The Lotus Grand Tourers

I'm confused, not difficult I know. One half of my rear light cluster lens has decided to part company from the assy and is lying in some ditch somewhere and I have received the a replacement from our good friend Mike @ Lotusbits. Mike says the rear bumper has to be removed to change the light unit but on the Lotus Part manual is states " 1. Remove rear number plate, boot floor, rear lamp covers (inside boot)............" My question, does the lenses detach from the plastic moulding or are they impossible to separate ?

Regards

The lenses are glued to the rest of the lamp assembly and the securing bolts are pretty well hidden between bumper and body.

I think a few on here have had the pleasure of removing the rear bumper to change a lamp unit - it seems to be the only way. (and is the main reason I still haven't done mine - 2 years after I got the replacement...)

The covers in the boot are mainly cosmetic and allow access to the lamp holders.

Thanks Angus. I may take the sort cut and try and remove the section I need from the repalcement and glue it into the exisitng assembly. Bit of a bodge I suppose but the prospect of trying to remove all those bolts Yikes

The bumper is pop-riveted...removal is easy - drill 'em out. Refitting builds biceps like Popeye's though...

Peter,

Do a proper job and remove the bumper!
IIRC, the bumper is held in place by 4 large screws and tacked to the body with about a dozen pop rivets from underneath.
Drill out the pop rivets and undo the 4 nuts from the inside of the boot, that's it.
While the bumber is out and half of the lens gone, it might be a good idea to thoroughly clean (and repaint if needed) the reflectors from decades of road dust! It made a hell of a difference on mine

I have replaced the pop rivets with self tapping screws....

do it right and you will only need to do it onece... while your there drill the drain holes in the right place and fill the old ones...

Make sure you remove the spare wheel though! I know through experience whilst drilling out the pop rivets the centre one is directly in line with the tyre. Ouch! Drilled thruogh the tyre side wall
Wayne

Reading this it now looks like my new rear lights will have an extended self life. I had thought that replacement would be a 5 minute job just like the headlights i replaced recently. Should have know better You have all now put me off and i will wait until i respray the bumpers as i just can not live with the car being off road in case i want to drive it.

Redlotus wrote:...as i just can not live with the car being off road in case i want to drive it.

Shouldn't take more than one or one and a half hour to remove, change lights and reattach the bumper...or is this still too long?

Problem is its never one and a half hours. I always find two more jobs while i have bits off and before i know it i have a lot of bits in boxes and no car, either that or depressed at what needs doing. ignorance is bliss sometimes.