2009 LE Purchase and some questions

[Rossybrown]

Hi all,

So... I've bought a reasonably priced Launch Edition Evora (pics attached) as big brother to my S1 Elise.  However, being reasonably priced it does require a fair amount of TLC!  Focusing on the mechanicals I will be changing all fluids (Engine, gearbox, coolant, clutch and brake), filters, spark plugs along with gear selector adjustment etc. But in addition to this I do have some stumbling blocks I hope I can get some direction on:

- It has no rear view mirror (just the plinth). Any idea where I can get one from as I have drawn a blank with google searches?

- The undertray will obviously be coming off for various bits of work, so following my approach with the Elise I want to renew all fixings as I remove them with stainless versions.  Is there a kit of undertray fixings? 

- The aircon doesn't click in and this is in conjunction with the spanner light being lit for about 30 seconds on start up. As a starting point (read - cheapest potential fix) I intend to have the codes read and then cleared, does anybody have experience of fault codes related to air con? 

Many thanks in advance,

Ross

[windymiller]

another one to add to the le register ?? congrats bud

[electro_boy]

Congrats welcome to the club!  

Once you've had a while to get accustomed to the Evora I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on Evora vs Elise.  As amazing as the Evora, I think I just have a preference for less mass.  I don't daily drive my Evora as much as I used to so I think I can put up with the Elise's compromises.

Regarding the mirror, try giving the folks at ES Motorsports a call.  They have a bunch of spares in their shed, more than what's listed on their website or eBay shop. https://www.esmotorsport.co.uk/

For the under tray, replacing bolts is a good move.   I have an aftermarket diffuser on my Evora and fitting was a pain as all the bolts had corroded and did not want to come out.  I had quick look around but couldn't find a specific off the shelf kit.  I looked on Deroure (https://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/parts-shop) at the parts diagrams and ordered separate bolts my self.  Possibly ES Motorsport can also help you out this? 

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by electro_boy

[Techyd]

Congrats on the new purchase 🙂 

[EuropaSman]

45 minutes ago, windymiller said:

another one to add to the le register ??

It's already on the list. Looks nice 👍

Oyster seat dye available from Staingard by the way ( https://staingard.co.uk/gliptone/ ).

TLF thread here:

 

[Rossybrown]

37 minutes ago, electro_boy said:

Congrats welcome to the club!  

Once you've had a while to get accustomed to the Evora I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on Evora vs Elise.  As amazing as the Evora, I think I just have a preference for less mass.  I don't daily drive my Evora as much as I used to so I think I can put up with the Elise's compromises.

Regarding the mirror, try giving the folks at ES Motorsports a call.  They have a bunch of spares in their shed, more than what's listed on their website or eBay shop. https://www.esmotorsport.co.uk/

For the under tray, replacing bolts is a good move.   I have an aftermarket diffuser on my Evora and fitting was a pain as all the bolts had corroded and did not want to come out.  I had quick look around but couldn't find a specific off the shelf kit.  I looked on Deroure (https://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/parts-shop) at the parts diagrams and ordered separate bolts my self.  Possibly ES Motorsport can also help you out this? 

 

 

 

Many thanks I'll speak with ES

15 minutes ago, EuropaSman said:

It's already on the list. Looks nice 👍

Oyster seat dye available from Staingard by the way ( https://staingard.co.uk/gliptone/ ).

TLF thread here:

 

Many thanks.  The seats are actually good - looks like they've had some work as there's oyster coloured overspray...  The rest of the car is best viewed from around 10 feet

[EvoraBob]

12 hours ago, Rossybrown said:

Hi all,

So... I've bought a reasonably priced Launch Edition Evora (pics attached) as big brother to my S1 Elise.  However, being reasonably priced it does require a fair amount of TLC!  Focusing on the mechanicals I will be changing all fluids (Engine, gearbox, coolant, clutch and brake), filters, spark plugs along with gear selector adjustment etc. But in addition to this I do have some stumbling blocks I hope I can get some direction on:

- It has no rear view mirror (just the plinth). Any idea where I can get one from as I have drawn a blank with google searches?

- The undertray will obviously be coming off for various bits of work, so following my approach with the Elise I want to renew all fixings as I remove them with stainless versions.  Is there a kit of undertray fixings? 

- The aircon doesn't click in and this is in conjunction with the spanner light being lit for about 30 seconds on start up. As a starting point (read - cheapest potential fix) I intend to have the codes read and then cleared, does anybody have experience of fault codes related to air con? 

Many thanks in advance,

Ross

Nice car Ross.

I have do a bit of work on mine and info is on the projects section. What is the silver colour as mine is only one of four in Quartz silver and the only one with charcoal inertia.

[Rossybrown]

Hi Bob,

It is also Quartz silver, so I am guessing it’s one of the other three.  There’s one launch edition badge with it, but it’s not attached so I’ll sort that.

Ross

[Celica]

Congrats

i like the lower sports racer look

[hyperviper]

AFAIK, there are no fault codes for the Air-con... or a least there were none showing on mine.

Mine stopped working when the condenser sprang a slow leak - instead the pressure just dropped over winter and, come spring, the safety switch prevented the compressor from running dry.

Easy enough to fix albeit time consuming while you look for reasons to do other stuff with the clam off!

[EuropaSman]

I've found the air con related error codes in the Service Notes.

See attached (ignore the page numbers as Lotus appear not to have checked them when they amended the manual).

Evora Air Con Error Codes Pages.pdf

[Rossybrown]

Hi all,

Just to update; the compressor had seized and following fitment of a new one and all is well.  Can’t explain the drop in revs etc. when the a/c button was pressed, but 600 miles to the Alps yesterday and it seems fine. 

Ross 

[Rossybrown]

So, I thought it would be nice to update everyone on this mini project:

Cosmetic exterior work:

·        Removed red pin stripe that was on the diffuser – I just didn’t like it

·        Removed black plastikote that was used to provide a Sports Racer look (it was peeling)

·        Wheels refurbed in gloss anthracite (new TPMS’s) with black and silver Lotus centre caps

·        Matching black and silver nose badge

·        Door striker plate refurb (what a pain, as I didn’t know there was a captive bracket holding them in place and it dropped - fortunately into the fuse box area on the passenger side)

 Cosmetic interior work:

 ·        The chrome surrounds on the air vents were all pitted so I sanded them down and sprayed them matt black

·        The gear gaitor was not attached to the centre console so I used some left over weather strip clips from my Elise to re-attach it

·        New rear view mirror as it didn’t have one (thanks ES Motorsport)

·        Use of Oyster leather dye on interior marks

·        Carpet clean etc.

·        Phone holder

·        Battery cover trim nuts

 Mechanical work:

 ·       Engine oil & filter change

·        Gearbox oil change

·        Brake fluid change

·        Clutch fluid change

·        Cleaned MAF sensor

·        Clutch pipe heat shield

·        New pollen filter

·        New spark plugs

·        Cleaned K&N filter

·        Brake discs and pads all round

·        Undertrays bolts replaced with stainless

·        Front ARB bushes (stopped a low speed clunking)

·        Gear linkage rose joints (massive difference to the fore-aft and cross gate slack in the gear change)

·        Trickle charger cables added to boot

 Jobs not undertaken by myself:

 ·        Replaced air-con condenser 

·        New radiator and coolant (the garage noticed the existing radiator was leaking)

·        Replaced air-con compressor 

·        Air-con recharge

The air con fix was lastminute.com - the day before a 2,000 mile shake down journey to the Alps and back, where I discovered it had the close ratio gearbox (maybe it was a press car?).

Thoughts from trip: It’s no Elise, but it really does come alive on the right roads, it sounds great (Janspeed exhaust, 3^rd cat delete) and the brakes are great.  The only real negative was that I feel it is very flat power wise under 4000rpm, but that did seem to get better over the 2000 mile 'Italian tune-up'.

Required actions from trip:

·        There’s a slight shimmy (not vibration) in the steering at speed and under light braking (a front suspension bush?)

Further planned actions:

·        Steering wheel spacer 

·        Stainless steel mudflap brackets

·        Better Head Unit

·        A good underbody and wheel arch (suspension) clean up

Then maybe I'll decide to keep it and add a CAI and new manifolds, plus in time when the clutch goes a 400 clutch and lightweight flywheel would seem logical. 

I've attached some images but failed to insert them where I wanted within the text...

Ross

[TdM]

Very nice. I totally hear you on the steering wheel spacer. It just needs a little bit more telescopic ability for the taller driver.

 

I would probably want the gear stick a little further back to go along with it but not much you can do about that!

[Bravo73]

“For the taller driver”??!? 🤣

[Bibs]

[Rossybrown]

Ahhh, the days when I had an acting career…

[JAWS]

Administration are getting sloppy with their acceptance of forum members!

Great trip though..

[Bibs]

How are you finding the TC @Rossybrown?

[Rossybrown]

😂 Swings and roundabouts Bib’s

[JAWS]

Traction exceeded..

I've posted @Bibs😘

[TdM]

I assume that's with arms full of oppo, foot to the floor and followed by a smooth transition to the straight? (or at least that's what you should be telling everyone)

[Bibs]

That is 100% exactly what happened

[Bravo73]

2 hours ago, TdM said:

(or at least that's what you should be telling everyone)

It was. 

Until the video was leaked online. 🤣

[JAWS]

 

😘😘