Elise S1 Millennium Edition, 1 owner from new...
Discussion
Tiger Tim said:
Millennium was a late s1 so would have been non MMC and I think 118bhp. Sounds weak doesn't it with 118bhp but its such a visceral driving experience that it feels really quick.
As for the hoon... I'm in
Ahh yes I forgot it was a late S1, I looked up the model as I hadn't heard of them before. I stumbled upon this one at Scott Walkers which looks like it has MMC disks on, which seems strange, maybe it just looks like they are MMC's?As for the hoon... I'm in
http://www.scottwalkers.co.uk/cars/car.php?id=91
Yup 118bhp and steel disks with EBC red stuff pads which is perhaps not ideal? Drove an MMC equipped car on Sunday and the brakes were superb with great feel. My setup is a bit dead feeling in comparison. I think everyone recommends Pagids?
I'm find my Seloc password and check out your thread Jay, cheers! Mine does have rubber mats glued down so possibly some horrors beneath.
I'm find my Seloc password and check out your thread Jay, cheers! Mine does have rubber mats glued down so possibly some horrors beneath.
Right, gave it a bit of a wipe down and going over this afternoon.
First the bad, most of which I already knew about...
- the coolant level was just below the minimum. I wasn't able to check this when I bought the car as it was on a steep slope. Now topped up and I'll keep a close eye on this...
- the oil level was also lower than it should be but not too bad. Also topped up.
- the tyre pressures were all low, the rears especially - 1.4 bar instead of 1.9. This has already improved the way it drives.
- the roof is very tired. I've cleaned it and re-proofed it so it'll do for now
- the drain by the boot catch was leaking into the boot. Fixed with tape (hopefully)
- plenty of stone chips and a broken driving light lens:
- rust on anything steel:
- the light covers are not brilliantly sealed:
- quite a lot of paint blistering, luckily nowhere you'd really notice it day to day:
And the good...
- the interior is spot on for the miles, really happy with it:
- so are the wheels, also my favourite Elise design:
- and...well, it's just lovely despite the issues
Had a great little drive this evening, and I keep going to the window to look at it.
First the bad, most of which I already knew about...
- the coolant level was just below the minimum. I wasn't able to check this when I bought the car as it was on a steep slope. Now topped up and I'll keep a close eye on this...
- the oil level was also lower than it should be but not too bad. Also topped up.
- the tyre pressures were all low, the rears especially - 1.4 bar instead of 1.9. This has already improved the way it drives.
- the roof is very tired. I've cleaned it and re-proofed it so it'll do for now
- the drain by the boot catch was leaking into the boot. Fixed with tape (hopefully)
- plenty of stone chips and a broken driving light lens:
- rust on anything steel:
- the light covers are not brilliantly sealed:
- quite a lot of paint blistering, luckily nowhere you'd really notice it day to day:
And the good...
- the interior is spot on for the miles, really happy with it:
- so are the wheels, also my favourite Elise design:
- and...well, it's just lovely despite the issues
Had a great little drive this evening, and I keep going to the window to look at it.Quick update. So far the car has been treated to a new driving lamp and S2 wiper arm (both via EliseParts), and the previously silent Kenwood head unit has been fixed by the simple act of turning off DSP in the menu (took a while to work that one out!).
The lamp took some fitting but the only damage was to my hand and not the clam at least. The wiper is a massive improvement, very pleased with that.
I've cleaned and re-proofed the hood which seems to be working well although it still looks a bit tatty.
I've also fitted a cabin air filter in the form of the foot off a pair of tights but the blower still spreads grit all over the interior so I guess there's a lot of crap in the system yet.
Car is currently being serviced. It passed it's MOT first time today (whoopee!) and will be getting new Mintex pads to replace the EBC's. I'm expecting it to need discs all round too.
It's also getting a new expansion tank - was shocked to see a crack weeping coolant after getting home from 250 miles of driving on Sunday. Luckily it's holding enough pressure to keep the temps where they should be but I'm glad I caught it in time.
Hopefully nothing else will come to light in the service - it's looking like the old adage is true that all good Elises cost at least £10k - either up front or by the time you've fixed them
The lamp took some fitting but the only damage was to my hand and not the clam at least. The wiper is a massive improvement, very pleased with that.
I've cleaned and re-proofed the hood which seems to be working well although it still looks a bit tatty.
I've also fitted a cabin air filter in the form of the foot off a pair of tights but the blower still spreads grit all over the interior so I guess there's a lot of crap in the system yet.
Car is currently being serviced. It passed it's MOT first time today (whoopee!) and will be getting new Mintex pads to replace the EBC's. I'm expecting it to need discs all round too.
It's also getting a new expansion tank - was shocked to see a crack weeping coolant after getting home from 250 miles of driving on Sunday. Luckily it's holding enough pressure to keep the temps where they should be but I'm glad I caught it in time.
Hopefully nothing else will come to light in the service - it's looking like the old adage is true that all good Elises cost at least £10k - either up front or by the time you've fixed them
Sunday's drive was my first proper run out in the car. Over 100 miles across the Dales in good PH company followed by a fry-up and then another 100+ miles to and from the Vulcan Sunday Service.
I was worried about my back but it was surprisingly comfortable in the end. My ears suffered more, I need better ear plugs.
It was bloody brilliant to drive though and plenty quick enough.
I've definitely bonded with it now
I was worried about my back but it was surprisingly comfortable in the end. My ears suffered more, I need better ear plugs.
It was bloody brilliant to drive though and plenty quick enough.
I've definitely bonded with it now
moribund said:
Right, gave it a bit of a wipe down and going over this afternoon.
First the bad, most of which I already knew about...
- the coolant level was just below the minimum. I wasn't able to check this when I bought the car as it was on a steep slope. Now topped up and I'll keep a close eye on this...
The expansion bottle is out of another car - it wasn't designed for the Elise. The level sits naturally below the line - if you top it up, it will once again end up lower down eventually. First the bad, most of which I already knew about...
- the coolant level was just below the minimum. I wasn't able to check this when I bought the car as it was on a steep slope. Now topped up and I'll keep a close eye on this...
Nothing to worry about.
pthelazyjourno said:
The expansion bottle is out of another car - it wasn't designed for the Elise. The level sits naturally below the line - if you top it up, it will once again end up lower down eventually.
Nothing to worry about.
Cheers, just read that many seem to settle on min. Mine has a crack in the expansion tank though, so def. losing water at the moment.Nothing to worry about.
DanielSan said:
Gorgeous car. Love the colour, I'm getting annoyed its taking me longer to get an Elise than I had originally planned it to now. Maybe time to bite the dust and f
k the Integra off for a cheap runner for a bit. But I really don't want to do that
Thanks! Took me a while to commit, but glad I did now. I'd think carefully about having one as an only car though. I know many do and I happily did 20k miles a year myself in a tiny noisy Smart Roadster but this is in another league of noise and inconvenience!k the Integra off for a cheap runner for a bit. But I really don't want to do that Woza said:
Have thought about that course before - def. something to think about. I'm certainly very aware of this cars reputation for spitting new owners into the scenery!I had the exact same model as you a couple of years back, still miss it actually.
I did a carlimits day in mine and cannot stress how great they, taught me how the car responds to my inputs and how I was being too aggresive with my inputs.
One thing I'd thought I'd highlight; from your pictures it looks like you still have rubber mats in your footwells. These can cause an issue with corrosion, if like the ones on my car they are stuck down and air cannot circulate. When I lifted mine off I had been quite lucky and I only had minor corrosion that I fixed by filing the corrosion down and painting with some POR 15. But I do know that there are cases where the corrosion has eaten holes into the footwell. The area isn't structural but it is worth checking. I rememeber there being quite a few threads on the issue on SELOC which are worth checking.
I did a carlimits day in mine and cannot stress how great they, taught me how the car responds to my inputs and how I was being too aggresive with my inputs.
One thing I'd thought I'd highlight; from your pictures it looks like you still have rubber mats in your footwells. These can cause an issue with corrosion, if like the ones on my car they are stuck down and air cannot circulate. When I lifted mine off I had been quite lucky and I only had minor corrosion that I fixed by filing the corrosion down and painting with some POR 15. But I do know that there are cases where the corrosion has eaten holes into the footwell. The area isn't structural but it is worth checking. I rememeber there being quite a few threads on the issue on SELOC which are worth checking.
moribund said:
Not sure I dare look after they've been down for 13 years in a car that lived outside 
I assume it's far too late to get a main dealer to fix for free, but I'll ask anyway.
Best to take the mats up as soon as possible to prevent further corrosion. I have taken my mats up for now and just use some carpet type mats at the moment.I assume it's far too late to get a main dealer to fix for free, but I'll ask anyway.
There is a good description of the repair for the floor here which I plan to do in the near future:-
http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=169225&...
I wouldn't bother taking it to a dealer, should be an easy DIY job.
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