ᐉ DIY tuning of the Lada-Kalina interior

LED Strip Light

In addition, an excellent addition to all of the above tuning options to complete the interior improvement picture is to install new lighting around the entire perimeter of the cabin. To do this, you will need to lay a diode strip of the desired color (or different shades) and connect it to a standard battery, that is, the on-board network. Additional lighting due to the LED strip will give the interior an attractive appearance and highlight all the changes made.

The following tuning of the Lada-Kalina interior is carried out with your own hands:

Installing a diode strip around the perimeter of the car allows you to provide additional lighting for literally the entire interior. The brightness and shade of the backlight directly depend on the LEDs you have selected. This lighting option allows you to increase illumination by an average of two or even more times. If necessary, you can install separate ribbon inserts into the roof of the cabin, and it is quite possible to create the effect of a “starry sky”.
Attaching an LED strip to the elements of the front dashboard, in its lower part, allows you to additionally illuminate the areas at the feet of the driver and passengers. This tuning will increase the comfort of being in the car.
Also, in some situations, the LED strip is mounted on the car body. Most often, such lighting is used as auxiliary or even main running lights. However, such tapes are often exposed to external mechanical influences from the environment, which is why they can quickly fail.

If you want to become the happy owner of an original and stylish car and proudly drive on the roads, tuning will help you with this. Such improvements will help improve not only the appearance of the machine, but also increase its efficiency. You are guaranteed the envious glances of all surrounding car owners!

Steering wheel

Not every car enthusiast likes the standard Lada-Kalina steering wheel. Therefore, they very often want to replace it with a more stylish and convenient one. One of the options for tuning the interior of the Lada Kalina sedan is to install a sports steering wheel. This original upgrade has many advantages: the car’s interior will become more interesting, and most importantly, the updated sports steering wheel, thanks to its aggressive appearance, will allow the driver to feel much more confident on the road. But in order to easily and without problems mount a new steering wheel on the Lada-Kalina, you will need a special adapter.

External tuning of Lada Kalina, Kalina 2 | motorring online store

Would you like a brief history of the LADA Kalina model? The development of the car at AVTOVAZ began in 1993. In 1998, the designed model was named “Kalina”. Serial production started only on November 18, 2004. A total of 5 years to give the car a name, and 11 years to develop it. Not fast!

But it is worth noting that at that time this model was truly new for AVTOVAZ: a new platform, a new level of comfort and quality and a new design. By the way, about the design: the first generation of the model was made in the so-called “biodesign”, which was fashionable in the global auto industry right in the early 90s, when the model began to be developed. But after 11 years, the trends changed; the exterior of the car at the time of its release seemed outdated to Russians, but there were many people who liked this car. For the rest, external tuning became the solution! By the way, LADA Kalina quickly became a real popular and mass car, so there were never any problems with the range of tuning for this car:

radiator grilles and bumper grilles
side mirrors (including electric ones) and covers for them
"sabers"
door handles and trims
eyelashes and overlays for lamps
PTF frames
spoilers
door moldings
alternative optics
bumpers
lockers
towbars
roof racks
and other.

The manufacturer managed to modernize the design of the model when the second generation of Kalina was born in 2020. Despite the fact that the overall power structure of the body has not undergone any changes (including doors, windshield), the car received complex-shaped headlights and lanterns and a massive bumper with a powerful radiator grille. You should be careful with tuning the “second generation”, since the exterior of this generation turned out to be quite successful.

By the way, on the basis of the LADA Kalina 2 station wagon and hatchback (the second generation sedan was never produced), small-scale modifications (a kind of factory tuning) also appeared, which turned out to be very popular in the market. On the “base” of the station wagon, they made a “pseudo-crossover” Kalina Cross - an all-terrain station wagon, which, in addition to high ground clearance, also received “off-road” appearance modifications. And the hatchback got sporty variations – Sport and NFR.

What conclusion do we draw? “Kalina”, despite its popular name, is excellent for exterior modifications, that is, external tuning.

Tuning options for the Lada Kalina interior

The most affordable and obvious way to transform the interior of Kalina is to install new seat covers. However, you need to be able to choose them correctly, since there are a large number of varieties.

Case update

The first type is model covers, i.e. they are used, including by the automaker, as original ones for Kalina. Such products take into account the shape of the front and rear seats, headrests, the presence of an armrest, etc. Usually it is impossible to find them in the public domain; you have to order individual tailoring from special car workshops.

The second type is universal. These covers are made of elastic materials and are made in such a way that they can take any shape and bend as necessary. Even a beginner can install them; there is no need to remove the seats. But they also have a significant drawback: the shapes and sizes of the seats are not always exactly the same. On the other hand, they are easy to find in any auto parts store at prices affordable to everyone.

Special types of covers include fur ones. They not only prevent wear and tear on the seat upholstery, but also prevent you from freezing in winter, especially if there are no heated seats. In addition, they add a certain richness to the interior decoration. Fur covers are sold freely at reasonable prices. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the quality of the fur

Leather covers are in fact model and are made according to individual seat shapes. They have an attractive appearance, but in winter they are too cold without additional heating, and in summer the back quickly sweats. As an alternative, and most importantly universal option, you can use eco-leather covers. This modern material has excellent breathability and at first glance does not differ from genuine leather. Eco-leather allows air to pass through, but will not allow the seats to get wet when water hits the surface.

Universal type covers can be installed in literally half an hour, and if the material stretches well and has additional zippers, then even faster. If you purchased model covers, then you will have to tinker with removing the seats.

Replacement of interior upholstery with modelin

Upholstery with another material is the second way to significantly transform the interior. The main disadvantage here is the complexity and labor-intensiveness of the process. To achieve excellent results, you need to have extensive experience in such work and patience. The simplest option for reupholstering the interior is modelin.

The advantage of modelin is its affordable price: on average, the cost of a standard sheet of 700x1200 mm will be no more than 350 rubles, leather or Alcantara (artificial suede) will cost much more. Modelin can be used to cover door cards without dismantling. In addition, you do not need to buy special glue: there is a special adhesive base on the back of the material.

The sticker process is simple. First, you need to clean and degrease the surface. Secondly, remove the protective film from the adhesive base and stick it on the door card, carefully smoothing it from the center to the edge. Thirdly, cut off the excess pieces with a utility knife and fold the edges inside the seams. In this simple way you can cover the entire interior in 30–40 minutes. Do not forget about the triangles of the side mirrors; pasting is carried out in a similar way. Such simple tuning will not only decorate the interior, but will also prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt in the cabin.

Foot lighting in the interior of the Lada Kalina

Getting into a car (especially at night) will be much more convenient if you add additional lighting on the floor. Illumination can be done both from the front and from the back. For installation you will need the following kit:

3–4 meters of 12V LED strip;
wires;
corners.

The LED strip is attached with double-sided tape to the steering column casing and to the bottom of the dashboard; for the convenience of the front passenger, the mounting location is the bottom of the glove compartment. To illuminate the floor near the rear seats, an LED strip is glued to the corners, which in turn are attached to the foot heating ducts. There is no need to remove the front seats for this, just move them as far forward as possible.

When connecting, you first need to find a convenient place to connect the ground. If the lighting is turned on via a toggle switch, then any metal part of the body can be used for this. If the backlight lights up when the doors are opened, the ground is connected to the limit switches on the doors. In order not to waste time pulling a new wire out of the door, you can connect to the wires under the sill trims. On the driver's side it is a white-blue wire, on the passenger's side it is red-brown.

The positive connection can be made from the side lights, from terminal block A6 on the car radio or from the cigarette lighter, but in the latter case you will have to remove the central tunnel. You can get a constant plus 12V by hooking it up to the red wire from the ignition switch or from the ceiling light. It is better to lay all wires under the carpet. If you pull it over it, the wires will interfere with your legs when landing and will be torn.

The optimal connection option is the central lampshade. The wires are pulled under the windshield pillar trim and connected directly to the solder contacts, otherwise the backlight will not work in several modes. If everything is done correctly, the backlight will work in three modes: when the door is opened, when the lamp is turned on, or through a button on the console.

Ultimately, such lighting will make the interior design of the Lada Kalina much more interesting, especially at night. In order not to disturb the harmony with the overall interior design, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing the color of the LED strip. When connecting, the polarity must be observed. If you confuse plus and minus, the backlight will not work.

Interior repainting

Many Kalinas use light shades as the main color. This design does not look as solid as, for example, black. Painting the interior is not such a difficult procedure. To work you will need:

fine-grained sandpaper;
White Spirit;
spray paint of a matching color.

For better adhesion, it is additionally worth using a primer in several layers. Apply the first layer of paint, after drying another layer, and so on according to the instructions on the paint can. If desired, you can use additional varnish.

To properly paint the plastic interior, it is necessary to dismantle the central tunnel, the side parts of the dashboard and the plastic trim on the door pillars. After cleaning and degreasing, a primer is applied in several layers and 2-3 layers of paint. All plastic parts of the interior are processed and painted in the same way.

As a rule, when working with cars manufactured before 1997, you have to put in a lot of work to first remove the memory chips and then start working with its data. This is a very delicate work that requires high qualifications.

The main tuning methods that are applicable to the Lada Kalina are considered. Each of them is interesting in its own way, each is widely popular in the world of car enthusiasts. Choose your option. Good luck!

Eliminating air pockets in the radiator

Since the system in question is absolutely sealed, getting rid of air is not so easy. The car must be placed on any inclined surface with the front facing up (the steeper, the more effective). You should warm up the power unit until the second circulation circle opens, move the temperature regulator to the maximum position, direct the air flow into the cabin and activate the fan at second speed. Next, increasing the engine speed to 4.5-5 thousand, we hold it for some time.

Then the pedal is released until the idle speed appears. If the problem is not completely resolved, the procedure should be repeated.

Despite the fact that modern domestic cars have updated characteristics, some factory defects are still present. Modification of the cooling system on the Lada Kalina is available in several ways and helps to avoid the formation of air locks. Moreover, the procedure does not require significant financial investment.

Technical features of the system

The unified layout and closed design of the engine cooling system (SOD) of the Kalina are also characteristic of other VAZ models. The system is designed to remove thermal energy from heated engine elements using antifreeze or other coolant.

The SOD consists of the following functional parts.

Cooling radiator. Reduces coolant temperature due to the flow of cold air masses.
Fan. Used for rapid cooling of antifreeze in the Kalina cooling system.
Expansion tank. Designed to compensate for the volume of coolant (coolant). The need for this unit is related to the expansion/constriction property of the coolant.
A pump or centrifugal pump, which is responsible for the forced circulation of antifreeze through the appropriate channels.
A thermostat whose task is to regulate the volume of antifreeze in the Kalina cooling system.
Temperature sensor involved in SOD control.

The operation of the cooling system is based on the close interconnection of various parts, elements and sensors, including devices that are designed to measure oil temperature. The passage of coolant in a large or small circle depends on the engine temperature. In the first case, antifreeze passes through all components of the SOD, except the radiator. With such circulation, the thermostat is closed. As the engine temperature rises, this element gradually opens. The antifreeze, having passed a large circle, enters the radiator. The latter device is cooled by oncoming air masses. If this is not enough, a signal is sent to the ventilated unit, which begins to forcibly direct air masses to the cells.

The cooled liquid enters a small circle. Next, taking into account the engine temperature, the antifreeze automatically circulates in a small or large circle. At the same time, the optimal operating temperature is maintained, which should be in the range of 95-105°C. This factor has a direct impact on the performance of the Kalina stove. In this case, it will not be able to supply warm air masses into the cabin.

If there are any doubts about the operation of the ODS, you need to diagnose the car, finding out the causes of the malfunction. You can fix the breakdown either with your own hands or with the help of a car mechanic.

Salon

Changes in the interior space directly depend on the preferences of the car owner. For long trips, Kalina lacks sound insulation and comfortable seats. The seats can be taken from another car or the existing ones can be modified by adding lateral support and increasing the lower part.

To travel short distances, the Kalina must be equipped with a good stereo system and additional interior lighting (back row lighting, front passenger and driver foot lighting). Another way to change the appearance of the interior is to change the color scheme of the dashboard. This can be done by covering its individual parts with vinyl film.

Car tuning emphasizes the individuality of its owner. Makes the car unique and noticeable. The changes made should not impair safety or make the car less comfortable; otherwise, each owner can make changes according to his needs and his understanding of comfort.

Rear sofas - what to replace them with in the VAZ 2110?

If everything is approximately clear with the front seat options, then the rear sofas require a special approach. We are talking about an unconventional size and rather strange types of fastening of a sofa from AvtoVAZ. If you are far from automotive, it is better not to modify the rear seats yourself. To do this you will need the help of specialists

It is important to find a car of the same size, as wider cushions and backrests will have to be redesigned. The installation process is quite complicated:

you need to choose good rear sofas from models such as Volkswagen Polo, Hyundai Solaris, KIA Rio, Renault Logan, and you can also pay attention to Toyota Corolla; Next comes the dismantling of the seats of your car, which is not particularly difficult - just unscrew a few fasteners to get all the structural parts without any difficulties; Next, you should try on new seats, it is quite possible that you will have to order their re-upholstery at a studio, since it is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to guess the size perfectly; the next step is the installation of fasteners, it is necessary to remove the fastening parts from the VAZ seats and rearrange them on the purchased pillows and backrests for high-quality fastening; after that, all that remains is to install the finished seats in place and enjoy the updated interior of your car, also don’t forget to take a photo and share it on the forums and in the logbook.

Of course, this sounds much simpler than it is done. The process may take more than one day, especially if the seats need to be altered, shortened or lengthened. When choosing seats for the rear of a car, it is best to buy a whole interior set. This will help significantly reduce the cost of further alterations. After all, if you install chairs of different colors, you will have to sew covers or change the upholstery and spend extra money.

Floor lighting

It will be comfortable to sit in the Kalina's cabin if you equip it with additional lighting in the foot area. For this you will need:

about three meters of LED strip;
several meters of cables;
corners – 2 pcs.

To organize lighting for the driver's floor, attach the LED strip to double-sided tape. The second option is to use a plastic cable channel, which is installed using self-tapping screws. The front passenger floor is illuminated in the same way, that is, an LED strip is attached under the glove box. To create illumination for the feet of rear passengers, install light sources in the corners that are installed on the air ducts. There is no need to remove the seats for this job. Simply move the seats as far forward as possible.

Chip tuning Lada Granta

An undoubted advantage to engine performance will be competent chip tuning of the Lada Grant. Reflashing the electronic engine control unit will also give the car an additional increase in power, but what is more important in this case is, perhaps, the elasticity of operation, engine life and efficiency. An excellent solution could also be to install an electronic gas pedal on the Grant.

This will not only increase the sensitivity of the engine and reduce the reaction time to movement of the accelerator pedal, but will also make driving more comfortable. Precise fuel dosage will ensure both efficiency and improved vehicle dynamics as a whole. In addition, electronic gas pedal kits will allow you to regulate and switch engine operating modes based on the driver’s personal preferences.

Characteristics of chip tuning

There are several more original modernization ideas for Kalina. Recently, chip tuning is being done more and more often. What it is? Chip tuning of Lada is an adjustment to the operation of electronic systems. It is aimed at significantly improving this work and changing parameters, increasing capacity, and sometimes reducing fuel consumption. Chip tuning for Kalina can be divided into several stages:

reading a program called firmware from the control panel (unit);
correction of information;
recording of corrected data in the control panel.

Thus, the chip tuning procedure is not an easy task; it is better not to try to do it yourself, without the necessary knowledge. Such tuning is carried out only in a service center or together with a knowledgeable person, since the slightest mistake is enough to almost irrevocably ruin the operation of the machine. The above steps can be completed in several ways.

The specialist chooses the optimal one in a particular situation, depending on what type of control panel it is: today several types are known, from simple to advanced systems. Often, professionals read information using the diagnostic connector, in which case there is no need to remove the control panel, which is a waste of time and effort.

This is possible with almost all cars produced after 1997, when a serious change occurred in the automotive industry and designers (including Russian ones) began to use controllers with flash memory. In order to read Lada data, software and interfaces are used.

Lighting

The interior lighting of the Lada Kalina leaves much to be desired. Only the front part of the car is equipped with a small lamp. The rear area of the cabin does not have any lighting devices. According to numerous reviews, tuning the interior of the Lada-Kalina hatchback includes installing a rear row light, which an LED strip will help with. You can connect it to the front lamp, and hide the wiring under the ceiling card. For convenience, you can mount a separate switch in the rear row area. Thanks to this, passengers have the opportunity to turn it on themselves if necessary.

Interior tuning

Car owners also make a lot of changes to the Kalina’s interior.

Replacement of upholstery. The standard interior trim in Kalina is a combination of plastic inserts and leatherette. Many tuning enthusiasts remove the tabs and replace them with leatherette. Connoisseurs of comfort also get rid of leatherette, replacing it with velor or carpet. These materials can transform the interior, but they cannot be called durable.

Replacing seats. When a car undergoes deep tuning, it rarely happens without replacing the standard seats with sports ones. They are more suitable for the aggressive driving style for which the car is being prepared. Anatomical Kalina-Sport seats with high headrests and back support are in great demand. The cost of one such seat is from 7 thousand rubles.

Tuning enthusiasts often install sports seats on Kalina, making aggressive driving easier.

Dashboard and steering wheel trim. To add individuality to the dashboard, Kalina owners usually use vinyl film. Film painted to look like carbon is in particular demand. It looks very stylish on the dashboard. But there is also a minus - after 5 years, even the highest quality vinyl film becomes unusable. As for the steering braid, you can purchase it at any specialized store. The range of braids is now very wide.

Additional interior lighting. For illumination, various LED strips are used, connected to the vehicle’s on-board network. The cost of one such tape is from 400 rubles. Most often, additional lighting is installed on the floor of the car. Its purpose is not only aesthetic, but also practical: if the driver drops some small item on the floor of the cabin, it will not be difficult to find it.

They started lighting door handles in the Kalina cabin just a couple of years ago

Interior improvements

In order to radically transform the interior of the Lada Kalina 2 car - to set it apart from the crowd and make it unique, you can resort to the following tuning methods:

Replace the factory door cards with non-standard ones – made according to an individual project. Typically, door cards are subject to change when installing non-standard acoustics, but you can also order modified parts covered with some material. The most expensive material is genuine leather. The cost of making an unusual card and covering it with genuine leather will cost approximately 8000 rubles, but this procedure is worth it, because everyone will appreciate the effect of installing other parts using noble material; It will also be interesting to learn about what vibration and noise insulating materials for cars should be used.
Along with installing modified cards, you can install a new front panel . In this case, there are two options: installing a panel from a foreign car with minor modifications, the second is modifying the standard panel and reupholstering it with leather or leatherette. As a result, the dashboard will take on a unique look and not everyone will be able to recognize it as a standard factory panel (if you resort to the second option). When purchasing and installing a front panel from a foreign car, the cost can be about 25,000 rubles; in the case of modifications and upholstery, the factory cost will be about 15,000 rubles;
Installation of seats upholstered with expensive material (Alcantara or genuine leather). Using genuine leather as seat covers will especially emphasize the changes and add comfort to the interior, so using covers made from this material is, although the most expensive, but the appearance of the interior will change dramatically. After all the modifications, to give unity to the new interior, the factory seats should be reupholstered with expensive fabric or leather. But the information from this article will help you understand how to use rubber material to reupholster a car interior.

This procedure will cost the owner approximately 15,000 rubles, but in addition to increased comfort, the interior will be transformed beyond recognition. The owner can carry out this procedure independently with his own hands if he has some experience;

Video tuning of the Lada Kalina interior:

Also, as an addition to all of the above procedures to complete the interior transformation picture, you can provide additional lighting around the entire perimeter of the cabin. To do this, you will need to lay a diode strip of a certain color (or different colors) around the cabin and power it from a standard battery (on-board network). Additional lighting will give the interior a finished look and highlight the changes made. But how you can use a 12 volt LED strip for a car is described in great detail in this article.

The total cost of deep interior tuning can be up to 60,000 rubles. If the owner carries out all the procedures independently, this amount can be reduced to 35,000 -40,000 rubles.

Design solutions.

The appearance of the Kalina corresponded to fashionable trends at that time; biodesign was very popular in the 90s, thanks to which the front of the car turned out to be “cute and smiling.” Thanks to its smooth lines and rounded shapes, the car looked quite modern and harmonious, as evidenced by the fact that it was in demand not only in Russia, but in countries such as Germany, for example.

In addition to the exterior, the designers abandoned previous interior developments, which did not at all match the appearance of the car. This is how the updated interior appeared, which was designed using the latest equipment in mathematical models. The spaciousness and ease of seating of the Kalina were many times higher than the level of previous models.

They didn’t skimp on Kalina’s interior design at all, as a result of which the interior turned out to be not only modern, but also very ergonomic.

Let's move on to specific examples. One of them is the seatback tilt adjustment mechanism. These mechanisms are manufactured by the German company Keiper, which specializes in the development of these units. This is not the only example of the participation of foreign companies in the development of the Kalina’s interior; the seats were also designed with the help of other foreign companies.

In the late 90s, the Kalina filling differed in many ways from its relatives:

instrument panel lighting with LEDs;
electric reverse gear lock;
factory air conditioner, which could regulate the temperature itself;
light switch;
new generation headlights;
recirculation of the heating system and ventilation system.

The design of the platform is what really did not give the designers freedom of action. The steering rack is located quite high and is attached to the engine shield. Because of this, it is problematic to balance the driving performance of the car. By experimenting with the suspension, Kalina managed to give it precision when cornering, unlike the VAZ-2110.

At first, the Kalina was equipped with an eight-valve 1.6-liter engine.

However, everything can't be perfect!

The first cars became famous for the fact that up to 50% of their power steering units were faulty, they simply failed! This significant flaw caused a lot of noise among the people, because there were cases when cars turned completely in the wrong direction.

Later, of course, this defect was corrected by the Kalina designers. The front of the production car was slightly modified, but the light and smooth steering wheel was appreciated (mostly by women). Electric power steering instead of hydraulics is the right solution for Kalina.

Thus, through experiments with the internal and external appearance of the Kalina, by 2001 it had acquired its final form. The changed appearance of the Kalina was very reminiscent of the Opel Corsa, and the sedan was similar to the Chevrolet Corsa.

Ultimately, the designers came up with a car tailored for the B-class. It could be compared to the Fiat Palio and Renault Symbol. However, Kalina turned out to be more affordable in its price category and more compact.

So, VAZ managed to create a new generation car, which was different from its predecessors in almost every way, even though the platform was not the first freshness. In Kalina-2, which is successfully used today, a fairly large number of technical solutions remain from the old version of Kalina.

Pasting with vinyl based film

The outer surface of the vinyl film can imitate carbon. This material is also offered in different colors. Each element subject to modification is first dismantled. In Kalina-2, this action is simple to perform: the linings snap off, and the door handles are attached with self-tapping screws. Each step of the work performed is shown in the photo:

By the way, no one says that you need to limit yourself in choosing colors. White carbon fiber in Kalina-2 also looks good, even if vinyl is actually used again:

The owners have already tried all the options shown above on their cars. But no one forbids trying to invent something new.

When working with vinyl, the workpiece is cut along the contour, leaving an allowance of up to 10-15 mm. After gluing, the surface sometimes has to be leveled, for which hot air is used. Use a regular household hair dryer.

Torpedo

The dashboard is considered one of the important elements of the interior. For tuning the interior of Lada-Kalina, two main options are used. The first, which costs a budget, is to buy a special panel trim and attach it over the standard dashboard. This option is considered inexpensive because during its installation it may be difficult to select the exact dimensions. Therefore, the overlay will have to be trimmed a little. This is a rather complex and difficult process, which, if done incorrectly, can completely ruin the appearance of the salon. The second option is to purchase a completely new dashboard. In this case, installation will not take much time. However, you will need to spend a lot of money.

Armchairs

Of course, the seats in a car are not the first thing passengers pay attention to. And tuning the Lada-Kalina's cabin will be incomplete if the seats are not improved or completely replaced. The main disadvantages of the Lada-Kalina seats are the short bottom cushion and the lack of lateral support.

To eliminate these shortcomings, it is better to contact a specialized studio to rebuild the standard shape of the chairs. The second way to tune a Lada Kalina is to select a more suitable seat option from another car. Installing new seats is considered more acceptable due to the amount of money that is spent. In fact, specialist tailors will charge large sums of money for their services. But if you're lucky enough to find seats that suit you best, you can redo the fastenings yourself.

VAZ Kalina station wagon - tuning as a means of transformation

Cars of the Kalina series have proven themselves well on Russian roads. If you add tuning to their practicality and unpretentiousness, you will get an excellent car that will look great in a diverse traffic flow.

1 History of the five-door Lada Kalina car

The Volga auto giant began mass production of the VAZ 1117 Lada Kalina station wagon in 2007, and the car was first presented at the famous auto show in Germany in Leipzig a year earlier. The seventeenth model is currently the last in this series. The continuation of this VAZ line should be the Lada Kalina Cross.

VAZ 1117 Lada Kalina

2 How to make a standard car exterior original and expressive

If funds allow, you can try airbrushing the body. Which one? It all depends on your tastes and preferences. But we advise you to avoid unnecessary display and provocative drawings in the form of grinning predators and half-naked girls. The car will be decorated with various interweaving patterns, ornaments, and natural compositions. Of course, you can’t do this with your own hands.

The station wagon will receive further improvement by replacing the standard wheels with more elegant alloy wheels. VAZ Lada Kalina will look more presentable with black or metallic wheels. You can put your car in low-profile tires. Just remember that it is good on flat sections of city streets or country highways. Tuning the car's headlights will also add originality.

Flocking as one of the tuning methods

Flocking is the act of covering the interior with a special coating that feels like terry to the touch. This material is quite soft, original, covered with short fibers, the length of which can be up to 2 mm. Some interior parts are covered with this material, which creates an original and unusual look.

This method of tuning the interior is quite simple, does not take much time and does not require any special skills. You can do this yourself, without contacting car services.

This type of coating is available in two types - with negative and positive lint. Villi with a “plus” charge will attract oppositely charged particles. Accordingly, fibers that have the same charge will repel each other. Before applying fluff to selected areas of the interior, they must be treated with negative particles. At the same time, the area of the interior where the coating will be applied is treated with positive particles. A thin layer of glue is applied to the selected part of the interior. As a result, particles charged differently create the appearance of moving around the cabin and are attracted to each other.

This type of tuning is quite unusual. Your passengers will be pleasantly surprised watching and touching this unusual covering.

Unfortunately, nowadays you can find many fakes of this material. The most common is the Chinese manufacturer. If you pick up a product and see instructions in Chinese, then it is better to refuse to purchase this product. The Swiss manufacturer is considered to be of the highest quality, which is what experts recommend buying.

Cover trims

If sticking special decorative trims on the dashboard does not seem enough, you can dismantle the plastic door trim yourself and improve it. For example, tuning the interior of a Lada Kalina, which imitates natural materials, always looks impressive and attractive. After removing the trim of the standard parts, cover its elements with durable vinyl or carbolic film. After the material is glued, all parts are assembled strictly in the reverse order. Most often, car enthusiasts use film with a pattern similar to the texture of wood. Let us remind you that special pads can be mounted on parts of the speaker system housing.

To do the work yourself, you will need a stationery knife, scissors and the material itself. Experts advise sticking the film directly onto the plastic.

Pre-mark the places where the holes for the buttons will be located. To do this, use a paper stencil. For convenience, remove the plastic panel. After you cut out the pattern, clean the plastic parts and degrease their surface. Only after this can the film be applied.

Console

The torpedo has a great influence on the interior of literally the entire cabin. And if you compare the ordered Zhiguli with the Kalina, you can see with the naked eye that Tolyatti engineers have made a breakthrough in design. But the ideal option is still far away. To make a torpedo for a domestic car, the plant uses rather low-quality plastic, which negatively affects the performance properties of the entire dashboard. The color of the material will fade over time. The plastic elements become covered with small cracks, and the entire structure of the torpedo begins to emit unpleasant squeaks when moving.

Do-it-yourself tuning salon "Kalina":

Carefully disassemble the torpedo structure and apply glue to all places where plastic comes into contact with metal and other materials.
Secure all electrical cables with plastic ties.
Secure the air ducts.
Replace all plastic fasteners with new ones.
If desired, change the color of the torpedo by covering it with a special wear-resistant film. It is not difficult to do this procedure yourself.
A central tunnel with a cup holder will improve the appearance of the interior, highlight it in a different color, and even cover it with a thick vinyl film.
Place an armrest between the front seats. This will significantly reduce fatigue from driving long distances. In addition, the armrest serves as an additional niche for storing small items.

Head optics: how to improve them?

In many ways, the exterior style is determined by the installed head optics and rear lights. The design options available at the factory cannot be called attractive, since they are still manufactured using old technologies and are of low quality.

The features of such tuning include the following points:

You can upgrade the existing structure or purchase a new one. Some tuning salons provide the opportunity to buy new optics and lights that are ideal for the car.
There are quite a large number of ways to modernize an already installed structure. An example is recommendations related to replacing a standard light source with a diode one.

Why are diode light sources so popular today? There are quite a few reasons:

Low cost. Diode light sources are among the cheapest, which allows you to save on tuning and further maintenance.
Attractive view. Diode strips have long been used in tuning many cars.
Low power consumption. Due to this, the load on the installed generator is reduced and the amount of fuel consumed is reduced, and when the engine is off, the battery is less discharged.
High reliability. The service life of high-quality diodes is quite long, since they are not negatively affected by high humidity and other influences.
Compact sizes. Due to this, a larger number of light sources are placed in a small area.
Long service life.

If you pay attention to new cars from almost all manufacturers, head optics and rear lights are made using diode technology. In addition, the following types of tuning of optics and flashlights are carried out:

Protective glass is tinted.
The surface of the protective glass is polished.
Install various eyelashes and extensions.

When performing tuning, you should remember that headlights and taillights perform an important function and are not a decorative part of the body. That is why all changes must be thoughtful.

Transformation of the body of a dull budget car

Almost all budget cars have inexpressive body features. This is because creating sharp lines significantly increases the cost of production. You can solve the problem with a dull appearance by installing a body kit. A high-quality, correctly selected body kit allows you to:

Visually make the body larger.
Increase the prestige of the model.

Today there are quite a large number of different body kits on sale that can make a car almost unrecognizable. At the same time, we note the features of purchasing ready-made sets:

Their cost is relatively low. Due to the use of cheap plastic, manufacturers significantly reduce the cost of the body kit. In addition, in many cases you will have to carry out the paintwork yourself, choosing the paint to match the body color. Therefore, many people decide to purchase ready-made kits rather than create them themselves.
Correct geometry, precise dimensions, reliable fastenings are signs of a high-quality body kit. It is quite difficult to independently produce a high-quality body kit, since even the smallest mistakes cause defects.
Design development is carried out by professionals - another reason why ready-made sets are popular. A properly designed body kit will make the car truly attractive.
Installation is simplified due to the correct placement of fasteners. As practice shows, installing a purchased set of body kits takes a relatively small amount of time. Of course, in some cases it is necessary to make improvements, but they are not significant.

You can make the exterior more attractive by installing various little things, for example, chrome handles. You can protect the body by installing plastic covers on the wheel arches.

Sidebar: Important: For many years, tuning has been very popular, which involves installing stylish large-diameter rims. There are a variety of options available for sale: painted, chrome-plated or simply steel.

Thermostat from grants for VAZ Kalina

How to install a thermostat from Granta on Kalina

Rules (changed on April 14, 2013): 1) Respect the worldview of others because you respect your own! 2) Do not create topics of the same type, because...

It’s hard to find something useful in the midst of a bunch of such topics! (secondary topics will be deleted!) 3) Do not flood, try to answer the questions posed clearly and on topic. 4) Mat is prohibited! Right up to the exclusion of the user from society. 5) Commercial activities are permitted with the consent of the administration

And now attention: 6) If we want to implement something, write here: 7) If we want to purchase something for Priora, then we ask here:

It is better to insert text with a small description and a link to the on-board magazine. Entries with links to the logbook without the main text will be deleted! 10) Blog here we ask questions that arose during the operation of the Priors or if we want to get advice on what and how to do! (for example: how to lower a Priora, how to change a light bulb in the glove compartment, how to make a Shumka, etc.), or maybe they just decided to share the result of how they solved some serious problem. If some kind of discrepancy appears, it is better to outline it and add a video or photo. Entries with a link to the in-flight magazine will be deleted! Entries with advice on appearance will also be deleted; after all, the blog is for urgent and fundamental issues. For example: what color should I buy the wheels? what color should I paint it? etc.

Here's everything you need to install a Grant thermostat in a viburnum

1-Thermostat

21900-1306010-00 grant 2-gasket.

How to take up trunk space

In Kalina-2, as in most other hatchbacks and station wagons, the trunk and interior are separated by a removable shelf. This shelf can be dismantled, or you can use it to install speakers. True, then there will be little space left for the subwoofer, especially if we are talking about a hatchback:

Everything looks great in the station wagon, especially if the shelf has been removed:

Homemade subwoofer housing in the trunk of a station wagon

The amplifier in both cases is mounted on the back of the rear seat. In fact, it is not recommended to do this - the cladding elements are not designed for significant loads.

Do-it-yourself: modification of Lada Grant and Kalina

The announcement of the Lad recall caused mixed reactions. Some shook their heads meaningfully: they said, this was to be expected, while others, on the contrary, regarded the news as a change for the better. After all, this is the first time that the Volzhsky Automobile Plant is conducting such a global and noisy campaign to eliminate faults.

Our opinion did not coincide with either one or the other. First of all, let’s reassure the owners: it’s okay, there’s no need to grab your head and rush headlong to the dealer. Even in the plant’s recommendations, sent to all technical centers for the modification of these models, the words “possible” and “if necessary” appear repeatedly. As confirmation: on the machine on which these flaws were eliminated, there is nothing discouraging. Therefore, we are ready to say with confidence: the promotion is largely of an advertising nature.

It is more likely to draw attention to the product than to eliminate serious design flaws

Dealers are already sending out written invitations to all owners of cars included in the recall list (by identification number - VIN) for unscheduled free maintenance. It is up to the car owner to decide whether to conduct it or not. If you are undecided, we suggest that you, together with the dealership specialists, go through all the operations and look at specific examples to see how practical this is. We will supplement the factory instructions with our comments.

Important note: the recall campaign has been launched primarily for Granta; only the operation to protect the fuel pipes is carried out for both models

Installation of roof rails or special boxing

Despite the fairly large interior space of the car in question, tuning quite often involves the installation of roof rails or a special box. The features of such minor tuning include the following points:

Rails are installed for transporting skis or other large cargo. Examples include bicycles, surfboards and much more. The cost of such an element is relatively low, but it significantly increases the attractiveness of the car and its practicality in use. When installing roof rails, it is worth remembering that they will be subject to quite a large load during operation. Therefore, you should ensure the reliability of the fastening.
Luggage boxes today are often found on cars of foreign origin. This accessory is suitable for long trips, as it allows you to place a fairly large number of different things. It is worth considering that the luggage box is only an accessory that is used as needed. With its everyday use, fuel consumption increases significantly, as the resistance during movement increases. In addition, the luggage box makes the car look more massive.

The cost of roof rails and luggage box is relatively low, which allows you to expand the capabilities of the car at the lowest cost.

Interior tuning of Lada Kalina station wagon

The primary measure in the Lada Kalina station wagon is to increase the sound insulation properties of the body. If we compare it with the fashionable Priora model, the “culprit” of our review is significantly inferior to it in this discipline. Most likely due to the lack of linings in the area of the wheel arches. Some owners of station wagons do not “stress” over such a troublesome procedure as sound insulation and resort to installing more powerful audio systems. Here the owner will need to first decide on his own priorities, and then begin modernization.

Let's touch on the interior trim. AvtoVAZ provided its buyer with a relatively good solution, since the elements are upholstered in durable and inexpensive synthetics. Those who are not satisfied with the standard seat material can be upholstered in leather, which is very expensive (about 30 thousand rubles).

Also, when tuning is carried out, the owners of the Lada Kalina station wagon replace the instrument panel. The manufacturer foresaw this development of the situation and met its buyer halfway, ensuring the possibility of complete dismantling of the panel.

What budget can the owner count on if he “dared” to perform tuning of the interior space of the Lada Kalina station wagon? In ordinary cases, it is not at all more expensive in comparison with similar measures in other AvtoVAZ models.