part_timer Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 How to facelift your pre-facelift Supra This is how my supra looked until today; tired orange indicators and misty, yellow headlamp lenses. The Supra was updated in ’96, I believe, with new headlamps, rear clusters and front indicators (amongst other things.) These are not quite a straight swap, but it’s pretty easy. The main difference was the change from mirror background to black background in the headlamps and the sidelight is now located in the indicator unit instead of the headlamp unit. You will need: Your facelift headlamps Facelift indicators (should come with bulbs) Indicator looms x 2 Tools: 10mm spanner with extension 8mm spanner Soldering iron and accessories Phillips Screwdriver Stanley knife Power drill Disconnect the battery and remove old headlamps. First, unscrew all the bulb-holders and remove the bulbs so they don’t get broken (The fog-light bulbs are a right PITA to remove.) There is 1 bolt and two nuts holding each headlamp unit in place; the bolt is at the top above the radiator, the two nuts are a bit more tricky, tucked away next to the inside of the wings. In the picture, you can see the back of the headlamp (arrowed green) with the two side nuts (arrowed red). Both the nuts and bolts are 10mm. I used the extension to get at the side nuts, on the drivers side you may want to remove the battery (I didn’t). I also but I found it easier to completely remove the airbox and intercooler piping on the drivers side. These are held in place with about four bolts, and a few jubilee clips; they are all easy to see and remove. Once you have done step one, you can now see the bolts that hold the old indicators in place. And the rear view: On the passenger side these are easy to remove but on the drivers side much more tricky due to the intercooler in the way. To get at the bottom two nuts, I found it easier to go underneath them through the vent in the bumper. Once you have removed the indicators you can now compare them to the facelift ones and see that the three bolts are in a different configuration. There are two options for you now: You can either cut off the sideways pointing bolt on the new indicator. Or you can drill a new hole in the bumper for it. I chose the latter method because I saw one done the other way and it was all crooked and just looked crap! The picture shows roughly where to drill the hole. This is a bit of a trial and error process but don’t be afraid to drill more holes or file them to get them just right because the new indicator hides them completely. Now try them for fit and remove again. Now comes the soldering! Although I bought the facelift looms because I was told I would definitely need them, I didn’t! All you need is the bulb holders that come with them because they are very different to the pre-facelift ones.Cut off your old side-light bulb holders and replace with the new ones and do the same with the indicators, then insulate them (Duh!) You will probably need to use some more wire here because mine were not quite long enough to reach. Now reconnect the battery, put the bulbs in and check they light up. There’s nothing more annoying than getting to the end only to find you have a blown bulb! I replaced my sidelight bulbs with these from ebay. Only £4.50. You may now want to disconnect the battery again. Fitting the facelift headlamps is a reversal of removing the old ones but takes a bit of jiggery to get them in. (That is the technical term, I looked it up!) Today, I replaced my fog-light bulbs with “Phillips Blue Vision” the dipped ones are still in the post. I hope. 4 Stand back and admire your work! I am really pleased with the bulbs I chose, and I cant wait to replace my dipped bulbs with more Phillips blue ones! Rear clusters are a straight swap with the old ones but you MUST also get a new loom because the bulbs are different and wont fit into the pre-facelift loom. Please leave your comments and questions or PM me. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Nicely done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mk47 Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 John a very good guide for people looking to do that. Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjodrell Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Nice guide mate. Did mine a couple of weeks ago, It takes years off the car, really modernises the appearance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiten55 Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Exactly what ive been wanting to know but was too afraid to ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Nice write-up - will be useful to point people at this in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
part_timer Posted February 20, 2007 Author Share Posted February 20, 2007 Cheers guys. Some more pics for you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JODY T Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Nice, Now for true facelift, move the indicators to the front bumper and smooth the wings.. and add the spoiler type thing in front bumper hole..I even fitted the rear markers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Class One Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 I'll leave this up for a bit then tidy it up and move it for future reference. Good work, very good "how to" guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 20, 2007 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Excellent write-up there. Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guru Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Link to the LED sidelight bulbs mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
part_timer Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 no probs... http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZjzlz1996 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trig Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 where did you get the foglight bulbs too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
part_timer Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 i got the fog bulbs form Envy but they totally fucked me about without even an email or a phone call so i wouldnt recommend them! thats why im still waiting for my dipped ones. You will need H3's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 I've done the grill but nothing else yet, still waiting on facelift indicators to arrive , supplies have dried up I think. The grill is a wee bit fiddly cos you have to measure where to drill the holes but they look good and are pre-painted. [ATTACH]52328[/ATTACH] T53112-14070-D0 Last two are the colour code. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra steveo Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 nice i like tose side light bulbs i might have to try that you still need to flush the front wings and do rhe side indicator lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pot Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 Only just found this thread, but an excellent writeup mate, I've seen the car myself, and he's done a fantastic job... I think I'll be giving you a shout once I get the looms for my facelift indicators Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra steveo Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 which side lights did you get was it the 11mm cluster of 4 LEDs 12.8mm cluster of 6 LEDs 15mm cluster of 9 LEDs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra steveo Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 on second look the side lights look like the 6 led clusters, so i am going to get some i am also going to get some to go in the number plate lights it looks like i will only be able to use the 4 led clusters for those because there is no much room for the bulb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
part_timer Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 yep deffo got the 6 LED ones. they're the same size as W5W and they have the resistor "built in" got them off an ebay seller called jzlz1996 Cheers Pot, mate! And just to update, my dipped bulbs arrived along with some free extras to make up so Envy are back in my good books - Cheers Gaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRALOOPY Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 nice write up!!!! Now get your bumper the right colour..LOL ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
part_timer Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 whats up with my bumper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra steveo Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 i think he means that it looks like there is a small difference in colour i have just bought a set of 6led clusters, you couldnt do me a favour and see if the 6 led clusters fit in the number plate ports and light it up enough could you coz if they do i am going to buy a second set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
part_timer Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 There is no difference in colour, must be the photo. arsehole. Anyway, yes they should fit, (so the book says) but the light is quite directional so dont know if they would work that well... I will try and have a go at fitting tomorrow if i get time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra steveo Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 cheers fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.