Everything Still Wrong With My Lotus | Owning a Lotus Elan S2 | Part 14

After two and a half years with the Lotus, there are still a number of things to sort out, none of which that stop me from using and enjoying it though! Well, with one new issue that does, a cracked windscreen.
So here's everything that's wrong with my 1995 Lotus Elan M100 S2. Most of which (ok some of which), I hope to sort out this year.
Please leave comments below, it would be great to hear your views.
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#MyLotus #ForTheDrivers #LotusCars #LotusElanM100 #SeenThroughGlass

[@edgworth]

Great series of videos and i watched them all way before i finally bought an S2 for myself. What a great car they are. One thing that caught me out though was the age of my tyres. They had plenty tread but were 18years old! I think i saw on yours a date moulding of 4805 so a similar age. Maybe worth looking at changing them?

[@karlhurn]

Congrats on your S2, you won’t regret it, still a very overlooked car. Yes, my tyres were very old, I’m sure one was the original! I now have Michelin Pilot Sport 3’s on and they’re very good. I wanted those as I believe it was originally supplied from Lotus with Michelins. Glad you liked the videos too! 👍

[@reevemuskelon8758]

Very Nice M100

[@emmacooper1665]

Excellent video. I have your car's "older brother" - a 1989 Elan SE in BRG - and they're stunning late '80s/early '90s sportscars that still turn heads and deliver a wonderfully simple and involved driving experience. Currently tucked up for the winter, but will get it out once the weather improves. Missing those sunny afternoon drives. Similar issues to yours: stone chips, rubber seals, etc. So will be interested to see what solutions you manage to find.

[@karlhurn]

Yes. I've seen a few cheats with the rubber seals by adapting old vauxhall stock. Otherwise I think they're pretty rare and expensive.

[@robertverhey]

I fitted a kill switch similar you yours but mounted behind the driver’s seat on the rear bulkhead. Not obvious and only one hole needed. Saves having to open the rear shelf every time I want to turn it on or off. I just reach behind the drivers seat backrest. Great video, thanks.

[@karlhurn]

Hi Robert. Glad you liked the video. Behind the drivers seat might be an option yes. Certainly better than where is is at the moment!

[@siejaiz]

I did the same but on the passenger seat side, but I have a LHD so it is probably on the same side. Easy enough to reach back there and switch it on.

[@robertverhey]

@@siejaiz yes I think we both probably located it to have the shortest possible cable run from the battery to the bulkhead and back. It has made life so much easier!

[@lawrenceholness8194]

Where can I find brake pads for a lotus elan 1999 yr

[@karlhurn]

They are Vauxhall Astra GSI pads, you can get them from EuroCarParts and similar online suppliers. Brembo pads are currently £14.49 👍

[@arappayt]

I'm in the States, and my 30 year old M100 is in pretty good condition, BUT my windshield and front end are pitted from years of rock chips. The glare at sunset through the window is horrible (due to the chips). If mine cracks, my insurance would have to cover a new one (per our state law), but I was under the impression that the windshields were virtual impossible to get. Are they more readily available in the UK? Also, for the bumper, I found a TurtleWax colored wax that fills in the minor scratches and small chips. If you can find the green color, it could be worth a try before painting. It's not a permanent fix, but makes it look good after application.

[@karlhurn]

Hi Anthony, thanks for the Turtlewax tip, I tried that on my Elsie years ago and it worked pretty well. As far as I know, the Elan windscreen is originally from a 1990-93 Geo Storm, which were available in the states, so perhaps a search for that might find you one 👍

[@citizenfour9622]

@@karlhurn Theres plenty of driver, passenger and quarter glass available, but the windscreens proper are indeed very hard to find, if at all. My suggestion to Anthony is to have an automotive glass company (Safelite, etc.) fill the chips with resin to restore the glass. This can sometimes be applied to hairline cracks as well. _Please do keep making Lotus content!_ 🙏

[@roypack361]

Possibly should have sorted some of these issues over the winter.

[@karlhurn]

True 😂. Best laid plans and all that...

[@djaor]

Let me know when you make the plastic mold of the roof handle , I need one :) That Suzuki Rgv is 250 ?

[@karlhurn]

Will do. I might scan it and 3D print it. Yes the RGV is 250cc v-twin 2-stroke. It’s a screamer!

[@citizenfour9622]

@@karlhurn I was just about to say THIS would be the best route!

[@richardporter6201]

That battery appears to be US. NAPA auto stores in every small town?

[@karlhurn]

Ah, thanks 🙏 Not a brand I’m familiar with here in the UK. It just seemed like Kwikfit had swapped my battery for a cheap one 😂

[@seancain7305]

Just catching-up. Any updates on the Elan ? Do you still own it ?

[@karlhurn]

Hi Sean, Yes! I still own the Elan and an update will be coming soon. You can also see it parked up next to the Cayman GT4RS in my latest Porsche Taycan video. It’s been super reliable so far, four years in. Thanks for your interest 👍

[@steveluck9541]

If I'd had more money earlier in my life I'd have bought one of these. I had a CRX VETEC at the time which got traded later for an S1 Elise. M100 was probably the only FWD car that could out handle the CRX at the time. Used to park the Honda next to a Red M100 at the gym and try not to drool to much. Perhaps when I'm too fat or old to get into the Elise I'll trade it for an Elan.

[@karlhurn]

I had an S2 Elise and loved it. Hopefully I didn’t get the Elan because I’m fat and old 😂😂😂

[@timr8473]

Think about what you want if changing exhaust. My stock exhaust was shot so replaced it with a piper larger bore system. Engine felt stronger and sounds great on short runs, but the downside is its intrusive on long runs.

[@RodLittle]

The ability to tax and sorn online means I just tax our cars for 12months, and then on last day of a month make a decision to sorn (or not) - check from DVLA arrives in a few days to refund unused months.

[@karlhurn]

Thanks Rod. I should do that. Not sure why it hasn't occurred to me before 🤣🤣🤣

[@stephenhammond9793]

Do you have the battery on a trickle charger?

[@karlhurn]

Not at the moment. Do you have one that you recommend?

[@stephenhammond9793]

Afraid I've not tried any name branded ones so can't recommend anything. I do have several vehicles (including an M100) and just use ones I bought from Lidle for about £12 which work fine. I just wondered if you did because lead acid batteries don't usually fail so early unless they're not kept fully charged, in which case won't last more than a few weeks. If it's reasonably new you can usually rejuvenate them by using one of the old style chargers (i.e. just a transformer without intelligent charging) and leaving it charging for a couple of days. I just did that with a motorbike battery which had got completely flat and been left for a couple if months.

[@karlhurn]

@@stephenhammond9793 Might give one of those Lidl ones a go then. Worth a try! Many thanks.

[@siejaiz]

The trickle chargers aren't all that complicated and a cheap one will do the trick. If you let the battery go dead too many times it will get to the point it won't hold a proper charge and you will be going in for a battery again.

[@exigeboy]

Whereabouts in Leicester are you?

[@karlhurn]

I’m in the Loughborough area 👍

[@kevinwirga6021]

This road tax requirement really gets on my nerves, the simply fact of the matter is that you can only drive one of the cars you may own at a time. Therefore, why should have to pay road tax on a number of cars you own. Clearly, this is another glaring case of us folk being well and truly robbed by our facist government……..who said we live in a democracy!

[@karlhurn]

Switzerland has a great system where you own a number plate and you put it on the car you are driving that day, one plate for all your cars 👍 The road tax has gone up again this year for the Elan, over £300 now 🥲

[@TheNobleLoyalist]

For the few who know the difference

[@ps3301]

My elan was the worst car I ever owned. Biggest mistake in my life

[@karlhurn]

Oh dear. Sorry to hear that. What went wrong?