GFWilliams Purple, Slightly Modified, Exige V6

[GFWilliams]

2 hours ago, Karls said:

Paint your garage walls with white masonry paint; you’ll be amazed how much nicer and larger it makes the space feel. How long was the drive to North Wales btw?

I’ve thought about doing this, but it’s fairly low down the list. I need to re-seal the roof first as it gets a bit damp in there sometimes.

Aim is to buy a house which has a proper garage at some stage, then this garage will just be for car parts!

[GFWilliams]

Time to discuss thoughts about my car and things I’d like to do in the future...

As I’ve said previously, I have no intention of ever selling the car, so the more I can get it to “perfection” for me, the happier I’ll be.  With that in mind, there are a few things I’d like to eventually do.

First of all, the gear linkage. While it’s accurate with the SSC cables, and I don’t ever mis shift, the exposed shifter from the Sport 350 onwards both looks a lot better, but also feels better.  The 430 Cup press car I drove was very tight though, so I have my concerns that it might not actually be an improvement in some ways.  My original thoughts were to try and get the factory parts, but unfortunately it seems like there are underlying differences which mean it might not work on an Exige S.  The gearbox cables come out on different sides of the gearbox on the newer cars, well as they both come out on the same side on my car.  I would have liked to change the linkage mechanism on the transmission side too, but it seems that’s not possible.  I will try to measure the distance of throw on the cables on an exposed linkage Exige, then on mine and see how they compare.  If the distance is close enough, the conversion may be possible.  The problem still remains that it’s expensive to do at over £2500 in parts, without labour...

The other option is to go with the Inokinetic ShiftR111.  It’s a nice looking thing, but I’m not aware of any V6 Exige which have fitted it.  I also don’t know how it compares to the factory linkage in feel.  I’m hoping to visit their facility next week to try to have a proper look at it. My thinking is that if they have a version which works for Evoras, the Elise/Exige version should work fine, but it remains to be seen when I visit and work it out.

The other option involves a bit of waiting, but is to install a DSG gearbox when someone develops it and makes it work.  Several people tell me they’re working on it, but it’s not simple by the sound of it. It requires new ECUs to make it work, so also not going to be cheap.  To me, the idea of a DSG gearbox appeals massively, with bonuses in how easy it is to drive in traffic, and also with performance benefits.  Stick in a lightweight battery and you’ve negated most of the weight difference too.

So moving on from the linkage, there are some visual changes I’d like to do.  These are all things I’d like to do, it’s just a question of exactly how, and what order.

I want to do:
 - Big Wing
 - 380 front service hatch
 - 430 Cup rear diffuser
 - Finish trimming interior

Big wing - I was thinking that I’d like to eventually do a Cup R kit.  Thinking about it, I think that compromises the car as a road car too much as I can no longer easily use the boot.  Of all the aftermarket wings, Komo-tec have had the best looking one for quite a while, then IMO the 380 Cup wing is the best looking of all the OEM wings.  Of course, the 380 Cup wing from Lotus is silly money so not a viable option for me to justify. The good news thought is that SSC in Australia have now started making a 380 Cup replica wing, which looks identical, maybe even better quality than OEM. It even has carbon end plates instead of plastic ones from Lotus.

So I think I’ll go for this 380 Cup replica wing, it works out as about £1200 plus £200 in postage. It will likely have duty also when it comes into the UK.  If anyone else in the UK is interested, then postage cost will reduce per person I’m sure (dm me).

380 front service hatch - I think this will freshen up the look of my car quite a lot, but I’m not a fan of the look in carbon as it breaks up the yellow a lot. I’ve been trying to decide how I’d like it for the last 6 months and still can’t make up my mind. Either paint the 380 hatch (may as well go for GRP if painting) in Liquid Yellow, or I go for carbon.  There was a yellow 380 with a painted front access panel, and to be honest I don’t think it looked great, but it was solar yellow, which doesn’t really show the shape as much as Liquid Yellow.  

430 Cup diffuser - not much debate on this one, I want to do it, it’s just getting round to it. Cost is about £600.

Finish Trimming interior - this will be done next month with D:Class.  I dropped in a few weeks ago to discuss it all with them and we decided to keep things fairly simple with design as I think too much can ruin a car.  So we decided to do:
 - Dash top in Alcantara with black diamond stitch. We will also hope to trim in the race logic lap timer so it’s nicely integrated. I also want to get a clear section put in for my parking permit to slide into (annoying, but better than having it in the windscreen)
 - Steering cowling - Black Alcantara over full area. They’ll also make my carbon dash binnacle fit for me
 - Roof lining - Black Alcantara with black stitching
 - Door trims - Black leather and black Alcantara - yellow diamond stitching.
 - Trinket tray - annoying as the one bit which can’t be removed as it’s part of the chassis - will be trimmed in Alcantara with a yellow stitch along the leading edge.

I'm not in a rush to do any of this stuff really, it all costs quite a bit of money, and my aim for this year is to spend more time on track, so I don't want to waste all of my money making the car look pretty when I could be using it for track time & tuition.

 

[Mattmahope]

George, I am with you on much of this. Fortunately my 350 already has the open gear linkage (which sealed the deal for me initially purchasing the car) and personally I would always want to retain a manual rather than DSG (it’s not a daily driver for me) but the 430 Cup rear diffuser and newer style front access panel are definitely on my list. I plan to go carbon for the front panel as it works with my red/black colour scheme. Eventually I also plan to fit a carbon roof and rear access hatch (I like the look of the one Eltech do) so it would all hopefully go together nicely.

What supplier would you use for the front access panel? I assume Lotus for the rear diffuser? £600 for that doesn’t sound like the usual daylight robbery!

The SSC wing looks great too and I totally agree that Cup R spec is too much of a pain for decent road use. What are the supports like with that?

Making the interior nicer is at the bottom of my list. At the moment it still looks virtually brand new so I plan to leave it until it gets a bit tired and then do a re-trim.

Before any of the above however I am planning to get the rest of my 2bular kit fitted (which is currently at Zircotec getting a Performance White coating) and do a TVS1900 upgrade. Trying to decide/justify whether to go regular or charge cooled... 🤷‍♂️

Finally thanks for the cracking thread as usual. Always a fun an informative read!

[Gordon S]

George, you say there are people out there trying to make a DSG box fit the Exige. Any idea how far they’ve got so far? Have they given anything away at all?

If they do manage it, I’m guessing it’ll be a £10-15k mod. 

[NANO]

@GFWilliams

you still have good work ahead of you to program and I'm sure they'll make your baby look even better, already beautiful ...

- have you ever thought, at this point, of making a sequential gear that you can also use on the road ?

- and make a motor cover ( CUP R fiberglass ) and rear wing from eltech with supports of the 380 CUP anodized in black ?

- and make a new roof with a superior air intake ?

 

[GFWilliams]

7 hours ago, Mattmahope said:

George, I am with you on much of this. Fortunately my 350 already has the open gear linkage (which sealed the deal for me initially purchasing the car) and personally I would always want to retain a manual rather than DSG (it’s not a daily driver for me) but the 430 Cup rear diffuser and newer style front access panel are definitely on my list. I plan to go carbon for the front panel as it works with my red/black colour scheme. Eventually I also plan to fit a carbon roof and rear access hatch (I like the look of the one Eltech do) so it would all hopefully go together nicely.

What supplier would you use for the front access panel? I assume Lotus for the rear diffuser? £600 for that doesn’t sound like the usual daylight robbery!

The SSC wing looks great too and I totally agree that Cup R spec is too much of a pain for decent road use. What are the supports like with that?

Making the interior nicer is at the bottom of my list. At the moment it still looks virtually brand new so I plan to leave it until it gets a bit tired and then do a re-trim.

Before any of the above however I am planning to get the rest of my 2bular kit fitted (which is currently at Zircotec getting a Performance White coating) and do a TVS1900 upgrade. Trying to decide/justify whether to go regular or charge cooled... 🤷‍♂️

Finally thanks for the cracking thread as usual. Always a fun an informative read!

I personally think DSG would improve the car, in the same way that PDK has for the GT3RS. It's a personal thing, but for lap times, it's a good thing, and I don't think it would take away from the character of the car at all. In fact I think it would add to the uniqueness of my car.

For front access panel, I think I'd use Elise-parts. They are Win-ace supplied parts and seem good.

Supports for the SSC wing look the same as factory 380 wing. 

My interior makes my car so much nicer. I think finishing it off would help a lot. Remember it's where you spend most of the time with the car!  I might change the black air vents out for silver ones to lift the interior a little.

Personally I'd wait to go CC or don't go TVS1900 at all.  I think it's a waste of money to go for the non CC option, as covered in the other threads many times

6 hours ago, Gordon S said:

George, you say there are people out there trying to make a DSG box fit the Exige. Any idea how far they’ve got so far? Have they given anything away at all?

If they do manage it, I’m guessing it’ll be a £10-15k mod. 

Not heard huge amounts apart from being told development is going well.  No one has told me what costs to expect, but the actual boxes aren't too expensive, so the cost is in installation, any custom brackets needed, and software development time. £10k fair to assume, but I think it would have as much of an impact on the car as the 460 kit did, so worth that IMO.

4 hours ago, NANO said:

@GFWilliams

you still have good work ahead of you to program and I'm sure they'll make your baby look even better, already beautiful ...

- have you ever thought, at this point, of making a sequential gear that you can also use on the road ?

- and make a motor cover ( CUP R fiberglass ) and rear wing from eltech with supports of the 380 CUP anodized in black ?

- and make a new roof with a superior air intake ?

Sequential gearboxes are fantastic on track, but on the road they're just too extreme for me. I've spent a few weeks with a Caterham 620R, and while it suits that application, it would ruin an Exige for me.

I don't really want to use Eltech, too many long waits and problems reported by others.  The problem with a lot of engine covers is that they prevent rear visibility, and I think if you use a car a lot that this is essential. Also, I think the uprights from Eltech look awful, the factory ones are so much better.

Nothing wrong with the side intake, it's still producing 460hp. Roof scoop unnecessary IMO and would just add drag to the car.

[Kristof Thys]

If you do the front access panel in carbon, for me, you need the carbon front lip and carbon side intakes too.  This is the whole reason as to way I painted the side intakes and the 380 front access panel in gloss black, to stay consistent with all the other black bits (window surround, mirror mount, wing mounts, fuel filler surround, etc.

 

 

[chumaxa]

I can tell you that few V6s have received the shiftR system, not in the uk weirdly enough. I have been in contact with inokinetic, until they told me the delivery fee was 600 pounds or so ... from there I gave up, now if we are 3 people who want to get it, we could make a group order and share the fee ?  I have someone ready to try to fit here in the midland. Otherwise I have an address in France, they already done it a few times, just need to drive there  ....

That access panel painted looks very complicated and in line with the face design.

So you sold your wing, and now buying an other one ? I know this is suppose to be a 380 end plate copy cat, but it is not close at all in term of surface on these pictures ... It is much cheaper though, so you have to accept that fact I guess ..

[alias23]

Told you it wouldn’t be long till you had a big wing again!

Looking forward to you actually spending time and money on track this year with me vs buying sparkley helmets and Halfords pinstripes 😜

[RoflOnMyWaffle]

Dayum!

Could be worse - spend it on Gold wheels 🤣

[GFWilliams]

6 hours ago, chumaxa said:

I can tell you that few V6s have received the shiftR system, not in the uk weirdly enough. I have been in contact with inokinetic, until they told me the delivery fee was 600 pounds or so ... from there I gave up, now if we are 3 people who want to get it, we could make a group order and share the fee ?  I have someone ready to try to fit here in the midland. Otherwise I have an address in France, they already done it a few times, just need to drive there  ....

That access panel painted looks very complicated and in line with the face design.

So you sold your wing, and now buying an other one ? I know this is suppose to be a 380 end plate copy cat, but it is not close at all in term of surface on these pictures ... It is much cheaper though, so you have to accept that fact I guess ..

I’m in California at the moment so might be able to take it home in a suitcase instead of needing postage.... still undecided though!

I sold the old big wing as I needed the money at the time. I also wasn’t a big fan of the end plate design. 

To me, the SSC wing is the most viable option for me. I think the quality is good, and from what I’ve heard it’s very good.

6 hours ago, alias23 said:

Told you it wouldn’t be long till you had a big wing again!

Looking forward to you actually spending time and money on track this year with me vs buying sparkley helmets and Halfords pinstripes 😜

I’m not 100% decided on the wing, not sure I want to be part of the gay club again yet 🌈

Track time soon, in fact I’m at Goodwood on the 1st June as soon as I’m back from the US.

6 hours ago, RoflOnMyWaffle said:

Dayum!

Could be worse - spend it on Gold wheels 🤣

Yeah, that would be worse. 😬

[GFWilliams]

6 hours ago, chumaxa said:

I can tell you that few V6s have received the shiftR system, not in the uk weirdly enough. I have been in contact with inokinetic, until they told me the delivery fee was 600 pounds or so ... from there I gave up, now if we are 3 people who want to get it, we could make a group order and share the fee ?  I have someone ready to try to fit here in the midland. Otherwise I have an address in France, they already done it a few times, just need to drive there  ....

That access panel painted looks very complicated and in line with the face design.

So you sold your wing, and now buying an other one ? I know this is suppose to be a 380 end plate copy cat, but it is not close at all in term of surface on these pictures ... It is much cheaper though, so you have to accept that fact I guess ..

I’m in California at the moment so might be able to take it home in a suitcase instead of needing postage.... still undecided though!

I sold the old big wing as I needed the money at the time. I also wasn’t a big fan of the end plate design. 

To me, the SSC wing is the most viable option for me. I think the quality is good, and from what I’ve heard it’s very good.

6 hours ago, alias23 said:

Told you it wouldn’t be long till you had a big wing again!

Looking forward to you actually spending time and money on track this year with me vs buying sparkley helmets and Halfords pinstripes 😜

I’m not 100% decided on the wing, not sure I want to be part of the gay club again yet 🌈

Track time soon, in fact I’m at Goodwood on the 1st June as soon as I’m back from the US.

6 hours ago, RoflOnMyWaffle said:

Dayum!

Could be worse - spend it on Gold wheels 🤣

Yeah, that would be worse. 😬

[Christian H]

GFWilliams, just take the straight komotec wing.. You just know what you'll get and it works and looks great. You could even stick some other endplates on it if necessary. 

For me personally this is the only real solution because i can get german TÜV on it. 

[chumaxa]

10 hours ago, GFWilliams said:

I’m in California at the moment so might be able to take it home in a suitcase instead of needing postage.... still undecided though!

I sold the old big wing as I needed the money at the time. I also wasn’t a big fan of the end plate design. 

To me, the SSC wing is the most viable option for me. I think the quality is good, and from what I’ve heard it’s very good.

I’m not 100% decided on the wing, not sure I want to be part of the gay club again yet 🌈

Track time soon, in fact I’m at Goodwood on the 1st June as soon as I’m back from the US.

Yeah, that would be worse. 😬

Well, would you take 2 in your suit case then ?  

[RRSSS]

19 hours ago, alias23 said:

Told you it wouldn’t be long till you had a big wing again!

Looking forward to you actually spending time and money on track this year with me vs buying sparkley helmets and Halfords pinstripes 😜

@alias23 Don't hate the sparkly helmets! Although the mis matched pinstripes are next level classiness 😜

[wilchelus]

@GFWilliams I have heard from SSC that they are engineering a full custom retrofit linkage that looks the same as the linkage from the 410/430 for the earlier exige v6's. So that could be another option in the future. 

[GFWilliams]

Small update - despite my list above, I ordered a gearbox cooler from Komo-tec instead.  When doing modifications, I like to think on them for a week or two. If I’m not sure I don’t go ahead.  I’m in two minds about all the stuff apart from the trimming, so thought I’d be better to wait a bit before making a decision.  A gearbox cooler is very highly advisable of tracking the car, so I thought it was the more sensible option.

I decided to go for the KT gearbox cooler over the H111 option because of the mounting position. The H111 cooler mounts in the undertray in the low hanging vent. If you look at Most Exige V6 undertrays, this vent has damage or has scraped, etc.  There was a case of a H111 cooler failing on the first outing due to a stone entering it and while I accept this is unlikely, it is more likely to happen with that mounting position. The way the cooler works is to pump the gearbox oil through a small radiator. If the radiator gets pierced or damaged by either debris or taking a hit when bottomed out, this can cause leaks, which if you don’t spot, will reduce the amount of oil in the gearbox. Leave it too long and you’ll have no/minimal oil left and the gearbox will fail.

With this in mind, I decided to go for the KT gearbox cooler, which mounts in the drivers side (if RHD) side intake pod.   The KT option is a bit more expensive, but I believe it’s a safer option, and avoiding failure is pretty important with the gearbox!

Back on Track will fit it for me.

[tomprout]

46 minutes ago, GFWilliams said:

Back on Track will fit it for me.

Would be nice to have some pictures of the kit installed. 😉

[NANO]

6 hours ago, tomprout said:

Would be nice to have some pictures of the kit installed. 😉

+ 1   

[NW76]

In my opinion a must upgrade if you go for the EX460 and regularly track your car.

[GFWilliams]

23 hours ago, tomprout said:

Would be nice to have some pictures of the kit installed. 😉

Will do my best to, although depends if I end up staying while they install it. Debating whether I get some 380 Cup carbon side pods to install while one side is off the car anyway...

12 hours ago, NW76 said:

In my opinion a must upgrade if you go for the EX460 and regularly track your car.

I haven't done huge amounts of trackdays, but intend to do more this year.  I have Spa booked for 1st October and would like to do Donnington and Snetterton over summer.  I'll likely book Silverstone over winter when it's a bit cheaper again, would like to do it just after it gets the new surface... 

[RRSSS]

2 hours ago, GFWilliams said:

Will do my best to, although depends if I end up staying while they install it. Debating whether I get some 380 Cup carbon side pods to install while one side is off the car anyway.... 

Thought the 380 Cup side intakes were not real carbon?

[RedViper]

3 hours ago, GFWilliams said:

Will do my best to, although depends if I end up staying while they install it. Debating whether I get some 380 Cup carbon side pods to install while one side is off the car anyway...

I haven't done huge amounts of trackdays, but intend to do more this year.  I have Spa booked for 1st October and would like to do Donnington and Snetterton over summer.  I'll likely book Silverstone over winter when it's a bit cheaper again, would like to do it just after it gets the new surface... 

Donnington 12th August with Lotus On Track 👍. 

[GFWilliams]

2 hours ago, RRSSS said:

Thought the 380 Cup side intakes were not real carbon?

OEM 380 Cup side pods are not real carbon.

The ones from Elise-Shop are real carbon.

https://www.elise-shop.com/exige-v6-380-cup-side-vent-cover-carbon-fibre-exige-v6-p-503461.html?zenid=251af575a00c7675346900108873b904

 

1 hour ago, RedViper said:

Donnington 12th August with Lotus On Track 👍. 

I don't like sessioned days, much prefer open pitlane

[Jack]

Gordon, do you know if those scoops are wider than the standard 350 ones?