Elise 111R - Findings so far....
Discussion
Just thought I'd give a little update on the new car after now having done a few hundred miles.
Very much like a go-kart as an opening line seems fine. Steering is brilliant, direct and light with more feel than just about anything else I can think of.
Definately will need a sports exhaust to perk the engine note up...maybe I'll wait for the rumoured upgrade..
Having now had chance to check all problems/niggles over the car appears very well put together I only had; Drivers door needs adjusting to striker plate. A driver footwell leak. Slight rattle under passenger dash. They are it from a build point of view.
I did however not get on with the brake pedal position relative to the accelerator, I couldn't heel and toe safely. I was told by numerous peopple this is non adjustable. However it is there is a stop for the pedal and the linkage to vacume unit is adjustable, 10mm & 17mm spanners. When adjusted the pedal is now spot on.
All in all can't wait to open the car up more as it will fly. It's also surprisingly wide for how small a car it is.
Hope this helps people especially with arkward pedals.
Very much like a go-kart as an opening line seems fine. Steering is brilliant, direct and light with more feel than just about anything else I can think of.
Definately will need a sports exhaust to perk the engine note up...maybe I'll wait for the rumoured upgrade..
Having now had chance to check all problems/niggles over the car appears very well put together I only had; Drivers door needs adjusting to striker plate. A driver footwell leak. Slight rattle under passenger dash. They are it from a build point of view.
I did however not get on with the brake pedal position relative to the accelerator, I couldn't heel and toe safely. I was told by numerous peopple this is non adjustable. However it is there is a stop for the pedal and the linkage to vacume unit is adjustable, 10mm & 17mm spanners. When adjusted the pedal is now spot on.
All in all can't wait to open the car up more as it will fly. It's also surprisingly wide for how small a car it is.
Hope this helps people especially with arkward pedals.
Good to hear you are enjoying it. Just wait until it has been run in 
I know what you mean about the exhaust but like you I will wait to see what happens regarding upgrades.
I didn't have a problem with the brake pedal but it's good to know there is some form of adjustment if needed.
I find mine is such an easy car to drive but I am still adjusting my driving style to make the most of the power delivery. It's great around a track where you can keep it in the powerband but on the road it needs plenty of work with the gear stick.
The car looks stunning in Ardent Red.
Enjoy
I know what you mean about the exhaust but like you I will wait to see what happens regarding upgrades.
I didn't have a problem with the brake pedal but it's good to know there is some form of adjustment if needed.
I find mine is such an easy car to drive but I am still adjusting my driving style to make the most of the power delivery. It's great around a track where you can keep it in the powerband but on the road it needs plenty of work with the gear stick.
The car looks stunning in Ardent Red.
Enjoy
Fish - mine also has the rattle under the passenger dash, but my dealer was unable to sort it during the 1000 mile service - in fact, they said it was gearbox noise, that it would settle down in time with more miles and that TADTS 
. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy with the explanation.
I can hear the noise in mine if I begin to slightly slow from balanced throttle with an engine speed of around 3k rpm. It sounds metallic to me, like a loose fastner. If I gas it or back right off, the sound disappears.
Does yours sound like this? I'd be interested to know if you or your dealer manage to resolve it. I'm going to chat to another guy from Ribble Valley this weekend at the Anglesey trackday (spectating only for me!), as I find the rattle very annoying and frankly I want it sorting out
Aside from that, the build quality is very good.
[k]
[edit]
Mine has the sports exhaust, and it really does make a huge difference. I highly recommend it! Pedals are OK for me, but I did initially struggle with the width of the car as you said. My main problem is reversing, as I'm still yet to get used to the lack of 3/4 rear visibility, the length of the back end, and the curved sides when parallel parking. It will all come in time, though!
I literally frightened myself when I gave the car full bananas for the first time after the 1000-mile service. I won't say how fast I ended up going, but the sheer ferocity of acceleration was breathtaking. What's even better, though, is that when the engine loosens up a bit in say 5-10k miles, it will spin even more freely up the revs
[/edit]
>> Edited by [K]ar| on Thursday 30th September 11:56
. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy with the explanation. I can hear the noise in mine if I begin to slightly slow from balanced throttle with an engine speed of around 3k rpm. It sounds metallic to me, like a loose fastner. If I gas it or back right off, the sound disappears.
Does yours sound like this? I'd be interested to know if you or your dealer manage to resolve it. I'm going to chat to another guy from Ribble Valley this weekend at the Anglesey trackday (spectating only for me!), as I find the rattle very annoying and frankly I want it sorting out
Aside from that, the build quality is very good.
[k]
[edit]
Mine has the sports exhaust, and it really does make a huge difference. I highly recommend it! Pedals are OK for me, but I did initially struggle with the width of the car as you said. My main problem is reversing, as I'm still yet to get used to the lack of 3/4 rear visibility, the length of the back end, and the curved sides when parallel parking. It will all come in time, though!
I literally frightened myself when I gave the car full bananas for the first time after the 1000-mile service. I won't say how fast I ended up going, but the sheer ferocity of acceleration was breathtaking. What's even better, though, is that when the engine loosens up a bit in say 5-10k miles, it will spin even more freely up the revs
[/edit]
>> Edited by [K]ar| on Thursday 30th September 11:56
Hi Guy's
this is awfully strange I have exactly the same Issue as [K]arl I thought it was me but my girlfriend said that she had also heard the noise a couple of times ??? I wasn't sure were it was coming from. I can't really comment any more at the moment I haven't driven or seen it since Sunday as I'm keeping it round my parents. I don't have a Garage or dropped kerb arrrrrrgggg ! deeply in love with it thou, make's even a trip down to the petrol station feel very special "wish I'd brought one instead of suffering the Audi for so long"
Boggy
>> Edited by BOGGY on Thursday 30th September 12:48
>> Edited by BOGGY on Thursday 30th September 12:49
this is awfully strange I have exactly the same Issue as [K]arl I thought it was me but my girlfriend said that she had also heard the noise a couple of times ??? I wasn't sure were it was coming from. I can't really comment any more at the moment I haven't driven or seen it since Sunday as I'm keeping it round my parents. I don't have a Garage or dropped kerb arrrrrrgggg ! deeply in love with it thou, make's even a trip down to the petrol station feel very special "wish I'd brought one instead of suffering the Audi for so long"
Boggy
>> Edited by BOGGY on Thursday 30th September 12:48
>> Edited by BOGGY on Thursday 30th September 12:49
Glad you are enjoying the car.
I would highly recommend booking a day with Andy Walsh at 1st Lotus as soon as the car is run in. That way you will be able to enjoy it to the max as soon as possible.
I think its still less than £150 for a 4 person day and is worth every penny.
The best part is that there is absolutely nothing for Mrs Fish to hit when she looses control
(you will both end up spinning quite a lot at 80 - 90 mph which is a little unnerving at first but great fun)
I would highly recommend booking a day with Andy Walsh at 1st Lotus as soon as the car is run in. That way you will be able to enjoy it to the max as soon as possible.
I think its still less than £150 for a 4 person day and is worth every penny.
The best part is that there is absolutely nothing for Mrs Fish to hit when she looses control
(you will both end up spinning quite a lot at 80 - 90 mph which is a little unnerving at first but great fun) 
My noise is very slight and I have a few ideas what it is. After being under the dash I'll see what happens at the 1000 mile point It maybe the throttle cable under the centre console as this is loose and or the fuse relays behind dash.
When I've got time I'll investigate and let everyone know.
When I've got time I'll investigate and let everyone know.
fish said:
My noise is very slight and I have a few ideas what it is. After being under the dash I'll see what happens at the 1000 mile point It maybe the throttle cable under the centre console as this is loose and or the fuse relays behind dash.
When I've got time I'll investigate and let everyone know.
I investigated the throttle cable, and put a piece of pipe insulation round it where it disappears into the drivers deadpedal and into the floor. Unfortunately, it didn't make any difference.
Whereabouts are the fuse relays? Are they behind the front access panels or behind the passenger dash itself? Sorry, should have RTFM
[k]
OK, I was tidying up my Origin B2 install tonight, and decided to conduct some investigations of my own into this mysterious rattling noise.
First up, behind the dash in the passneger footwell, I found a grey relay that was loose in it's socket, so I taped that up. Also, I opened up the passenger-side front inspection hatch and had a look in there. Staring at me right in the face was the fusebox, that not only had a very loose lid, but also was not fastened down on one side. The cabling coming out of the back is bulky and stiff, and so it doesn't look like it will all fit if both sides of the fusebox are fastened down to the fixing plate. Whilst there are spacers on there and a rubber anti-vibration doohicky, there's simply no nut on the end.
I therefore chopped up some pieces of pipe insulation and stuffed it into the gaps to prevent any flapping about, then taped the whole lot down with insulating tape. I'll not be able to tell if it's made any difference until tomorrow morning, but it certainly sounds like the direction the noise is coming from.
If it does work, I would say the fix is a longer bolt, another spacer and a nut. Hopefully, I've found the source of the problem, but I have a funny feeling that what I've been hearing sounds metallic rather than plastic, but we'll see.
I'll let you know tomorrow how I get on.
[k]
First up, behind the dash in the passneger footwell, I found a grey relay that was loose in it's socket, so I taped that up. Also, I opened up the passenger-side front inspection hatch and had a look in there. Staring at me right in the face was the fusebox, that not only had a very loose lid, but also was not fastened down on one side. The cabling coming out of the back is bulky and stiff, and so it doesn't look like it will all fit if both sides of the fusebox are fastened down to the fixing plate. Whilst there are spacers on there and a rubber anti-vibration doohicky, there's simply no nut on the end.
I therefore chopped up some pieces of pipe insulation and stuffed it into the gaps to prevent any flapping about, then taped the whole lot down with insulating tape. I'll not be able to tell if it's made any difference until tomorrow morning, but it certainly sounds like the direction the noise is coming from.
If it does work, I would say the fix is a longer bolt, another spacer and a nut. Hopefully, I've found the source of the problem, but I have a funny feeling that what I've been hearing sounds metallic rather than plastic, but we'll see.
I'll let you know tomorrow how I get on.
[k]
Update:
I drove the car into Manchester this morning, and the sound remains. I think I'll keep my day job and not try to be a development driver!
Whilst chatting with my father, he suggested it might be the sound of the core of the speedo or tacho cables whipping round inside the sleeving. Sounds possible, and the fact that at least 3 111r's we know of have the same issue would seem to point to it being a characteristic rather than a build quality fault. Doesn't stop it being bloody annoying, though!
The search continues...
[k]
I drove the car into Manchester this morning, and the sound remains. I think I'll keep my day job and not try to be a development driver!
Whilst chatting with my father, he suggested it might be the sound of the core of the speedo or tacho cables whipping round inside the sleeving. Sounds possible, and the fact that at least 3 111r's we know of have the same issue would seem to point to it being a characteristic rather than a build quality fault. Doesn't stop it being bloody annoying, though!
The search continues...
[k]
adrianr said:
Sorry to [K]arl's Dad, but no chance, it's all electronic now so there are no rotating cables.
AdrianR
Hehe - he's been tinkering with the MGB for too long! I wonder whether it could be something similar, like the speedo cable or something? Is the clutch in the 111r cable operated?
I'm at a trackday arranged by my dealer at Anglesey tomorrow. I'll see if I can get some further opinions from their staff there. There was also some suggestion that someone from the factory may be there doing demo runs, so I suppose I could ask them as well.
[k]
>> Edited by [K]ar| on Friday 1st October 09:45
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