How to Buy a Lotus Elise: 5 Common Problems You Should Know About

How to Buy a Lotus Elise: 5 Common Problems You Should Know About

5 Common Problems You Should Know About the Lotus Elise

Part Three in the Little Lost Lotus Buyer’s Guide!

These are five things that nobody tells you before you buy a Lotus Elise, and these are things you should know when embarking on the buying process.

In this video I cover five very common Lotus Elise issues that you should know about when you start shopping. These range from the common radiator issues, indicator lamp issues, sticky airbag covers, oil-line recalls, and more.

All of the issues I talk about here are common, and none of them should really be deal-breakers….that said, they may seem strange when you first encounter them, and this video is meant to help alleviate any apprehension you might have if you come across one of these issues, and to give you a little extra bargaining power if you do come across one of them.

Please like and subscribe for lots of new Lotus Elise and general automotive content each week.

Thanks for watching this new channel! If there’s a video you’d like to see me make with my Lotus Elise, let me know in the comments below!

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tizodd6 says:

Thanks for the video. I'll be getting an Elise soon. I love driving unique cars. Had a '93 Rx7 for a few years, years ago. Loved the attention that car got. Driving '12 Genesis Coupe now, but I've been longing for a real sports car again.

Alan Walker says:

The biggest problem with owning a Lotus (or Ferrari or Aston Martin, McLaren or any sports car) is the guy behind the wheel who does not know how to maintain it himself.
Taking them to a dealer just makes a big hole in your pocket. Learn to maintain your sports car yourself.

wiredwebmaster says:

Great channel, great content, thanks for sharing..

Robert Maddock says:

Thanks fella, currently looking at buying an Elise so I appreciate your insight…

Working With Ricky says:

Thanks for the video.

Frankie hernadez says:

The intake cam!!! Easy to check. Definitely a price negotiator!

DOJIELDIENVE says:

Fan relay on mine corroded. Can be An expensive fix if not done under a warranty.
Replaced it with a fan relay relocation kit.
Try not to leave your Elise out in the rain all the time for this reason if any. I did the fan relay relocation, radiator replacement to the black radiator and oil line recall in one shot and under a warranty.
Have driven a 07 Elise for 6 years and these are the only issues I have experienced. Other than regular wear and tear from use.
Did plastidip my airbag cover to protect it from any scratches that may happen when getting in or out.
Good video!

Lite Lotus says:

I made my airbag look better than new with sanding then using matt black paint and primer in one. Used a sticker from grp for the emblem. Also, I believe the oil line recall is for 05-07. Otherwise, thanks for the informative vids. Keep em coming.

Ιωάννης says:

And a little about Lotus Elise history. Check this out. Did you know that the Elise took her name from this girl nineteen years ago?

"In an exclusive interview Elisa Artioli, granddaughter of Italian enterpeneur Romano Artioli, one-time owner of Bugatti and Lotus, the girl who gave it's name, nineteen years ago, to Lotus Elise, talks οn 4Drivers about her life around the iconic sports car".

https://www.4drivers.gr/single-post/-Elisa-Artioli–4Drivers

Ιωάννης says:

Man, can you tell me which engine did you repalce the OEM one with?

Thank you!

putyourminetoit says:

Keep up the good work i love it I just SUBSCRIBE to you

Grn Lantern says:

Hope all is well.. I really appreciate the review. I hope to be on the hunt for a Lotus Elise in the future.

Karl Shaw says:

Heater resistors go – upgrade kit available – front clam off job so makes sense to change the radiator at the same time. Head gaskets on the K series engine are problematic.

scott smith says:

Heat cycles

Verichai says:

1. Sticky airbag on steering wheel. Results from certain cleaners and turns the rubber cover into a sticky mess. New airbags are $600 and difficult to source.
2. The radiator is prone to fail. Plastic elements can become brittle over time and leak. Many cars have had their OEM units replaced with all-aluminium versions.
3. Oil line recall. Due to faulty connections, the oil lines can fail, resulting in a loss of oil pressure and a huge and dangerous mess. A recall exists that replaces the fittings and eliminates the problem. Have a dealer check the VIN.
4. The front turn signals indicators can dislodge from the front clam and bang around against the fiberglass, as they hang from their wires. A common solution is to use some small bungee cords behind the indicators.
5. Missing lug nut adaptors. Double check the toolkit (kept in the battery cover in the boot, along with the owner's manual) includes the wheel lug adaptor. If this goes missing, you will not be able to remove the wheels, which is pretty much required on this model to do routine maintenance and access things like headlight bulbs, air filter, coil overs, etc.

AutoSugar says:

What questions do you have about buying a Lotus? Leave your questions in the comments below!

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