Calling R500 Duratec Owners

[nigelpugh7]

Hi Guys,

I have asked this question on Blatchat too, but thought there might be some owners on here that may not be members of the Lotus Seven Club.

I had the good fortune to meet Phil a fellow new R500 Duratec owner whilst at the Rockingham Track Day on Monday.

As my car is Duratec R500 no 120, it would be nice to get some responses from the other 119 owners out there.

Feel free to respond on here as an owner, and I will contact you directly, or send me an email directly instead!!

With over £5M worth of R500 Duratecs sold, it would be good to here from all the owners, both early and late in the production run.

Thanks,

Nigel.

[mattmurdock]

Hi Nigel, interesting that you have 120, as I have 150 and my car was built 6 months before yours

[nigelpugh7]

mattmurdock said:

Hi Nigel, interesting that you have 120, as I have 150 and my car was built 6 months before yours

Hey Matt,

Thanks that is interesting is it not, I wonder how CC work out the numbering of the R500 cars then??

I can't believe ( and no disrespect to you and SV R500's) that they have sold 150+ R500 SV's as the last time I was at the factory I was told the number of SV R500's was a small amount compared to the number of S3 R500's sold.

It would be nice to know though don't you think?

I am sure that answer would be an " Inconvenient truth!:" do you reckon??

Also thanks for being the only other R500 owner to answer on blatchat, I suspect we are in a very slim minority!!

Cheers,

Nige.

[mattmurdock]

nigelpugh7 said:

Hey Matt,

Thanks that is interesting is it not, I wonder how CC work out the numbering of the R500 cars then??

I can't believe ( and no disrespect to you and SV R500's) that they have sold 150+ R500 SV's as the last time I was at the factory I was told the number of SV R500's was a small amount compared to the number of S3 R500's sold.

It would be nice to know though don't you think?

I am sure that answer would be an " Inconvenient truth!:" do you reckon??

Also thanks for being the only other R500 owner to answer on blatchat, I suspect we are in a very slim minority!!

Cheers,

Nige.

No worries - I had it on good authority that there are only a handful of SV R500s, so I had assumed mine was following the normal R500 numbering scheme. All I can think is they decided to make mine number 150 for some reason to segregate it from the S3's as it was the first car with the BMW diff? Begs the question what will happen if they build another 30 S3s though - will there be two number 150 cars or will they skip from 149 to 151?

To be honest, it is more likely that they messed up the numbering on mine, and it was supposed to be number 105

[nigelpugh7]

mattmurdock said:

No worries - I had it on good authority that there are only a handful of SV R500s, so I had assumed mine was following the normal R500 numbering scheme. All I can think is they decided to make mine number 150 for some reason to segregate it from the S3's as it was the first car with the BMW diff? Begs the question what will happen if they build another 30 S3s though - will there be two number 150 cars or will they skip from 149 to 151?

To be honest, it is more likely that they messed up the numbering on mine, and it was supposed to be number 105

Hey Matt,

Thanks again, I agree it seems more likely that your car is number 105 in the production run of R500 Duratec's, be they SV or S3 chassis!!

I hope that your car is fairing well too, and hope we can meet up for a blat out or track day in the future!!

Cheers,

Nige.

[gvs]

Nigel, I have number 145 and it was a May 2011 build. BMW diff but had to go back to get the upgraded diff plates. Strange that your number is so much lower!
I also had the gearbox oil leak plus a few other little issues that are now pretty much sorted.
Gregg

[nigelpugh7]

gvs said:

Nigel, I have number 145 and it was a May 2011 build. BMW diff but had to go back to get the upgraded diff plates. Strange that your number is so much lower!
I also had the gearbox oil leak plus a few other little issues that are now pretty much sorted.
Gregg

Hey Gregg,

Thanks for the info.

Yes it seems strange that mine has a much lower number considering it was delivered to me in September!!

In fact you have even had me questioning that 120 was indeed my number on the Plaque, so I have just been out to the garages to check it, just in case I was loosing my marbles!!

But no I am not going mad, mine definitely no 120, so I don't know how the number scheme is worked out.

Does your car have the Quaife Sequential Gearbox like my previous car then?

Not sure if you knew it, but mine had to go back to Quaife to have a new rear output seal replaced after only a few hundred miles.

Touch wood, I don't seem to have any issues with the Six Speed on my new R500!!

Glad you got the plates sorted on your BMW Diff, I still can't believe how quiet mine is compared to the previous car, but I am sure it was due in part to the Quaife Sequential.

Hope you are having as much fun with your R500 as I am too!!


Cheers,

Nige.

[gvs]

Nigel
Are you going to ask Caterham about the numbering? I would be interested in their response.
I have the standard six speed box but the oil leak was present from day one. I have covered 5000 miles since the end of May including a little trip to The Alps and a few blats round Wales. My last visit to Caterham was for the diff swap and they think the oil was coming from the rear gearbox seal which they changed and it look as if they have solved the problem.

Other issues were:

• Rubbing bonnet on oil filler cap and top of engine (New metal brace fitted to underside of nose cone for extra support)
• Steering wheel blocks vision of speed on the Stack instrument display (Wheel re trimmed tighter to the metal of wheel centre)
• Battery drain within 10-12 days (Battery Isolator fitted)
• Paintwork on roll bar not great but Caterham will redo when convenient
• Petrol filler restricted even after Caterham modified (ground out flap)
• Extreme heat from transmission tunnel (made up insulated panels either side of tunnel which has helped greatly)
• New style buttons/lights are not great, I cant tell if headlights are on or if on full beam, could do with a small LED repeater that you can actually see in daylight. (not resolved that one yet)

Other things that I have done to the car include, Nitron shocks, Corner weighted and flat floor set up at Nitron, changed front anti roll bar, new carbon exhaust, smaller oil catch tank bottle so it can be removed easily, MOG painted Carbon Half Doors, Re Mapped at Road and Track (257 BHP)with Carbon Airbox installed.

I'm just down the road from you in Cheltenham so if you want to meet up and compare notes lets do it before the weather changes.

Gregg

[nigelpugh7]

gvs said:

Nigel
Are you going to ask Caterham about the numbering? I would be interested in their response.
I have the standard six speed box but the oil leak was present from day one. I have covered 5000 miles since the end of May including a little trip to The Alps and a few blats round Wales. My last visit to Caterham was for the diff swap and they think the oil was coming from the rear gearbox seal which they changed and it look as if they have solved the problem.

Other issues were:

• Rubbing bonnet on oil filler cap and top of engine (New metal brace fitted to underside of nose cone for extra support)
• Steering wheel blocks vision of speed on the Stack instrument display (Wheel re trimmed tighter to the metal of wheel centre)
• Battery drain within 10-12 days (Battery Isolator fitted)
• Paintwork on roll bar not great but Caterham will redo when convenient
• Petrol filler restricted even after Caterham modified (ground out flap)
• Extreme heat from transmission tunnel (made up insulated panels either side of tunnel which has helped greatly)
• New style buttons/lights are not great, I cant tell if headlights are on or if on full beam, could do with a small LED repeater that you can actually see in daylight. (not resolved that one yet)

Other things that I have done to the car include, Nitron shocks, Corner weighted and flat floor set up at Nitron, changed front anti roll bar, new carbon exhaust, smaller oil catch tank bottle so it can be removed easily, MOG painted Carbon Half Doors, Re Mapped at Road and Track (257 BHP)with Carbon Airbox installed.

I'm just down the road from you in Cheltenham so if you want to meet up and compare notes lets do it before the weather changes.

Gregg

Hi Gregg,

Thanks for the info, and thats quite some list to issues too!!

I seem to have the same issue with my Bonnet rubbing on the front of the coil cover, could you give me more detail of how the mods CC did re the brace, I would like to see if it could improve my own issues.

My steering wheel also blocks my speed indicator, but not by much, so I can probably live with that.

I have not experienced Battery Drain as yet, but I do have an Optimate 4 on my car, which goes on every night, so perhaps that helps.

My petrol filler spout had the same issue, Caterham advised removing the spout, so I did that myself, I can at least now fill up at the Gas Station!!

My car also suffers with heat build up on the tunnel, just as my previous R500 did, so I would love to know more detail of your solution please?

I see what you mean about the new dash illumination, its not ideal, I have already asked Caterham as to why there is no warning buzzer on the indicators as in Bright Sun you can't see the LEDs in the buttons on the steering wheel, not sure what can be done with that!!

Would be great to meet up with you for a blat and a chat soon too, are you going to PH SS to Silverstone on Sunday?

[nigelpugh7]

Just to prove my car number plaque, and to stop me thinking I dreamt up the number here is my Dash Plaque:




I think I will ask Caterham as to why there are higher numbers on cars that were built earlier!!

[GetCarter]

My 500D is number 088 built April/July 2010

Exhaust kinda' worked it's way loose at the tailpipe end (Gaffa tape fix still working)
Can't see if lights are on in daylight (as mentioned)
Runs like a kangaroo at low revs (service due which will probably fix - My R500K did this but much worse)
Silly amount of heat in drivers footwell (as well documented)

All in all, fairly Caterham.

Great fun still mind. Scares me stless at full tilt.

There is still only one word passengers say once they have the skid lid off.


ETA (No, not 'Sell')

[Dave J]

maybe they recycled all the duff parts from your first car onto this one or maybe you had a cancelled order car that we sent away for a respray and then sold to you ?. I reckon 120 should be about November 2010 ?

whats your chassis number ? . That would confirm the cars true age vs Greggs ? as we know Greggs was fresh built from still sticky paint chassis .

[nigelpugh7]

Dave J said:

maybe they recycled all the duff parts from your first car onto this one or maybe you had a cancelled order car that we sent away for a respray and then sold to you ?. I reckon 120 should be about November 2010 ?

whats your chassis number ? . That would confirm the cars true age vs Greggs ? as we know Greggs was fresh built from still sticky paint chassis .

Dave,

That would kind of hard as I sold my previous R500 to a nice man in Edinburgh, and not to Caterham.

And no, I went to the factory to see my car being built, so its a new car built to my order.

I will compare my Chassis Number to Greggs though, just out of interest .

[albert286]

Hi

I've recently become an R500 owner (S3), my number is 71 and it was registered 5/5/2010, I know there was a delay in delivery as the previous owner was having an argument over the seats fitted to it.

Alex

[nigelpugh7]

albert286 said:

Hi

I've recently become an R500 owner (S3), my number is 71 and it was registered 5/5/2010, I know there was a delay in delivery as the previous owner was having an argument over the seats fitted to it.

Alex

Holy thread resurrection Alex!!

But thanks for the reminder, and congrats on your acquisition of an R500 Duratec.

I am sure you have found this:

http://www.thecaterhamregister.net/superlight%20R5...

But make sure to add your cars details to the register!!

Have fun with your new toy!!

Nige.

[albert286]

I was looking for something else and came across it. Carried out an oil change today, not sure if it's the first one it's had (2200 miles on it) but there was a bit of swarf in the metal gauze in the sump drain but the oil seemed ok. Will run it for 20 mins and drop the oil again. No abnormal noises, not that you can hear anything over the sequential box chattering but I'll probably take the sump off and check the big end shells. Strangely Caterham lists these in the on-line shop! Maybe a regular seller!???

[nigelpugh7]

albert286 said:

I was looking for something else and came across it. Carried out an oil change today, not sure if it's the first one it's had (2200 miles on it) but there was a bit of swarf in the metal gauze in the sump drain but the oil seemed ok. Will run it for 20 mins and drop the oil again. No abnormal noises, not that you can hear anything over the sequential box chattering but I'll probably take the sump off and check the big end shells. Strangely Caterham lists these in the on-line shop! Maybe a regular seller!???

Alex, glad you are bonding with your new steed!

I would hope your R500 would have had a few more oil and filter changes by 2200 miles!

Yes the sequential gear box is noisy, but it is fun, my previous R500 duratec had one, but I changed up to my current R500 with six speed box and comfy leather seats, so I could spend more time on Blats with my Son Tom!

I doubt it needs new shells, the noise is all the box and clutch and is quite normal!

Just get out there and enjoy yourself!

[DCL]

The Duratec can produce some alarming debris when new so I wouldn't be too hasty about stripping things down. It's mostly timing chain, valve gear, oil pump, etc. and not bearing. If you want a real fright then cut a filter open!

[albert286]

Thanks DCL, I run my own workshop and the swarf in the gauze was quite alarming. I can get the oil cheap so I'll change it after 500 miles or so.

Nige, now you've said Tom I know your car through the youtube clips!

I'll sleep easier tonight!

[nigelpugh7]

albert286 said:

Thanks DCL, I run my own workshop and the swarf in the gauze was quite alarming. I can get the oil cheap so I'll change it after 500 miles or so.

Nige, now you've said Tom I know your car through the youtube clips!

I'll sleep easier tonight!

As dcl says, don't worry to much about debris! It will be fine, the duratec is a very solid lump!

Glad you enjoyed my clips in the white R500 and Tom, he has become quite famous, even more so now he is in HD on the new r500 too.

Have fun!

Nige.