Technical Talk
Technical posts about Lotus car ownership only
Please search before posting
Please take time to search before you post. Most questions have been asked previously and you can usually quickly find a set of extensive answers. This will help eliminate re-posts and clutter.
Don't forget to add your technical questions and answers to our Lotus FAQ wiki
5,613 topics in this forum
-
- 1 reply
- 72 views
Hello All I've bought a new front roof seal from elise parts for my S2. It's their aftermarket one with improved drainage. Has any body fitted one of these? If so do you have any advice , tips or tricks. Cheers
Last reply by Mik127, -
- 11 replies
- 1.2k views
Thought i'd share my recent experience. So I bled my brakes the other month prior to this years (2024) first track day. Standard 2 person method. But the pedal just felt a little spongy afterwards despite the amount I bled it. So much so I struggled to heal and toe on the track afterwards, as the pedal travel was too far down to get my heel up on the accelerator. I recently bought the LASER brake bleed kit (picture below) and used it to re-bleed the brakes. The difference was night and day, easy to do with one person and pedal hard as a rock. If anyone does regular trackdays on here, I highly recommend this tool. That's my 2 cents :-) FYI: I'm using Dot 5.1 Mobi…
Last reply by Lithopsian, -
- 2 followers
- 243 replies
- 7.1k views
And so the winter refresh of my S1 Elise started today. Hoping to take front clam of tomorrow. However of the 4 lower bolts that hold the lower rear to the chassis, 2 are spinning and 2 won't budge despite copious amounts of penetrative oil over the last few months. The Eagle eyed will spot my Dremel tool which I'm not looking forward to using to remove 4 bolt heads that have limited access. Currently on my list are replacing the driving lights brackets, shot blast and paint the tow post, new front badge, replace all fluids, replacing leaking drivers side transmission seal, shotblast and paint the wishbones Probably change the radiator to, and fix/replace whatev…
Last reply by Badger02, -
- 0 replies
- 1.4k views
When I got my Elise last year, it didn't come with a roof bag. Now the summer has started to emerge and its spending more time in the boot, I wanted to get a bag. The official Lotus bags were about £50+ Scouted around on ebay, and picked up a padded zip bag, perfect size....£12 including postage. Bargain for anyone looking for one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335174487698 80cm by 20cm
Last reply by Dave-hp, -
- 8 replies
- 755 views
Hi all, first post. I've a 2006 S2 Elise 111R, that I am looking to refit the fabric on the door card. The fabric has come loose, when I take the door card off, it looks like an age thing, in which the glue and 'sponge' backing has simply perished. I dont want to purchase new cards or pay for new ones, as I am keen to keep the car OEM, retaining the original fabric. Has anyone found that their fabric cards have come loose with age? Have you refitted the fabric? The inner leather section behind the window winder is set in the card by 'fir tree' fasteners, which I am worried about busting, if they cannot be replaced from the inside. If I can get the inner card of…
Last reply by hoverdonkey, -
- 0 replies
- 386 views
Need some new rears for the Exige, what are people using these days? Currently have Pirelli PZero Corsa Asymmetricos on there. Last time i replaced them, they were hard to come buy, does anyone know of the current / updated version? What are a decent road/track tyre these days. thanks Paul
Last reply by smithpaulg, -
- 2 followers
- 30 replies
- 1.2k views
So, I did a Forum 'service' and 'servicing' search, but couldn't find much about the topic specifically. So thought Id kick one off instead. Servicing. Self or Garage? Lotus are renowned for the servicing required. Lots of specialists out there, and it does come at a premium. But... Changing things like oil, filters, brake/clutch fluids etc, are pretty much the same on a Lotus as on most other combustion engines. The Lotus Service Guides have the full list of things to cover too, but the garage doing it will cost. Yes, it does help having a FSH, but there are plenty of mechanically minded and able owners out their who service their own vehicles. I once…
Last reply by LotusDave, -
- 0 replies
- 347 views
Hello I'm in need of a new Catalytic Converter for my 2004 S2 111s VVC elise, engine code 18K4K The car is currently fitted with factory supplied exhaust and Cat There seems to a abundance of them available on Ebay, however they all seem to be for the18K4F engine, rather than the 18K4k (VVC version) Will the 8K4F version be suitable for the 18K4K engine ? Does anyone and suggestions where a 18K4K version can be obtained Thank you
Last reply by stephen7, -
- 2 followers
- 5 replies
- 517 views
The Lotus name and detailing on my engine cover is in need of some new silver paint. The cover is plastic and gets hot, so what paint is suitable for this part? Thanks for any advice.
Last reply by frank7, -
- 2 replies
- 596 views
So my plastic trim was starting to look a bit weathered. I know the back to black stuff works to a degree, but the Auto Glym Bumper and Trim gel is super. Did the front, side and rear grilles. AND the headlight edges were looking poor and aged. Thought I may have to re paint, costs a fortune to get them done properly, but the Auto Glym made them look fabulous! Barely see the worst of it now...... Well pleased with the results..... P.S drag and drop make the images download, dont know how Badger/others embeds them in the chat!! IMG_4151.HEICIMG_4128.HEICIMG_4136.HEICIMG_4137.HEICIMG_4141.HEICIMG_4142.HEICIMG_4145.HEICIMG_4146.HEIC
Last reply by Dave-hp, -
- 0 replies
- 439 views
Sounded bloody lovely!! Not sure it would get past trackday noise limits though!!! Anyone got one fitted to their Exige? Is it as good as it sounds?
Last reply by Guido, -
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 581 views
Hello everyone, It has been a while since I've made a post. It's finally that time of year that the car is coming out more frequently and for some reason I seem to have back luck with my front splitter. I was wondering if fellow or ex Elise Cup owners could shed some light onto how you manage to keep the splitter in good nick? It's a little deflating when it bottoms out or hits something and you step out the car and see the damage. Any suggestions welcome 🙂, Iowan
Last reply by IowanF1999, -
- 3 followers
- 33 replies
- 1k views
I went to see a ‘new’ Lotus today. It was bloody lovely. It’s a 15 plate so around 8-9 years old. Fitted to it were Yoko Advans AD07 front and rear. The front ones were 175/55R16 which you can’t get anymore (195/50R16 seems to be the option for fronts). Either way, by my man-maths, the tyres must be as old as the car. The date stamp on one of the fronts and one of the rears was 4814 so made end of Nov ‘14. The previous owner tracked it a lot so I’m assuming he used a 2nd set of wheels/tyres and these ones clearly hardly ever got used as there is loads of tread left. I my mind, all 4 need replacing by the seller as the rubber will be well past it’s best. Am I r…
Last reply by Oakman, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 483 views
Hi, recently bought an S2 Exige but the emissions seem to be a bit north of where I need them to be for a mot! I don’t suppose anyone has a friendly tester or a cat I could borrow for a day? Happy to leave a deposit and beer tokens 🥰🥰🥰etc etc….. based in near Stoke on Trent! cheers
Last reply by Phil Hutchins, -
- 1 follower
- 15 replies
- 999 views
Hi A couple of weeks ago my 2008 Elise failed its MOT due to leaking rear Bilstein dampers. A look on elise parts and they were £330 incl Vat each without the springs, so I decided to look at my options and found out that Bilstein offer a rebuild service. Dropped them of at their service centre in Leicester last Monday, picked them up yesterday. £140 incl vat per damper for new seals, pistons, gas and oil plus a degrease so less than half the cost of new ones. Very good service. Before and after photos
Last reply by mattb130,