Jacques

That's a nice bike holder. Kind regards, Jacques.

Hi Malcom, Does that mean that to take it off, I have to dissasamble the Whole rear part of the electrical items on the car? That sounds quite involving for such a small job (removing the boot floor). I'll have a go tomorrow, I hope. Kind regards, Jacques.

Hi all, Excuse me for asking, but I am currently trying to remove the boot floor, as I want to clean everything up, renovate the gear change cable ends etc. I have looked through the servicenotes, but did not find a description. I've removed the bolts ans some of the screwa, so it's Loose now. What to do with the Electrics and a fes hoses? Is there a guide somewhere? Kind regards, Jacques.

Hi all, May be a smalll thing, but to take that interrior lamp off on my 1990 non sir, non abs, non servo steering, fiber roof Esprit Turbo SE, which is mounted mid rear of cabin between head rests, how do I do? Should it come out forward or rearward? Do I have to take off the whole panel (leather one)? Just want to eliminate a heat source and a power-spender, by inserting a diode bulb instead. I've looked in the parts manual and the service notes, and nothing's explained. How to change the rear license plate lights? Already replaced the red door lights with diodes. Great thing to do. I am keen on this, as my other car, a Corrado G60, have a nasty tendency to short these lamps, ans start a fire - burning car. Kind regards, Jacques.

Hi Vanya, Yes, as that was the hos that had actually come into two. So better safe than sorry. I didn't know it was a roll over valve. So good to know, thanks. All is good now. We'll see how long it lasts. Thanks for the heads up! Kind regards, Jacques.

Have some bits of adhesive foam that stick very well, and can be seen on the old clear hose on the first picture. Actually it's from the previous owner, and I just reused it. Also some lenghts of electrical tape, called nonne skin, to adjust thickness of the new hose. We'll see in time if it lasts... Kind regards, Jacques

Wellcome and congrats on a very nice car with a unique story. Kind regards, Jacques

Will do. Jacques

Hi all, Being new to Lotus and all, I was told by the previous owner, that he'd changed the fuel tank pressure hose (the top one), but that was a few years ago, and now started smelling of fuel Again. Heavily when driving with window open. Very heavy smell actually. Using high octane and all, I still regard it as being not good for ones Health, so today I attacked my Esprit SE for the first time to actually do something on it, other than change a few small parts, new radio, new speakers etc. Armed wit new hoses, both the thin and the thick, I took off the carpeted panels - what a pain in the b... just to remove them. I guess other owners reports on having to have 5-7 joints on each arm is correct and usefull. Anyway, I eased off the old hose, and using some very small spanners, I could take off the plastic bends and a funny Little metal something, having two fuelhoses on it? I made up a new hose plus the thin one, and forgot to buy new fasteners, so had to drive in the torrential rain to get them from a do-it-yourself workshop. So, eeeeased the new hose in, redid the carpet strip on top, and sidepanels back on. It wasn't the actual upper hose that had decayed, but the right hand side short one, that had almost bloken in halves. Understandably there was a nasty smell. Fortunately, the good previous owner, changed the fuel tanks to alloy ones. So no probs there. A few a4 unbrako bolts here and there (love them), and problem's gone. No fuel smell ! My first small project on my new Esprit - Love it! The mess in the background is not mine. I borrowed a workshop storage. Look mum, no hands - smell! Happy so wanted to share it with you Guys (and Dolls?). ps: load of spares are on their way. So lot's of things to do over Winter. Kind regards, Jacques

Looked at the oil level today, after having stood for some days: at the topmark exactly as when I topped it up as earlier described. Anyway, I started the car, warmed it up thoroughly, and drove a Little around. Let is stay turned off on level ground, and after 4-5 minutes, I looked at the oil level Again, exactly the same indication at the top mark. So, I asume it lacked oil in the first place, or have a serioud spill somewhere. At this time, there's no pool of oil underneath. Just a small one... I am going to change oil soon, so what to chose: Mobil1 10W/50 or Castrol Edge (with some new additive) at 10W/60?? Advices taken with gratefullness, as you Guys have much more experience on this than I regarding Lotus Esprit's. Kind regards, Jacques.

I also renovated my interrior on my Corrado with good success. It's all Black, and I added some extra components to the xl kit fron durniture Clinic. Amongst them a x-binder, that strenghens the layers, a softener to massage into the cleaned up leather before spraying, and a few other Things. I'll do the same to my Esprit's magnolia interrior. Btw. if anyone have a colourcode for the magnolia from the Esprit, please post it, so the colour can be mixed to the right shade. Kind regards, Jacques.

Dave, I would be interested in hearing how it performs now, after a few months of running? So, it is a alunox model, and are you still running the ebpv or did you remove it? Kind regards, Jacques.

Possibly, but it have been driving after that, so would have filled up hoses, coolers and filter, I suppose. Kind regards, Jacques.

Hmm, here's my bike. Sorry for the ultra low resoloution, but bigger than that is not allowed. Anyway, it's an ultra fun bike to ride, and pretty light at just around 200 kilo (remember it's from 1986, designed in 1973), with my few mods. Kind regards, Jacques.

I for sure, would like to see that! Regards, Jacques.

Hmm, only playing a bit on my Yamaha classical guitar, every now and then, but enjoying it. Seems there's not enough hours in a day... Cheers, Jacques.

Thanks all, Actually I am waiting quite a bit of time, say an hour after engine's turned off, and normally I look at the oil level before starting in the first place. Same time I also look at coolant levels, tire pressure and lights. It's kind of a routine to do so on both cars and the motorcycle. Thing is, I came home from buying it, and looked at the oil level next day, and it was under min mark. Mglp, I'd better pour some in, and it took a bit over a liter. Too much for my taste. Right now I cannot get to the car looking at it again, as I garaged it a bit away from home, but will do so asap in the weekend. So, either it's using, or was a bit low in the first place, or it's been seriously dripping on the way home, or any combination thereof. So after reading the manual, and topping up (well fill up), I asked this because I wanted to be sure that I follow the right procedure on exactly this engine. Maybe time have shown some Things that would dictate another way of looking at oil levels. Just a thought. But the manual says it quite ordinary, so no probs. I'd better find out where all that oil went? I've just mot'ed the car, and it had absolutely no polution in the exhaust, no smoking etc. I'll report back when I have looked a bit more into this. Oil is Mobil 1 5W-50. I think maybe I should look into using 10W-50? Normally I use full synthetic Castrol, and will turn over to this, which is before wintertime. Thanks for the answers. Kind regards, Jacques.

I'd say if you don't want to spend too much money at it, if you're not sure it's something for you, I'd buy a second hand good quality bike, and change chain, sprocket, cables etc. Gives you a lot for the money, and a far better bike. Many people want the latest and greatest, so they advertise their last year model for quite Little Money around this time of year. Many people do this around my Waters, since we're a bicycling nation Once you get out on that bike, Bibs is right; you find good excuses to take a longer aay around things, really enjoying yourself. Soon you'll hit the forests, leaving the gym. So much more satisfying than spinning indoor in a gym. Cheers, Jacques.

Hi Anthony, Well, yes for most of us, it have to be a negociation with our better half. Sometimes it takes a while and some prep to reach there, but I am sure eventually you'll get there. I have a friend who raced his T595 for years, also riding Laverda, and he really like the modern Triumphs. Now he is looking at a BMW r1000rrrrr something Lotus-wise it took me a long time to talk over my wife to get an Esprit, so just bought it a few weeks ago But my Laverda is going to stay for sure. Anyway, good luck with your bike! A speedtriple is surely a very nice bike to ride. I am sure it's a 120 degree like mine? Cheers, Jacques.

Don't know if you got the bikes, but I've been racing rad racing bikes since shildhood, and a few years ago got a mountain bike. Just made myself a new one. I'd say a hardtail is good enough to have fun and spare your back a bit. Fully's are heavy and slow, unless it's extreme terrain. I build a new one on a Scott carbon frame and xx1 parts plus some carbon xentis Wheels and got it Down to 7,134 Kg. Light enough for me. The weight is fantastic to drive with and it is one fast bike. It saves you quite a lot of energy on uphills and over trees, rocks etc. I run tubeless, and you should try it out, It's faster, and a lot lighter, plus it saves you a number of the usual pinch Punctures. Be on top of the chaindrive with cleanliness and change oil twice per year in your front forks and you'll be good. Feel free to ask away, if you have any questions. I'll try to help out. Have fun, Jacques.

Had a various assortment of japscrap, and some 19 years ago I finally gave up driving those and converted to Laverda. Had a RGS1000 for many years, then changed over to my dreambike the Laverda SFC1000 - old style Italian sportsbike, and hard and involving to drive, but very rewarding. Wouldn't want any other. Still trying a modern bike every now and then, just for a short drive. Each to his own of course, but only Laverda for me Now, if only I could find out how to insert an image...? Cheers, Jacques.

Hello James, Just wanted to mention that I've sucessfully used kits from a British company called fruniture clinic. They have a matt finish if you want that, and I can say it Works a charm and is real easy to apply. Feel free to pm me, if you want some ppictures of the process from when I did it. Cheers, Jacques.

Hello Scott, Just read your post, and as I've just fullfilled one of my boyhood dreams by buying an Esprit, I'd say this: do it while you can. There is only so much time and effort. One day you may find that life prevents you from doing this, and you'll be wondering forever what would have happened, if you had bought that car, when opportunity came along. I'm certain that since you already have an impression of what Lotus ownership may include, there's hardly any surprises (negative ones), you'll get. Only the slow and very satisfying process of giving rebirth to one of history's greatest cars. Think of that one day you'll finally turn the key and go for a ride. That'll be the day. Regarding myself, I too have been seeing these cars on and off for decades, and I too decided that it would have to happen, with success or not, while I can. Many things to be done, and I am now, after a nice long ride home, from buying the car, buying spares to commence the Work. Mine is a Stevens car 1990 se. There's nothing to regret. Those childhood dreams are meant to be realised, not just being a mere fantasy. So I'd say go get it. Kind regards, Jacques.

That leads me to another question then: Would there for some reason, be another oil level indicated on the dipstick if say, the car had been left standing (off) for a week? Kind regards, Jacques.

Hi all, Being totally new to Lotus and therefore also to my SE, I have been reading of over and underfilling of engine oil. So, becoming pretty scared of doing either, I have been looking throug the website for a 100% correct method of checking engine oil level, and did not find any. I've read in the drivers manual, that engine oil shoul be checked after a mimimum of 1 minute after turning the engine off, whiping the dipstick, the reinserting it, and then takeing it up Again and looking f the oil level reaches the upper mark. Se manual page 60. If that actually correct? And following this procedure, should the oil level then be on the max mark on the dipstick? So, to make it all easy for me and eventually others, can someoone please describe the correct method of checking the oil level? Kind regards, Jacques.