[ahofste]

Standing in front of the lights, this guy decided he would reverse his Silverado into my car .
He said he heard the honking, but decided to continue backing up anyway because he didn't see anything behind his truck...

As far as I can see there is no structural damage. There seems to be only a hole in the clam where his towhook beam jammed into the clam.
But I will only know for sure once the clam is off. The truck did push the Elise down as it backed onto it. So there might be some surprises hidden underneath the clam.

Now the dillema, because there is no dealership in the UAE (my Elise is the only Chrome Orange Elise out of a handfull of cars in the entire country) I will have to manage the repairs myself through some specialist car shop. Luckily the insurance company approved this approach. But since my daily line of work is not car-repairs it going to be in 'interesting' project:

• I'm planning to take off the clam and identify what parts (besides the clam) will need to be replaced. It seems Lotus Garage is the easiest way for me to order all the parts needed.
  Or are there any other alternatives?
• The shop I'm dealing with knows how to do a professional paint job, but I'm still a bit concerned because of Chrome Orange color on my car. I already posted http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f92/chrome-orange-paint-code-questions-76669/ , but so far haven't had any response. The more information I can gether the more comfortable I will be these guys at the shop will know how to get the best result with the paint job.
• I will also need a new Starshield. Where would I be able to buy a new set and have it shipped?

Any feedback is welcome.

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Know]

Ouch
Wouldn't it be cheaper and more convenient to order parts out of the UK instead of all the way from the US (Lotus Garage is US based).

 

[Serebo1]

Sorry about the damage to your car.

Starshield, if that's what you want, can be ordered through any Lotus dealer and shipped. I'd find a competent installer. It's not an easy application.

The thing I'd be most concerned about is damage to the crash structure. Not something to be trifled with. Again, if it needs replacing, I'd only have an experienced shop do the work, and only after consultation with a shop that has done it many times. Make sure they get both the correct bonding agent, which is a part # from Lotus.

As for CO, I believe B25 Chrome Orange (Base) Dupont F0262 F7504 A082B6338F

Chrome Orange (Pearl) Dupont HE01 F7504

I believe these are the correct codes, (from SELOC wiki) and if so they still need to be tested, as every batch is slightly different.

Good luck!!

 

[ahofste]

Yes, when I noticed the cracked support under the clam I also started worrying about the crashbox. I tried to look up in Lotus Garage which part it could be that shows cracked, but wasn't really able to identify it.

Anyway, I gues is will get more clear once we take the clam off.

 

[mrcarcrazy]

terribly sorry to see that. I had the same thing happen to me but it was only a miata...Best of luck

 

[E_Swift]

The part that you have pictured that is cracked is the "radiator housing" A122B0111F

I have a lot of experience sourcing and identifying parts from my project, and strongly recommend using the official Lotus parts book rather than Lotus Garage. I have found several errors in that website in the last seven months.

If you are OK with using used parts - PM me, I have a contact in DE that should make shipping cheaper than US or the UK.

PS - that clam can be repaired!

 

[ahofste]

Thanks for the tip on the Parts Manual! I did a google for Elise_Exige_Parts.pdf and managed to dowload the Parts List from
http://www.boefabrication.com/lotusElise/manuals/Elise_Exige_Parts.pdf

BTW. According to the parts manual A122B0111F is the Radiator Housing for an Exige. B120B0093F is the Radiator Housing for an Elise.

 

[ggelise]

Had the same thing happen except the lady in front of me was pissed that someone had taken her parking spot so she reversed with great alacrity. Her bumper was an inch from my windshield. Unfortunately this happens frequently. Don't be worried as this is an easy fix and the extra insurance cash can fund a cool mod!

Saw a pic in the UK where a Peugeot actually flipped over on its roof after backing over an Exige!

 

[Seb]

This looks familiar lol.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f231/history-my-2006-lotus-elise-sccpc11146hl30039-66280/

 

[chuck_risen]

Sorry about your car. As for your paint questions I can help. I do Chrome Orange quite a bit and I can supply your shop of choice with both the base and the mid coat components. The paint is not cheap however as CO is a little expensive. To do the front clam they might want a quart of base and mid each but I will leave that up to them just let them know the base does not cover well and to spray it over white sealer. It gets reduced 1 to 1 if they ask and is Urethane based and is a base-mid-clear formula so three stages. I can also send it ready to spray if they do not want to invest in the reducer. Matching is critical to how much you put on each coat so the painter should have one of your access panels near him when he sprays it to reference to. PM me if you need help on this or want more details.

 

[iana]

Frontal damage from reverse with towbar

Examine very closely for fine cracks between the indicator lights and headlights on both sides. The force of such an impact is transfered there.

If you find them then it needs a new clam. If such a cracked area is just rubbed back and painted over then new paint will crack later.

Possible radiator damage as OE radiators with plastic end tanks dont like this sort of thing. So would make sense to replace with a 3 pass Lotus motorsport radiator (which are not much more than OE) ? if you get my drift.

 

[iana]

More on Frontal damage from reverse with towbar

Order all parts from UK company here:-

Stratton Motorcompany | Lotus | Norwich | Used Aston Martin | Used Lotus | Used Morgan | Used Cars | Heritage | Racing | Servicing | Parts | Restoration | Bodyshop

Ask me how I know.

This has happened to me twice.

 

[ahofste]

Thanks for all the feedback and support.
I tried to compile the list of parts I will need to order, but the clamshell parts list got me a bit confused/concerned.

Do the centre front clamshell bracket and the front clamshell brackets come already bonded to the clam, or will they have to be ordered seperately and bonded to the clam upon receival. It says it is part of the clamshell assembly, but I'm not sure what this means.

07 - Bracket, centre front clamshell - Part of clamshell assy. - C117B0193F - 1
17 - Bracket, front clamshell - Part of clamshell assy. - C117B0163F - 2

And what about some of the other parts listed in the Elise Parts Manual:

25a - Gutter Extension Panel, LHD - A117B0704K - 1
26 - Foam Strip, self adhesive - A036B6221V - 0.28M
27 - Clip, extension panel to radiator - A117B6003F - 2
28 - Bracket, front liner/access panel mounting - B120B0088F - 2
30 - Buffer, self adhesive, clamshell to shroud - Not illustrated - A111J6027F - 2
31 - Pad, front clamshell mounting to rad. Housing - Not illustrated - A117U0163F - 2
32 - Foam Infill, clamshell spine front - Not illustrated, bonded to clam. - A117B0502F - 1

Does anybody have any pictures of these parts? I'm having a hard time identifying what this parts are for and whether they are required when ordering a new front clam?

 

[ahofste]

Possible radiator damage as OE radiators with plastic end tanks dont like this sort of thing.

You were right, the radiator got damaged. Some of the bolts of the Radiator housing were pushed into the radiator, because of the weight of the truck pushing down on them.

 

[E_Swift]

07 - Bracket, centre front clamshell - Part of clamshell assy. - C117B0193F - 1
17 - Bracket, front clamshell - Part of clamshell assy. - C117B0163F - 2

^These first two should come as a part of (bonded to) a new clam.^


25a - Gutter Extension Panel, LHD - A117B0704K - 1

^this clips to the back of the rad housing. It is more of an aesthetic piece. Yours may not be damaged^

26 - Foam Strip, self adhesive - A036B6221V - 0.28M

^goes between the extension panel and the clam^

27 - Clip, extension panel to radiator - A117B6003F - 2

^self explanatory^

28 - Bracket, front liner/access panel mounting - B120B0088F - 2

^not sure...^

30 - Buffer, self adhesive, clamshell to shroud - Not illustrated - A111J6027F - 2
31 - Pad, front clamshell mounting to rad. Housing - Not illustrated - A117U0163F - 2

^not totally sure, but each radiator housing has two pads on it where the clam rests on it. These can be carefully peeled of your old rad housing and reused on the new rad housing, if desired. New rad housing does not include the pads, but a used one probably would^

32 - Foam Infill, clamshell spine front - Not illustrated, bonded to clam. - A117B0502F - 1

^Don't remember seeing this...^

 

[SirLotus]

There is a Lotus dealer in Saudi Arabia.
Al Ghassan Motors to Retail Lotus Cars in Saudi Arabia | AutoNewscast.com
Michael

 

[ahofste]

I know about the dealership in Saudi, but aside from the thousands of miles in distance, travel of goods and persons between Saudi and the UAE are not straightforward.
The dealership is brandnew so I would question how much experience they really have...

I think I'll stick to importing the parts myself and having a local paintshop paint the clam. My biggest concerns with this approach are:
- I have to make sure I've got the partslist right first time around
- Will the paintshop be able to properly match the color.

No matter what I do, it feels as if there is no right answer. The car will be out of commision for a considerable time. If only this idiot had not reversed into my car...

 

[iana]

" Do the centre front clamshell bracket and the front clamshell brackets come already bonded to the clam, or will they have to be ordered seperately and bonded to the clam upon receival. It says it is part of the clamshell assembly, but I'm not sure what this means."


I would email Strattons with this question and ask them to quote on your parts list and advise you if there are any other parts that they think you may require.

They also supply Lotus Motorsport parts.