Hey All,
I'm still new to the element but not to Honda, I started posting all the stuff I am currently doing to my element in the intro section but decided to move it here. I will just copy and past everything so far.
The Element is named Betty2.0 this is because my old 96 accord was originally named Betty, it was a JDM H23 Swapped black sedan with matching H23 Transmission full Apexi WS2 Catback exhaust system with Skunk2 headers on D2 Coilovers, I took it off the road to start building the engine for boost but ended up getting a 2008 335xi which I tried to keep stock while I built the Accord but that went out the window 7 months after I got it. so I ended up parting out the accord and started building the bmw...needles to say I was on the hunt for a Element because I fell in love with all the things you can do with them and it would be perfect to take my Modified Ruckus with me to events that I could not ride to.
Anyways enough with the Backstories here is what I have done so far with the element.
after months of searching I finally pulled the trigger on a '03 Black Element with 131k. I've been lurking this forums for months just doing as much research as I could, but as soon as I got the element I forgot everything..lol
So far I have cleaned the rims, still need to wash the car itself. but I went hard in the interior and cleaned all the panels and rear sections of the car, still need to clean out the front lower section of the box, I used simple green mixed with water and scrubbed the hell out of the panels and floor. I forgot to take pics of before and after. smh.
But here is a pic of the element
sorry it dirty haven't had the chance to wash it.
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so I got a chance to install the read cladding from an 06 onto my 03 and since this is my first time doing it, I am not sure if I should have started from the bottom of the top so I started from the bottom and noticed it was a little tough to line up the upper clips but I got it to work. I might have to take it off and redo it, but for not its fine.
Also what section do I go to so I can start a build section? sorry noob in the house...lol
here are some pics of what I have done.
so here is what was currently on the car
This is what it looked liked after I removed it
it was not as dirty as I thought it was going to be, but I did clean it up for now, sorry forgot to take a picture after I cleaned it. The car still needs to be washed regardless.
Here is the 06 Cladding
Here she is with the new cladding in place.
Here what the side panel was looking like
Here is the 06 panel
I took of the exiting panel and saw the little damage from when the lady hit the car in the parking lot
I stopped there because I want to try to fix that up a little and then re-spray it with some rustoleum black paint to prevent anymore cancer. then I will continue from there.
So far the back was not that bad just think I need to redo it so all the clips are properly seated and I will let you know how the front goes. I will be doing that later today.
I also swapped out the interior lights for LED and they look a lot better, I will also be doing the speado with LED lights just waiting for them to show up
ok so i did not get a chance to do the fender today so i went ahead and swapped out the center assembly that houses the a/c controls and radio from the old beat up one to a new one
Old Center
old vs new
Please be aware you will need to remove the two little tabs that hold the a/c controls or the unit will not sit flush
tab to be removed are in the center
i did not have my dremel so i just twisted them off with pliers
New one is installed and of course i forgot to take a picture. i will post it this weekend when i go back to do the fender and motor mounts.
sorry about that guys
I needed to buy some more of these fasteners so I had to pause on installing the Front cladding.
Thank you to platmurp and ramblerdan for directing in the right way to find a cheaper alternative than the dealer that was trying to charge me 7 buck each for one of those...haha thieves..
if you guys need more of these, here is the ebay link to the ones I bought. http://www.ebay.com/itm/371732822527?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
so this is it for now, I will try to get more done this weekend and keep going from there. this will be a long slow process since I just got married and we are trying to start a family, so spending money will have to be calculated at time.
Thank you for looking and any help and ideas are welcomed.
Ohh I forgot I did swap out my interior lights to LEd and I will also swap out the Cluster to LED this weekend if my lights show up here today.
I'm still new to the element but not to Honda, I started posting all the stuff I am currently doing to my element in the intro section but decided to move it here. I will just copy and past everything so far.
The Element is named Betty2.0 this is because my old 96 accord was originally named Betty, it was a JDM H23 Swapped black sedan with matching H23 Transmission full Apexi WS2 Catback exhaust system with Skunk2 headers on D2 Coilovers, I took it off the road to start building the engine for boost but ended up getting a 2008 335xi which I tried to keep stock while I built the Accord but that went out the window 7 months after I got it. so I ended up parting out the accord and started building the bmw...needles to say I was on the hunt for a Element because I fell in love with all the things you can do with them and it would be perfect to take my Modified Ruckus with me to events that I could not ride to.
Anyways enough with the Backstories here is what I have done so far with the element.
after months of searching I finally pulled the trigger on a '03 Black Element with 131k. I've been lurking this forums for months just doing as much research as I could, but as soon as I got the element I forgot everything..lol
So far I have cleaned the rims, still need to wash the car itself. but I went hard in the interior and cleaned all the panels and rear sections of the car, still need to clean out the front lower section of the box, I used simple green mixed with water and scrubbed the hell out of the panels and floor. I forgot to take pics of before and after. smh.
But here is a pic of the element
sorry it dirty haven't had the chance to wash it.
so I got a chance to install the read cladding from an 06 onto my 03 and since this is my first time doing it, I am not sure if I should have started from the bottom of the top so I started from the bottom and noticed it was a little tough to line up the upper clips but I got it to work. I might have to take it off and redo it, but for not its fine.
Also what section do I go to so I can start a build section? sorry noob in the house...lol
here are some pics of what I have done.
so here is what was currently on the car
This is what it looked liked after I removed it
it was not as dirty as I thought it was going to be, but I did clean it up for now, sorry forgot to take a picture after I cleaned it. The car still needs to be washed regardless.
Here is the 06 Cladding
Here she is with the new cladding in place.
Here what the side panel was looking like
Here is the 06 panel
I took of the exiting panel and saw the little damage from when the lady hit the car in the parking lot
I stopped there because I want to try to fix that up a little and then re-spray it with some rustoleum black paint to prevent anymore cancer. then I will continue from there.
So far the back was not that bad just think I need to redo it so all the clips are properly seated and I will let you know how the front goes. I will be doing that later today.
I also swapped out the interior lights for LED and they look a lot better, I will also be doing the speado with LED lights just waiting for them to show up
ok so i did not get a chance to do the fender today so i went ahead and swapped out the center assembly that houses the a/c controls and radio from the old beat up one to a new one
Old Center
old vs new
Please be aware you will need to remove the two little tabs that hold the a/c controls or the unit will not sit flush
tab to be removed are in the center
i did not have my dremel so i just twisted them off with pliers
New one is installed and of course i forgot to take a picture. i will post it this weekend when i go back to do the fender and motor mounts.
sorry about that guys
I needed to buy some more of these fasteners so I had to pause on installing the Front cladding.
Thank you to platmurp and ramblerdan for directing in the right way to find a cheaper alternative than the dealer that was trying to charge me 7 buck each for one of those...haha thieves..
if you guys need more of these, here is the ebay link to the ones I bought. http://www.ebay.com/itm/371732822527?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
so this is it for now, I will try to get more done this weekend and keep going from there. this will be a long slow process since I just got married and we are trying to start a family, so spending money will have to be calculated at time.
Thank you for looking and any help and ideas are welcomed.
Ohh I forgot I did swap out my interior lights to LEd and I will also swap out the Cluster to LED this weekend if my lights show up here today.