changing colour in Oz

[moon buggy]

Well signed off on a 97 JDM VX yesterday here in Australia, 60,000kms everything works in the car [dodgey passenger window ..what's new!!], ...

....but then we will be starting our transformation ...its currently red burgundy], and as there were no black/ebony available thats the colour she's going to...in fact BMW black schwartz, not the cladding but we'll be doing the mirrors, the center of the bonnet as well, door frames, not the roof rails..hopefully she'll be straight into the paint shop in 3 days for a week of pampering into its new suit.

.....we're also looking really hard [here in Oz] for some decent 20s, frustrating to see the choices you guys get overseas.

.....then from there to the next shop for a Hollandia 300L roof, tint, parking sensors, rear door popper, alarm , immobilser..

.....and then to the stereo guy to nut out the JDM Addzest..add a stacker [none fitted] under the passenger seat..perhaps that can play DVD and use the current screen [we're PAL but NTSC /PAL converters are now available...but thats there's job to come up with the best options]..

......oh also to leather trimmer to remove the pizza style cloth on the JDM recaros for some decent leather and also will get the trimmer to make a sturdy elastised pocket across the back of each seat for maps, gameboys etc....we're interested updating the CF door trims as well, looking for some 'subtle' dash instrument highlighting, also the Momo wheel..the centre trim is fairly worn has anyone done something to that..this ones faded and it looks like crap as its one of the first things you see when you look in the car..???.

.....AND of course the obligatory side steps, nudge bar front and perhaps hitch/step at the back pricing is good from Tone but in converting to AUD + our GST 10% + 15% import duty..its not S/S but bloody gold dipped !!...

Now I 've read the paint horror stories so we are concerned but all I can say is the dealer I've bought our VX from has a VX for his wife as well, and is always going nuts on the JDM cars he sells, paint, kits etc, he originally sold theirs to a guy and gave his wife a 'fullsik mate' Lexus, which she drove for 3 days and hated it .."she wanted her VX back" ..but he sold it ..but he eventually bought it back...now we've got him going with our VX project. he's now helping us out with paint .possibly wheels, so when ours is done he'll show her so he can get the green light to go nuts on hers !!

Sorry for the rave but we feel an important project worthy of sharing..these VX are super rare in Oz [~10 in captivity ..if that],..even in the red people 'gather around'..so turn this into a street tuff black one should do nicely !!!

We'll let you know how we are progressing

David Down Under

[thebear54]

Sounds as though this may be a long and drawn out conversion David.
Post some pics as you make progress....Good luck
John

[Ldub]

DDU,
I'm just thinkin out loud here but...To me it would seem easier to have the sunroof installed before the new paint goes on.
Masking off the sunroof just seems easier than being "super careful" cutting it into new paint, with the possibility of 1 careless move or dropped tool putting a ding in an otherwise perfect paint job.
Just my $0.02 (I don't know what the current rate of exchange is)
Sounds like she'll be a looker! Best of luck on your project, Ldub

[nocturnalVX]

DDU,
I'm just thinkin out loud here but...To me it would seem easier to have the sunroof installed before the new paint goes on...
Sounds like she'll be a looker! Best of luck on your project, Ldub

I was thinking the same thing... why not paint AFTER cutting the roof? I also agree that it'll be one sweet looking VX!

[moon buggy]

Ok the go is to cut after the paint,I asked enough times to get slapped so I'll go with it..I had a new Cherokee 3 yrs ago have its roof cut and they did a fine job ..altho they suggest not to stick around when it goes under the knife..also the current hood liner in the 'X' is a bit shabby, so the guys will redo that while they're in there..

Wheels ...checking out some wheels tomorrow by BSA model 326 to be exact, has the look its 20x9 but with a 35 offset so this will pull the wheel back in giving more dish, 275/45x20s..still working on which tire vs $s...just found a pic..hmm attaching is a bit different to what i thought here try this link..
http://www.bsa.com.my/fproduct.htm then go to BSA 326..this image looks even better than in the brochure..chrome finish ...what do you think of these..
thanks to all for the pics stashed in the galleries ..thats what got us started
..cue Homer !!
DDU [thanks Ldub, I'll run with that]

[Cyrk]

Great looking rim... just make sure that our hubs will clear.
Good luck and post pics along the way.
-Dave

[LeDonovan]

New Proton owner and recently put in the new Webasto panoramic moonroof. It is gigantic and fantastic! They said initially that the VX roof was too small, but the owner with 20 years of experience did the install himself and it looks fabulous! Lost the roof rack but kept the rear spoiler.

Not for everyone, but I love it!

[Triathlete]

Pictures...Pictures...Pictures...or I'll just have to wait a few weks to see it in person!

[moon buggy]

Hey a panaramic roof ...now i gotta see that !!!!, we will be pulling the trigger shortly ...on the Hollandia 300M glass spoiler roof...its smaller but leaves roof rails etc still in place..and its the only one I can do legally here in Australia...but I'd luv to see the big roof in the car

David

[LeDonovan]

I will post pics as soon as I figure out where I put my digital camera!! There is an excellent photo on the website below. This is the company I used and they really did a quality job!

http://www.arizonasuntops.com/