Ah balls... Snapped aux belt.
Discussion
Well this was fun when it happened on the M3 at cruising speed... Not a great picture, it's a bit awkward to see. Initial diagnosis is that one of the pulley bearings failed, pulley locked up resulting in friction on the belt, a short period with squeaking followed by a bang when the belt overheated and snapped. Happened really surprisingly quickly.
Full diagnosis tbc, but hopefully it's just a case of replacing the offending pulley (and checking that the others are ok, could have been some misalignment stressing the bearings).
That's a bugger. When I had mine, though a N/A, someone had produced a parts list with the original parts/alternatives sources. The aux belt was a standard Gates part and cost me around £30 off the shelf at a local factors.
A HID ballast unit was almost £300 from Lotus but I got one from Germany for £52 (it was a std Valeo unit as fitted to many Audis).
Ditto the HID burners, £35 for an Osram unit which was the same as the £100+ part from Lotus
A HID ballast unit was almost £300 from Lotus but I got one from Germany for £52 (it was a std Valeo unit as fitted to many Audis).
Ditto the HID burners, £35 for an Osram unit which was the same as the £100+ part from Lotus
It's the stuck pulley I've been waiting for and despite a montain of research, it appears that some of the pulleys are Lotus-unique, with no Toyota/Lexus equivalent (because of the supercharger orientation I guess.)
Have done the "order ballasts from Germany" thing. Insane prices from Lotus for standard OSRAM / VALEO parts...
Car is still not home. Not heard from the garage in a few days, so more than a bit worried that the long stationary period, or something from the original incident has thrown up further issues.
Update: "Workshop's really busy, should be done next week."
Have done the "order ballasts from Germany" thing. Insane prices from Lotus for standard OSRAM / VALEO parts...
Car is still not home. Not heard from the garage in a few days, so more than a bit worried that the long stationary period, or something from the original incident has thrown up further issues.
Edited by Ryvita on Thursday 25th April 10:18
Update: "Workshop's really busy, should be done next week."
Edited by Ryvita on Thursday 25th April 15:44
Update update: Car finally back with me after 3 months off the road. A huge wait but the 6 am drive this morning made it all better. Empty roads and a full tank of petrol and a dry light spring morning in England, driving a British sports car the way it was intended, down leafy green B-roads... 
Here's the offending pulley that caused it all, looks like the bearing had a complete meltdown.
Here's the offending pulley that caused it all, looks like the bearing had a complete meltdown.
Edited by Ryvita on Saturday 4th May 07:52
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