Servicing an Elise
Discussion
Hello everybody,
I have a bog-standard Elise 2,000 race tech. I am just coming up to my 27,000 service and the garage I used to use, in St Albans (London Lotus Centre) has moved to Acton. St Albans was a bit of a schlep from my place (Ely, Cambridgeshire) but Acton is just nuts so before I trog all the way to Norwich and use Strattons I wondered if anyone has tried either of these two:
1. Castle Lotus/TVR near Stansted? They're established TVR dealers but I'm a bit leery of handing my pride and joy over to somebody I've never used before for a big service.....
2. Elite Servicing, Foxton Cambridgeshire.
These guys specialise in Lotuses (Lotii?) but I can't find any information about them.
If anyone knows anything about either of them or can think of anyone else who'd perform a bog standard service within a 60 mile Radius of Ely in Cambridgeshire I'd be forever in your debt.....
Cheers
Scary
>>> Edited by scary on Tuesday 3rd August 10:49
>>> Edited by scary on Tuesday 3rd August 11:14
I have a bog-standard Elise 2,000 race tech. I am just coming up to my 27,000 service and the garage I used to use, in St Albans (London Lotus Centre) has moved to Acton. St Albans was a bit of a schlep from my place (Ely, Cambridgeshire) but Acton is just nuts so before I trog all the way to Norwich and use Strattons I wondered if anyone has tried either of these two:
1. Castle Lotus/TVR near Stansted? They're established TVR dealers but I'm a bit leery of handing my pride and joy over to somebody I've never used before for a big service.....
2. Elite Servicing, Foxton Cambridgeshire.
These guys specialise in Lotuses (Lotii?) but I can't find any information about them.
If anyone knows anything about either of them or can think of anyone else who'd perform a bog standard service within a 60 mile Radius of Ely in Cambridgeshire I'd be forever in your debt.....
Cheers
Scary
>>> Edited by scary on Tuesday 3rd August 10:49
>>> Edited by scary on Tuesday 3rd August 11:14
try here for reviews on dealers:www.southrun.co.uk/dealers.php?PHPSESSID=51c8311522c2464e15b4fbac046db894
Someone mailed me through my profile yesterday and asked same thing about servicing near Ely. Here's what I replied with (but with some naming and shaming removed):
I live in Cambridge and work just south, and unfortunately there isn't really a lot of choice in the area. I get all my servicing done at Sinclaires of Romford (www.sinclairebodyshop.com.uk) who are very very good but are quite a long way away. There are a couple of options for you nearer to home:
1. Cambridge Car centre, based in Foxton. They sell Lotuses but are not a main dealer and only seem to have one mechanic who knows his way round an Elise. I've had my last couple of MOTs done with them, but frankly I'm not sure if I will ever use them again. Having said that, they appear to try hard, and can provide a courtesy car.
2. Castle Lotus in Stanstead. TVR dealers who just got Lotus franchise. I've visited a couple of times and they seem very good but haven't used them for any work yet.
3. Kelvedon Lotus. www.racecar.co.uk/kelvedonlotus/contents.html they are specialists and are very good by all accounts. I used them once 3 years ago and they were very good but it was a long way to travel.
4. Lotus factory in Hethel. Very expensive! I had one service done their and the work was no better than I get at Sinclaires, just a lot more expensive!
I live in Cambridge and work just south, and unfortunately there isn't really a lot of choice in the area. I get all my servicing done at Sinclaires of Romford (www.sinclairebodyshop.com.uk) who are very very good but are quite a long way away. There are a couple of options for you nearer to home:
1. Cambridge Car centre, based in Foxton. They sell Lotuses but are not a main dealer and only seem to have one mechanic who knows his way round an Elise. I've had my last couple of MOTs done with them, but frankly I'm not sure if I will ever use them again. Having said that, they appear to try hard, and can provide a courtesy car.
2. Castle Lotus in Stanstead. TVR dealers who just got Lotus franchise. I've visited a couple of times and they seem very good but haven't used them for any work yet.
3. Kelvedon Lotus. www.racecar.co.uk/kelvedonlotus/contents.html they are specialists and are very good by all accounts. I used them once 3 years ago and they were very good but it was a long way to travel.
4. Lotus factory in Hethel. Very expensive! I had one service done their and the work was no better than I get at Sinclaires, just a lot more expensive!
Agree with Bonce on the Sinclaires front. Used them twice now, first for some repairs (it was wet, two ladies in convoy, were stopped at the bottom of a humped back bridge on a duel carriage way, letting a police car out!!! she replied "that’s the 4th time this year someone gone in the back of me!" funny that I thought!) anyway, new front clam, radiator, plus other bits later. Very good work, looks like new! They even fixed my noisy heater fan!
Second time was a C service, they also fixed the clutch pedal bush and a few other niggles. Said it would take two days, it did. No problems since, runs like a dream.
Work in Watford, so it's a git to get to, North Circular or M25!!!!! But worth the effort IMO.
Second time was a C service, they also fixed the clutch pedal bush and a few other niggles. Said it would take two days, it did. No problems since, runs like a dream.
Work in Watford, so it's a git to get to, North Circular or M25!!!!! But worth the effort IMO.
I do my own servicing but you could try Brown & Gammons in Baldock they've recently started doing Elise work ( you can get a train back to Cambridge from there) or try Wilshers Garage in New Wimpole MG specialists really but I think they do Elises as well.
Wilshers have got a rolling road too.
Wilshers have got a rolling road too.
Whatever you do - do NOT take it to Acton!!!!! 
Either side of London you have a choice of either Sinclaires (east) and Lakeside Engineering (west) - both are considered very good.
I've only experienced Lakeside and as I like to do my some of my own servicing I've only used them to buy parts so far, but these guys really know their stuff. Their enthusiasm and advice that I received in the last couple of weeks is exceptional and sending my car to them for future major servicing is a no brainer for me.
John S.
Either side of London you have a choice of either Sinclaires (east) and Lakeside Engineering (west) - both are considered very good.
I've only experienced Lakeside and as I like to do my some of my own servicing I've only used them to buy parts so far, but these guys really know their stuff. Their enthusiasm and advice that I received in the last couple of weeks is exceptional and sending my car to them for future major servicing is a no brainer for me.
John S.
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