Top Tips: Elise S2 "sports" exhaust

[Captain Muppet]

[Viz stylee]
Elise S2 owners: rather than spend hundreds on "sports" exhausts to improve the sound of your engine, simply remove the solenoid controlling the butterfly valve on one of the tail pipes and wire the valve open. This will save money and weight.
[/Viz stylee]

Seriously - has anyone tried this? It should sound better at idle but cost no money at all. I would have a go but I have no Elise to play with. As an added bonus the valve is bound to go wrong at some point - might as well make sure it's stuck open.

[bogie]

That exhaust is only on the S2 111S - not the std S2 ...it does make it sound a bit better ...but not as good as the S2 111S sports exhaust (which also gives a few more bhp)

[lavaman]

I was at Murray Motor co today getting some work done to the car today and drove a demonstrator Elise 135 Sport with a sports exhaust + induction kit fitted. I have to say it sounded quite meaty and I would have ordered it on the spot to replace the S2 111S exhaust...only for them to quote me about £680 which includes fitting and VAT. A tad expensive if you ask me

[Captain Muppet]

lavaman said: I was at Murray Motor co today getting some work done to the car today and drove a demonstrator Elise 135 Sport with a sports exhaust + induction kit fitted. I have to say it sounded quite meaty and I would have ordered it on the spot to replace the S2 111S exhaust...only for them to quote me about £680 which includes fitting and VAT. A tad expensive if you ask me

Try the mod to the butterfly valve - it's free and I can't wait to find out if it sounds better at idle and small throttle openings (it works on inlet manifold pressure, I think)

I realise that it won't make any more power but then it won't put your insurance up either.

[bogie]

£680 ! thats outrageous ...give it a few months until the independants have them - they will be £350-£400 then

Could try Sinclaires www.lotusrepairs.com - they deal with janspeed - maybe they could get you one cheaper.

[Captain Muppet]

Captain Muppet said:

lavaman said: I was at Murray Motor co today getting some work done to the car today and drove a demonstrator Elise 135 Sport with a sports exhaust + induction kit fitted. I have to say it sounded quite meaty and I would have ordered it on the spot to replace the S2 111S exhaust...only for them to quote me about £680 which includes fitting and VAT. A tad expensive if you ask me

Try the mod to the butterfly valve - it's free and I can't wait to find out if it sounds better at idle and small throttle openings (it works on inlet manifold pressure, I think)

I realise that it won't make any more power but then it won't put your insurance up either.

Please someone, try it. I'm going nuts.

[bogie]

Ive heard an S2111S thats had this mod done - cant tell much (if any difference) to be honest...it still sounds like a sewing machine

You can get the S2111S Janspeed sports exhaust now for £350 ish ...well worth it..and if you tell your insurers it was a factory option (which it is) then it wont put the insurance up either

[tonykart]

I have done the mod but not removed the solenoid yet. Tell me, do you have to seal up the vacuum pipe? If so, what with? I'm sure it's not a good idea to just leave it open. Also, is there any way of just stopping the vacuum altogether?

The mod defintely makes it louder at idle and lower revs, makes no difference to higher revs though and the valve would open then anyway.

The induction kit makes a great sound but again, you lose that sound after 5000rpm so need a sports exhaust to carry it on.

My round tip Tubi will be ready in 4 weeks....

[Captain Muppet]

tonykart said: I have done the mod but not removed the solenoid yet. Tell me, do you have to seal up the vacuum pipe? If so, what with? I'm sure it's not a good idea to just leave it open. Also, is there any way of just stopping the vacuum altogether?

The mod defintely makes it louder at idle and lower revs, makes no difference to higher revs though and the valve would open then anyway.

The induction kit makes a great sound but again, you lose that sound after 5000rpm so need a sports exhaust to carry it on.

My round tip Tubi will be ready in 4 weeks....

Cool - that's exactly what I expected. You do have to seal up the vacuum pipe as it leads in to the plenum (sucking all kinds of crap into the engine). A bolt with an unthreaded portion under the head, held in with a cable tie will do the job.

[lama]

Anybody have any experience with a Bell & Colvill sports exhaust? Worth £600? Also, will the various sports exhausts (with or without induction kits) pass the noise limitations at various tracks? For example, I think the Bedford Autodrome has a 110db limit, which is pretty low. Any advice would be appreciated!

[tonykart]

lama said: Anybody have any experience with a Bell & Colvill sports exhaust? Worth £600? Also, will the various sports exhausts (with or without induction kits) pass the noise limitations at various tracks? For example, I think the Bedford Autodrome has a 110db limit, which is pretty low. Any advice would be appreciated!

My mate has the BC exhaust. Sounds very crackly, almost like a rally car. It's very light, looks the biz and sounds good. His is quite loud but that's with a CRP. I'm sure it's OK if you keep the CAT on.

[DanH]

Got the B&C with CAT still on and its one of the nicer sounding ones imho. Not that crackly with a CAT and not too wearing on the motorway.

[lama]

Thanks for the thoughts. I spoke with B&C yesterday as well, and they assured me that the B&C sports exhaust is "Goodwood friendly" (i.e., it will pass the noise restrictions at places like Goodwood, Bedford Autodrome, etc.).