[Patricko]

I saw this on PureS.

Has anyone else heard that the Sports Pack wheels are now painted?

 

[Surferjer]

That one doesn't look painted ????

 

[Cuylerb]

It is painted. It's matt silver vs. the bright anodized.
I was told before the car was delivered that it would probably have painted LSS wheels.

 

[ConeFusion]

It does look more like a painted finish. I hadn't seen pictures, but Chris Starr mentioned the difference here a few days ago:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7539

 

[Win]

My wheels look like that. It goes well with my Storm Titanium.

 

[Ancient Wedgie]

My wheels look like that. It goes well with my Storm Titanium.

Whoa. Now there's a difference that could explain your mishap. Not excuse it by any means -- but explain it.

If paint got into the threads of one or more of your bolts (via unremoved flashing in the bolt holes), and the mechanics weren't expecting it.... See?

The point is, the process changed. There are opportunities for unforeseen consequences when they do.

 

[adamant]

I think I have posted this a couple of times now. The wheel coating changed during the LSS delays, I believe. The newer coating is still shiny but not a bright as the original coating.

 

[Paul]

When I took Richards Parramint's tour at the end of October we went thru the factory and were shown the new painted LSS wheels.

It seems with the anodizing it was very hard to get four wheels that looked the same!

 

[Randy Chase]

To me the big difference is not the finish, but that all the edges are not radiused.

On my rims, it is a sharp edge, in fact they can cut you when cleaning.

 

[OneFastLotus]

On my rims, it is a sharp edge, in fact they can cut you when cleaning.

My hands agree with this statement.

 

[Vantage]

I think the previous finish was somewhat more attractive with the higher surface luster and the super sharp edges that a cast wheel cannot really replicate (that I have seen).

Anyway, was this to improve consistency, cost, and quality? I'm sure the previous clear coat was harder to do.

 

[Zero]

Now I won't feel as bad powdercoating them black

 

[Zero]

One other change that the local dealer noticed on newly delivered cars is that the factory seems to be using a different Blaupunkt radio in the touring pack.

 

[MikeAR303]

I have the unpainted "sharp edge" LSS wheels... though I'll be powder coating them black very soon.

The wheels in that picture are definitely painted.

 

[Charles Rozier]

Beware - paint does not like to stick to sharp edges, and will easily wear off there. It is normal practice in product design to radius any exposed, wearable edges of painted parts. I assume Lotus modified their wheel tools to add radii when they switched to paint...

 

[eliseowner2b]

ZERO:::::::::::::::::::different Blaupunkt radio in the touring pack.

Does anyone know what the difference is in the stereo?

Curiosity killed the cat but for a while I was a suspect.

 

[Patricko]

Does anyone know what the difference is in the stereo?

Curiosity killed the cat but for a while I was a suspect.

It could be this one.

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/losangeles.asp

The MP74 Los Angeles...I saw it at CES in Jan and Blaupunkt told me that they had sold all of the MP72s they had to Lotus and the replacement would be the MP74 when they were gone.

 

[Ground Loop]

I think the previous finish was somewhat more attractive with the higher surface luster and the super sharp edges that a cast wheel cannot really replicate (that I have seen).

I agree.. the original LSS wheels had a 'sharper' forged finish that made them stand out.

If I ordered LSS (and I did not), I wouldn't be very happy about this change.

 

[Ground Loop]

It could be this one.

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/losangeles.asp

The MP74 Los Angeles...I saw it at CES in Jan and Blaupunkt told me that they had sold all of the MP72s they had to Lotus and the replacement would be the MP74 when they were gone.

I sure hope not! The MP74 has no MMC card capability. I have a handful of MMC cards and was looking forward to using that.

On the other hand, it does fix one outstanding problem with the MP72:

Clock display (12/24hour) can be selected.

 

[Patricko]

I sure hope not! The MP74 has no MMC card capability. I have a handful of MMC cards and was looking forward to using that.

On the other hand, it does fix one outstanding problem with the MP72:

I will happily trade you my MP72 for your MP74:clap: