A few of you may remember two of my previous threads about adding a few bits and pieces to the Panda to make it a bit more individual.
Well I’ve been at it again lol
Continuing with the with the OEM+ look I have added a few bits which although are quite small and probably oblivious to the average car owner I think finish off the car.
The first part isn’t really a modification, more like a replacement.
Ever since I bought the car I noticed that the passenger’s side fog light surround never really looked properly connected and the screws holding it seemed to be rusting very quickly.
After having a look at it I found one of the holes for the screws had snapped so a new part was ordered and fitted.
Before
Rust coming through
Not fitting properly
Once removed I could see what the problem was, snapped screw support.
One of the screws were rusted that badly I had to drill it out resulting in further damage to the old fog lamp surround.
I decided to remove both surrounds so I could clean behind them and renew all the screws.
Old vs New
The Results
Next up was the wheel bolts.
After posting up my painted callipers a few people commented on the rust on the wheel bolts. I had not noticed this before but after people pointing it out they stood out like a sore thumb lol
My old car, a Corsa SXI, came with wheel nut covers so I went to a Vauxhall dealer to try and order some but the wanted £2.50 per cover which IMO is a rip off. A quick look on ebay and I managed to get 20 for £5 posted!
Before
After
Much better I think you’ll agree!
Last on my list was to modify the rear lights. With the Panda there is only one reverse light and one rear fog light which are housed in separate light clusters. This causes an unsymmetrical look.
My original plan was to replace the red fog light bulb with a silver coated red bulb but nothing is ever that easy is it?
It turns out it not actually a red bulb, it’s a red cover over the bulb.
In trying to remove the cover and separate the light cluster I pulled a bit too hard which resulted in the following…
Yip, it snapped!
After trying different methods to separate the cluster again it came to my attention that European Panda’s have opposite rear lights to UK cars so off to the dealers again to order a LHD rear light cluster.
A week later I picked it up.
All the way from Italy itself, via Poland that is lol
So yesterday I gave the car a good wash and fitted the new light along with the silver coated rear fog light bulb and some SilverVision indicator bulbs.
Before
After
Nice and symmetrical now!
I think that will do the car for now on the modification front. I know these are just little things but in my opinion they all add up to improve the over all look of the car.
OEM+ is the future!
Sorry for the long read, I’ll leave you with some pictures of the car in its current state.
Well I’ve been at it again lol
Continuing with the with the OEM+ look I have added a few bits which although are quite small and probably oblivious to the average car owner I think finish off the car.
The first part isn’t really a modification, more like a replacement.
Ever since I bought the car I noticed that the passenger’s side fog light surround never really looked properly connected and the screws holding it seemed to be rusting very quickly.
After having a look at it I found one of the holes for the screws had snapped so a new part was ordered and fitted.
Before
Rust coming through
Not fitting properly
Once removed I could see what the problem was, snapped screw support.
One of the screws were rusted that badly I had to drill it out resulting in further damage to the old fog lamp surround.
I decided to remove both surrounds so I could clean behind them and renew all the screws.
Old vs New
The Results
Next up was the wheel bolts.
After posting up my painted callipers a few people commented on the rust on the wheel bolts. I had not noticed this before but after people pointing it out they stood out like a sore thumb lol
My old car, a Corsa SXI, came with wheel nut covers so I went to a Vauxhall dealer to try and order some but the wanted £2.50 per cover which IMO is a rip off. A quick look on ebay and I managed to get 20 for £5 posted!
Before
After
Much better I think you’ll agree!
Last on my list was to modify the rear lights. With the Panda there is only one reverse light and one rear fog light which are housed in separate light clusters. This causes an unsymmetrical look.
My original plan was to replace the red fog light bulb with a silver coated red bulb but nothing is ever that easy is it?
It turns out it not actually a red bulb, it’s a red cover over the bulb.
In trying to remove the cover and separate the light cluster I pulled a bit too hard which resulted in the following…
Yip, it snapped!
After trying different methods to separate the cluster again it came to my attention that European Panda’s have opposite rear lights to UK cars so off to the dealers again to order a LHD rear light cluster.
A week later I picked it up.
All the way from Italy itself, via Poland that is lol
So yesterday I gave the car a good wash and fitted the new light along with the silver coated rear fog light bulb and some SilverVision indicator bulbs.
Before
After
Nice and symmetrical now!
I think that will do the car for now on the modification front. I know these are just little things but in my opinion they all add up to improve the over all look of the car.
OEM+ is the future!
Sorry for the long read, I’ll leave you with some pictures of the car in its current state.
Last edited:
