Elise S1 Millennium Edition, 1 owner from new...
Discussion
A little update. Over the weekend I jacked the car up (a bit of an adventure in itself!) and removed the front wheels to see if I could get the clam off and replace the knackered towing bracket with the nice powdercoated stainless steel one I've bought.
No chance is the answer, at least without drilling/grinding out a whole load of rusted fasteners. That's going a bit too far for my personal skills/enthusiasm/tools so it's off to Pure Lotus next week so they can attempt the same. Will report back once it's done....it's not going to be a cheap fix but I dare not drive it to Le Mans if I can't get it winched on to a flatbed if I need to!
No chance is the answer, at least without drilling/grinding out a whole load of rusted fasteners. That's going a bit too far for my personal skills/enthusiasm/tools so it's off to Pure Lotus next week so they can attempt the same. Will report back once it's done....it's not going to be a cheap fix but I dare not drive it to Le Mans if I can't get it winched on to a flatbed if I need to!
Right, so today I got the car back. Thanks again to Pure Lotus I now have screws I can actually undo on the rear grills and number plate lights.
I also have my nice powder coated stainless steel towing bracket fitted
Which makes it a real shame that halfway home my exhaust started to blow!! Damn this car and it's niggly little faults.
The exhaust is a Janspeed stainless one (at least I hope it's stainless) so hopefully it's just a joint coming loose. Will find out tomorrow...
I also have my nice powder coated stainless steel towing bracket fitted
Which makes it a real shame that halfway home my exhaust started to blow!! Damn this car and it's niggly little faults.
The exhaust is a Janspeed stainless one (at least I hope it's stainless) so hopefully it's just a joint coming loose. Will find out tomorrow...
Edited by giveitfish on Tuesday 10th April 23:18
tobyb said:
Looks like you got a very good bargain. I tried to find one last year but the Millennium models were around £11K!
There's so few Elises for sale that getting a specific special edition is hard work, timing, fortune etc. Most - Millennium included - from what I've seen don't really commend a premium (S135, S160, S111S do, however, but are a lot more than just a nice paintjob) - if you spotted one at £11k it's more likely to be because of low mileage than anything else.
40-50k or whatever and it would likely be under £10k.
chevronb37 said:
My experience of S1 ownership is that they will always remain an ongoing project. As soon as you fix one thing, something else rears its head. If you can live in that mindset then you'll find it much easier to tolerate.
I know, I know, but I just want to get the thing good enough to make it to Le Mans and back!The blowing exhaust is a ruptured flexi pipe - another expense due tomorrow when it's replaced.
moribund said:
Old downpipe off (eventually) ... new one does not fit! Going to be Tuesday now. Touch and go for LM, I might be taking the proper car instead.
Why doesn't it fit? You can make things a bit easier by undoing the lower engine mount, so you can rock the engine a couple of inches out of the way.
P
Got the downpipe replaced last Monday only to discover another odd noise with the engine under load. From reading on Seloc and other places it sounds like I've now got a leaky exhaust manifold gasket. Not that surprising given the struggle they had getting the down pipe off I suppose.
I had a wobble before going to Le Mans - was the car ready for the trip? No time to fix the gasket, and my MG would be a much more civilised ride.
Decided to risk the Elise anyway, and over 1200 miles later I'm glad I did. It didn't miss a beat, was pretty economical (over 40mpg for one tank) and surprisingly comfortable once I had earplugs in and got used to the heat...
Packed to the gills for the trip:
Le Mans 24, June 2013 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Shown into the Great British Welcome display area despite being filthy:
Le Mans 24, June 2013 by giveitfish, on Flickr
More pics here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/giveitfish/sets/72157...
I had a wobble before going to Le Mans - was the car ready for the trip? No time to fix the gasket, and my MG would be a much more civilised ride.
Decided to risk the Elise anyway, and over 1200 miles later I'm glad I did. It didn't miss a beat, was pretty economical (over 40mpg for one tank) and surprisingly comfortable once I had earplugs in and got used to the heat...
Packed to the gills for the trip:
Le Mans 24, June 2013 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Shown into the Great British Welcome display area despite being filthy:
Le Mans 24, June 2013 by giveitfish, on Flickr
More pics here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/giveitfish/sets/72157...
Cheers, glad you liked the pics
Went along on a Pistonheads hoon today. There were some amazing motors along and my Elise was easily the oldest and slowest car there. Mine was the only car with under 200bhp and most had over 400 - some over 600.
No surprise I didn't keep up as soon as the road was straight but a lot of fun all the same!
Spanner had to come out when I parked up, the door lock wotsit had come loose and the door was rattling about.
Off to the garage again tomorrow, exhaust gasket this time...hopefully the last visit for a while?
Went along on a Pistonheads hoon today. There were some amazing motors along and my Elise was easily the oldest and slowest car there. Mine was the only car with under 200bhp and most had over 400 - some over 600.
No surprise I didn't keep up as soon as the road was straight but a lot of fun all the same!
Spanner had to come out when I parked up, the door lock wotsit had come loose and the door was rattling about.
Off to the garage again tomorrow, exhaust gasket this time...hopefully the last visit for a while?
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