LOTUS ELISE S1 1999

Impeccable mechanical order - fresh head-gasket, uprated 135 cams and brand-new Bilstein dampers fitted summer 2025.

Comprehensive history - thick folder of invoices, old MOTs and stamped service book - see below.

Interior like new - professionally re-trimmed by Alan White; seats, dash and door cards are virtually unmarked.

Everything works - windows, heater, fans, lights and electrics all behave exactly as they should.

Tight soft-top - no tears, clear rear window, seals well in the rain.

Wants for nothing - hop in, turn the key and head straight for your favourite B-road.

The Honest Bits - The paint now shows typical Elise stone-rash plus a pheasant hit -related hairline cracks on the nose. From a few steps back it still scrubs up nicely.

1st October 1999 0 miles

Car sold to Nigel Magnay by SGT, Taplow. V409 EAN. Key number D1882 / ST675

Factory options: Metallic paint, leather, aux drive lamps, Cat one alarm (Cobra), radio kit

Dealer options: Teflon paint protection, Alu window winders,

Tracker system fitted by Nerocell.

£24594

23rd October 1999 1180 miles

1st service – oil change at SGT, Taplow

9th May 2001 7284 miles

A service – Kings Lotus

3rd October 2002 14861 miles

MOT - pass

22nd April 2004 18760 miles

MOT - pass. Harper Motors, Maidenhead

Advisories – Front & read brake pads low, driver door mirror glass cracked, boot pull cable seized.

27th April 2005 21223 miles

MOT – Pass Headington, Oxon

15th May 2006 21694 miles

MOT - pass

Advisories – none

B service – Brooke Kensington, Bicester (also did MOT)

26th May – Speedwell automotive HPI check the car

29th May 2006

Sold for first time to Ben Whitfield, Burley, Hants

Sold by Speedwell Automotive, Hants

£11995

1st June 2006 21916 miles

Cambelt change, headlight, CD player – Sportomotive, Wilts.

9th May 2007 31358 miles

MOT – pass

A service – Sportomotive Service, Wilts. Replaces LH steer rack boot.

Dec 2007 / Jan 2008 – Third owner buys car.

HPI run by Mr Egford.

7th May 2008 37103 miles

MOT - pass

26th July 2008 - Paul Bland buys car

29th August 2008 37717 miles

A service – Steve Williams sports cars, Maidenhead

Changed brake fluid

14th May 2009 43811 miles

A service – Steve Williams Sports cars, Maidenhead

Refit interior mirror, Replace NSF and OSR wheel bearings, new front pads, steering rack gator

15th May 2009 43812 miles

MOT pass

Advisories – Worn tyres

6th July 2009 44708 miles

Steering rack rebuild with new buffer caps and geo check – Steve Williams Sports cars.

29th April 2010 50600 miles

MOT – Pass, Steve Williams Sports cars

29th April 2010 50999 miles

Head gasket & new bolts, alloy radiator, OSF & NSR wheel bearings, four new tyres, Change brake fluid, new front discs, rotor arm, distributor cap.

Serviced – but not in maintenance schedule.

11th Feb 2011

Breakdown – replaced rotor arm and distributor cap – Steve Williams

23rd May 2011 58232 miles

MOT – Pass

Advisories – NSF shock, NSF track rod end, coil spring corrosion, rear exhaust leak, wiper

29th July 2011 59381 miles

Annual service – Steve Williams.

Also change brake fluid, fit used exhaust box, used NSF shock, rear brake pads, NSF track rod end, headlamp covers

(On 1/11/11 spoke to Steve Williams who confirmed that the service was an annual one, even though it is stamped C service, the cambelt was not done with the service or when the head gasket was done)

September 2011 60300 miles

Car advertised for £8250 after being reduced

David Preskett buys care from Paul Bland

23rd October 2011 60400 miles

Water temperature sender change and fix broken wire

5th - 12th Nov 2011 60500 miles

New cambelt, new waterpump, new autotensioner, new alternator belt, top up 50/50 antifreeze, and bleed water system. Running 84C generally with an 82C thermostat.

New wiper arm and blade – upgraded version from elise-shop

New battery

30th December 2011 60600 miles

Lift mats. Clean up aluminium oxide and treat with POR15 kit. Paint areas under mats.

February 2012

Throttle pedal linkage upgrade.

4th March 2012 60800 miles

New spark plugs. Check wheel bearings, suspension bushes, track rod ends, Anti roll bar bushes, shocks.

11th March 2012 60851 miles

Engine oil and filter change Mobil 2000 10w40 semi synthetic. New wheel nut. Fix seatbelt light.

17th March 2012

Idle at 2500 rpm! Clean IACV and remove and clean throttle body. Test IACV – Ok. Changed throttle position sensor, adjusted cable, adjusted throttle pedal linkage in cabin to 20mm gap, cleaned throttle body. Idle steady 800rpm.

14th April 2012

Nitron street series fitted. New nyloc nuts on all bolts.

Gearbox oil changed – New MTF94 put in.

23rd April 2012 60991 miles

MOT - Pass.

Advisories, rear brake disc rust and rear tyres low tread. During MOT fan comes in at 100C and switches off at 92C.

Geometry adjusted at Back on Track. Ride heights checked: Front 125mm, Rear lowered to 130mm.

July 2012

Rear advan lotus tyres fitted and fronts balanced at Guildford tyres

20th September 2012

New oil – Castrol GTX 10/40 and filter. New fuel filter fitted. Checked plugs for wear.

September 29th 2012 61925 miles

New exhaust catalyst and 2 new gaskets for exhaust fitted. Flexi pipe leaking.

January 5th

New exhaust flexi pipe from Eliseshop (Stainless steel). New gaskets. New ceramic heat resistant material on manifold heat shield. (Zircotec)

January 26th 2013.

New spark plug leads. Clean up rotor arm and disti contacts.

New rear discs and check for leaks. Pads not changed – over 6 mm of material left. Top up brake fluid. New oil filter following removal to get to manifold bolts.

Check cambelt for wear and alignment – OK. Cambelt auto tension adjuster also moving. Adjust alternator belt tension.

March 16th 2013

Rear window seal replaced.

23rd March 2013 – Approx 63000 miles

Heater matrix replaced. Top of heater corroded allowing minor leaks. Change and refill system with 25% antifreeze and bleed system front and back. Cleaned up resistor pack contacts. Temperature at 84C on run.

6th April 2013

Washed, dyed and proofed roof using Renovo restorer kit. Grease driver window mechanism, lubricate guides with silicone.

27th April 2013 63128 miles

MOT Passed.

7th September 2013 64279 miles

Two new inboard toe link joints. Checked outers – no splits in gaiter. Covered nearside joint in zircotec to protect from exhaust heat. New nyloc nuts fitted on wishbone pivot bolts.

Wheel to wheel distance checked before and after to keep geo settings.

23rd December 2013 65550 miles

Back on Track inspection to look for work needed on brakes, suspension and engine.

No issues and running well. Advice to change gear linkage to Elise parts upgrade to stop gear lever wobble in gear. Outer toe links have been changed as dust covers are clear. All bushes original but no play and ARB bushes not worn, Steering rack does not need changing. Brakes good and look like Mintex pads with lots of wear left. No issues with wheel bearings.

No issues with engine. Tightened throttle spring to snap shut on release, otherwise can get air leak and TPS causes hunting. Clutch pedal trunion ok and extra lubricant sprayed in by BOT.

30th December 2013

Fitted EliseParts gear linkage kit. Also fitted new petrol cap and collar (new keys) and brown ECU temperature sensor (nothing wrong with old one, just avoids breakdown).

Fixed seatbelt light wiring and replaced boot release cable with new inner cable. (Added extra bolt on cable to prevent disconnection).

4th January 2014

Cleaned K&N air filter and re-oiled with K&N oil.

Replaced crumbling air intake ducting pipe with Merlin motorsport pipe.

11th January 2014 65912 miles

Bled brakes with dot 4 Pagid fluid. Fluid clear and no bubbles.

Bled clutch. Air bubbles in pipe, cleared quickly.

19th February 2014

New Nightbreaker headlight bulbs

20th March 2014 66212 miles

Oil change – Castrol 10W40.

2nd May 2014 66565 miles

MOT Passed. Braking forces 220 on all wheels.

22nd Feb 2015 69069 miles

Changed engine oil and filter. Castrol GTX 10W40 + Bosch filter. Quick visual inspection around rear suspension.

 

19th April 2015 69300 miles

Replaced sill pads, removed seats and cleaned all the aluminium interior with marine clean.

26th April 2015 69343 miles

Replaced front discs for Pagid and all brake pads changed to Mintex 1144.

Bled all the brakes whilst wheels were off and also checked bearings.

9th May 2015 69532 miles

MOT Passed. Advisory is undertrays on obscuring inspection. Braking evenly and up to 240.

24th Jan 2016 – 19th March 70692 miles

Seats removed for recovering and 111s style padding – sent to Allan White.

Suspension refresh and front clam removal.

All wishbones cleaned up and 2 coats POR15 black. Front tow post and grill also cleaned up and painted. Two front wheel bearings replaced at Back on track and NSF needed new hub (old one damaged during previous owners install.) New M16 hub bolt kits installed with wheel bearings. New OSF track rod end fitted.

All new wishbone ball joints (8), all new wishbone bushes (OEM Lotus), two new ARB drop links and new bolts throughout suspension. Loctite and Duraluc used as needed. New bolts for fuseboxes.

Gearbox oil changed with MTF94 – 2.3 litre refill. Coolant changed – 40% mix antifreeze fill.

24th March 2016 70705 miles

Cambelt & auto adjuster changed at Back on Track. Camshaft oil seals also changed and new alternator belt fitted.

Full geometry set up including ride heights. Spanner check on suspension.

23rd April 2016 70917 miles

Mot – passed.

14th May 2016 71100 miles

New Advan Neova front tyres fitted and balanced

19th June 2016 71306 miles

Oil change and Mann filter. Castrol GTX 10w40. New exhaust manifold gasket fitted, with new studs and copper nuts.

1st October 2016 71782 miles

New inlet manifold gasket fitted. After engine fails to fire, new ignition coil, rotor arm and HT lead from pack to distributor. Engine earth to chassis cleaned and 50A fuse checked. Car starts and runs smoothly. System filled with new coolant and bled.

22nd December 2016 72153 miles

OSR wheel bearing replaced at Back on Track (Eliseparts bearing). NSR checked – OK.

10th January 2017 72243 miles

New Elise parts windscreen wiper .

25th April 2017 72456 miles

MOT passed

20th May 2017 72554 miles

New rear tyres.

10th June 2017 72793 miles

Oil change. New Castrol GTX 10W40 and oil filter.

18th March 2018 73830 miles

Washer jets off car and descaled.

4th May 2018 74092 miles

MOT failed – Rear tyres fitted incorrectly (running wrong way round on rim) previously. Switched over at Guildford Tyre same day.

MOT passed.

13th May 2018 74158 miles

Checked clutch trunnion –it is improved type – silicone lubricant on the master cylinder rubber boot to stop squeaking.

20th May 2018 74193 miles

Fitted Eliseparts slave cylinder bracket. Needed modification to bracket to clear water pipe. Bled clutch at same time.

Roof renovation with Renovo – clean, dye, proof

4th November 2018 74379 miles

Oil change – changed with filter. GTX 10w40

Brake bleed ran about 300ml fluid – clear and clean all 4

21st April 2019 74585 miles

New exhaust back box – Hangar 111 Signature series. Catalyst inspected, matrix in good condition (not crumbling).

New battery – Bosch S3 063

1st May 2019 74911 miles

MOT – passed.

18th Oct 2019 75500 miles approx

“C” service at Back on track. Cambelt change, new fanbelt, oil change (10/40) and filter, new brake and clutch fluid, gearbox oil, new spark plugs, air filter cleaned. Coolant topped up, change not need-ed. Also anti-tizz bracket fitted to downpipe to stop rattle at 2500rpm.

31st December 2019 75703 miles

New Eliseparts radiator and front silicone hoses fitted. (Old radiator had small hole at front right cor-ner)

25th May 2020 75931 miles

Exhaust manifold heatshield replaced with new Lotus item.

11th August 2020 76236 miles

Back on track - Replaced fuel tank with one that was from a 48000 mile car. New breather pipe and fuel filler filler hose. Checked pipe from roll-over valve to breather - Ok. Vent valve functioning cor-rectly. Original fuel pump re-used and transferred from old tank, with new O ring seal fitted from Elise parts.

16th August 2020

Removed headlamp covers, cleaned and refitted with new Eliseparts “goo” to make them watertight. New washer jets fitted.

20th August 2020 76347 miles.

MOT passed

17 July 2022 78629 miles

Replace rear tie rods to uprated version, inc extra mounting brackets. New tyres all round

7th Spet 2022 79081 miles

Replaced near side and off side number plate bulbs and fitted new screws to lenses.

Gain access to rear boot and replace broken cable

9th Aug 2023 79499 miles

Check for head gasket failure - confirmed.

Proceed to strip down cylinder head.

Confirmed gasket failure on cylinder 2.

Send head for shim as slight indent where lines have moved.

Found cylinder 2 liner loose.

Remove all pistons, strip down de -carbon.

Clean and inspect - all OK.

Remove all liners, clean up.

Reset cylinders into cylinder block with correct protrusion.

Fit head saver shim to cylinder and seal.

Fit new MLS head gasket.

Fit new bolts and also new modified/ stronger oil rail in sump.

Tighten to correct spec.

Replace thermostat.

Replace cambelt kit and water pump.

Replace exhaust studs in manifold.

Fit new nuts, weld repair to 02 sensor thread and fit new 02 sensor.

Replace spark plugs.

Replace all gaskets as required.

Refit all removed parts.

Fill with anti freeze

Fill with oil.

11th Sept 2023 79622 miles

Replace off side steering rack gaitor.

Summer 2025 80600 miles

New S2 Bilsteins suspension all around.