Auction: 2007 Lotus Europa S
Discussion
Sorry but lots of important questions for you as Lotus cars need careful attention:
1. Is car Newport Wales or Newport Isle of Wight?
2. Has the car been wrapped in any PPF or had ceramic coating?
3. Photos were taken on shingle drive so hard to tell paint damage from reflections. It looks as though there's significant gravel rash on lower side panels (both sides) in front of rear wheel arches, on inside edges of rear wheel arches, and on rear view mirror front faces. Is that correct or is it reflections from the shingle or washing residue? If necessary is it possible to do a Facetime video to review any paint damage that might be evident?
4. Does the paintwork have any osmosis bubbles in or under the paint surface (a v well known Lotus issue), & has it had any in the past that have required a respray (& if so what areas)?
5. Has a Lotus specialist advised what is wrong with AC and how much to repair it (compressor, ducts thru' sills etc...)?
6. Do all electrical items & systems work as they should inc. wipers, lights, instruments, switches, alarm/immobiliser?
7. Does the car have the factory alarm/immobiliser or other system?
8. Is the pressurised tyre repair kit & compressor present & correct?
9. Are there any rainwater leaks that enter the cabin, boot or engine bay?
10. Are there are mechanical problems with the car that require fixing now or imminently?
11. Is any of the recent mechanical work still under warranty?
12. Are there any chips or crack sin the headlights, rear lights or windscreen?
13. Has the engine had the reinforcing straps/fixings installed to stop known vibration (it's a common upgrade owners make)?
14. Are the original alloy wheels supplied with the car or any other spare parts or journals/books/magazines etc...?
15. How much tread left on all tyres?
16. and lastly... has the car ever been involved in any accident or road or track, and has this been checked by the auctioneers (along with HPI etc...)?
1. Is car Newport Wales or Newport Isle of Wight?
2. Has the car been wrapped in any PPF or had ceramic coating?
3. Photos were taken on shingle drive so hard to tell paint damage from reflections. It looks as though there's significant gravel rash on lower side panels (both sides) in front of rear wheel arches, on inside edges of rear wheel arches, and on rear view mirror front faces. Is that correct or is it reflections from the shingle or washing residue? If necessary is it possible to do a Facetime video to review any paint damage that might be evident?
4. Does the paintwork have any osmosis bubbles in or under the paint surface (a v well known Lotus issue), & has it had any in the past that have required a respray (& if so what areas)?
5. Has a Lotus specialist advised what is wrong with AC and how much to repair it (compressor, ducts thru' sills etc...)?
6. Do all electrical items & systems work as they should inc. wipers, lights, instruments, switches, alarm/immobiliser?
7. Does the car have the factory alarm/immobiliser or other system?
8. Is the pressurised tyre repair kit & compressor present & correct?
9. Are there any rainwater leaks that enter the cabin, boot or engine bay?
10. Are there are mechanical problems with the car that require fixing now or imminently?
11. Is any of the recent mechanical work still under warranty?
12. Are there any chips or crack sin the headlights, rear lights or windscreen?
13. Has the engine had the reinforcing straps/fixings installed to stop known vibration (it's a common upgrade owners make)?
14. Are the original alloy wheels supplied with the car or any other spare parts or journals/books/magazines etc...?
15. How much tread left on all tyres?
16. and lastly... has the car ever been involved in any accident or road or track, and has this been checked by the auctioneers (along with HPI etc...)?
1. Is car Newport Wales or Newport Isle of Wight?
Answer: Newport Wales
2. Has the car been wrapped in any PPF or had ceramic coating?
Answer: no PPF, no ceramic coating (recently waxed).
3. Photos were taken on shingle drive so hard to tell paint damage from reflections. It looks as though there's significant gravel rash on lower side panels (both sides) in front of rear wheel arches, on inside edges of rear wheel arches, and on rear view mirror front faces. Is that correct or is it reflections from the shingle or washing residue? If necessary is it possible to do a Facetime video to review any paint damage that might be evident?
Answer: shingle drive reflections are causing the rash effect, there are som pinholes with some white wax residue but happy to arrange FaceTime video.
4. Does the paintwork have any osmosis bubbles in or under the paint surface (a v well known Lotus issue), & has it had any in the past that have required a respray (& if so what areas)?
Answer: no osmosis bubbles which was common on the Elise, Europas didn’t have the same inherent problem. The front lower (bumper) was re-spayed by a local company to remove general road/stone chip damage. According to the cars history was also done previously but I can’t confirm this. The bumper was removed from the car to perform this and in my opinion it was an excellent job.
5. Has a Lotus specialist advised what is wrong with AC and how much to repair it (compressor, ducts thru' sills etc...)?
Answer: a local company performed a nitrogen text, there is a leak from the front AC radiator which can be repaired by removal of the front clam. I can’t confirm if there are other issues until this is performed.
6. Do all electrical items & systems work as they should inc. wipers, lights, instruments, switches, alarm/immobiliser?
Answer: yes unless otherwise stated in the advert.
7. Does the car have the factory alarm/immobiliser or other system?
Answer: yes, all Europas are fitted with a Cobra system as standard. (Same as Elise/Exige made in the same period)
8. Is the pressurised tyre repair kit & compressor present & correct?
Answer: yes, the kit is stored inside the boot above the RH wheel arch.
9. Are there any rainwater leaks that enter the cabin, boot or engine bay?
Answer: no. There is a rear engine vent/grill that does allow rain water to drip through and onto the LH engine cover then onto the ground. It appears to be designed like this on the Europa.
10. Are there are mechanical problems with the car that require fixing now or imminently?
Answer: no, mechanically the car is perfect.
11. Is any of the recent mechanical work still under warranty?
Answer: the last major work (cam belt change & other) was performed in 2021 so no longer in the warranty period.
12. Are there any chips or crack sin the headlights, rear lights or windscreen?
Answer: no chips or cracks in the lights or windscreen. A new windscreen was fitted by autoglass just after I purchased the car 7 years ago.
13. Has the engine had the reinforcing straps/fixings installed to stop known vibration (it's a common upgrade owners make)?
Answer: no additional straps/fixings but one of the engine mounts was replaced in 2021 when the cambelt was done. I believe it to be a hydraulic mount and it was leaking.
14. Are the original alloy wheels supplied with the car or any other spare parts or journals/books/magazines etc...?
Answer: I dont have the original wheels only the 17” Team Dynamics fitted to the car. I do have a front set of 16” Team Dynamics that came with the car in silver. I plan to advertise these separately. I have the original engine air intake the current one is a stainless (smooth) upgrade. The original one will be suppled with the sale.
15. How much tread left on all tyres?
Answer: about 5mm tread on the fronts and rear tyres.
16. and lastly... has the car ever been involved in any accident or road or track, and has this been checked by the auctioneers (along with HPI etc...)?
Answers: no accidents, no HPI, there has been no other checks by the auctioneers other than the many photos of the underside of the car.
Answer: Newport Wales
2. Has the car been wrapped in any PPF or had ceramic coating?
Answer: no PPF, no ceramic coating (recently waxed).
3. Photos were taken on shingle drive so hard to tell paint damage from reflections. It looks as though there's significant gravel rash on lower side panels (both sides) in front of rear wheel arches, on inside edges of rear wheel arches, and on rear view mirror front faces. Is that correct or is it reflections from the shingle or washing residue? If necessary is it possible to do a Facetime video to review any paint damage that might be evident?
Answer: shingle drive reflections are causing the rash effect, there are som pinholes with some white wax residue but happy to arrange FaceTime video.
4. Does the paintwork have any osmosis bubbles in or under the paint surface (a v well known Lotus issue), & has it had any in the past that have required a respray (& if so what areas)?
Answer: no osmosis bubbles which was common on the Elise, Europas didn’t have the same inherent problem. The front lower (bumper) was re-spayed by a local company to remove general road/stone chip damage. According to the cars history was also done previously but I can’t confirm this. The bumper was removed from the car to perform this and in my opinion it was an excellent job.
5. Has a Lotus specialist advised what is wrong with AC and how much to repair it (compressor, ducts thru' sills etc...)?
Answer: a local company performed a nitrogen text, there is a leak from the front AC radiator which can be repaired by removal of the front clam. I can’t confirm if there are other issues until this is performed.
6. Do all electrical items & systems work as they should inc. wipers, lights, instruments, switches, alarm/immobiliser?
Answer: yes unless otherwise stated in the advert.
7. Does the car have the factory alarm/immobiliser or other system?
Answer: yes, all Europas are fitted with a Cobra system as standard. (Same as Elise/Exige made in the same period)
8. Is the pressurised tyre repair kit & compressor present & correct?
Answer: yes, the kit is stored inside the boot above the RH wheel arch.
9. Are there any rainwater leaks that enter the cabin, boot or engine bay?
Answer: no. There is a rear engine vent/grill that does allow rain water to drip through and onto the LH engine cover then onto the ground. It appears to be designed like this on the Europa.
10. Are there are mechanical problems with the car that require fixing now or imminently?
Answer: no, mechanically the car is perfect.
11. Is any of the recent mechanical work still under warranty?
Answer: the last major work (cam belt change & other) was performed in 2021 so no longer in the warranty period.
12. Are there any chips or crack sin the headlights, rear lights or windscreen?
Answer: no chips or cracks in the lights or windscreen. A new windscreen was fitted by autoglass just after I purchased the car 7 years ago.
13. Has the engine had the reinforcing straps/fixings installed to stop known vibration (it's a common upgrade owners make)?
Answer: no additional straps/fixings but one of the engine mounts was replaced in 2021 when the cambelt was done. I believe it to be a hydraulic mount and it was leaking.
14. Are the original alloy wheels supplied with the car or any other spare parts or journals/books/magazines etc...?
Answer: I dont have the original wheels only the 17” Team Dynamics fitted to the car. I do have a front set of 16” Team Dynamics that came with the car in silver. I plan to advertise these separately. I have the original engine air intake the current one is a stainless (smooth) upgrade. The original one will be suppled with the sale.
15. How much tread left on all tyres?
Answer: about 5mm tread on the fronts and rear tyres.
16. and lastly... has the car ever been involved in any accident or road or track, and has this been checked by the auctioneers (along with HPI etc...)?
Answers: no accidents, no HPI, there has been no other checks by the auctioneers other than the many photos of the underside of the car.
Hi Timbo. Thx for helpful replies. A few final questions:
17. When was the car last fully inspected by a Lotus specialist? BackOnTrack 2013?
18. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for galvanic corrosion to key areas where the suspension attaches to the chassis? I ask as it's a major concern for any Lotus car of this age. If corrosion is well established then the car may be both dangerous and worthless. So if your car hasn't been checked for this by a specialist then I'd recommend that asap. I've also listed 2 helpful articles below (weblinks) & ask if you can take detailed photos (from various angles) of these areas for me. By turning the wheels to full lock you can get a pretty good look inside & better still with the wheels off. Failing that you can get a local Lotus specialist to check it for you - it shouldn't take long.
https://www.noisymini.com/lotus-elise-chassis-dama...
https://www.lakesideengineering.com/Elise%20Chassi...
19. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for chassis distortion? In surveying the chassis mounts for corrosion the photos should also show if the chassis has been distorted/cracked due to an historic accident or a major pothole/curb impact. These can often be repaired but it's expensive & devalues a car, & this would have to be factored into the sale price.
I await your further advise, & dependent on this we can arrange a FaceTime session as previously discussed.
17. When was the car last fully inspected by a Lotus specialist? BackOnTrack 2013?
18. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for galvanic corrosion to key areas where the suspension attaches to the chassis? I ask as it's a major concern for any Lotus car of this age. If corrosion is well established then the car may be both dangerous and worthless. So if your car hasn't been checked for this by a specialist then I'd recommend that asap. I've also listed 2 helpful articles below (weblinks) & ask if you can take detailed photos (from various angles) of these areas for me. By turning the wheels to full lock you can get a pretty good look inside & better still with the wheels off. Failing that you can get a local Lotus specialist to check it for you - it shouldn't take long.
https://www.noisymini.com/lotus-elise-chassis-dama...
https://www.lakesideengineering.com/Elise%20Chassi...
19. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for chassis distortion? In surveying the chassis mounts for corrosion the photos should also show if the chassis has been distorted/cracked due to an historic accident or a major pothole/curb impact. These can often be repaired but it's expensive & devalues a car, & this would have to be factored into the sale price.
I await your further advise, & dependent on this we can arrange a FaceTime session as previously discussed.
Hello David, sorry for the delay in responding. I managed to brake my collar bone so things have gone a bit haywire.
In Answer to the following;
17. When was the car last fully inspected by a Lotus specialist? BackOnTrack 2013?
Answer: the last Lotus specialist to perform work/inspection was when it went to Q-Mech (Lotus Specialist, nr Bridgend) in Sep 2021 at 56,898miles. Primarily for a cambelt change and other necessary jobs. Andy is the owner/main mechanic who is used locally in South Wales by many Lotus owners. You can check his details on the internet or ring him - he should remember the car. Since this last inspection the car has only done about 2100miles.
18. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for galvanic corrosion to key areas where the suspension attaches to the chassis? I ask as it's a major concern for any Lotus car of this age. If corrosion is well established then the car may be both dangerous and worthless. So if your car hasn't been checked for this by a specialist then I'd recommend that asap. I've also listed 2 helpful articles below (weblinks) & ask if you can take detailed photos (from various angles) of these areas for me. By turning the wheels to full lock you can get a pretty good look inside & better still with the wheels off. Failing that you can get a local Lotus specialist to check it for you - it shouldn't take long.
Answer: Andy at Q-Mech would have notified me of any corrosion issues because he inspected the suspension bushes and all around these areas At the time he was chrome plating the suspension arms for another clients Lotus.
19. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for chassis distortion? In surveying the chassis mounts for corrosion the photos should also show if the chassis has been distorted/cracked due to an historic accident or a major pothole/curb impact. These can often be repaired but it's expensive & devalues a car, & this would have to be factored into the sale price.
Answer: I'll add some photos of the condition about 5years ago. We can also look at this with a facetime call.
I await your further advise, & dependent on this we can arrange a FaceTime session as previously discussed.
In Answer to the following;
17. When was the car last fully inspected by a Lotus specialist? BackOnTrack 2013?
Answer: the last Lotus specialist to perform work/inspection was when it went to Q-Mech (Lotus Specialist, nr Bridgend) in Sep 2021 at 56,898miles. Primarily for a cambelt change and other necessary jobs. Andy is the owner/main mechanic who is used locally in South Wales by many Lotus owners. You can check his details on the internet or ring him - he should remember the car. Since this last inspection the car has only done about 2100miles.
18. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for galvanic corrosion to key areas where the suspension attaches to the chassis? I ask as it's a major concern for any Lotus car of this age. If corrosion is well established then the car may be both dangerous and worthless. So if your car hasn't been checked for this by a specialist then I'd recommend that asap. I've also listed 2 helpful articles below (weblinks) & ask if you can take detailed photos (from various angles) of these areas for me. By turning the wheels to full lock you can get a pretty good look inside & better still with the wheels off. Failing that you can get a local Lotus specialist to check it for you - it shouldn't take long.
Answer: Andy at Q-Mech would have notified me of any corrosion issues because he inspected the suspension bushes and all around these areas At the time he was chrome plating the suspension arms for another clients Lotus.
19. In the last 11 yrs has the car been checked for chassis distortion? In surveying the chassis mounts for corrosion the photos should also show if the chassis has been distorted/cracked due to an historic accident or a major pothole/curb impact. These can often be repaired but it's expensive & devalues a car, & this would have to be factored into the sale price.
Answer: I'll add some photos of the condition about 5years ago. We can also look at this with a facetime call.
I await your further advise, & dependent on this we can arrange a FaceTime session as previously discussed.
Hi Jason, I made a reply to you questions.
1. How much track work has the car done?
Answer : although track prepared myself or previous owner have never taken on a track day. I had the intention to but felt it was too nice (better to hire one). I’m sure at some point it’s been on the track but I can’t believe it’s done much because the bodywork condition is good (no big stone chips).
What Nitron suspension is fitted please?
Answer : I’m sure the Europa is fitted with Nitron NTR40 FastRoad Suspension Kit. The springs are another make rated at;
Front: 7” 450lbs
Rear: 8” 600lbs.
Nitron recommend to fit these rates when I changed the springs in 2019.
Have any upgrades to the brakes been made and if so what, such as braided lines, discs and pads etc.
Answer: there are no upgrades to the brakes, I understand that the car is fitted with Mitex (racing?) pads.
Also would you be available for a call to discuss?
Please text me to arrange a call 07747562595
Tim
1. How much track work has the car done?
Answer : although track prepared myself or previous owner have never taken on a track day. I had the intention to but felt it was too nice (better to hire one). I’m sure at some point it’s been on the track but I can’t believe it’s done much because the bodywork condition is good (no big stone chips).
What Nitron suspension is fitted please?
Answer : I’m sure the Europa is fitted with Nitron NTR40 FastRoad Suspension Kit. The springs are another make rated at;
Front: 7” 450lbs
Rear: 8” 600lbs.
Nitron recommend to fit these rates when I changed the springs in 2019.
Have any upgrades to the brakes been made and if so what, such as braided lines, discs and pads etc.
Answer: there are no upgrades to the brakes, I understand that the car is fitted with Mitex (racing?) pads.
Also would you be available for a call to discuss?
Please text me to arrange a call 07747562595
Tim
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