Newbie - quick question...

[stevo96]

Well maybe just a few more...

Loving the car after 3 days of ownership - not loving looking like a muppet trying to climb out the thing. I have a 99 S1 and the car has what looks like a few mods but im not sure if they came standard. The first thing is the brake discs - they are cross drilled and grooved, was this a standard feature with the car? They also have green break pads. Secondly the guy who i bought it off said that becasue it was "end of line" it has a 125bhp engine?? Apparently this is also the time they fitted the 111's alloy wheels. Under the bonnet is a large chrome cylinder which i assume is some sort of air filter - this looks nothing like the picture in the book! The guy did state that the car wasnt modified....
Ive also noticed that when turning the car over it sounds like its struggling - could this be a battery problem or possibly the starter motor?
Thanks in advance guys..

[Ikemi]

stevo96 said:

Well maybe just a few more...

Loving the car after 3 days of ownership - not loving looking like a muppet trying to climb out the thing. I have a 99 S1 and the car has what looks like a few mods but im not sure if they came standard. The first thing is the brake discs - they are cross drilled and grooved, was this a standard feature with the car? They also have green break pads. Secondly the guy who i bought it off said that becasue it was "end of line" it has a 125bhp engine?? Apparently this is also the time they fitted the 111's alloy wheels. Under the bonnet is a large chrome cylinder which i assume is some sort of air filter - this looks nothing like the picture in the book! The guy did state that the car wasnt modified....
Ive also noticed that when turning the car over it sounds like its struggling - could this be a battery problem or possibly the starter motor?
Thanks in advance guys..

The Elise came standard with Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) disc brakes, which also require specialised MMC pads. As you have green (EBC Greenstuff?) pads the discs have been upgraded You can also check with a magnet - MMC disc brakes will not attract, whereas other discs will!

Not sure on the 125bhp 'end of line' engine ... The S1 Elise ceased production in 2000 and I'm sure the standard models were all 118bhp from factory. My '99 S1 certainly is, excluding the sports exhaust

I believe only 111S wheels were only fitted to 111S cars ... Might be wrong?

Does the chrome cylinder look anything like this in your engine bay?



If so, you have an induction kit fitted

You'll soon learn the art of gracefully entering and exiting the car - It takes some time, but there are several techniques! Welcome to Elise ownership though! 'Tis much fun

Edited by Ikemi on Monday 31st March 19:59

[TIPPER]

Your brake discs aren't standard. Probably something like EBC turbogrooves. The pads sound like EBC Greenstuffs. The discs are OK but I'd bin the Greenstuffs and replace with Mintex 1144. More bite and feel and generally inspire more confidence in the car's brakes.
Firs time I've hear of the 135bhp run-out cars.
Sounds like you've got some sort of aftermarket cold air induction kit. It might be a Hurricane (nice).
The car shouldn't struggle when you turn it over. It should be full of life. Try re-charging the battery or going for a really good run. The battery might be nearing the end of its useful. Of course the alternator might not be charging it properly.........

[stevo96]

So sounds like the discs and pads have been upgraded then. The airbox is chrome and round (with a red hose) - same shape as the one above but with no wires or box attached. Ill take the car to a garage and have them test the battery. Just on the brakes - it seems i really have to press hard on them to get the car to stop - is that because of the pads and discs i have on?

[fleetelise]

stevo96 said:

The airbox is chrome and round (with a red hose). Just on the brakes - it seems i really have to press hard on them to get the car to stop - is that because of the pads and discs i have on?

Airbox is most likely a hurricane.

Brakes - perhaps because you're not used to non-servo'd brakes?

[stevo96]

That may possibly be the case - had a TT before i got the Elise and a Cerbera before that.

[Esprit]

Since your car is a '99 it would have had cast iron discs as standard; vented but not cross-drilled or grooved. You have EBC TurboGroove discs by the sounds with EBC Greenstuff pads. As has been said, the pads aren't the best, But they're not THAT dire, especially as you'll be learning the car and not driving it like Schumacher yet.

It also sounds like you have an induction kit.

The 111S wheels were only fitted standard to the 111S and to a few of the Special Edition cars (Type 49, Type 79, Millennium Edition, Sport 135) so unless yours is one of these then the 6-spoke 111S wheels will have been fitted by a previous owner.

Welcome in, hope you have many happy miles in your new toy. I got my first one almost 3 years ago now (an S1) and while she's moved on, I still reckon it was a cracking car... wish I'd not sold her.

[Gad-Westy]

stevo96 said:

So sounds like the discs and pads have been upgraded then. The airbox is chrome and round (with a red hose) - same shape as the one above but with no wires or box attached. Ill take the car to a garage and have them test the battery. Just on the brakes - it seems i really have to press hard on them to get the car to stop - is that because of the pads and discs i have on?

Do you have a voltmeter? You can easily test the battery yourself. You should see approx 13.4 volts across the terminals normally going down to around 11 when you try to crank the engine. If you are getting much lower readouts, its probably time for a new battery. Its not too big a job to swap batteries although its worse on an Elise than most cars.

On the brakes. They take some getting used to. They do require much more effort than servo assisted setups but once you're used to them, this is a bonus as it makes them easier to modulate so that you can lean on them right to the point of lock up. I'd consider changing the Greenstuff pads though. I've never heard a good thing said about them. I have Mintex and Pagids on mine and they both seem pretty good.

[superpp]

the brakes, airbox aren't standard (engine upgrade sounds like bull to me).
make sure your insurers are informed.

[stevo96]

Thanks guys.