Biggest ,Highest Repair Bill Thread?

[PAUL C]

Interested to know the biggest repair bills other owners have had...

I spent £5K on my S3's engine alone,and am now selling the car for £7K and plan to get an SE,(and get higher bills).
Still happy though!,love them.

What is your highest bill?,for what?.
Which Esprit was it for?.

Were YOU still happy afterwards?

PAUL C

[d didit]

So far, my biggest repair bill was just wheels. New ones that is. I have not had to repair anything at all. Just preventative maintenance and high-performance additions; oil, filters, turbo upgrade, etc. Just lucky I guess. I am able to do all the work and since I have a tool set that an F1 mechanic would drool over... Oh, one thing does come to mind, I am fabricating a 2-row, 1-inch tube high performance aluminum radiator made because of a seam leak on the OEM radiator. Getting 3 larger SPAL fans and all. Made no sense to repair the old. I designed the new unit to replace the entire radiator core and heavy metal supports. I will post when I have finished it and give performance, weight, etc. stats. This should be good since it will fit exactly like the OEM unit and not have any clogging, internal and external fins.

Dindo
95 S4

[dr.hess]

Keep us posted on the radiator project. I make a lot of my stuff too.

Dr.Hess

[ErnestM]

Paul,

check out my profile (click on my name)...

Most was done "at one sitting" (as it where)

Still ecstatic

ErnestM

PS: She is in the shop even now getting a new alternator and some other surpises that I will show off to you lot when done...

[kylie]

ErnestM said:

PS: She is in the shop even now getting a new alternator and some other surpises that I will show off to you lot when done...

Ernest with NOS???


That would be a pretty top suprise hint hint

[rob.e]

Mine has to be my bill for the engine rebuild at £4,500. However, this includes a new clutch (£850) so the real cost of just the rebuild is £3,650. To put it in perspective that's about the same money as a cambelt change service at a main dealer for a ferrari 355...

As i get a lot of use out of the car my cost per mile (before depreciation) is only 59p per mile.

No regrets at all. I love the esprit - its worth every penny.



Rob
98 V8-GT

[Skerd]

My top 3 rounded to an even number:
1. New clutch $ 2.000.
2. New radiator, radiator fan, oil cooler $ 1,800.
3. Labor (only) to replace turbo $ 1,200.

[techspy]

Here is a list of my expenses so far. Some repairs, some upgrades.

$1300-2 new rear shocks installed (cant remember brand, but spax comparable), top off a/c change all fluids.

$3300- Ronal wheels and Yokohoma tires

$1500- new s4s clutch and flywheel install.

$650- #3 chip (complete new chip)

$2300- Tubi exhaust

$400- complete service manuals and new window trim for doors

$160- BOV

Considering I have only had my S4 for approx 6 months, it may seem a bit high, but it is now in excellent condition. $2800 of this was deemed neccessary.

My next big expense will be a complete audio system upgrade. I am setting aside about $3000 for this.

John
94 S4

[ErnestM]

kylie said:

ErnestM said: PS: She is in the shop even now getting a new alternator and some other surpises that I will show off to you lot when done... Ernest with NOS??? That would be a pretty top suprise hint hint

...for me too "Hmmmmm, wonder what that button does?"

No. Been there, done that in my younger days with another car. I think I've outgrown it.

ErnestM

[lotusguy]

kylie said:

ErnestM said: PS: She is in the shop even now getting a new alternator and some other surpises that I will show off to you lot when done... Ernest with NOS??? That would be a pretty top suprise hint hint

Kylie,

The only proper way to setup NOS on an Esprit is to plumb it directly into the cockpit.... Oh Yea.... Happy (and I do mean HAPPY) Motoring! Jim'85TE

[cnh1990]

Errr....it pains me to see such high repair bills.
Hope mine does not get as high as many of you. You people are doing a good job a taking care of your car which is a good thing.

Calvin

[rob.e]

cnh1990 said:

Errr....it pains me to see such high repair bills. Hope mine does not get as high as many of you. You people are doing a good job a taking care of your car which is a good thing. Calvin

Calvin - maybe we should start a thread "what's the largest amount of money you've saved by doing repairs yourself that a dealer would have billed you big bucks". You and jim would probably win that one

[cnh1990]

rob.e said:

Calvin - maybe we should start a thread "what's the largest amount of money you've saved by doing repairs yourself that a dealer would have billed you big bucks". You and jim would probably win that one

Other than the fact that both Jim and I enjoy working on our cars ourselves. I doubt I could afford the car hobby if I had to send it out to the shop. This is the same for most members in our local Lotus club. We are blessed that we have Dave Cammack as a member who allows us free access to a workshop, lifts, tools and renders assistance in repairs. Although well rounded, many of the club members have expertise in certain areas of the Esprit that we call on each other quite frequently.

Esprit ownership because of this assistance and expertise has been quite painless up till now. I hope this trend will continue.

Calvin


>> Edited by cnh1990 on Wednesday 24th September 15:47

[lotusguy]

rob.e said:

- maybe we should start a thread "what's the largest amount of money you've saved by doing repairs yourself that a dealer would have billed you big bucks". You and jim would probably win that one

rob,

Maybe we should start a thread "what's the largest amount of money you've saved Others by doing their repairs yourself that a dealer would have billed you big bucks"

Spent last Sunday replacing the shocks and rebuilding a chargecooler pump on a '95S4s with the owner and another club member. This Saturday, I am rebuilding a set of Webers and doing a full tune of another member's Caterham Seven. Today, our club will welcome the addition of a member's newly acquired '79 S2 to the mix, so I know I'll be turning some wrenches on that one as well in the next couple days/weeks, and this winter, I will be one of a handful replacing the clutch on an '88 and replacing the throwout bearing on another '88.

Calvin and I have both done more work on other's cars than our own by far. I have helped rebuild three other 9XX engines and four other trannys, not to mention work on earlier Lotus Twin Cams and some Kent Crossflows, and other repairs such as brakes, electrical, cooling system, carb rebuilds and other such not qualifying as a full rebuild as well.

I'm happy to be of assistance whenever/wherever I can as I always learn something, and it helps to keep one's skills sharper in the bargain. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE




>> Edited by lotusguy on Wednesday 24th September 16:28

[cnh1990]

lotusguy said:

I'm happy to be of assistance whenever/wherever I can as I always learn something, and it helps to keep one's skills sharper in the bargain. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE

It is always better to practice and sharpens ones skill on another persons car.

Calvin

[adrianmugridge]

My running costs ( servicing / repairs etc ) are onmy site :

www.adrianmugridge.co.uk

[PAUL C]

Ernest,
Checked out your profile,not enough hours in the day for you right?. Brave man.

Rob,
Was your £4500 engine rebuild (inc clutch) really on a V8-GT? (as you sign off as).
My £4700 for a four pot rebuild included no clutch.
Did the high cost of piston/liner sets and labour boost my costs?,did you do the work yourself?,What components were needed?.
Am in danger of assuming a V8 is not too far out of reach...

Can someone give worse case/best case on a well done SE engine rebuild (+labour) please?. I'd like to know the cards i'm gonna be holding...

Thanks All,

PAUL C

[cnh1990]

PAUL C said:

Ernest, Checked out your profile,not enough hours in the day for you right?. Brave man. Rob, Was your £4500 engine rebuild (inc clutch) really on a V8-GT? (as you sign off as). My £4700 for a four pot rebuild included no clutch. Did the high cost of piston/liner sets and labour boost my costs?,did you do the work yourself?,What components were needed?. Am in danger of assuming a V8 is not too far out of reach... Can someone give worse case/best case on a well done SE engine rebuild (+labour) please?. I'd like to know the cards i'm gonna be holding... Thanks All, PAUL C

Personally I'd check if any of the SE crate engines are left. They come with a new turbo and computer. I think they were about 6K in USD.
Calvin

[rob.e]

PAUL C said:

Rob, Was your £4500 engine rebuild (inc clutch) really on a V8-GT? (as you sign off as). My £4700 for a four pot rebuild included no clutch. Did the high cost of piston/liner sets and labour boost my costs?,did you do the work yourself?,What components were needed?. Am in danger of assuming a V8 is not too far out of reach...

Hi Paul

Yes, that's on the V8-GT. Replaced No 8 piston and liner, plus No 8 exhaust valves (2) and injector,a all piston rings and worn big end shells, idler sprocket and bearings. I also had most of the heat shields replaced too. As the coolant loss due to leaking liner seals (porous engine) is a known problem i had a contribution towards the work from Lotus (£1500). The car was out of warranty otherwise the full repair would have been covered.

The work was done at Nick Whale's in Birmingham, so full main dealer rates etc. The labour charge was the biggest element, in fact i was pretty surprised how little some of the bigger items cost - from memory the new piston was only about 75 quid or so..


Hope that helps.

Rob

[RWBAUMAN]

I have an 89 SE. I am the second owner since Feb 91. I had my car repainted for $3,500 and a new interior leather for $3,500. I did all the prep labor so the cost was for the actual painting and covering of parts in the interior. But the total maintenance cost so far for me is $22,000 and rising as I am in the process of reworking the entire car right now. This does not include labor as I do most of the work myself. I have had no major repairs to the engine or drive train, just normal wear and maintenance.

>> Edited by RWBAUMAN on Thursday 25th September 14:40