Discussion
as to whether I modify the chim at all. I have owned her for 7 months now and am thinking along the lines of..
Getting the original 5 spoke allows sprayed black/dark grey
TVR bodyshop front light conversion
Lexus style read lights
Leven stalks, buttons and modwise starter button
The problem I have with this car is that it is immaculate and totally original at the moment - its a 1993 with 34k on the clock and mint. Almost seems a shame to modify it at all from original. Also worried about resale - i know it wont increase the value by spending cash on mods, but i wouldnt want to have trouble selling it too.
so, what do the chim owners think?
Getting the original 5 spoke allows sprayed black/dark grey
TVR bodyshop front light conversion
Lexus style read lights
Leven stalks, buttons and modwise starter button
The problem I have with this car is that it is immaculate and totally original at the moment - its a 1993 with 34k on the clock and mint. Almost seems a shame to modify it at all from original. Also worried about resale - i know it wont increase the value by spending cash on mods, but i wouldnt want to have trouble selling it too.
so, what do the chim owners think?
Plotloss said:
Get the Lexus rear lights and I will shoot you myself.
Good god man, what are you thinking?
I was waiting for that response
I know, I know, its very lax power, but then isnt the headlight conversion a bit MP also in a posh way?
I think the lexus lights hidden behind the covers on the chim would look quite good and bring it as up to date as the front conversion - same goes for the newer style quad chim rear lights but at 3 times the price i dont think there is much in it for me in terms of what i prefer.
tonto said:
If you make 'popular' mods, then I would doubt that you would have a problem selling. I would guess that the wheel spraying thing would put off some potential buyers, tho IMO only of course
I have to say, I hadnt even thought of touching the wheels - aside from the fact i was going to get them reconditioned. Then I saw Paul's car at the brighton run yesterday and its a similar colour to mine with the black wheels and looked fantastic, just a little bit mean I guess.
Plotloss said:
With you on everything else, but chrome ultrabling rear lights would just ruin the elegance that literally bathes the Chims shape...
see thats exactly the point I guess. The chims shape is pure elegance and I am worried that any after market lights or an attempt at bringing it more up to date may lose the elegance of the original shape, especially in the cooper green colour mine is.
Shnozz said:
as to whether I modify the chim at all. I have owned her for 7 months now and am thinking along the lines of..
Modding My Wheels
Wikkid Front light Conversion
Wikkid rear light conversion
Trick Sticks n' Buttons
so, what do the chim owners think?
Leven bits yes... the rest.. no probably not.. If you've got money to spend how about upgrading the suspension or brakes.
You can use bright caliper paint if you really feel the need
Cheers,
Matt
Phil,
I keep wondering the same thing, (with the exception of the bling rear lights) . But to be honest I do like the standard look, nice and sublte all over until you unleash the loud pedal. The only thing I think about it the stalks, which in themselves aren't too bad, it's just the washer one still has the picture for a rear wash/wipe.
I guess it also depends on how long you intend to keep it, ours will be with us until they take our licenses away so there is no resale value in changing it , the only other mod I think about is an 8.6l chevvy engine but I'm told they dont fit.
One item you did miss though, if you buy this months Fast Car magazine you get 2 LED's for your tyre valves (including batteries) you'll need to buy 2 mags to get the full set but they should complement the new rear lights quite nicely
I keep wondering the same thing, (with the exception of the bling rear lights) . But to be honest I do like the standard look, nice and sublte all over until you unleash the loud pedal. The only thing I think about it the stalks, which in themselves aren't too bad, it's just the washer one still has the picture for a rear wash/wipe.
I guess it also depends on how long you intend to keep it, ours will be with us until they take our licenses away so there is no resale value in changing it , the only other mod I think about is an 8.6l chevvy engine but I'm told they dont fit.
One item you did miss though, if you buy this months Fast Car magazine you get 2 LED's for your tyre valves (including batteries) you'll need to buy 2 mags to get the full set but they should complement the new rear lights quite nicely
Hi, I have had the front Speed 12 light conversion done to my 500 and the rear upgrade. It was done by TVR bodyshop. The lights look the dogz nutz altho I wouldnt go back to the garage, I had a few quality issues over an insurance claim. I have put 17" fr and 18" rear Kahn RSR 5 spoke alloys on it and it looks mean. Mark
For some reason I've not been able to bring myself to mod the Chimaera, every car I've had before has been tweeked in some way, from monster boot filling stereo installs to subtle bodywork mods, but I just think the TVR looks right as it was designed, and the radio's just there to fill the hole in the dash, I even had a pair of rear speakers lieing around for 4 years and I finally ended up fitting them about 4 months ago..........into the Clio 
The body mods as you say will add no value to the car and make everyone you try and sell it to ask 'why did you have then done? Front and rear shunt?'
Leven interior bits are fine, not something I could be bothered to do as the Cavalier bits work fine for me and I always seem to find something mechanical to spend the £200 on
If I really had a load of money that I needed to get rid of I'd look into a big brake conversion, that ideally sits inside standard 15" fronts, failing that 16's so you could fit a pair of standard rears on the front.
At the end of the day it's your garden ornament and you can do with it what you like, but you wouldn't have posted the question here if you were sure about it
The body mods as you say will add no value to the car and make everyone you try and sell it to ask 'why did you have then done? Front and rear shunt?'
Leven interior bits are fine, not something I could be bothered to do as the Cavalier bits work fine for me and I always seem to find something mechanical to spend the £200 on
If I really had a load of money that I needed to get rid of I'd look into a big brake conversion, that ideally sits inside standard 15" fronts, failing that 16's so you could fit a pair of standard rears on the front.
At the end of the day it's your garden ornament and you can do with it what you like, but you wouldn't have posted the question here if you were sure about it
Shnozz said:
Lexus style rear lights...
Phil, what do you think of the 'upgrades' on the newer Chims? I'm contemplating these as opposed to Zertec afterburners. But I can't make up my mind what to do for the best!
The more I think about changing various things, the more I think that Trev is pretty perfect how he is and I'd rather spend my money on keeping the performance spot on...
says she with his annual service overdue
M@H said:
as to whether I modify the chim at all. I have owned her for 7 months now and am thinking along the lines of..
Modding My Wheels
Wikkid Front light Conversion
Wikkid rear light conversion
Trick Sticks n' Buttons
so, what do the chim owners think?
Leven bits yes... the rest.. no probably not.. If you've got money to spend how about upgrading the suspension or brakes.
You can use bright caliper paint if you really feel the need
Cheers,
Matt
With you all the way on this one Matt.
You've only had it a few months - wait until you NEED to modify the bodywork (or hopefully, not). Spend your spare cash on Leven interior upgrade - stalks and handbrake a must! Brake recon/upgrade worthwhile and you can clean/paint the calipers as well. All IMHO of course!
thanks for some interesting feedback. You are right Raceboy, I am not convinced although you know what its like, when you are a car enthusiast you cant leave things alone
driver training is on the cards before any money is spent on upgrades so no worries there. brake/suspension upgrade certainly something to think about - shame but I cant be arsed to wait 18 months + for the factory brake/spider upgrade.
I have also had some thoughts towards a cerbera so I think I might just stick the money in the pot towards that at some stage, get some driver training and leave the chim in its original elegant shape.
The only issue now is whether i have the wheels done black - they need to be repainted anyway and seeing the green chim with sprayed wheels at Brighton did look very very good.
I am guessing it wouldnt be too hard for any subsequent owner to return them to the original silver.
driver training is on the cards before any money is spent on upgrades so no worries there. brake/suspension upgrade certainly something to think about - shame but I cant be arsed to wait 18 months + for the factory brake/spider upgrade.
I have also had some thoughts towards a cerbera so I think I might just stick the money in the pot towards that at some stage, get some driver training and leave the chim in its original elegant shape.
The only issue now is whether i have the wheels done black - they need to be repainted anyway and seeing the green chim with sprayed wheels at Brighton did look very very good.
I am guessing it wouldnt be too hard for any subsequent owner to return them to the original silver.
Deffo NOT the Lexus rear lights. Personally I am not a big fan of the afterburners either.
I got some MP blue tint and (very lightly)sprayed mine darker. see here......http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00408404f00000002.jpg
IMHO, looks much better.
I got some MP blue tint and (very lightly)sprayed mine darker. see here......http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00408404f00000002.jpg
IMHO, looks much better.
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