Almost every car owner wants his car to be different from others. If we are talking about expensive cars, then it is better to entrust this task to specialists; you can make changes to budget models yourself. Tuning headlights on Kalina is a fairly common option for decorating a car, so this article will cover this particular topic. In addition, the more recognizable a car looks, the less interest it is to car thieves.
Key points of improvement
The ProSport headlights for the Lada need improvement, as they do not shine well. Please note that there are several models of this optics. The standard equipment of the Lada Kalina includes lighting fixtures of the Agressor and HL-2 types. These units are a monoblock, including 2 low and high beam headlights.
In order for such lights to shine well, you will need to modify the curtain. To improve the low beam, it is wrapped in foil or trimmed.
You can solve the problem with headlights by installing xenon optics on the car and tuning the engine. To do this, you will need to remove the standard lighting fixtures. In some cases, car enthusiasts install alternative lenses with their own hands. When choosing these elements, their size is taken into account. It should coincide with the same indicator for standard models. Then car owners think about how to fix the new headlights in the appropriate block. Usually, to do this you will need to make a special fastening yourself using additional bolts.
If “angel eyes” are installed on the Lada Kalina, it means that their rings are dull. ProSport optics are equipped with conventional bulbs that need to be replaced with LEDs. However, it is necessary to take into account that such modification leads to uneven illumination of the ring.
The presence of additional holes for LEDs in the optics does not contribute to the formation of uniform illumination. Some areas will be highlighted more than others. In this case, auto mechanics advise installing the LED strip yourself. It is fixed with special glue. If the problem is solved by installing neon rings, their diameter should be 90 mm.
Standard diodes on Lada Kalina usually burn out after 6-12 months. The problem can be solved by installing a voltage stabilizer on the car. The factory wiring is replaced with more durable wire. When choosing it, the power of the Lada engine is taken into account.
Dismantling and repair of optics
One of the most common malfunctions in the operation of optics, if you do not take into account the failure of lighting sources, is damage to the headlight glass. If the lamp itself is damaged, it will have to be removed and disassembled to change the glass.
How to disassemble the headlight and how to replace the brake light bulb:
- First you need to open the trunk and move the brake light source to the left.
- The Kalina brake light lamp must be pressed and turned to the left, so that the device can be removed from the installation location. The installation procedure is performed in reverse order.
- If you need to replace the glass, you will have to remove the bumper to do this. To do this, you need to unscrew the corresponding fasteners.
- After dismantling the bumper, it is necessary to disconnect all the wiring connectors that are connected to the optics.
- After completing these steps, you can unscrew the lower fasteners of the flashlight; to do this, use a wrench. After this, similar actions are performed with the upper bolts securing the optics. When all the screws are removed, the optics themselves can be removed.
- The next stage will be the glass repair itself. You need to pull the headlight towards you and carefully remove the rubberized seal. It is usually attached to the lantern quite tightly, so most likely you will have to use a utility knife to cut the elastic.
- After the headlight housing and glass are separated from each other, all remaining adhesive and sealant should be removed from the perimeter of the housing. To do this, you will also need to use a utility knife, and if the residues are small, then use sandpaper. Make sure that the surface on the housing is clean and free of sealants and dirt.
- Before installing new glass, the housing around the perimeter of the installation will need to be treated with a solvent. This will allow the surface to be degreased, so that the fit of the new glass will be maximum.
- Next, apply glue to the new seal and connect the glass itself to the body. The tightness of the structure must be optimal, otherwise the problem of fogging of the optical glasses from the inside may arise. Press the headlight on both sides so that the lens is connected to the housing as firmly as possible.
- At this stage, the repair can be considered complete; assembly is carried out in the reverse order. When installing the lights, they will need to be readjusted.
Photo gallery “Replacing glass with your own hands”
Regulation rules
Another headlight design option
Another equally important disadvantage of the optics in question is the difficulty in adjusting it. The mounting bolts used do not turn well (a special wrench is used for this). But raising the light to the required level will not work in any case.
When finalizing the adjustment of such a headlight, a long self-tapping screw is inserted into its body. It should rest against the plate responsible for adjusting the lens. Now you can raise it.
There is another method for adjusting this element. It consists of installing a washer or nut 3-4 mm high in the upper part of the lantern. The final stage is adjusting the height of the Lada Kalina headlight lenses. Refinement of ProSport light optics should be carried out comprehensively. In this case, state standards should be taken into account. If necessary, perform engine tuning.
Tuning ideas
There are several options for tuning optics on Kalina:
- Tinted lights. This procedure can be carried out using a special varnish or tint film. More information about this type of tinting is provided in this article.
- Eyelashes for headlights. This tuning option is considered the simplest.
- Special tuned optics. The modern market offers potassium growers a huge assortment of different tuned headlights. These can be so-called angel eyes, diode optics, etc. In this case, it all depends on preference.
- Installation of other lighting sources - diodes or xenon.
Video “Installing a low beam light bulb on Kalina”
Detailed instructions for installing low beam lamps in Kalin are given in the video below (the author of the video is the Kalinin channel).
Many people have probably noticed two types of cars with darkened headlights. There are two types of headlight dimming: painting and tinting. Let's try to use one of these options when tuning the Lada "Kalina" hatchback. Despite the fact that the hatchback body suits Kalina very well, it still looks rather boring in the factory configuration without a little tuning. To refresh its appearance, it was decided to install alloy wheels, change the audio system, and tint the windows. So to speak, a gentleman's tuning kit.
The Kalina on which all this was done was not a standard modification, but a luxury one, that is, it already had some. In addition to all of the above, the idea came to paint the headlights as well. There is an opinion that this should not be done, because it will negatively affect the light of the headlights, but real experience has shown that this is not so.
When installing powerful diode bulbs, much more light is released than with conventional ones, and if the headlight glasses are tinted or painted, they do not blind the driver of the car in front. All that remained was to decide what type of tinting should be chosen: film or spray paint.
This paint beautifully paints the headlight glass without reducing the amount of light even with standard light bulbs. Thus, the decision was made to use spray paint.
To do this, the body was covered with film in the area of the headlights, so as not to splash it in the bumper area. For a professional this would not be very difficult to do, but in our case insurance would not hurt. The painting went well. You can’t call it excellent, because the amount of paint was calculated incorrectly, and I had to run to the store again for another can.
After painting is finished, you need to leave the car in the garage for a couple of days so that the paint dries well. After it dried, everything looked very beautiful. The painting was without smudges or streaks. After this, diode bulbs were installed, which made it possible to provide excellent lighting at night.
Such tuning costs approximately 500 rubles, if you correctly calculate the amount of paint, and no other costs are required. And finally, a little advice: if this is your first time using a spray can, or in general, in the field of painting, it is better to entrust this work to a master.
Headlights
The standard headlights on Kalina are equipped with optics from BOSCH, and they work well. Here's what those who still want to change something in the lighting system do:
- replacement of optics in headlights. To replace the “native” optics, optical kits with white xenon illumination are installed, which are freely sold in almost all spare parts stores. But when installing such a kit, the driver must remember: he does this at his own peril and risk. These headlights produce a very powerful luminous flux that can blind oncoming drivers. And the traffic police officers really don’t like this. This is why many car owners slightly dim the backlight using special sprays;
The xenon lighting on the Kalina's headlights shines brightly, but raises questions from traffic police officers - replacing headlights. This is a more radical option. As a rule, headlights are changed when a new body kit is installed, with which the standard headlights do not fit well. Today you can find headlights of various shapes on sale, both LED and xenon. So any driver can choose the appropriate option.
Work on the appearance of "Kalina"
Tuning the appearance can also be divided into several stages.
Replacement of wheel rims. Almost all motorists remove the standard steel wheels from the Kalina and replace them with cast ones. They are much more beautiful. But at the same time they are practically beyond repair. After a strong blow, such a disk cracks, and all that remains is to throw it away. There is one more nuance associated with disks: experts do not recommend installing disks with a diameter exceeding 14 inches on the Kalina. Too large discs have a detrimental effect on the aerodynamics of the car and reduce braking efficiency.
Alloy wheels look beautiful, but their maintainability tends to zero
Installation of body kit. This word here means a set of bumpers, arches and sills purchased from a specialized tuning studio. Most often, Kalinas are equipped with kits from EL-Tuning, which has two advantages: a wide range and an affordable price.
Installation of spoilers and roof rails. The driver can either purchase spoilers or make them himself. These parts can be made of plastic, carbon, polyurethane foam and other materials. At the same time, the influence of the spoiler on the aerodynamics of the station wagon body is minimal. They are needed only to improve appearance. Rails are metal strips in a plastic shell that are attached to the roof of the car. There is no need to make them yourself, since any auto parts store has a wide range of these parts.
The spoiler on Kalina performs a purely decorative function, having little effect on aerodynamics
Replacing mirrors. Not everyone likes the standard mirrors on Kalina either. Therefore, drivers often change them to mirrors from Granta. The second option is also common - installing special overlays that completely change the appearance of standard mirrors. They are made from both chrome steel and plastic. Sold at tuning studios. Cost - from 700 rubles.
Replacing door handles. The standard handles on the Kalina are plastic, and it’s difficult to call them beautiful. Drivers replace them with more presentable handles, deeply recessed into the door. Most often they are painted to match the body color. But they also come in chrome, a set of which costs from 3 thousand rubles.
Trunk and doors
There is also room for improvement in the doors and trunk of the Kalina.
Trunk light. The standard luggage compartment lighting in Kalina has never been particularly bright. Drivers solve this problem either by replacing the standard light bulbs with more powerful ones, or by installing LED lighting on the luggage rack.
Drivers often illuminate the luggage rack with LED strips
Audio system installation. Music lovers often place speakers and a large subwoofer in the trunk to more accurately reproduce low frequencies. But after installing such a system, nothing else will fit in the trunk. So this tuning option is suitable only for real music lovers. Many people try to compensate for the lack of space in the trunk by installing a luggage box on the roof of the car. But this is a big mistake. Additional luggage space appears, but all efforts to tune the car go to waste. The box literally “presses” the car to the ground. An optical illusion occurs, and it seems that the car has become much lower.
Replacing door cards. Standard door trim panels can be replaced with more presentable and beautiful ones. Door cards are also changed when powerful speakers are installed in the doors. In this case, the panels will have to be seriously modified by cutting additional holes in them. Be that as it may, there is no shortage of door cards today. In the store you can purchase a set for every taste, color and budget.
To install speakers, door cards will have to be changed or seriously modified
Video: illumination of Lada Kalina
Photo gallery: tuned Lada Kalina station wagons
White lowered Kalina with spoiler, body kit and alloy wheels
This Kalina has cross rails and stylish chrome sills
The owner of Kalina installed funny “eyelashes” on the headlights of his station wagon
This Kalina has an inexpensive plastic body kit combined with a plastic spoiler.
The owner of this station wagon got rid of the standard Kalina headlights, installing more stylish backlit lights
Body kits from the “I’m a Robot” series are very popular among Kalina owners
This station wagon seamlessly combines black and white colors
On this Kalina, the bright xenon headlights catch your eye
The red plastic body kit of this station wagon goes well with the white alloy wheels
The owner of this Kalina replaced only the rims and taillights
So, you can tune almost any passenger car, including the Kalina station wagon. But a car owner who is tuning his car must have a strong sense of proportion. Without this, he risks turning his car into a laughing stock.
Tuning of chassis and brakes
The Kalina's chassis underwent major modifications at the design stage. So it is rarely subjected to deep tuning. Basically, drivers are limited to these measures:
- Additional fasteners and support “sports” bearings of the SS20 brand are installed on the steering rack of the front suspension;
- The standard front struts are replaced with more reliable ones. Most often, racks from Plaza are installed;
- Springs with reduced pitch are installed on the suspension. This allows you to improve the car's handling;
- Kalina's standard brake discs are replaced with sports ones, the diameter of which is larger. Usually drivers install wheels from LGR or Brembo. They are more than enough to ensure safe driving in an aggressive style;
Brembo discs are best suited for those who prefer an aggressive driving style. - The standard synchronizers in the gearbox are replaced with reinforced sports synchronizers. This increases the reliability of the box and extends its service life;
- a new clutch is installed. Preference is given to units with carbon, ceramic or Kevlar discs. Their wear resistance is much higher, and such a clutch can withstand enormous loads from a “pumped” engine.
