Front Done - Now the Rear

After a little bit of toil 😉 the front is now complete - all except the chrome rings around the headlights (as awaiting the correct ones, which are being replaced).

Getting the new headlights going took a bit of working out. Turns out the high beams are 'fail-safe' switched with a relay. That is, when the headlights are turned on and dipped both wires for the high beam bulbs sit at 12v. Then when the high beams are turned on one of the wires is switched to earth. I assume it's so if a relay fails then the high beams fail to off.

However, the new headlights use a common earth for low and high beam. So I had to install a second relay for each headlight. Now when the high beams are turned on the same wire dropping to earth triggers the new second relay, which switches 12v to the high beam wire on the new headlight. So, the high beams now have a double fail-safe 😇

Right, front done - let's have a look at the rear...

Original plastic bumper and tail lights removed and damn! There's another secondary bumper to contend with - just like the front. Will the new rear bumper panel fit over the secondary bumper?

Yeah, nah! New rear panel sits about 90mm proud. I'm sure with the secondary bumper removed it would fit perfectly too! So, time to get in contact with the vehicle certifier and get advice as to what's allowed. Otherwise, might have to stay with the old bumper, but new tail lights. However, which of these looks better do you reckon?

Well, turns out, unlike the front of the car, there are less requirements for collision protection in the rear. According to the certifier the secondary bumper can be legally removed. However, he recommends getting a narrower secondary bumper fabricated and install that in the current one's place. That way if the car had a minor tail end impact then there would be less damage to the rear boot area (potentially saving the car from being written off).
 So, that's my next step... the fun continues!   😅