Newgendesign

Hi Guys Any luck with the switch part number? Another question - Im a bit concerned about the vsisibility of an amber light to indicate whether you have fogs actually on. Do importers normally feature this when they do the quick conversion (i.e place a seperate LED on the dash?) I was under the impresssion as long as it had a switch somewhere in easy view it didnt need to light up or indiate that they were on. Am I wrong? If anyone had any, I would like to see any pics of any importers conversions - i.e switch placement etc. Let me know your thoughts on this matter! Jez

Your the best guys! Jez

"The switch doesnt have to illuminate but there must be an orange indictaor lamp somewhere within the driver's normal field of vision to make it MOT-proof." Ok - so all I need to do is illuminate the orange rocker switch and place it on the right hand side of the dash then next to the mirror controls. Will that do it? Its funny as I see Jap import cars all the time and never look to see how the fog light switch is mounted. Mine didnt come with one to begin with so I'm learning the hard way!

Yeah thanks Emin!- I am going to send an email to you thanking you for the great instructions. The only problem we came across was that we wired the wrong sides on one of the bulbs to the relay (relay only switches one way doesnt it). Fixed it pretty quick though. Yes, I need this switch quite desperatly (MOT in June) so if anyone can source me the p/n for the older variety I would be most appreciative.

Hiya I have a spare light which I plan to make look as "new" as my drivers side one - (looks a bit wierd one new and one cloudy I can assure you) I bought some plastic cleaner from the MX5 parts site which is desigend for teh rear screens (does teh same thing as Novus cleaner) - however I would like to get hold of the Novus products. Where did you get them from? As you all know Halfords is useless for this kind of stuff!

Thanks for that - I read on the FTO forums that to pass MOT the switch needs to illuminate too. Is this what you mean? At the moment Im using a illuminated rocker switch (not illuminating yet) which is horrible. I could take a feed off and illuminate this on the third pin in the meantime I suppose to get it through MOT. jez

After performing a really neat and wonderful foglight mod (using a relay and one pair of brake lights), Im looking to source a suitable fog switch. Im specifically after a UK spec one to fit my UK spec dashboard ( I own a SZ import). Does anyone know the part number so I can "attempt" to get one from Toyota? Alternatly does anyone know of a cool alternative - or any other swithes that might be just as good? Jez

Bit of an odd question here: How heavy would you say a MKIV headlight (without bulbs?). This is assuming its the plastic jap type not the Uk spec one? Trying to work out shipping thats all! Jez

Thats another point: foglight conversion: I havent got a separate foglight (i.e bolted to the rear) therefore I suspect there is somthing wierd going on in there. Another thing is the fact that I dont actually have a switch in the cabin that operates this elusive foglight - I do get a warning indicator light on when I switch the beams on (Ive heard this is an issue to do with the funny foglight modifications) Bit confused really! Jez

Yes they are the rears. Thanks for the advice - I havent had them apart before. Is it normal to have both rear lights come on when braking then?

Today my mate was following me and later he anounced that one of my brake lights didnt come on. When the brake pedal is pressed: BOTH the passenger side both reds come on and on the driver side only one of the pair comes on. When dark, and the beams are put on obviously both rear pairs illumiate red (therefore bulb hasnt gone). Is this normal? Without having anything to compare it to I dont know what is normal! Jez

It really is easy to do -if anyone needs theirs doing it takes a weekend and I will happily spray one up with their choice of colour. Thing is you realy need to do it on a spare dash. I will do the gear suround as soon as i can track down a replacement. And yes, the right console deck would look great too. I'll start contacting some breakers.. Jez

Just to let u guys know as its the only Mod I have done! Thought I'd revitalise my Supra. Bought it in September/October amd was disappointed with the state of its appearance. There wasnt actually anything "wrong" with it as I have a fairly impecible condition car. It was just "boring" and very Japanesey (plastic galore). I have seen over the few months the way tuners/stylists sometimes match their dash to the colour of the car so decided to have a go myself. I trained as an Industrial Designer where we used to create mockups in wood and plastics, and spray paint them using techniques to make them look a realistic as possible. So using this confidence I thought I'd hava bash at spraying my own one up to match my White kitted MkIV. I managed to source (in separate parts from diff locations) a whole replacement dash (just in case things go wrong!!) and gave it a good sand down to at least give it some "key" as teh rubberised compund they use on it is awful. Ive never known anything to scratch so easily and look so crud! After giving the panels a good key I carefully sprayed each dash component using a halfords white primer. Then after it had dried I sanded it with the finest wet/dry paper available to give it a silky finish and to get rid of bumps in the paint. multiply thi sby three iterations I realsied that it was working really well and slung several coats of white halfords appliance paint (could use anything to match your paintwork!) and wet and dry it again to get a nice smooth finish. Eventually it looked superb! As long as you take your time it can look liek a professional effort. Whack a load of seperate coats of lacquer over the surface of all teh panels to give it some scratch resitance and assemble in the car (took a couple of hours not to scratch anything. Heres a photo (taken on my p900 phone - not great I admit) that shows what it looks like. Im thoroughly happy with it. I need a gear gator piece now to finish it off. Let me know your thoughts! Im als afterthe silver bezels to go round the speedo dials as seen on some Supras. I know miami-rice do them but Im trying to track them from a breaker. If anyone knows how to get some please let me know! Jez

My 96 11,500 miles stock MkIV manual does around 120miles to 20 quid. I havent worked out consumption (miles per gallon yet) but this does seem quite the norm from reading these posts. My car is stock as stock-can-be apart from uprated factory installed bodykit etc. so this is is a good guage of what to expect. I expect new filter and exhaust will free up a few more miles... Jez

Hi all, I guess Ill see you guys there then 12.00ish. jez

Where abouts are you? What town? Jez

Hiya I live in Warwick and wouldnt mind joining some of these closer meetings - this seems to be the closest so far! I'll try and make it to this venture. Email me with regards to what time you guys will be there. I'll be in a white turbo kitted white wheeled Supra. Cant miss me. Jez

Thanks for the info: mmm! I have to be careful as the usa gauges are different: the fuel and temp guages are handed the opposite way to the uk/jap ones. I need a uk importer i think. Jez

Hi all, After sourcing a replacement, Im undergoing a change to a beautiful white dashboard to match the bodywork. If it all goes wrong I guess I start again with black -I'll post pics here when Im done. In the meantime, Ive been after a set of japspec indiglo guages and have been all over ebay looking for some. I know this topic has been posted quite a few time now but Ive searched and searched and havent found a suitable resolution. Does anyone know of anyone wheo sells the kit? Instructions would be handy too.... Jez

Yes thats similar to the locknut type thang! I might have to fashion some kind of wrench out of metal that should undo them. They are supposed to unwind my hand apparantly but I cant get them to shift for love nor money... The company who make them are called "Work" and they seem to be quite common in Japland and states - never seem to have made it over here. They do appear quite expensive race spec alloys (on assumption) I think the model name are "FR Design" as on each there is a small sticker. I will post some pics... The mystery continues...

Yeah that rubber coating is going to be problematic to get off Im sure I should be able to do a good job myself as I was a trained modelmaker/industrial designer at uni and played a lot with custom modelling materials and paints etc. Just spend a long time layering the paint and a nice coar of clearcoat/lacquer and it should look great. I was quoted 100 quid + postage for a replacement dash from a breaker last week but was wondering if anyone had any Supra that they were breaking etc.. Ive also seen some Supras with chrome looking rings round the dash area - now I assume these are aftermarket rings you stick on (am I right?) Anyone have any? Anything to jaz up the interior! I must admit the Supra is quite dull inside compared with other (more modern) cars. Typically Japanese regardless of the supercar status the Supra has...

Thanks for the help again - you guys are very useful (I used to haunt the IMOC MR2 forums/email list) and it appears you guys are as helpful as they are! I also have another problem: My rear lights warning indicator is on constantly and I cant work out why - nothing appears wrong with the rear cluster at all. Any ideas? Im also on teh look out for a replacement MKIV dash (for a manual) as I want to spray it up white to match the paintwork (Im too chicken to attempt such a manouvre on my exiting dash!) Why is it that the MKIV dashboards are so prone to scratches?It appears that Mr.T decided to coat the dash in a thin rubberised coating that wears terribly.... Jez

Aha - so the yellowing is on the outside of the lense you reckon? Any idea what this yellow bottles stuff is called? I might bomb over to Halfords after work and get some! The other drivers-side headlight is crystal clear and looks 'new' so I hope I can get them both to match (it lets teh car down!)

Thanks for all your comments guys. Ive been on fancy plates.co.uk and Im going to have to measure the plate as I have no idea what its dimensions are - I figured that it would be a standard jap size...looks like they should be able to help... In terms of the headlight: I was contemplating buying a new replacement unit 174.45+VAT from Fensport. Obviously this is quite expensive bearing in mind the unit still works great. Why do the lenses tarnish? Mine also clouds up a bit when its damp outside so I assume moisture is getting in. I assume the lenses tarnish in time yet again even after they are polished up? I must try the DIY approach to see how successful it might be - bit scared of the oven process involved!!!! How long would teh process take? Let me know any tips and tricks!

I have revently become an owner of gleaming white 10,500 mile jap import Mkiv. The car is stunning apart from two things: the passenger headlight has dulled (but I see a guide on how to improve this) and also the rear reg plate is an incorrect size (they have put on a large uk plate). This leaves a cutout gap in the bumper where the original plate existed. The bumper has a cutout where the reg plate goes, it seems to be the same shape as a jap sized rear plate but everywhere i go I cant seem to buy one to see if it fits (most places only stock uk width ones). In the meantime Im using a white piece of plastic thats secured behind the Uk plate (it looks a bit tatty). Does anyone know of a decent plate maker that sepcialises in these odd jap sizes? I also want to put my personalised plate reg on one row (rather than two). I undertsand that jap plates can utilise smaller lettering (which is still legal in the uk) - Do you think i can get 7 letters on one row easy enough? Has anyone expereince a similar "cutout" problem with their import? I havent even seen another car with teh same problem! jez [email protected]