Lotus Elise buying guide
Reference
This page describes some basic need to knows in terms of a Lotus Elise. I would suggest to keep it at hand when you go out and want to check out a used Elise...
Or... if you just want to know that single thing... select from below list:
Jacking Points
Vehicle Identification Number and Engine Number
Tyre pressure
Fuel and Reserve...
Braking
Below text is a portion which has been taken directly from the Lotus Elise Workshop Manual:
Care must be taken when using a lifting jack or hoist only to position the device in one of the the areas shown in the illustration, with a suitable rubber or timber pad protecting the chassis from surface damage. If a 4-point lift is to be used, the engine bay undertray/diffuser panel (if fitted) must first be removed. When using a 4-point lift, it is strongly recommended that for optimum stability and safety, positions B and D are used.
A; Identified by a blue sticker. Beneath crossmember ahead of fuel tank bay. To be used one side at a time for wheel changing - lifts both wheels on one side. Do not use with a four point garage lift.
B; Beneath the front end of the right or left hand main chassis rail, behind the front wheelarch. Garage use with 4-point lift in conjunction with (C).
C; The engine undertray/diffuser panel must first be removed. Beneath the outboard end of the chassis crossmember ahead of the rear wheelarches. Take care to position the jack between the fixing screws for the fuel tank bay perforated undershield. Garage use with 4-point lift in conjuction with (B).
D; The engine undertray/diffuser panel must first be removed. Beneath the rear subframe, close to the lower wishbone rearmost mountings.
Jacking at any other point may damage the chassis or body structure and/or jeopardise safety.
There is another way which is commonly used by some Lotus
dealers... If there is a flat surfaced lift available and if this lift fits in between the wheelbase, you can place rubber blocks at points A and B. The place another rubber block just in front of the rear wheels.
(near point C) This will provide the car with enough stability and will prevent the car from falling backwards...
If you're not sure, follow the official Lotus instruction!!
Vehicle Identification Number & Engine Number
Yet another part taken straight from the workshop manual..
The Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) is stamped on the chassis in the right hand rear wheelarcharea, and is also printed on a label stuck to
the body in the front services compartment. The engine number is marked on a vertical patch at the left hand end of the forward face of the cylinder block, and is most easily viewed using a mirror.
Both numbers should always be
quoted with any vehicle enquiries, as Factory records are filed against V.I.N., and specification change points are identified by V.I.N. or engine number. The vehicle licence number may not accurately reflect vehicle age, may also
be changed during the cars life, and is an unreliable method of vehicle identification.
The V.I.N. comprises 17 characters, coded in accordance with European Economic Community (EEC)
directives.
Note that the coding of the V.I.N. changed with the introduction of '98 M.Y.
Prior to 2000 model year, a single serial number sequence was used, but was restarted at 0001 for 2000 M.Y.
Exige models used a separate serial number sequence.
In general, change points will be identified in Service Notes and Service Parts Lists by characters 10 (model year) and 14 - 17 (serial number).
Note: you might have to remove the right rear wheel to get a clear view to the chassis V.I.N. location!
What? Why would I need that? Well... if you want to take an Elise for a testdrive, be sure to
have the right amount of air in the tyres!
The Lotus Elise is well known for it's great handling, but as soon as the tyre pressure isn't correct.. well you just won't like what you feel!
Check COLD tyre pressure! (not driven more then 1 km)
Standard Elise type 111: Front 1.6 bar (23 lb/in2) and Rear 1.7 bar (24.5 lb/in2)
Elises with 225/45ZR16 at Rear, like the 111S needs 1.9 bar (27.5 lb/in2) at the Rear.
Any need to know on the handling? Yes! When you're eager to push to the limit (which is not recommended when you take out an Elise for the very first time!!!) the standard fitment tyres (Pirelli P Zero) can be tricky. Certainly in wet... be carefull.
When you take the rims off the car, it's nice to know the wheel nut torque: 80-85 Nm
(Ahh... looking for the security nut? You can find it in a grommet in the windscreen butress, at the right hand rear corner of the front service compartment..)
Check if the security nut is there, you'll need it!!!
There's another thing to take care of when you take an Elise out for a test drive. When the company you're dealing
with isn't experienced in dealing with Elises, they might send you on the road with a Stack display mentioning Refill.
Don't wait! Refill on a Stack means REFILL!
If you have to fill her up yourself, put the key
labeled Fuel in the fuel cap, turn it 90 degree clockwise, turn it back and take it out. Now you'll be able to turn the fuelcap counterclockwise..
As we're still talking about a testdrive I don't suppose you want to fill her up
to the neck... but if you do.. don't try to push it. When the fuelpump stops, don't go on, you will end up with fuel on your toes!
Elise likes to drink RON 95 unleaded fuel.
Final point.. if you take out an Elise with Aluminium or MMC discs, you will experience a perfect pedal feeling, when it's dry that is... If you testdrive the Elise in wet conditions and when you're splashing the car around, the brakepads might drown themselves and stop acting the way you'd preffer! So be carefull, avoid real splashing, but if you do, dry the brakes (by pushing the brake pedal for a while untill you feel brake action coming back) before you'd really need them..
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