Dealer charge for installing uprated engine mounts - LotusTalk

Noah Vail · 10-08-2008, 12:20 PM

My Lotus dealer estimates that it will take their service department 3 hours to install Lotus Sport uprated engine mounts (front and rear only) on my 2-Eleven. Although not identical to Manly's, the mounts look similar and I assume installation would take about the same amount of time. The service manager says pulling and reinstalling the undertray is time consuming, but many who have installed Manly's mounts posted that the entire installation process took 1-2 hours. Does 3 hours seem reasonable for an experienced Lotus mechanic?

Rei · 10-08-2008, 12:26 PM

No not at all. Something even a blind monkey could do.

Noah Vail · 10-08-2008, 12:35 PM

My local Mazda dealer has blind monkeys with Alzheimer's. I'll see what they charge.

def · 10-08-2008, 12:47 PM

15 minutes for diffuser/undertray removal if you do it by hand and dont have the car raised up at all.

Few minutes with powertools and car raised up

This is assuming 211 is similar to our cars

Mr. Know · 10-08-2008, 12:51 PM

Noah, is this the 211?

Noah Vail · 10-08-2008, 12:52 PM

ryoung99 · 10-08-2008, 02:19 PM

Honestly now that we have installed a s/c on our Exige, I would not let the dealer do anything to my car. It is so simple to work on when it is all said and done there is no reason to have anyone touch my car but me. Pulling the undertray is a walk in the park, honestly you only need to pull 12 bolts (8mm and 13mm) with an impact gun it takes less than 2 minutes to pull and you have complete access to the engine.

If I were you I would just DIY, get to know your car better and same some coin.

Noah Vail · 10-08-2008, 04:29 PM

The undertray sounds doable but some of the posts I've read made me think that the motor mounts might be more than I want to tackle on a new car.

Rei · 10-08-2008, 05:10 PM

Swapping motor mounts is a easy process on any car.

Just have a set of jacks and a good floor jack to support the engine. One issue you might come across is getting rid of the previous motor mount internals if your going with a pull poly replacement. If your using an insert which I will highly endorse it's just remove center bolt and place in insert put through bolt back and your done. How stupid do stealerships think people are????

But again I'm used to doing full builds on multiple cars before I got money so I might just be biased. From the old school where I'll wear the business suit but also don't mind putting on some gloves to get my hands dirty. What are you going to hurt any how doing this it's like changing your own oil.

Noel · 10-08-2008, 05:21 PM

30 +/- minutes real working time. The rest of the time is BS talk cock and timewasting acts which they incorporate into their charge counts. I agree wholeheartly with ryoung99.

Jack · 10-08-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noah Vail

My Lotus dealer estimates that it will take their service department 3 hours to install Lotus Sport uprated engine mounts (front and rear only) on my 2-Eleven. Although not identical to Manly's, the mounts look similar and I assume installation would take about the same amount of time. The service manager says pulling and reinstalling the undertray is time consuming, but many who have installed Manly's mounts posted that the entire installation process took 1-2 hours. Does 3 hours seem reasonable for an experienced Lotus mechanic?

Norm,

The Lotus Sport motor mounts are not the same as Manly's...they require more work and time to install. I believe that you also need a press to install them. You don't retain the existing rubber mounts and fill the void with the Lotus Sport mounts-- they replace the existing rubber mounts in toto.

Mr. Know · 10-08-2008, 05:43 PM

Another suggestion is to use this time to get aquainted with a race shop who can do this kind of stuff for you instead of dealing with the dealership.

Noah Vail · 10-08-2008, 09:57 PM

Thanks to all of you for the info and suggestions and to Jack, once again, for your detailed knowledge.

My reluctance to tackle the job myself stems from the fact that it's been over 30 years since I've worked on cars. In that time they've become vastly more sophisticated while my mechanical ability has become vastly less. I'm looking forward to getting in touch with my inner wrench but I'm going to creep up on it.

ads_green · 10-13-2008, 11:03 AM

Here's a nice link you might look at - pretty detailled.

Lotus Elise Exige Engine Mount Inserts

10-08-2008, 12:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Noah Vail Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 156	Dealer charge for installing uprated engine mounts My Lotus dealer estimates that it will take their service department 3 hours to install Lotus Sport uprated engine mounts (front and rear only) on my 2-Eleven. Although not identical to Manly's, the mounts look similar and I assume installation would take about the same amount of time. The service manager says pulling and reinstalling the undertray is time consuming, but many who have installed Manly's mounts posted that the entire installation process took 1-2 hours. Does 3 hours seem reasonable for an experienced Lotus mechanic?

10-08-2008, 12:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rei Lotus/TRD Geek Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond WA Posts: 623	No not at all. Something even a blind monkey could do. __________________ Kids in the Back seat causes Accidents Accidents in the Back Seat causes Kids Moral Stick with a Two Seater

10-08-2008, 12:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
def ...ault Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 2,599	15 minutes for diffuser/undertray removal if you do it by hand and dont have the car raised up at all. Few minutes with powertools and car raised up This is assuming 211 is similar to our cars __________________ //kevin - 05 Graphite Gray - Red Touring / LSS / Starshield / Stage 2 + more

10-08-2008, 12:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mr. Know British by extrapolation Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Marin, California Posts: 3,335 Images: 6	Noah, is this the 211? __________________ 07 Magnetic Blue Exige S Join the Blue Lotus Team on Facebook.

10-08-2008, 12:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Noah Vail Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 156	Yes.

10-08-2008, 12:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Noah Vail Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 156	My local Mazda dealer has blind monkeys with Alzheimer's. I'll see what they charge.

10-08-2008, 02:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
ryoung99 Selfish Asshat Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Shingle Springs, CA Posts: 445	Honestly now that we have installed a s/c on our Exige, I would not let the dealer do anything to my car. It is so simple to work on when it is all said and done there is no reason to have anyone touch my car but me. Pulling the undertray is a walk in the park, honestly you only need to pull 12 bolts (8mm and 13mm) with an impact gun it takes less than 2 minutes to pull and you have complete access to the engine. If I were you I would just DIY, get to know your car better and same some coin. __________________ 2006 Exige StormTi, BWR S/C, Nitto NT-01's (love em) 2005 Stealth Focus Midget (3 of them); 2001 Ocke Mannerfelt B-24 "Batboat" 2007 Honda S2000 (wifes car), 2003 Insight (commuter), 2000 Ford Excursion 2004 Meridan 411 and 96 SeaDoo Speedster boats 2004 Newmar Kountry Star RV and various racing karts and snowmobiles www.capitalcitymidgets.com

10-08-2008, 04:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Noah Vail Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 156	The undertray sounds doable but some of the posts I've read made me think that the motor mounts might be more than I want to tackle on a new car.

10-08-2008, 05:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rei Lotus/TRD Geek Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond WA Posts: 623	Swapping motor mounts is a easy process on any car. Just have a set of jacks and a good floor jack to support the engine. One issue you might come across is getting rid of the previous motor mount internals if your going with a pull poly replacement. If your using an insert which I will highly endorse it's just remove center bolt and place in insert put through bolt back and your done. How stupid do stealerships think people are???? But again I'm used to doing full builds on multiple cars before I got money so I might just be biased. From the old school where I'll wear the business suit but also don't mind putting on some gloves to get my hands dirty. What are you going to hurt any how doing this it's like changing your own oil. __________________ Kids in the Back seat causes Accidents Accidents in the Back Seat causes Kids Moral Stick with a Two Seater

10-08-2008, 05:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Noel Exige Cup 255 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 33.87°S 151.21°E Car: ロータス MKII エキシージ Type: Komo-Tec S300 Posts: 324	30 +/- minutes real working time. The rest of the time is BS talk cock and timewasting acts which they incorporate into their charge counts. I agree wholeheartly with ryoung99.

10-08-2008, 05:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mr. Know British by extrapolation Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Marin, California Posts: 3,335 Images: 6	Another suggestion is to use this time to get aquainted with a race shop who can do this kind of stuff for you instead of dealing with the dealership. __________________ 07 Magnetic Blue Exige S Join the Blue Lotus Team on Facebook.

10-08-2008, 09:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Noah Vail Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 156	Thanks to all of you for the info and suggestions and to Jack, once again, for your detailed knowledge. My reluctance to tackle the job myself stems from the fact that it's been over 30 years since I've worked on cars. In that time they've become vastly more sophisticated while my mechanical ability has become vastly less. I'm looking forward to getting in touch with my inner wrench but I'm going to creep up on it.

10-13-2008, 11:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
ads_green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 318	Here's a nice link you might look at - pretty detailled. Lotus Elise Exige Engine Mount Inserts

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