So, assuming all goes as planned, I'm taking delivery of a 2010 SE next week. There's a few things I'm not thrilled about, and I wanted to see how everybody else is addressing them.

Ralliart Chrome Side Mirrors
Uggh. Only one dealership anywhere near me would let my local dealership buy them out on the car I wanted. It's got the Ralliart Chrome Accessories package -- mirrors and wheel locks. I can live with the wheel locks, but the mirrors are going to need to go. It looks like they're not covers, but actually the whole assembly, meaning I can't just pull the ugly **** off and go back to the stock look. However, they are a port-installed option, so maybe I'm wrong. If they're not something I can just pull off and throw in a corner, there's a few fixes I can see...

• sell the chrome pieces, and just buy Lancer DE pieces which are flat black -- maybe RussellM can help with this?
• remove, sand, primer, paint -- black, or pay for body-color matching

Maybe somebody else has tried something different. Let me know.


Front License Plate Bracket Holes
The car's coming from New York, and I'm in PA. The front bracket's already installed, and we don't use front plates here. I like the clean look without the bracket, and have no particular interest in a "I put a plate on the car just because I didn't want an empty bracket" plate. The holes look to be fairly large from the few pics I've seen -- it seems the kit doesn't screw in directly, but includes some collars for the screws to thread into, and the collars seem to be about 0.50 inches in size. I don't really want to leave the holes, don't want to do paint work on a brand new car, and don't want the fix to look obvious. What have you guys tried? Is there a plug that has been found to fit well? Perhaps I could just get a few of those and hit 'em with touch-up paint?

 

I got a buddy that had those chrome side views and he just spray painted them flat black, of course after preppin them. It looks pretty good....I don't know what to tell you about the license plate though...last week I had to drill into my front bumper and put the bracket on....I'm stationed over in south dakota where they require this but I'm from Philly. I felt bad while I was drilling in the front bumper but it came out good. I don't know if Bondo would work.....you could give that a try.

 

Phew - what kind of lower-town dealer are they getting that thing from?

I'll tell ya man, I feel ya on both counts. I haven't seen the chrome mirrors in person, so I'm not sure what to expect.
My best guess is that the mirrors are caps - over the stock mirror (I know they like to save time and effort everywhere they can on the port options). If so, chances are they use typical double-face foam tape. With a reasonably delicate touch, you should be able to get them off and remove the remaining adhesive safely from the mirrors.
If they are complete replacements, then I would just suck it up and buy some replacement body-color ones from Mitsubishiparts. My guess is that replacing them is as simple as removing the mirror (reflective/glass part - it just snaps into the mirror assembly) and accessing either screws or clips that hold the cap on. (FYI, all of the body color mirrors are just a cap on a black base.)
One more thing you might try is to get the dealer to swap them out with a like-colored Lancer - you can even spin it as a "value-added" benefit for the dealer! LOL!


As for the plate holes...that's a tough one. Depending on what color car you're getting, they may not be too noticeable. Hopefully they aren't, however, I've seen the holes on a silver Evo and they definitely don't look pretty!

Whatever the case is, post up some pics once you get the car so we can all check it out!
Congats on the purchase!

 

I know how you feel, my Evo had the same ugly chrome caps. The lugs are interesting but I'm not against them and actually get a few comments on them. I plan on taking the caps off this winter and fine sanding them and flat blacking them. I don't think they are just covers (Oh how I wish) but if someone comes up with something different please jump in.

 

I think if it is a cover it uses a type of glue. I saw them on Mitsubishiparts.net and it looks like it comes with a little packet of adhesive.

 

I think they are covers. But if they aren't you can always go with some carbon fiber overlays if you are in to that.

And the liscence plate thing.. yea that sucks. I've seen a few bumpers with some kinda plugs in them. It looks okay at best. One of my friends just has a Ralliart plate on his and it actually looks pretty good in person.

 

+1

 

as far as the license plate holes, yes they are big

the easiest solution IMO is get vinyl stickers cut in a similar color to the car and just replace them every time you wash the vehicle

 

paint the chrome yourself. take your time. be meticulous, and it will turn out great.

 

ok let me help you with the holes at least, as the answers so far are just....hideously wrong.

first off what color are you getting? black or white makes it a very very easy fix. any other car you will need to buy a can of spot fix SPRAY from mitsubishi or anywhere that offers spray match touch up paint.

Now if you have black or white then just go to lowes and head straight to the screw/bolt isle and look in all the drawers for some 1/2 inch plugs....trust me you will see them.

here is a pic of mine--



i will try to take a better picture in the morning but if you look really close you can see one of the plugs in that picture. I didn't have to color match because they come in white and black and fit snug.

 

Phantom Black SE owner, checkin' in.

Sorry y'all...false alarm. Got one without the either of the discussed issues -- body color mirrors and front bumper fully intact, for just a bit more than the other one would have cost.

Thanks for the advice. Pics soon.