SE Turbo Reconstruction

[Qavion]

Hi, folks

I recently put my SE turbo into an intrastate Garrett-recommended turbo overhaul shop (asking for an upgrade to steel roller bearings and a greater trim (60 instead of 50)). Before I pulled the turbo off my car, the shop gave me a quote of (Australian) $1500~1850. I was hoping it would be at the lower end (because I'd pulled the turbo off the car myself). They said they'd get back to me with a final quote. They did... and it was A$2300 !!! (about the price of a new S4 turbo, I'm told... UKP1100). I rejected the offer and went back to the shop to pick it up. Strangely, it was in a sealed box. Foolishly, I didn't open it until I got back home (well, it was April 1st ).

This is what was inside the box...

48 pieces of jigsaw puzzle...

They contacted me by e-mail saying that a mistake had been made and offered to do what I originally asked them to do for $1850... but, needless to say, I'm really p*ssed off.

I'm joking about putting it back together again (I don't even know if there are any parts missing), but I thought you guys might like to see how complicated these things are.

And on the same day... the new freeflowing exhaust I ordered from a (recommended) interstate exhaust shop also arrived .... and nothing fit properly. I'll be lucky if the basic pipe goes through the hole in the rear spoiler... let alone the fancy oversized chrome tip.

All I can say is... caveat emptor!

Hope you're all having better luck with your projects

Cheers.

Ian

[greekmix]

Ian,

Join the Australian Club Mate!! Thats why I also had to look outside of OZ to get some results. I got the same issues with some of the local experts....

However I am sure we have good people around to put your unit back together.

Turbo rebuild is a big task for the local people as I have found out they know nothing about our vehicle and what they suppose to be doing to get the balance right. They always looking at your fat wallet first before they can do the job right.........

To put this unit together and ballance it you will be looking at aprox 1000 dollars as I have been told when mine was apart at the same stage.

However if you get stuck let me know as I have an original unit complete at the back which was rebuild and balanced by WC engineering incase his stage 1 turbo did not work.

I am testing his stage 1 on friday so I will have a beetr idea if I can release the original unit to anyone who is looking for one.

The pipe should fit 100% if your pipe is finishing at the right hand site (like an S4) of the vehicle if you need some help call me to discuss...

good luck

Tony

Edited April 2, 2008 by greekmixS4

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi Ian,

If you like, you may just send me the puzzle. I will overhaul the whole thing and put it together nicely. I can also upgrade and reflow it to a stage 1 or stage 2.

Cheers

Marcus

Edited April 2, 2008 by Paula&Marcus

[ozontour]

Hi Ian

where about are you located?

I had my turbo done in Melbourne through Paul McCreery at Team GP in Abbottsford who did a fantastic job. The hardest thing about Paul though is getting a hold of him. If you need the details give me a call, he is in Johnston street, i think #74

If you are in NSW there is a dealership called Cremorne Prestige, they too do a great job on all things Esprit although they can be quite expensive.

In Brisbane here there is a company called Brisbane Tuning and Turbo. John is a weekend racer and a turbo specialist. I got him to fit a new wastegate to my car and he did it for half of what another specialist was going to charge me. he is efficient and economical and he knows the Garrets inside out.

He has tuned my car to a purring kitten and set the boost at 10.5lbs which delivers nice even power

if you need any more details then please just let me know

Justin

[Paul93Lotus]

Most turbochargers are very similar to each other, especially when rebuilding. The only thing unique to the Esprit turbocharger are its trim ...the rest is pretty much standard Garrett.

If a shop can rework an Esprit turbo, they likely have difficulty rebuilding all turbos. As you said though, when you mention the car it is from, then the $$$ signs light up in their eyes for how much they can ding you for.

With how weak the US dollar is right now...it might even be worth it to send it to a good U.S. shop for rebuilding.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Paul93Lotus

[greekmix]

Hoist,

The person you mentioning for VIC is not specialist on the turbocharges since he does not carry the tools to balance the units. From what I know he is using 3rd party people for this kind of work, although he may have a stong experience with Lotus he never opens his shop during the day and never answers his phone..... I am talking from strong personal experience here....

Unfortunatly we need reliable people for any king of work especially in Australia representing the Lotus brand.

I have gone through almost everyone on this state and I am still trying to find someone we can trust and knows the cars very well... wont mention does not look at your wallet first as 99% do to complete simple tasks.`

I recomend for Ian to do all the basic work him self and save his money to so called experts. That way he will learn about his car as I know he has all ready. I believe we have enough experience in this forum between us to help anyone in most cases resolve the issues.

Believe if Australian owners start telling their experience using some experts like they have told me via the website you will also start doing the work your self.

[Qavion]

Thanks for the great feedback, guys....

Just a few comments....

If you are in NSW there is a dealership called Cremorne Prestige, they too do a great job on all things Esprit although they can be quite expensive.

They'll probably sue me for defamation, Justin, but.... I've had some terrible experiences with this company (They are on my "last resort" list). Examples...

1. after a clutch change, I couldn't even select 1st gear when I went to drive the car away. On their second attempt, the gearchange still wasn't right, so I took it to an independent gearbox specialist to have it fixed (at my own expense).

2. Removing the seat for leather repair, they scratched the doorsill paintwork and thought I would be happy with them rubbing the area with what was probably akin to scotchbrite (eventually I had to have the area repainted at my own expense).

3. I believe when I bought the car, they did an inspection for the seller and they didn't find anything wrong with the car.... noting here that I spent about $10,000 a year for the next 4 years at Cremorne Prestige just keeping the car roadworthy. I'm still at the point where I'm afraid to drive the car out of the city limits (after so many breakdowns)

4. On their numerous test drives, they didn't even notice that my turbo wasn't working (wastegate wasn't closing properly) or that the chargecooler pump was shot. Even though I was a first time Esprit owner, I suspected something amiss when I had trouble keeping up with standard V6 Holden Commodores in traffic light drag races In the first few years of ownership, I don't think my boost ever went above .4 (and then only at 5,500rpm)

5. I saw one of their mechanics disconnect the fuel filter with pressure still in the line, spraying fuel all over the engine.

6. My car would disappear in their workshop for weeks (if not months) and they'd still only do half the stuff I asked them to do.

7. After each service, invariably, I'd find black boot marks all over the white leather and the rest of my car covered with black soot (from nearby factories)... and scratches that weren't there when I put it in.

8. Haphazard faultfinding... i.e. changing unnecessary parts (I agree the Esprit sometimes has faults which are difficult to diagnose, but isn't that why you pay them big bucks to get it right first time?)

9. Someone else's ratty battery cover appearing on my car (I eventually got my good one back)

10. Poor quality clutch hose job (parts started rusting a few weeks after it was installed)

I could go on, but.....

I hear from Club Lotus that everyone else finds that their service is great... I guess it's only me that's jinxed.... so don't let my experiences stop anyone going there

I've done a lot of work on the car myself, recently, and it has quickly become obvious that very few people who have worked on my car ever bothered to read the Lotus service manual (or they assumed all Esprits are alike). As a Lotus owner, I guess you really have to know your car well... and take on the extra responsibility of ensuring that things are done properly.

By the way, the guys who left my turbo in pieces worked on my turbo before, putting an unsightly weld on the bush which supports the wastegate spindle. Places like WC Engineering in the USA will not accept turbos with any kind of repairs on them, so your options are limited. I've also found that other turbo specialists are unwilling to give quotes on restoring/upgrading the turbo unless they actually see the turbo. So, you have to pay (dearly) to send such a heavy item to them and, probably, in many cases, also have to pay for the quote.

At this point, my easiest option is just to send the turbo back to them (I'm tired of fighting... and not being able to drive my car).

Anyway.... thanks to all for your suggestions

Cheers.

Ian

P.S. BTW, Tony, thanks for your continuing support. I may sound a bit despondent at times, but I really appreciate your recent help

[greekmix]

Mate I know how you feel, just look at my post on this forum regarding loosing boost on a new turbocharges and you will see what I have gone through.

I suggest keep doing what you are doing and there are a lot of good experienced people in this forum to help out.

I am always available if you want to contact me after all that

[ozontour]

...wow!

i had only heard good things about cremorne prestige, (apart from thier labour rate), but never used them personally, sorry to give you a bum steer mate. I used Team GP for a few things when i was in melbourne as it is where the car had been serviced its whole life and i am there on occasion visiting family..

I have heard sketchy things about Paul being a bit unreliable at times and myself had to fly down there to get my engine rebuild complete, however his work has never been in question with me, only his sobriety...I do know of others who have taken him to court in the past though, including Mike Palmer who recently sold his 600HP Esprit and who used to own mine previously

He used a third party to high flow mine, i could probably find out who they are if you are keen.

I know how frustrating it is owning a car like these in Australia, I am currently mid clutch replacement as nobody here wants to touch it. Good news is that Nicks Performance Clutches just gave my plate an Exidy Re-Skin for $80...onya Dougie

Goodluck, hope it all works out

Justin