177 or 190bhp?

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I’ve just bought a 2001 Exige and the garage I got it from didn’t know if it was a standard 177bhp model or an uprated 190bhp model. Is there any way to tell without visiting a rolling road and testing the car?

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A couple of ways:- The revs on the 190 go to just about 8000rpm, the std is a few hundred shy of that- The temp on the 190 is lower. If it sits at about 82o when warmed up and cruising (it’ll drop when you accelerate hard) it’s a 190. The std it’ll be about 89o.If you’ve got the std then check this site for peoples comments on the 190. I think it was well worth it but there are other options you may want to consider.Enjoy!Ian [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]

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Also check if it has an oval (supersports exhaust) or the standard twin pipe. There are also the hoses down near the bottom of the engine which are blue. (May not be relevant) Cat bypass pipe may also have been fitted.Where the air intake joins the airbox, a 177 will have a restricter valve.E&OE [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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Brian,Not many ways to tell for sure unless you start taking things apart.There is only 100rpm difference between the two, 7800 for the 177 against 7900 for 190, i dont expect you want to sit there bouncing of the rev limiter to find out! [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]There are only 2 important differencies between them, thats the ECU and inlet cam pulley, everything else can easily be fitted to a 177. The ECU has “190” written on it and can be viewed by taking of the panel behind the seats.Take it to your Lotus dealer and ask them to tell you and also contact Andrew Plant at Lotus Cars to see if your car has any outsing recalls, just give him your VIN number.Visiting a rolling road will NOT tell you which one you have, see some of the rolling road threads [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/blush.gif[/image]HTH

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Thanks for all the advice so far. Still not sure whether its a 190 or not. Engine runs at about 82C but I dont have the supersport oval exhaust and the ECU is not visible through the inspection hole (too far to the right), any other segestions before I contact Lotus.CheersP S Im not to keen on finding out the exact rev limit. [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/frown.gif[/image]

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Brianmine runs at 82C and its a standard 177, so I don’t think this is a good way to tell. If you don’t have the supersports exhaust but still have the twin tail pipes then you can almost guarantee that its a 177.Also, the air-balance pipe thingys (Phil will tell me their real name [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image] ) on the inlet are usually blocked off on a 190 and there may be a oil catch tank fitted.Finding the rev-limit shouldn’t present a problem to an exige but like Phil says, the 177 & 190 are so close together you probably couldn’t tell anyway.If its been converted at a dealer then Lotus ought to have a record, so this might be worth a try.Another thing… if you run behind a 190 then in a few miles you won’t be able to see properly because your eyes will be streaming from the fumes. heh heh… [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/wink.gif[/image][This message has been edited by RoxTeddy (edited 07 March 2003).]

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Rox,IACV valve plumbing (not many people actually had this removed) i have put mine back on now to help with starting and warm up [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/blush.gif[/image]BrianTo be honest there are so many options for the “full” 190 kit that it is almost impossible to tell. Just get yourself down to a Lotus dealer [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/smile.gif[/image]

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no no no… not the idle control valve, those joined-up wee rubber pipe thingy’s on the inlet side of the cylinder head, that balance the air pressure (or something) at the end of the throttle bodies… ain’t they usually blocked off on a 190??Anyway, your right… best thing to do is just drive the bloody thing…hey Phil… I worked out that if you now get yourself some Carbon Fibre bodywork yo ucould make 300bhp/tonne… now that is a number I’d really like to get to. [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image] [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image][This message has been edited by RoxTeddy (edited 07 March 2003).]

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Oh i know, the tubing for the purge rail and MAP sensors etc, no, there not blocked off as they are needed for the FPR & vacuum for the control vents but they are replumbed when the breather kit is fitted.I’ve been looking at the CF thread, its tempting isn’t it [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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Thanks again guys, for all your comments.Ive just had a fantastic trackday at Bedford Autodrome and Im very impressed with the car (compared with my old Elise) but Im now almost curtain my Exige is a standard 177Bhp. So maybe soon Ill need your advice on the next stage. [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]

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Brian they are rather extraordinary cars aren’t they… [image]http://www.exiges.com/ubb/NonCGI/images/icons/grin.gif[/image]