I spoke to Lotus Sport today to get the official verdict on the sports exhaust for the ‘S’.
Firstly, Lotus will not uphold the warranty on the engine with a non Lotus exhaust fitted.
Secondly, it looks like the Lotus sports exhaust will be available sooner rather than later; the end of March or the beginning of April. I couldn’t get an answer as to specs but it looks like there will be a stage 1 and 2.
Cheers.
Who did you speak to at lotus sport?
This is scary because I have a 2tubular fitted to my car and I am not ready for any big bills yet. The previous owner said he spoke to lotus sport and they said the warranty would remain in tact with 2tubular and nitrons fitted.
Sadly, this sounds all too familiar. Bemani owners have been facing the same problem ever since the kit came out as well. Supercharged cars (Bemani’s probably more so than the 'S) don’t mix with Lotus’s Stage 2.
Before getting my supercharger fitted, I was close in getting a Stage-2 for my Exige. Some tests Bemani did, revealed that the two products aren’t compatible and that there’s a possibility of engine damage if you use them regardless. Which is why I went for a specially developed exhaust by Bemani.
Disturbingly, there are heaps of Lotus dealers even overhere in Switzerland that are continuing to sell Bemani converted cars with Stage-2 exhausts - I assume there are a fair share of Exige-S with them as well.
If the 2bular exhausts meet these criteria or not, I’m not sure, but I for one would want to base a purchase on a little more than just good faith. I have no doubt that 2bulars are great exhausts, but that doesn’t mean the products are necessarely compatible.
Sadly, this sounds all too familiar. Bemani owners have been facing the same problem ever since the kit came out as well. Supercharged cars (Bemani’s probably more so than the 'S) don’t mix with Lotus’s Stage 2.
Before getting my supercharger fitted, I was close in getting a Stage-2 for my Exige. Some tests Bemani did, revealed that the two products aren’t compatible and that there’s a possibility of > engine damage > if you use them regardless. Which is why I went for a specially developed exhaust by Bemani.
Disturbingly, there are heaps of Lotus dealers even overhere in Switzerland that are continuing to sell Bemani converted cars with Stage-2 exhausts - I assume there are a fair share of Exige-S with them as well.
If the 2bular exhausts meet these criteria or not, I’m not sure, but I for one would want to base a purchase on a little more than just good faith. I have no doubt that 2bulars are great exhausts, but that doesn’t mean the products are necessarely compatible.
I guess the question is do 2bular exhausts meet these criteria? I don’t really want to fit the horrible heavy lotus exhaust back on the car.
what kind of engine damage? my new exige s has been fitted with the stage 2!!! (the 111r stage 2 so im now told)
I’m not sure anyone can tell you for sure what will happen. All I can say is that in the case of Bemani supercharged cars, the Stage-2 doesn’t allow enough airflow. Just because it seems to work fine with it, doesn’t mean it can’t or will not damage the engine sooner or later.
Can’t say how relevant this is to Exige-S owners and if their car’s are as affected or not.
What I do find rather disappointing though is that there are dealers outthere who will fit exhausts without them being tested/messured. Doesn’t exactly speak of competence IMO. Then again, if anything ever goes wrong - blame the dealer (unless of course the exhaust was fitted by a non Lotus dealer… then good luck)?
If its an airflow issue then surely the 2ubular plus sports cat and other aftermarket exhausts have better airflow than standard.
I’ve found it strange that the Stg 2 exhaust design is offered for the 111R AND the S models. I always increase the bore size on my S exhausts and increase it again when/if the owner tells me he intends to tune the engine further- eg a Bemani install. I can’t comment on other manufacturers/systems.
I’ve seen power increases of 15-20bhp on the S with the Sports Cat/De-Cat and system, so I know opening up the system does work. You can wait for the ECU to learn (several hundred miles) or better to re-flash it with 240Cup settings - this invalidates the warranty though.
what kind of engine damage? my new exige s has been fitted with the stage 2!!! (the 111r stage 2 so im now told)
I’m not sure anyone can tell you for sure what will happen. All I can say is that in the case of Bemani supercharged cars, the Stage-2 doesn’t allow enough airflow. Just because it seems to work fine with it, doesn’t mean it can’t or will not damage the engine sooner or later.
Can’t say how relevant this is to Exige-S owners and if their car’s are as affected or not.
What I do find rather disappointing though is that there are dealers outthere who will fit exhausts without them being tested/messured. Doesn’t exactly speak of competence IMO. Then again, if anything ever goes wrong - blame the dealer (unless of course the exhaust was fitted by a non Lotus dealer… then good luck)?
What a bunch of crap…The Cup 255 runs a stage two exhaust…The reason Bemani said to change the exhaust is just to sell some fool another exhaust…They use a diferent header design just to clear there poor excuse for supercharger placement nothing more…Go stage two if you like the sound because after the cat there is nothing to be gained but noise.
I have a 2bular exhaust fitted, to a Bemani SC. Go with 2bular, they fabricate their own exhausts, the welding and accuracy is outstanding. Its a much better product than the re-badged Janspeed offerings from Lotus IMO. Why religiously use what lotus suggest, making u guys wait, pay more and have a sub-standard part. To cap it off 2bular actually deliver when they promise…you’ll not regret it.
Contact Jim on [email protected] telling him what you would like. He specialises in Elise/Exige, NA/SC so is very knowledgable.
What a bunch of crap…The Cup 255 runs a stage two exhaust…The reason Bemani said to change the exhaust is just to sell some fool another exhaust…They use a diferent header design just to clear there poor excuse for supercharger placement nothing more…Go stage two if you like the sound because after the cat there is nothing to be gained but noise.
I’m not sure what a few Cup 255 running a stage two exhaust proves. Doesn’t mean the above doesn’t bare any relevance at all. If Lotus themselves say that a Stage 2 shouldn’t be used on an Exige-S, I would think they’re on to something.
Besides, I know in my specific case the intentions were never to sell one of their own exhausts - as I had the option to use the standard exhaust (or Stage 1) with no problems - just like anyone having the kit installed can. I only opted for a Bemani exhaust in the end because I was impressed by the sound/noise it makes.