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BigJimnyMeet (North) 2024 (12 Jan 2024)


BigJimnyMeet 2024

14th July 2024
Parkwood Nr. Leeds

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Old Jimmy to a new one......

  • DB
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13 Aug 2021 09:02 #237526 by DB
Old Jimmy to a new one...... was created by DB
Let me explain!

I’m a 27 year old female that has no idea when it comes to cars. (Maybe a little bit) Last April during lock down a bright kinetic yellow little Jimny drove past me on my way back home from Tesco’s. I was instantly obsessed. F
ast forward to a year and a bit later, endless hours of googling and autotrader. Being heart broken when I found out that they were no longer in production, and even more heart broken when my two nearest Suzuki garages told me that I couldn’t be put on a wait list for the new commercial version and that it would cost me a small fortune. I can happily spend £10000-12000 on one and then I’ll just modified as I can afford, but £25000 plus for a new one I just can’t justify, even if I have thought about it on many occasions. So this is my last attempt at getting my small little bundle of fun. My partner has mechanical and body work experience, so somethings can be done at home. Others I’ll take to a garage or specialist that knows what they are doing. (Recommendations for east of England wouldn’t go a miss!) Im thinking this is going to be a on going project for the next year or so. I have seen a couple of videos on YouTube of an engineer doing exactly this, but never an end result. Just some of the process, so my question is.....

Can I modify a gen 3 to look like gen 4 and by how much?

I would be happy with the following
-grill
-front bumper
-headlights
-fender flares

Things I’d like to change but not too bothered:
-back bumper

Electronics I’d like installed 
-sat nav/ some sort of touch screen radio system

I get that this maybe absolute sacrilege, to some jimny owners.... but I like the new ones 

any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated! 

 

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13 Aug 2021 09:22 - 13 Aug 2021 09:23 #237527 by lightning
Hi there DB

The new Jimny is completely different to the previous model, so it would be a lot of work to fit the bumpers and trim, and would take a lot of fabrication.

You might fit the wheel arch extensions but it's not going to look like the new model, which is a different design altogether.

You could look at an alternative such as the Land Rover Defender, which is larger but a similar type of vehicle.
£12,000 would get you a nice one, if you shop around, and you sound like someone who is happy to maintain the vehicle and do work on it.
Another alternative would be to look at the original Jimny, which the new version was modelled on. I am not sure how much the original one sells for nowadays but l am sure someone on here will know.
Last edit: 13 Aug 2021 09:23 by lightning.
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13 Aug 2021 09:41 #237528 by sniper
Replied by sniper on topic Old Jimmy to a new one......
A 12k budget would get you a nice top end build with the guys that converted my car to a truck cab. Excellent quality work, inside and out, it is as if it came from factory...

Terry Lofley & Son Bodyworks, Shirebrook.....  01623 742292

 

If you have fallen in love with the gen4, have a look at the old SJ, whose lines it copied.....

 

A good clean example might be 3k, you could then do a custom build that would outperform a gen4 with the kudos of the early car. A complete ground up build with everything new or refurbished.... I'd enjoy doing it for you lol,  the build would be as much fun as the finished thing...

Good luck,

sniper
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13 Aug 2021 10:12 #237530 by Gadget
Replied by Gadget on topic Old Jimmy to a new one......
I think the short answer is, no, you can't.

In order to build an even half decent facsimile you'd probably end up spending more than a Gen4 would have cost you outright.

An SJ might give you some of the look, but remember they're getting hard to find, old and leaf sprung, so not something I'd consider as a daily driver.
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13 Aug 2021 10:13 #237531 by 01101001
Replied by 01101001 on topic Old Jimmy to a new one......
have a look at this video, he is converting a gen 3 to a gen 4.

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13 Aug 2021 12:15 #237536 by DrRobin

Let me explain!

I’m a 27 year old female that has no idea when it comes to cars. (Maybe a little bit) Last April during lock down a bright kinetic yellow little Jimny drove past me on my way back home from Tesco’s. I was instantly obsessed. F
ast forward to a year and a bit later, endless hours of googling and autotrader. Being heart broken when I found out that they were no longer in production, and even more heart broken when my two nearest Suzuki garages told me that I couldn’t be put on a wait list for the new commercial version and that it would cost me a small fortune. I can happily spend £10000-12000 on one and then I’ll just modified as I can afford, but £25000 plus for a new one I just can’t justify, even if I have thought about it on many occasions. So this is my last attempt at getting my small little bundle of fun. My partner has mechanical and body work experience, so somethings can be done at home. Others I’ll take to a garage or specialist that knows what they are doing. (Recommendations for east of England wouldn’t go a miss!) Im thinking this is going to be a on going project for the next year or so. I have seen a couple of videos on YouTube of an engineer doing exactly this, but never an end result. Just some of the process, so my question is.....

Can I modify a gen 3 to look like gen 4 and by how much?

I would be happy with the following
-grill
-front bumper
-headlights
-fender flares

Things I’d like to change but not too bothered:
-back bumper

Electronics I’d like installed 
-sat nav/ some sort of touch screen radio system

I get that this maybe absolute sacrilege, to some jimny owners.... but I like the new ones 

any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated! 


 
Whilst possible the cost of getting the parts to make a Gen 3 look like a Gen 4 will probably exceed the cost of a Gen 4.  The shape of the Gen 4 is quite different in the back, much more squared off, so just changing the front end might not make it look like a Gen 4.

The new commerical version is just under £20k, you should be able to get added to the list, but delivery might take a while, so perhaps Suzuki aren't accepting new orders until they have visibility of supply, someone on here will know.

You could change the tyres for something chunkier and even pick up a set of Gen 4 wheels, perhaps add a 2" lift kit, that would go someway towards the Gen 4 look.  The radio is easy to change, just get a double DIN with curved corners.  Perhaps you need to create your own style?  Have a look in the picture gallery for some ideas/inspiration.

When I was looking for a Jimny, I actually prefered the shape of the Gen 3 to the Gen 4, but now I have seen the Gen 4 up close I quite like it and would be happy with either.  After the styling differences and apart from the engine (Gen 4 has more power), they are quite similar, so perhaps you could fall in love with a Gen 3, save a bit of cash and customise it to your own taste?


 

2020 blue SZ5
Ex 2011 Blue Jimny SZ4
Northumberland Jimny Blog

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13 Aug 2021 15:09 #237540 by mlines
Replied by mlines on topic Old Jimmy to a new one......
I wouldnt lose heart on getting a new one, at list. 

There are still some from this years batch to arrive at dealers in September/October and there are 400 more scheduled for next year. There are dealers that sell at list and also do not have waiting lists. 

Martin

2003 M13 early KAP build.
3" Trailmaster lift with 1.5 Spacers on front
Customised winch bumper and roll cage
235/85R16 Maxxis Bighorns on 16" Rims, 4:1 Rocklobster, Rear ARB locker and on-board air
Corrected arms all-round, rear disks, Recaro seats and harnesses
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13 Aug 2021 18:58 #237543 by Soeley
Replied by Soeley on topic Old Jimmy to a new one......
This guy on YouTube started doing one, a lot of work involved, not done a new video since last October.
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13 Aug 2021 19:27 #237545 by Lambert
I know it's relatively simple ish to transfer the front of the later gen3 onto an earlier Jimny but given the lack of common parts between the 3 and the 4 it seems like a lot of time and effort. With 12k I would be after a late 3 and putting some tasty modifications on it but keeping it true to what it is.

Temeraire (2018 quasar grey automatic)
One of the last 200ish of the gen3s, probably.
ADOS Attention Deficit Ooooh Shiny!
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13 Aug 2021 20:25 #237546 by Busta
Replied by Busta on topic Old Jimmy to a new one......
The easiest option would be dropping a Gen4 body on a Gen3 chassis. There were very few significant changes to the chassis and driveline between the models. I wouldn't even be suprised if the body mounts lined up.
But getting a Gen4 body won't be cheap.
And in the big scheme of things it's a big waste of time just to make a dodgy version of what is still a relatively cheap car. The Gen3 is a great car in its own right, with just as much charm as the Gen4. Your budget will go a long way towards customising one and making it your own. Surely something original is better than a bad copy?
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14 Aug 2021 20:52 #237555 by DB
Replied by DB on topic Old Jimmy to a new one......
You guys are amazing thanks for the great advice! I figured as much. I have thought of other alternatives but it is the smaller engine size and size it’s self of the car that appealed to me. (I’ll happily to admit driving anything bigger will just end me in never reversing into a space again! Haha - women don’t do spacial awareness) I might just hold out a few more weeks a see what the my local dealer says. They’ve agreed to let me know as soon as the two they are getting come in, so we will see. I may call around some not so local and see if they will be willing to put me down.  If not I maybe messaging some of you for a rebuild. I get what some of you are saying but it’s the gen 4 that I liked the look of, the gen 3 just looks……outdated to me  Don’t judge, I’m a millennial 

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14 Aug 2021 22:58 #237557 by lightning
Well, the only thing to do in that case is to get your name on the waiting list for a Gen 4 Commercial.

You will likely have to wait a while for delivery, but that will give you chance to save up the £20,000 you'll need to buy it.
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