Lotus Elan Central

by **E18N SE** » Thu 29.03.2007, 15:29

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post on the site and I have just bought my first Elan. So hello to you all.

My problem is that the hood seels have perished but Sj sports and south west and all the other dealers have told me that the seals are no longer available......I know I bought the car to drive with the roof down, but I live in Manchester and the weather is slightly unpredictable. To say the least!!!!

Can anyone help find some that don't cost a fortune?

by **ailwyn** » Thu 29.03.2007, 15:41

Welcome to the forum.

The seals are still available (I think) from a company in Coventry called Trim Technology.

As for cost...

E18N SE wrote:Can anyone help find some that don't cost a fortune?

..you did buy a lotus

I think the seals themselves were about £400 for the set.

Ailwyn

Website · by **theelanman** » Thu 29.03.2007, 15:45

E18N SE
welcome...you should still be able to get them from trim technology as ailwyn says........
where in manchester are you????
cheers
G

by **E18N SE** » Thu 29.03.2007, 16:02

Thanks Ailwyn and G,

I've just been in touch with Trim technology and it looks like they are the only suppliers left. he said he has about 100 sets left which he bought from canada and he believes thats it after that!

These seals are dear though at £352 for the set or £499 for the whole hood. Would you recomend changing the whole thing?

I'm from a place called Failsworth about 4 miles north of the city centre

by **ailwyn** » Thu 29.03.2007, 16:08

If you can hold on a while, one of the guys is about to get his hood re-done by a company called trim-tech (similar name, different company) in Brum. They are quoting around £500 for the whole hood fitted, so it may be worth waiting to see the outcome before committing to buy.

Ailwyn

Website · by **theelanman** » Thu 29.03.2007, 16:11

ah....monty and dico country
no doubt they'll introduce themselves in due course
what colour have you got???....
if youre out for a run on sunday come over and see us

http://members.lycos.co.uk/clog/

1st sunday in the month (1st April in this case)
1:30pm swettenham arms, swettenham nr holmes chapel

cheers
G

by **E18N SE** » Thu 29.03.2007, 16:29

Thanks guys,

I'll hold off for a while and see how things go.

Its a very nice offer G and hopefully I can take you up on it. I blew a hose giving it a little 'test' so its taped up at the moment until I get a replacement hose. Bought it from Pure Lotus and Jay is covering the cost of it so that won't cost me the £80 quoted for a piece of rubber!!

Seems that if you buy a lotus you really do have to love it. And I love every bit of it so far. Lets see how that goes as the costs mount up ;-)

Cheers

by **Paul.P** » Thu 29.03.2007, 16:41

E18N SE wrote:These seals are dear though at £352 for the set or £499 for the whole hood. Would you recomend changing the whole thing?

Hope you don't have to buy the A pillar seals then, cause they will cost you best part of £300 just for them 2, thats if you can get any ?, must say the seals are pretty expensive !

by **Enright** » Thu 29.03.2007, 17:03

If you're more concerned about weatherproofing it while it's just parked up outside, then you're best off getting a tailored showercape from WillB (about £85). I've had one since I bought my Elan over 2 years ago and it keeps it completely dry inside.

Another trick is to get some black silicone rubber (Halfords used to do it in a small toothpaste sized tube) and some clingfilm.
Spread the silicone rubber on your seal over where it looks like water is getting in, then cover it with the clingfilm, and shut the door or the roof on it. This makes it form the correct shape, and when it's dry you can just peel off the clingfilm.

Finally, always keep a towel and a newspaper behind your seat! :lol:

by **Monty** » Thu 29.03.2007, 18:44

E18N SE (1st name?)

As others have said welcome to the Elan world :-D

all whys good to know there`s another M100 up these parts.
Your just down the road from me, I`m in Royton and Dico (Paul) is in lovely middleton area and u`ve also got Mikeydude who lives in Rochdale.

On to the roof seals,
You shouldn`t need the rear deck seal, see if u can just buy the front header seal from Trim Tec, i got one from SJ`s a few years ago for £145.

The side ones (not A pillar) were on the lotus sales list, which are the intermediate and falling pillar.
you can buy them on line herewww.ekmpowershop3.com/ekmps/shops/grouplotusaso/index.asp?function=DISPLAYCAT&catid=17

Edited,
Did u buy Marks Azure S2 buy any chance?

by **Andy_Bailey** » Thu 29.03.2007, 23:53

Edited,
Did u buy Marks Azure S2 buy any chance?

No, it's Racing Green

Welcome by the way!

by **E18N SE** » Fri 30.03.2007, 10:31

So i'm not on my own up here in the North... Its amazing that you never see one until you own one and then they are all over the place.

And your right it is a british racing green one. I guess you saw it fore sale on autotrader? And my first name is Chris.

This place is greatr for info, looks like i've joined a real fanatics society, thanks for the info on the seals. Saving money on the seals means i've got more to spend on the stereo! Just got to figure out how to get the door panel off without bracking it.

Do you guys get out for a spin together?
Cheers
Chris

by **nickb** » Fri 30.03.2007, 10:38

Chris, I spoke to trim tech about 4-6 weeks ago and they were offering the seal set for £250, so there may be some room on the price.

cheers

Nick

by **Dico** » Fri 30.03.2007, 11:21

Hiya Chris,
Welcome to lec, hope to see you at a local meet sometime.

E18N SE wrote:
I'm from a place called Failsworth

Blimey, hope you've got a garage :twisted:

How have you found the insurance with a Manchester postcode? Ah, Oldham is in Lancashire isn't it. Mine is almost double what Monty's is and im only around 2 miles away (in a straight line).

Dico, Oldhamer born n bred

by **Enright** » Fri 30.03.2007, 12:17

E18N SE wrote:This place is greatr for info, looks like i've joined a real fanatics society

...and then some! I'm even considered an anorak by anoraks! :roll:

E18N SE wrote:Saving money on the seals means i've got more to spend on the stereo!

Good plan.

E18N SE wrote:Just got to figure out how to get the door panel off without bracking it.

Have a look here which gives a link to here. I'm having problems loading the pics on the second link, but the text is probably enough to work from if you take it a paragraph at a time.

Website · by **theelanman** » Fri 30.03.2007, 12:25

oooo....
you'll really love taking the doors apart.....
although once youve done it a couple of times you become a dab hand...
a bit like taking the dash out to change the dials.. :-D

by **dapinky** » Mon 02.04.2007, 19:28

Hi Chris,

Although they offer the seals at £352 for the set, they are usually happy to take £250 + 12 for delivery - after all, there are only a limited number of customers out here, and they don't want to be left holding stock when no-one wants them (come the glorious day that Lotus re-make everything

)

If they wont budge on the price (and you still want a set), give me a shout, the set i got for that price is still behind my sofa, not currently needed but purchased 'just in case' for the future. Mine were replaced with the hood a couple of years ago so i shouldn't actually need them at any time soon.

by **E18N SE** » Mon 02.04.2007, 20:22

Hi Dave,

Thats a very generous offer, I will have to test my haggling skill and see what I can get off the price.

Earlier I was recommended to get a shower cape cover to keep out the rain and I believe they were £85. I have checked it out and there is a seller on ebay selling them for about £45 so I've got one of them. So if anyone is looking check it out.

Chris

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Hood seals no longer available!!!!!

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