I’ve been told that Lotus sport do uprated engine mounts for the Exige.
Anyone now if they are standard equipment on a 2005 Cup?
Also, anyone know anything about uprated gearshift cables from this Australian company? Ta!
Hi SpeedyK
Whilst my 2007 Exige S was back with at the factory last month having warranty work carried out on the gearbox, I made the most of the opportunity and had an up rated clutch fitted along with the up rated engine mounts. The standard clutch was replaced due to a season sprinting last year and the fact that there was no labor charge as the box was off the engine. I chose the up rated mounts to reduce the amount of engine movement especially with the intercooler mounted on top of it. On track with the standard mounts, I was experiencing a ‘lurching forward’ when I took my foot off the accelerator - not good.
When I collected the car and first fired up the car in the factory car park, I thought oh no what have I done! My pleasant civilized road car had been turned into a vibrating, resonating box. The clutch had turned in to an on / off affair and the long drive back to the Midlands was not very pleasant.
As for performance the car is transformed. I now have a non crunching 3rd gear, I can select reverse without needing two hands, (warranty work) and the whole gear change is slicker.
The clutch is great on track and after a while, fairly easy to live with on the road.
I have solved the majority of the resonating plastic trim in the car and an evening at Bedford has �bed in� the mounts or is it me that has been bedded in? The lift off lurching has now almost disappeared. Would I recommend them? Yes as long as you appreciate the compromise that comes with them. Rowland at Lotus did warn me so I half expected the result.
Hope this helps
Harvey
I used inserts from ebay to do the same job, simple to fit and cheap as well, my car also has no lurching issues any more and the vibrations are ok, it kind of makes the door mirrors wobble on idle if the windows are down…
Aggree with HT67. I had both jobs done. A little strange in the begining but you get used to the clutch/little vibration at tickover but the car performs much better.
If you have big power you really need both. If you can see how much the engine moves at max torque you will be shocked. There is a video on SELOC (search) that is impressive.
Ex77
There is a link to the video on my post in this thread.
These along with changing the gearbox oil make a huge difference to the gearchange.
[quote=HT67]
Whilst my 2007 Exige S was back with at the factory last month having warranty work carried out on the gearbox, I made the most of the opportunity and had an up rated clutch fitted along with the up rated engine mounts.[/quote]
Thanks! So the Exige S doesn’t have them as standard. Anyone know if a 2005 Cup would have?
I’ve got a sintered clutch - I’m used to it.
Reverse was always a bit awkward, then one day (returning from a service at my Lotus dealer) I wanted to reverse into my garage and couldn’t engage the gear � the lever just baulked.
When they looked at it, I was there and they showed me how there is a range within which the cables can be adjusted. Mine was exceeding the operative range. Now, the cables stretch a little with time and mine had seemingly had poor quality control at original assembly in the factory as it must have been set to nowhere near mid-range to be so far off after about 8k miles.
However, although reverse works now, I still hate the change on the forward gears. It baulks and it seems to vary (as in move so that putting the lever in a certain position could get one gear one time and another gear another time!) - combined with the narrow gate, this means it is sometimes impossible to know if it will engage second or fourth. That mistake has already cost me a complete new engine! 
The Opel Speedster (VX 220) I had before had a foolproof change � I’d give it 9 out of 10. The Exige’s is really poor for a car that is meant to be moved in anger � I can’t give it more than 3 out of 10.
I really don’t want to blow another engine, that means being forced to take it carefully � but what is the point in a track car that can’t offer fast, precise changes so you have to drive it slowly and deliberately? 
Any advice to make the change more positive and accurate is MOST welcome!
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(Btw, was talking to my Lotus dealer at the weekend when he turned up a British car Meeting in an Evora. He drives an Exige S himself and admits the gear change can be troublesome. He reckons the Evora’s is notably better and, more interestingly, a twin clutch paddle shift version with auto mode (BMW sourced) is due around November. That was a surprise to me. I intend to try one � but I’m watching GT-R prices closely too 
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I have to say matey, I have never driven an S2 that doesn’t have a nice positive change and I have driven a fair few.
Are you sure the linkage is lubricated and adjusted correctly?
I don’t feel a lurch as described either. But I am as slow as Xmas on track 
There is a longer actuator rod for the clutch, AFAIK it is a toyota part, this will help with clutch clearance issues you sound like you are having, never had an issue with mine getting the right gear, i think a lot can be done with adjustment.
Hmm… from what you are all saying, it sounds like mine must be wrong. But, seeing as how the Lotus mechanic who does the work on my car definitely knows what he’s doing (they win all the competitions in Switz.) and he seemed happy with it, I have been assuming that mine is as good as it gets.
I think I’ll have to have another talk with them � but it will have to wait till later next week as I’m off to Hockenheim till Wednesday. Just bloody hope I don’t get a missed change and lunch another engine 
I bought mine with 400 miles on the clock. By the 1000 mile service it had a replacement box due to a crunch when changing up in to 3rd. The 1st to 2nd change was difficult along with selecting reverse.
The replacement box fixed all problems except selecting reverse but at 2000 miles I was back at square 1.
My main dealer gave me the TADTS blurb and assured me that all cables were adjusted correctly. Begs the questions as to why I can now select reverse with two fingers and a thumb and the whole gear selection is spot on? Poor training at the dealership I suspect.
When the car was at the factory Rowland suggested the up rated selector cables which would further enhance the shift - with a service, engine mounts, clutch and toe links to pay for I decided to see how it felt before shelling out for these.
From my experience I would get a second opinion on how the cables have been adjusted � got to be cheaper than shelling out for another engine.
Having new mounts and toelinks with JSRacing next few weeks. Had the clutch done by them already…great on track and not the nightmare I was expecting on road either.
Jonny now the warranty is up i’ll be looking closer to home from now on.
You cant go wrong with John & Sean at JSRacing Harvey, I endorse them because of the excellent service and great work they’ve done. The list is now quite long…
Funnily enough enjoying the Exige past few days I broke down today limped home from Brum with the Hazards on. Seans picking it up tomorrow or Friday 
Are we on track soon mate???
Oulton Park on the 30th October - can’t wait.
[quote=jonnyfox]You cant go wrong with John & Sean at JSRacing Harvey, I endorse them because of the excellent service and great work they’ve done. The list is now quite long…
Funnily enough enjoying the Exige past few days I broke down today limped home from Brum with the Hazards on. Seans picking it up tomorrow or Friday
Are we on track soon mate??? [/quote]
[quote=jonnyfox]You cant go wrong with John & Sean at JSRacing Harvey, I endorse them because of the excellent service and great work they’ve done. The list is now quite long…
Funnily enough enjoying the Exige past few days I broke down today limped home from Brum with the Hazards on. Seans picking it up tomorrow or Friday
Are we on track soon mate??? [/quote]
Stop distracting him! I want mine back! 
Sorry…thread hijack back on subject I’ll ask John what he intends to use?