ALL CARS ON EBAY.

[clemo]

Thanks Digitally Dyslexic Dave.

treu.

[Ian T]

Hello again,

The search continues, but locally to me is this car that failed to reach its reserve on eBay this morning.

The seller wasn't available this weekend to show the car to me and with only one bid, said he didn't think it would sell when we talked about it on Friday night.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271529007197

Looks like it has suffered head gasket failure in the past, most likely I expect due to poor antifreeze quality, but the big thing I don't know is how hot it might have got when the gasket failed and whether there are any lasting effects after (presumably) a skim and repair.

I'm not quite sure about the budget I should set aside for the various body seals, and have to assume worst case that the heater matrix needs to come out (dash out job) to fix it assuming it's not just possible to rig something up on the engine bay side to reverse flush it. Of course the vacuum control pipe could be broken, but I don't know which way they fail and would hope they fail open as a safety measure for the engine.

Comments welcome - I hope to see it late this afternoon. Does anyone have a view to its likely value?

Cheers, Ian,

[maz_r]

Hi Ian,

Can't answer all your questions but....

You've read the Buyers Guide?

Personally, having been bitten by this particular 'challenge' myself, on a car of that age I would be paying particular attention to both the front and rear wishbones; did the seller say anything about these being replaced or rust treated? The difficulty is that they can look fine (if a but rusty) right up until the moment they let go and turn into a pile of rust flakes....

Re. the HGF, I will let someone with more oily fingers comment.

The seals for the A pillar are readily available from Lotus still, and will set you back somewhere around £170ish. The intermediate and B/falling pillar seals are more difficult to come by, but do occasionally surface on auction sites and/or follow this thread and this thread for 'better than OEM" replacements. If the seller actually means door seals (as in the seal around the bottom of the door rather then the window), then these are like the proverbial rocking horse droppings..

The heater issue could be down to the heater valve failing; it is a prime candidate for rusting up: See here for details on a plastic replacement. The matrix is also available second hand fairly easily; in fact I think LEC has some somewhere, but I don't know who has possession at the moment. If the vacuum was leaking, then I think it would show up in other areas rather then just not getting hot - do the vents move when selecting different air flow, for instance.

To be honest, I thought all steering racks on Elans swooshed and wooshed and made all sorts of swirling noises, so that may or may not be something of concern.

As to value.....well.....it's worth what someone will pay for it, obviously and without seeing it, we'd be guessing.

[epipete]

Re the heater or lack of heat, this is either because hot water isn't circulating through a failure in the valve (or it's vacuum trigger) or a blockage in the water way.

The latter can be checked by (with the engine cold and the heater set to cold) start the ignition allow the temp to increase, the valve and the two coolant pipes to the heater can be accessed in the engine bay.

1. If the pipes beyond the valve get warm then the valve has failed; if they remain cold beyond the valve then the valve is correctly closed.

2. Turn the heater up in the cabin, if the valve opens then the vacuum system (at least this part of it) is functioning. Hot water should now enter the matrix.

3. If the valve didn't open via the knob then it could be either a failed vacuum or failed valve in which case manually open the valve (in the engine bay) water should now enter the matrix.

4 With hot water entering the matrix the other (outlet) pope should also grow hot as it leaves (this is a moot point as it might also heat up through heat transfer back through the outlet pipe but unlikely).

5. You can always check flow through the matrix by attaching hoses to it from the engine side of the bulk head.

The entire system, water, vacuums, etc, etc are straight forward to work on, but if the Heater box has to come out then it's a dash out job so set aside a weekend. I have done this several times so just shout if you need advice.

Pete

[Ian T]

Thanks both, really helpful replies.

Maz: the LEC buyers guide was what brought me to the forum - really well written and helps the newbie out quite a lot. Naturally I want to get right into specifics all the time and could quickly drown in my own thirst to know all about it, hence what seem to be lots of (probably the wrong) questions.

Wishbones - yes. I wish I had been quicker off the mark with Patch, but there you go, hesitate and it is all over (or miss the worm). . I expect the average seller would quickly get upset if I turned up with a hammer to evaluate the quality of their car's wishbones and it sounds like of all the regular problems, that is the one I need to get sorted in my checks. Looks like £1400 to fix with new items.

I half expect that GM used the same (or very similar to) power steering setup to my Mk2 Astra, so there should be noise at the ends of travel as the relief valves open in the rack and the fluid rushes past in bypass back to the tank. I wonder if the Elan suffers with the resonance trick too, where one or other of the pipes will vibrate loudly while turning the wheel making a loudish groaning sound, now I understand it, I am not worried about that and it certainly doesn't appear to indicate any problems.

As for seals, I have read several threads on here and recognise availability might be a challenge. I had already subscribed to one of the threads you linked, but wasn't sure if the chaps concerned would be making parts for other members, not least as the process sounds a bit unpleasant and potentially bad for their health. I know of someone in Holland who sells seals and various rubber items for pre and post- war Vauxhall classic cars, perhaps it might be something he is interested in producing, although I'd note here we are talking about EPDM and not good old fashioned (and hard) rubber.

Pete: thanks for the guide - seems to be as I would have expected then - Vectra B used a valve on later models that might be usable if the OE one has failed, there are thousands of them in scrap yards now so probably easy to get that sorted.

I will dig out a link to the other car I'm considering looking at - also on eBay. It is quite a way away though in Lincoln and I don't think a one way ticket on the train is a good idea, although the car looks very nice in the photos and sounds like it has had the vital areas maintained (hopefully not just covered up).

Ian.

[Ian T]

Here you go...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-H-LOTUS- ... 1264716196

I've not been out in one, but think I understand pretty well what I'd be getting. Common sense tells me not to rush into anything and aim to get to a local meet in the hope a member will take me out for a ride in theirs, but all being well in a couple of weeks my Vauxhall 10 will be sold and I will have a hole in my garage just itching to be filled with fibreglass loveliness.

Particularly like the seats in this one - guessing they are either re trimmed or later ones from the Bugatti days.

Ian.

[novacaine]

Here you go...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-H-LOTUS- ... 1264716196

I've not been out in one, but think I understand pretty well what I'd be getting. Common sense tells me not to rush into anything and aim to get to a local meet in the hope a member will take me out for a ride in theirs, but all being well in a couple of weeks my Vauxhall 10 will be sold and I will have a hole in my garage just itching to be filled with fibreglass loveliness.

Particularly like the seats in this one - guessing they are either re trimmed or later ones from the Bugatti days.

Ian.

That look a very nice car for the price, I quite like the seat re-trim

[Ian T]

Here you go...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-H-LOTUS- ... 1264716196

That look a very nice car for the price, I quite like the seat re-trim

I haven't seen this in the metal (ok, plastic) but the seller has sent me lots of photographs of it, which help a lot to get under its skin without a long drive (in a 1.7 diesel Astra).

I suspect the car is very genuine really, but has had a respray before he bought it and that wasn't particularly good - overspray in all the door shuts etc. the new paint has a number of chips and scratches and in one area has blistered up and is peeling off the drivers door, so I'd say it needs repainting to be really tidy. Add to that it really needs the seals that go around the top of the window and back down the rear of the door.

The current owner has treated the rust (he said it was quite rusty) on the wishbones and painted them, also carried out a service including new brake pads etc and the car is obviously still in daily use as he was going to drive it down to Basingstoke this weekend and offered the chance to meet up to show it to me.

Buuuut, at £3950 I think the price looks a little high - enough paintworkscabs to warrant correction and a pile of seals to buy, even before I get down to whether the wishbones remain strong enough (understandably perhaps they were painted without disassembly). I'll think about it some more before deciding to go and look at it, meanwhile there's a red one that's much closer and judging by its price, needs more doing to it...

Ian.

[epipete]

We aren't supposed go get in to debates about values so I won't but if the paintwork has been redone the question is why, is it covering any defects and if so is that the reason for the current condition?

Wishbones are wishbones. And yes, a bad pair are going to cost you but, I suspect, they will for all if us eventually so this, IMHO, need not be a show stopper.

And these defects are what you know!!!!!

None of this is to suggest the car isn't worth the price being asked, but worth considering.

[Ian T]

We aren't supposed go get in to debates about values so I won't but if the paintwork has been redone the question is why, is it covering any defects and if so is that the reason for the current condition?

Ooops, I should have read up on that - sorry if I have inadvertently tried to start those debates.

I thought that about both the body paint (likely just scratched, chipped) and the wishbones, but I take your point about wishbones hopping to everybody at some point. A lucky day might find a car with those done, but on average I would have to expect something to need doing in that department.

Thanks, (and apologies).

Ian.

[epipete]

Ooops, I should have read up on that - sorry if I have inadvertently tried to start those debates.

Ian.

I wasn't chiding you Ian

In truth though these cars are all going to be showing signs of age and there will always be defects that either can't be seen prior to buying, or don't occur until afterwards, the best guide (rule of thumb) is to buy with regard to the history, though a car that's been owned by the same person for a number of years will indicate a passion that might well be reflected in the maintenance undertaken and possibly a genuine price and reason for selling.

But it's Caveat Emptor all the way I'm afraid

Pete

[clemo]

NA ON THE BAY

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1990-LOTUS-EL ... 41854f49c7

[clemo]

739 on ebay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lotus-Elan-S2 ... 19f1de2f0d

[Jamie N]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-J-Lotus- ... 5d4f5149b4

What did you trade it in for Scott? , has to be an S2 surely? .

[Rambo]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-J-Lotus-Elan-1-6-SE-Turbo-Convertible-Manual-Black-/400762685876?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5d4f5149b4

What did you trade it in for Scott? , has to be an S2 surely? .

There's a quick couple of grand profit for someone Scott traded for an MX-5

[Jamie N]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-J-Lotus-Elan-1-6-SE-Turbo-Convertible-Manual-Black-/400762685876?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5d4f5149b4

What did you trade it in for Scott? , has to be an S2 surely? .

There's a quick couple of grand profit for someone Scott traded for an MX-5

Oh.

[Rambo]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-J-Lotus-Elan-1-6-SE-Turbo-Convertible-Manual-Black-/400762685876?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5d4f5149b4

What did you trade it in for Scott? , has to be an S2 surely? .

There's a quick couple of grand profit for someone Scott traded for an MX-5

Oh.

That's what I thought too

[Rambo]

No mention of new seals in the advert either

[Scott J]

yes its my Elan, I traded for £2500, they have resprayed rear end I believe, and it needs an MOT soon and I know whats involved in MOTing that car. Just completed a 600m trip Aviemore - Gairloch in MX5 Roadster Coupe, 2L, roof down all the time. As fast as the Elan, brakes are vastly vastly superior, and avg 38 mpg at illegals speeds. Hairdresser my ERSES !!

[Jamie N]

yes its my Elan, I traded for £2500, they have resprayed rear end I believe, and it needs an MOT soon and I know whats involved in MOTing that car. Just completed a 600m trip Aviemore - Gairloch in MX5 Roadster Coupe, 2L, roof down all the time. As fast as the Elan, brakes are vastly vastly superior, and avg 38 mpg at illegals speeds. Hairdresser my ERSES !!

Scott, Im sure SMS will know a friendly MOT man . Gairloch, my Spiritual home, hope you took some nice pics of Slioch and Loch Maree!.