DIY: Floating Console Modification

This is a fantastic thread and set of instructions @kitkat, thank you!

I now need to buy a 3D printer and print the finishing piece in red to match my red leather. If that doesn't look quite right, then covering it with black alcantara might work well, too.
Honestly, painting it red would be far more likely to produce good results. Painting it would allow for covering layer lines and smoothing it out in general. Plus then the can match the red and put a high gloss or satin clear on it
 
A thumbs up from me on the aesthetic. I probably won't do it due to time and competence, but I do like it stylistically.
 
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This is a fantastic thread and set of instructions @kitkat, thank you!

I now need to buy a 3D printer and print the finishing piece in red to match my red leather. If that doesn't look quite right, then covering it with black alcantara might work well, too.
Just use a 3D printing service closer to you or even search Facebook marketplace for someone to print you parts from their home. I see those all the time, and then sand/paint.
 
This is next level weight saving
You have a very cool idea. Looks awesome!
This would look incredible on your setup. I had an Evora for 5 years and had this custom made 6 months before I sold it with just over 2000 miles on it. Just received my 2024 nimbus grey Emira with auto after 2 years and 10 months so I have no use for it any longer. Willing to sell it if interested. Here’s a description.
LOTUS Custom carbon fiber SHIFT KNOB from MANSORY in Germany. Ordered a new shift knob from Lotus -$110. Then shipped to Mansory in Germany to be carbon fibered. Took 90 days to receive back from them. Carbon knob has maybe 100 miles of use. Basically brand new perfect condition. The workmanship
is phenomenal. My cost with all shipping was just over $500. and that was 5 yrs ago.
I am willing to sell it for $350.
if interested.
Leave a comment or email me at [email protected] and I
will get back to you.
THIS IS NOT EBAY JUNK!
If not familiar with Mansory here is their site; Mansory.com
 

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Thank you, much appreciated. Was not being disrespectful. Just did not know. Will change this this evening. Again, thanks for the help.
Tried to list on marketplace but it would not allow me to. Would you have any idea why? Not having much luck.
 
Tried to list on marketplace but it would not allow me to. Would you have any idea why? Not having much luck.
You need a minimum number of posts before creating a listing.
 
This is really a cool mod, thanks again KitKat!

I am partially through the installation; I have pried out center console panel. This may be obvious, but you could just install the shift boot delete at this point and not remove the mesh cages if you wanted. I'm going to do the complete install, but this could be an option for those that do not want to remove all of the other components to remove the mesh.
 
This is really a cool mod, thanks again KitKat!

I am partially through the installation; I have pried out center console panel. This may be obvious, but you could just install the shift boot delete at this point and not remove the mesh cages if you wanted. I'm going to do the complete install, but this could be an option for those that do not want to remove all of the other components to remove the mesh.
That is a good point, you can leave the mesh on if you don't want the full exposed linkage. One thing to be aware of is be more careful about dropping things in there if you leave the mesh on. It will be more difficult to fish it out.
 
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This is really a cool mod, thanks again KitKat!

I am partially through the installation; I have pried out center console panel. This may be obvious, but you could just install the shift boot delete at this point and not remove the mesh cages if you wanted. I'm going to do the complete install, but this could be an option for those that do not want to remove all of the other components to remove the mesh.

Yup, if that's what you want it can be done that way. That was the natural progression for me.
 
I'm almost done with the complete install now, just have to reinstall the lower kick panel.

The instructions were really great. The only thing different for me is that I could find no screws that attached the console to the dash area as in section 3, step 7 of the instructions. They just don't seem to be there for me, I searched for quite a while. I removed all of the other screws and could still lift the console enough to remove the mesh. Maybe there was a running change, or maybe I'm just blind.

Cool mod!
 
I’ve also done it slightly differently (until I can get the 3D printing sorted).

Left the gaiter on:

IMG_9876.jpeg


It’s an Alcantara one from Hide and Seam so still looks OK.

Polished up the moustache a bit, but deliberately not to a mirror.
Did that on my old Exige and when mirrored it just reflects all the black carpet and disappears.

Couple of notes on the fitting process:

There’s no need to remove all the screws under the lever surround panel.
Just these two yellow-arrowed:

IMG_0263.jpeg


And I think the armrest latch can be left in place. It’s not connected to the console top.

IMG_9875.jpeg


And I found the climate controls a right fiddle to get back in somehow.
Funny to see how Lotus bodged it with plastic spacers.

Also cleaned off the green paint from the bolts and removed the visible sticker and unnecessary lugs from the rear of the pocket (which just lifts out after removing the bolts under the rubber mat).

I’ll be putting some foam in the gaps between the tunnel and the lower console (already lost a screw down there).

It was the unknown about how the mesh panels were attached that put me off doing this earlier.
Pleasantly surprised to find they’re just slotted in.

Well done again @kitkat for doing something a lot of us have been thinking about doing since we got our cars.

IMG_9877.jpeg
 
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Looks surprisingly good with the shift boot in place, I like it!
 
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I’ve also done it slightly differently (until I can get the 3D printing sorted).

Left the gaiter on:

View attachment 54743

It’s an Alcantara one from Hide and Seam so still looks OK.

Polished up the moustache a bit, but deliberately not to a mirror.
Did that on my old Exige and when mirrored it just reflects all the black carpet and disappears.

Couple of notes on the fitting process:

There’s no need to remove all the screws under the lever surround panel.
Just these two yellow-arrowed:

View attachment 54744

And I think the armrest latch can be left in place. It’s not connected to the console top.

View attachment 54745

And I found the climate controls a right fiddle to get back in somehow.
Funny to see how Lotus bodged it with plastic spacers.

Also cleaned off the green paint from the bolts and removed the visible sticker and unnecessary lugs from the rear of the pocket (which just lifts out after removing the bolts under the rubber mat).

I’ll be putting some foam in the gaps between the tunnel and the lower console (already lost a screw down there).

It was the unknown about how the mesh panels were attached that put me off doing this earlier.
Pleasantly surprised to find they’re just slotted in.

Well done again @kitkat for doing something a lot of us have been thinking about doing since we got our cars.

View attachment 54747
This is what I am going to do as wel. Love it!
 
I love this, but even if you don't, this sets the standard for a How-to. Well done good sir!
 

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