Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1990

Lotus Elan SE Turbo 1990

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Discussion

silverspeed

Original Poster:

1,505 posts

237 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
quotequote all
Just purchase a very genuine example which I am really looking forward to picking up at the weekend - hope the weather is ok !!

A few questions that I am trying to search answers for .Should there be a remote central locking fob or was it just key operated?

There is a 1 inch cut in the roof . I have been advised to get it repaired but I am thinking best replace. Have put a couple of enquiries out to local firms awaiting cost. Any indication on cost for supply and fit that I should work towards?

The history file shows an almost annual trip to the service centre for seized brakes . It may be that the car hasn't done much mileage. Are the callipers an issue ?

They are fantastic cars and the design has stood the test of time really well.

Kaiser_Wull

149 posts

187 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
quotequote all
silverspeed said:
Just purchase a very genuine example which I am really looking forward to picking up at the weekend - hope the weather is ok !!

A few questions that I am trying to search answers for .Should there be a remote central locking fob or was it just key operated?

There is a 1 inch cut in the roof . I have been advised to get it repaired but I am thinking best replace. Have put a couple of enquiries out to local firms awaiting cost. Any indication on cost for supply and fit that I should work towards?

The history file shows an almost annual trip to the service centre for seized brakes . It may be that the car hasn't done much mileage. Are the callipers an issue ?

They are fantastic cars and the design has stood the test of time really well.
Neither the Elan nor the Elan SE models had remote central locking, unlike the later Elan S2. Some cars have, however, been fitted with aftermarket alarm/central locking systems - if so, there should be a fob. Best thing is to check with the seller.

New hoods are not cheap. Budget for at least £600 or so for a new roof to be supplied and fitted onto the existing frame - new frames are no longer available.

The standard calipers can be a pain. The sliding pins seize unless properly maintained. Sliding pin kits are not expensive (under £10 a side). It is possible to fit uprated calipers, and there are a number of options available.

Best thing to do is to head along to www.lotuselancentral.com. There's a mine of information available there, as well as a lot of experienced Elan owners who will be happy to help out.

Finally, enjoy your Elan. They're a blast.

GT03ROB

13,570 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
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Mine tends not to travel too far, but I've yet to have a problem with seized calipers.

Gogoplata

1,272 posts

167 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
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Get yourself over to the LEC. Bob can sort out your brakes - he can either upgrade them or he sells improved sliding pins that don't stick, otherwise you'll find yourself stripping the brakes down every few months or so.

Get yourself a Mountain chip (about £100 or so) which is an easy to install upgrade that will get you ~200bhp, and I'd highly recommend Bob's short shifter (about £75) and enjoy!

ravon

603 posts

289 months

Wednesday 4th April 2012
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Have owned an S2 from new, always been well looked after but a couple of years ago I noticed the beginnings of serious rust on the cross member behind the engine and ahead of the front baulk-head, not a place you'd ever think to look. Brake fluid leaks, or spills from the master cylinder and eventually destroys the chassis coating material. As a consequence I've completely stripped the car, scraped all loose coating materials from the chassis, treated and re coated everything I could get at, shot blasted, metal sprayed and powder-coated every suspension component and removable bracket, re bushed every moving part, vapour blasted the aluminium uprights and raft components and re plated every nut bolt and washer. The chassis and rear wishbones have been Dinitrol injected internally, so hopefully it will remain a great sports car for years to come ! To carry out this work took two of us about two weeks, but the finished result is hugely satisfying.