No, the original cloth ones will be retrimmed in leather and screens fitted into that. So when i dont need the screens they will be removed and standard leather ones slotted in.

Still waiting to see if i will fit the leather or not.

Cheers

Armz.

[nim23]

Sounds like a plan...!

Leather is great...but slippery ;-) so you have to drive sensibly

[emsii]

I really like that facelift rear bumper with splitters, but it's more expensive than most aftermarket bumpers that you can get for rolla. :)

...Police took away my drivers license from speeding, about 2months ago... So there isn't much to talk about :P

[ae102]

whats wrong with the original?