DIY: Upgrade from ES to VR

[BluBoy]

[Graham]

Hey Ben, welcome to the club!

I'm afraid the dusk sensing headlamps and rain sensing wipers will be very hard to do, I'm not sure if anyone here has done it before but I don't think it's worth the hassle.

You'll have to take out the roof lining and half to most of your dash just to wire it up

The rest are doable though

Hope this helps

[Dire]

Air dams are easy, get them from our sponsor X factor. Do you want the side skirts? X factor has those too, both good prices.

The other 'wanted' upgrades depend on whether the computers and sensor in the windscreen is there on the ES still, someone will know.
They may be really expensive/stupid to do, or as simple as buying new steering wheel stalks and pulling things apart to wire them up.

Even if its cheap, like graham said it'll be a bit of work.

But remember, an ES with VR stuff isn't going to have quite the same resale value as a VR, so consider that too.

And yes welcome!
I'll need a black grille surround in the future

Note: Auto wipers and headlights are annoying to me. Its not hard to click each stalk a couple of times. Don't spend much on it.

Edit: Stock exhaust pipe is sad without the chrome tip, even though its purely cosmetic.

[Blakey]

Air dams are easy, get them from our sponsor X factor. Do you want the side skirts? X factor has those too, both good prices.

The other 'wanted' upgrades depend on whether the computers and sensor in the windscreen is there on the ES still, someone will know.
They may be really expensive/stupid to do, or as simple as buying new steering wheel stalks and pulling things apart to wire them up.

Even if its cheap, like graham said it'll be a bit of work.

But remember, an ES with VR stuff isn't going to have quite the same resale value as a VR, so consider that too.

And yes welcome!
I'll need a black grille surround in the future

Note: Auto wipers and headlights are annoying to me. Its not hard to click each stalk a couple of times. Don't spend much on it.

Edit: Stock exhaust pipe is sad without the chrome tip, even though its purely cosmetic.

if you get everything that a VR has and put it in a ES. all done at the dealer then, it technically should have the same resale as a VR. as it is now a VR, remember a VR is just an ES with extra stuff, just like all other models. except evo as its a different chassis..

[Dire]

Yes but an ES that is exactly the same as a VR is still an ES.
You could rebadge it as a VR and everything but if you sell it later and they find out, they could be grumpy. The manual will still say ES.
If you sell it as a VR you could get into trouble. If you sell it as an ES with mods you could maybe get the same as a VR privately, but it'll be harder, and will be overlooked as overpriced by most.

But it would cost more to make an ES into a VR than just buying a VR anyway.
My VR was only 1.8k (I think) more than the ES's there. It was on sale, and a demo model with 63kms on it.

But hes not looking to do a total conversion so this doesn't matter.

[milobob]

Hmm, quite honestly the stuff which you have crossed out are the easiest to do. You forgot to add that the VR has all 7 airbags, unlike the pre-2010 ES models. There's also the centre console and chrome surround around the gearbox.

It believe it is quite impossible to add those auto- stuff on easily.. the bluetooth maybe but not really the rest since they are programmed into the car and require adding a fair bit of electronic kits.

Best to keep your ES and mod it to look like a VR if you want or sell it later and trade it in for a VR?

[Dire]

Your VR has bluetooth?

[Blakey]

Yes but an ES that is exactly the same as a VR is still an ES.
You could rebadge it as a VR and everything but if you sell it later and they find out, they could be grumpy. The manual will still say ES.
If you sell it as a VR you could get into trouble. If you sell it as an ES with mods you could maybe get the same as a VR privately, but it'll be harder, and will be overlooked as overpriced by most.

But it would cost more to make an ES into a VR than just buying a VR anyway.
My VR was only 1.8k (I think) more than the ES's there. It was on sale, and a demo model with 63kms on it.

But hes not looking to do a total conversion so this doesn't matter.

that why you just call is a YEAR CJ Lancer. no ES or VR or anything else.

[degarr]

Hi Newbie here but would the Activ deal on sale at the moment get part of the way... and the price is good.

[milobob]

Your VR has bluetooth?

Haha, no.. but the platinum editions do come with it. I do intend on adding bluetooth someday...

[mick_a]

The new 2010 active comes with Side air dam and Audio steering wheel controls, 6 speakers, rear lip spoiler and 16" alloys.
I picked mine up yesterday, took it home, ripped the dash out and put a new head unit in.
Get my 18" wheels tomorrow.
Looks great.

[degarr]

Hi Newbie here but would the Activ deal on sale at the moment get part of the way... and the price is good.

Activ =
Privacy Glass
Bluetooth
Leather wheel audio & Bluebeard (I know)
chrome exhaust
Spoiler (S or SB)
Side airdam
leaves to get near it
Chrome upper grille (would not really want it)
Fog Lamps.. assuming easy but need to get dealer to turn computer on
Chrome indoor handles Mmmmm
and the two hard bits auto sensing headlamps & wipers

Mick_a I haven't picked mine up till later this week or weekend does it come stock with 6 speakers?

[milobob]

Hmm, I don't think the Activ comes with 6 speakers. I think its 4 speakers.. and still a single stack CD? I can't remember (its still based on an ES). There might be a grill for the tweeters but I don't think there is anything in them.

[SIR-VRX]

Activ still has the single CD and 4 speaker stereo from the ES