where 2 get Plug Leads

[gbleaves]

Hi Folks,

I recently bought for my Lotus Esprit SE a set of new plug leads from http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320443794335&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Express Autoparts] their web site today does not appear to work.

They are 8 mm good quality

Edited November 27, 2009 by gbleaves

[Bibs]

No offence meant Steve but I'd not put cheap tat like that on my supercar, just my opinion. You should be putting the best parts you can on the car therefore I'd recommend some nice Magnecor leads.

http://www.magnecor.co.uk/applications.htm

[gbleaves]

Hi Bibs,

they are good quality 8mm leads not 'tat' but 1/4 the price of the ones you mention!

[ RU on comission? cos i'm not]

Just trying to save our members $$$$ and get their engines running on all cylinders!

Hi Folks,

just to add [cos the web site posted before I was ready --- again ]

The leads on e-bay are for the coil distributer 5 leads carb'd / turbo, but they have the SE/S4 Delco injection for 25 pounds.

Steve

[Bibs]

I spent more on each spark plug that that entire seats of leads and I paid around £100 for a set of Magnacor leads. No, I'm not on commission and no, I'm not rich and I don't enjoy wasting money.

There's saving money and there's putting quality parts on the car, as I said, just my opinion. I'm sure you're aware a core mission of this site is to save owners cash but personally not at the expense of quality especially when such important components are the issue. Would you put an £11 set of leads on a Ferrari or a Lambo because your Esprit is just as high performance and if not higher in many cases?

[mr.oogieboogie]

put them on the parts cross ref section

[Jonathan]

These were on my upgrade list prob is - whats wrong with the originals ?

Magnecor are all well and good but I dont see whats wrong with the original equipment ?

I always thought there was a specific resistance / meter nedded for a particular coil, too high and too low will cuase lack of spark and damage accordingly.

I would trust a company like magnecor much more than most others (ie same reason Id use Castrol oil instead of Halford own like the pillock at work keeps telling me ) but I'm still not overly convinced I need to upgrade them or there is something wrong with the originals - perhaps I'll have a look today

I do generally find in this life you get what you pay for (within reason)

[Bibs]

The ones on ebay are not the original equipment, they are a pattern part.

[gbleaves]

Hi Folks,

I am a former electronics engineer by trade, so I am not speaking 'bindly'

The point is that the OEM leads (which 'low cost' the ones I am referring to are supposed to be!)

These are based on nylon strands or filiments that are carbon coated. These go steadily higher and higher in resistance over time.

The original leads that are 10 plus years old will eventually go so high in resistance that the spark will be progressivly weaker and weaker.

Until you get erratic idiling and misfire under heavy pressures [such as acceleration with turbo pressures]

With that the High voltages from the coil packs will not be dissapated, which can then lead to sparking/tracking across the plug or the coil packs themselves. This means the coil packs themselves could fail as a result.

I experienced misfiring, checked my original leads, found them to be bad & replaced them as a 'temporary measure' with copper leads and resistor [motorcycle type] plug caps. This has been working fine for the last 2-3000 miles without any issue.

Provided the spark gets to the plugs and provides a good 'juicy' spark, it does not matter what wonderful colour they are -does it?

[Jonathan]

Bibs, I know that

OK so now I know a bit more about ignition leads, I didn't know they should be replaced that regularly - I wonder if thats the cause of some of my hi-low o2 sensor readings I sometimes get ?

At least what I could do is use the GT3 ones on the GT2 and get some magnecor ones on the GT3

[waynef]

Magnecor Magnecor Magnecor sorry but I second Bibs on this and to get the best bits you can.

I replace mine every Major service which for me is every two years. C Service.

Sorry but why scrimp would you choose the cheapest sparkplugs just because they're able to do a job!!!!

Price is often reflective on quality, reliability!!!

Sorry just my 2p worth

Waynef

[Jonathan]

You replace the magnecor leads ?

[waynef]

I certainly do and i think i know what question is coming next.

I do very high milage in my Esprit plus its tracked at least 6 times a year.

Next major service is February

[Jonathan]

No, the next question was can I have your old set ?

[Mike6]

Bum just replaced my plug leads with a set from ebay. They cost

[Bibs]

Neither do Lotus, you can blame that repair on a previous owner.

[Mike6]

I don't know what the term is but the little angled pipe underneath the holes at the rear which then attaches to the flexible pipe taking rainwater away underneath the car definitly had Marley stamped on it and seemed original on both sides. If it is not original it must have been changed years ago and then rivited back.

[Bibs]

Not uncommon, they're the drain tubes for the rear hatch. Using plumbing supplies probably seemed like a good idea to your PO, the originals are unstamped, unbranded corrugated tubes.

[Mike6]

OK. I stand corrected Marley is not original spec. At least the drain holes have not been repaired with a lesser/inferior make

[ChrisH]

When one of my KV leads stopped working I replaced them all with a cheap set from a local motor factor my engine ran a bag of nails.

I phoned Magnecor who said that KV 85's were not listed for my 2.2 NA but if I gave them the lengths they would make me a set up in addition if I would send to them the leads I took off they would check them and clean them up for me, that I thought was a 1st class service.

[andrewp1989]

Okay, here is my $0.02 on the issue.

Stock plugs wires are of fine quality, they last usually 10 years (plus), but are still very much over-priced at the Lotus dealer. Magnacor are a premium replacement but they are rather pricey.

Try this company "Kingsborne". They can be found on-line and are located in southern California if I recall correctly.

Kingsborne has absolutely first rate customer service (i.e. the telephone was answered quickly by real humans who know the products they sell). They sell virtually every plug wire set for Lotus cars (plus most other exotics like Ferrari or Lamborghini). The Lotus sets are very INEXPENSIVE (yes, I know I am shouting!). . . plus they are of the highest quality. They come 8 mm in diameter and for a $10/$15 option come braided in a black heat resistant sheath that I think they call "fire braiding". All wire sets come in a range of colours (no extra cost), but I think red in the most common stocked. The boots are 100% OEM and at a perfect fit at the plug and at the coil pack; they also seal out water perfectly at the top of the cam tower with a tight-fitting rubber flange. They use black silicon rubber for the boots and brass for the ferrules. When tested for resistance against the old Lotus wire set, my new Kingsborne wires were 2 to 3X less restrictive.

The red set I bought for my V8 came with the black heat shielding at not extra cost . . . which was odd but I didn't complain. The blue set for my 1989 SE I bought without sheathing. I think the prices were ~$89 for the V8 and ~$29 for the SE, but this was 6 months ago. I just checked and the price of the V8 wire set has gone up; the wires for the SE are still that price.

Though this is speculation on my part, I believe the high quality aftermarket sets sold by places like JAE or RD Enterprises are 100% exactly these Kingborne wires just with the Kingsborne packaging removed. Other owners have also confirmed my speculation. Buying these wires directly from Kingsborne is a savings of 50 to 75% from the Lotus specialists I have dealt with.

I have yet to hear an issue with Kingsborne wire sets. I have installed them on a 2.0 NA Esprit, several 2.2 Turbo Esprits, one Elan M100 and my V8. The Elan M100 is a "bugger" to get quality parts for, so Kingsborne saved the day there.

I have no financial incentive to promote this company. They just sold me a quality product at a more than fair price.

AP

Here is their web site:

http://kingsborne.com/

Edited February 21, 2010 by andrewp1989