Elise 111S Exhaust sound
Discussion
Hi
Just joined having just bought an 03 Elise 111s.
It has a standard exhaust system which doesn't sound too great.
Would fitting a cold air induction system (easy fix) improve the exhaust sound?
Does anyone have any system they would recommend and why? Also where is best to buy from?
I had a Piper Cross system on my S1 but I also had sports exhaust which sounded great.
I am also thinking of fitting a quick shift lever.
Any advice would be really appreciated. Beau
Just joined having just bought an 03 Elise 111s.
It has a standard exhaust system which doesn't sound too great.
Would fitting a cold air induction system (easy fix) improve the exhaust sound?
Does anyone have any system they would recommend and why? Also where is best to buy from?
I had a Piper Cross system on my S1 but I also had sports exhaust which sounded great.
I am also thinking of fitting a quick shift lever.
Any advice would be really appreciated. Beau
yeah - just fit a Hurricane or such like from www.eliseparts.com
quickshift is good - also consider the linkage kit fro improved feel - also from Eliseparts
quickshift is good - also consider the linkage kit fro improved feel - also from Eliseparts
Hi Beau
Welcome mate.
I've an '03 111S also. I've done 3 essential things to it.
1) Hurricane
2) Larini Clubsport exhaust
3) Quickshift
1) Transforms the noise of the car, especially from the inside
2) Makes the car sound like a sportscar should, also reduces weight.
3) Much better feel to the shift.
I think all three add up to make the car truly feel much, much more like it should in the first place, and all for about 500 squids.
Go for it my boy!
Welcome mate.
I've an '03 111S also. I've done 3 essential things to it.
1) Hurricane
2) Larini Clubsport exhaust
3) Quickshift
1) Transforms the noise of the car, especially from the inside
2) Makes the car sound like a sportscar should, also reduces weight.
3) Much better feel to the shift.
I think all three add up to make the car truly feel much, much more like it should in the first place, and all for about 500 squids.
Go for it my boy!
Hurricane improved the sound no end. Also for now it's worth removing the orange pipe that goes into the offside tailpipe (you'll see it behind the reflector). This sticks open the exhaust valve and makes it a bit boomier at low revs. Nowhere near as good as a sports exhaust but noticably different and a good stop-gap. Just make sure you block the pipe off (self-tapping screw and a cable tie should do the job) as it goes to the plenum.
I totally agree with doing something about the rather tinny sound of the standard 111s exhaust. I made the following mods to the 111s in order of having put them on:
1) Induction - I went cheap & cheerful - K/N kit. Idea was to improve the sound and it did give a nice loud induction noise. No noticeable power increase. Probably reduced power at low speeds because it draws air from the hot engine bay. Filtration not that great - small particles apparently get through. Hurricane is a much better product and ITG etc v expensive.
2) Shortshifter and gear linkage - what a transformation - great precise gearshift feel. Best £86 I spent.
3) Larini exhaust - great sound - completely transformed the car. I thought it was a bit boomy with the K/N induction kit at motorway speeds. Much lighter than standard with a great roar when you gun it. Quiet enough for trackdays. Better midrange torque + the engine is much more willing to rev. I hit the limiter at times when the engine was wheezing with the standard zorst.
I have actually put the cold air box back on and have ordered a panel filter. The Larini is now more civilised and the power is definitely better than with the K/N at low speeds. I will be putting in an ITG panel filter in the standard airbox.
Beyond that, I have harnesses (kept the inertial reels as well for convenience) - this was great on the track and improves braking control (you don't slide forward in the seat)
Otherwise speakers etc - see other topics on this forum.
Its all down to personal taste. Personally I found the exhaust better than the K/N induction option in terms of sound and performance. Either way, welcome to the lotus clan and enjoy the smiles and fun that lie ahead. Just keep it safe in the wet!
1) Induction - I went cheap & cheerful - K/N kit. Idea was to improve the sound and it did give a nice loud induction noise. No noticeable power increase. Probably reduced power at low speeds because it draws air from the hot engine bay. Filtration not that great - small particles apparently get through. Hurricane is a much better product and ITG etc v expensive.
2) Shortshifter and gear linkage - what a transformation - great precise gearshift feel. Best £86 I spent.
3) Larini exhaust - great sound - completely transformed the car. I thought it was a bit boomy with the K/N induction kit at motorway speeds. Much lighter than standard with a great roar when you gun it. Quiet enough for trackdays. Better midrange torque + the engine is much more willing to rev. I hit the limiter at times when the engine was wheezing with the standard zorst.
I have actually put the cold air box back on and have ordered a panel filter. The Larini is now more civilised and the power is definitely better than with the K/N at low speeds. I will be putting in an ITG panel filter in the standard airbox.
Beyond that, I have harnesses (kept the inertial reels as well for convenience) - this was great on the track and improves braking control (you don't slide forward in the seat)
Otherwise speakers etc - see other topics on this forum.
Its all down to personal taste. Personally I found the exhaust better than the K/N induction option in terms of sound and performance. Either way, welcome to the lotus clan and enjoy the smiles and fun that lie ahead. Just keep it safe in the wet!
Blimey...thanks guys for the quick responses and advice.
Seems like the Quick shift and Hurricane induction kit from EliseParts are certs. I'll have to rotate the filter housing around though - having Hurricane splattered all over it is a bit naff...unless I splurged out on Carbon Fibre!!
So together with nice blue rubbery hosey bit between filter and throttle body that means we've spent about £300 of my squids so far.
enjybenjy - can you tell me more about the Larini exhaust? -why that make? Where from and how much? Did you fit it yourself? Answer all zese qvestions or else you vill be shot.
Thanks all. B
Seems like the Quick shift and Hurricane induction kit from EliseParts are certs. I'll have to rotate the filter housing around though - having Hurricane splattered all over it is a bit naff...unless I splurged out on Carbon Fibre!!
So together with nice blue rubbery hosey bit between filter and throttle body that means we've spent about £300 of my squids so far.
enjybenjy - can you tell me more about the Larini exhaust? -why that make? Where from and how much? Did you fit it yourself? Answer all zese qvestions or else you vill be shot.
Thanks all. B
Larini because out of the ones I've heard, I liked it best. Another big factor was that we did a Pistonheads group buy and got 20% off!
It bubbles away on tickover, disguises the 111S tappy engine noise, you can make it as loud or as quiet as you want, quite easily with your right foot - but it don't half sound good when you boot it.
I got my local garage to fit it, about 1 hour labour, although if you had the space you could do it yourself - only problem would be if your cat bolts were rusted. Frankly I couldn't be arsed to roll around underneath swearing, so I paid the garage about £40 to do it.
You get it from www.larinisystems.com, around the £400 mark. There are plenty of other zorsts - new Janspeed out might be worth a shot...
I think these 3 mods are an essential for transforming the Elise. Anything further is more for track gain, although maybe brake pads is another option. My standard pads make SO much dust as well. Pagids the mutt's nuts, very expensive. I've heard Mintex are good and much cheaper. My missus has GreenStuff on her S1 which feel better than my S2 pads and make bugger all dust; they also seem to stop better in the rain.
Hope this helps.
It bubbles away on tickover, disguises the 111S tappy engine noise, you can make it as loud or as quiet as you want, quite easily with your right foot - but it don't half sound good when you boot it.
I got my local garage to fit it, about 1 hour labour, although if you had the space you could do it yourself - only problem would be if your cat bolts were rusted. Frankly I couldn't be arsed to roll around underneath swearing, so I paid the garage about £40 to do it.
You get it from www.larinisystems.com, around the £400 mark. There are plenty of other zorsts - new Janspeed out might be worth a shot...
I think these 3 mods are an essential for transforming the Elise. Anything further is more for track gain, although maybe brake pads is another option. My standard pads make SO much dust as well. Pagids the mutt's nuts, very expensive. I've heard Mintex are good and much cheaper. My missus has GreenStuff on her S1 which feel better than my S2 pads and make bugger all dust; they also seem to stop better in the rain.
Hope this helps.
I installed the larini myself in just over an hour - the cat bolts were rusty, but I cut them off with an angle grinder in about 15 min. My local garage wanted 3 hours labour @ over £120.
I chose the larini for the sound - heard it at the same time as a quicksilver and a janspeed. Less raspy and great note. Check for a thread from Tony Hetherington a couple of months ago where he recorded a before and after (standard vs larini). He has the standard airbox. Don't expect huge gains from the induction kit (maybe 2bhp).
The shortshifter is easy to install - about half an hour if you are quick. The linkage I couldn't be bothered to toil with - garage charged me an hour labour - great mod.
I chose the larini for the sound - heard it at the same time as a quicksilver and a janspeed. Less raspy and great note. Check for a thread from Tony Hetherington a couple of months ago where he recorded a before and after (standard vs larini). He has the standard airbox. Don't expect huge gains from the induction kit (maybe 2bhp).
The shortshifter is easy to install - about half an hour if you are quick. The linkage I couldn't be bothered to toil with - garage charged me an hour labour - great mod.
The main issue I found after I installed just the quickshifter was the lateral play on the gearshift. You could wobble the stick about 3 inches from side to side when in gear. The linkage kit really tightened it up - now way less than an inch of wobble, (all of which is just play within the gearbox itself, not play in the linkage). It now feels so much more precise. The only drawback (which I personally like) is that you need more force to engage the gears with the shortshifter (shorter lever arm). It feels like a racing box now - reminds me of the bolt on my Bisley rifle.
>> Edited by shangani on Monday 24th October 23:47
>> Edited by shangani on Monday 24th October 23:47
Still waiting for my exhaust, sob...Installing the shortshifter is straightforward. THe hassle is wrestling the centre console off over the handbrake and gearshift. A bit of creative tugging required. After that it is three bolts anchoring the gearshift - socket set is handy but not essential - I think it was a No 15 but might have faulty recollection. Putting in the new shortshifter is a reverse. Eliseparts website has pictures. It genuinely took me about half an hour start to finish.
Beau111s said:
I'll have to rotate the filter housing around though - having Hurricane splattered all over it is a bit naff...unless I splurged out on Carbon Fibre!!
I wouldn't. The housing has a small hole in the base (when its mounted correctly) that stops any water collecting by letting it drain away.
I have the CF one, but I think with the standard one you can take the sticker off.
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