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Woohoo - No More Leaks


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#1 mandarinvx

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Posted 02 July 2008 - 10:15 PM

Fitted the Lotus roof seal today :D - Prices & part numbers in here

I've always had some drips work their way in - I've adjusted the windows and re-stuck the seals, but never the less there was always a little patch of water on each sill cover :rolleyes:

Noticed Lotus had changed the design of the roof seals on the supercharged Elise they had in the showroom, as seen in the link above, so thought I'd give them a go - £70something inc vat for the main front one - ie less than half the price of the tubby one from Vauxhall...

Not sure what the turbo version is like so it may be no different to this, but this new Lotus version is totally different to the NA seal

The old one came off very easily, cleaned the area with Autoglym tar remover and stuck the new one in place - really easy to do thumbsup

Heres the piccies:

The new seal is at least twice as wide and sits at both the front and back edges across the screen-
Posted Image

I'd expected the 'cup' as I've seen on the turbo seal, but this seal uses a 'cup' on the other side as well, creating a complete seal against the front of the windscreen frame. Comparison pic-
Posted Image

Posted Image

It has very different drainage channels, and uses extra drain / breath points throughout-
Posted Image

There were areas where it was obvious the seal had been unstuck for a very long time (maybe even never :rolleyes: )-
Posted Image

And the new seal fitted in place-
Posted Image

Posted Image

It poured down today - and not a single drop in the car thumbsup

There are four other parts to the full kit, but I need a sharp knife to cut through the glue holding the front window runner seals in place - tbh I'm not even sure I'll need them :)

#2 Crazyfrog (Fab)

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Posted 02 July 2008 - 10:50 PM

you can come to do mine :rolleyes: i'll give you a fee steak



Posted Image



or maybe that :rolleyes:

Posted Image

#3 mandarinvx

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Posted 02 July 2008 - 11:04 PM

Tempting :)

#4 Coral flash

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Posted 02 July 2008 - 11:31 PM

Fitted the Lotus roof seal today :D - Prices & part numbers in here

I've always had some drips work their way in - I've adjusted the windows and re-stuck the seals, but never the less there was always a little patch of water on each sill cover :rolleyes:

Noticed Lotus had changed the design of the roof seals on the supercharged Elise they had in the showroom, as seen in the link above, so thought I'd give them a go - £70something inc vat for the main front one - ie less than half the price of the tubby one from Vauxhall...

Not sure what the turbo version is like so it may be no different to this, but this new Lotus version is totally different to the NA seal

The old one came off very easily, cleaned the area with Autoglym tar remover and stuck the new one in place - really easy to do thumbsup

Heres the piccies:

The new seal is at least twice as wide and sits at both the front and back edges across the screen-
Posted Image

I'd expected the 'cup' as I've seen on the turbo seal, but this seal uses a 'cup' on the other side as well, creating a complete seal against the front of the windscreen frame. Comparison pic-
Posted Image

Posted Image

It has very different drainage channels, and uses extra drain / breath points throughout-
Posted Image

There were areas where it was obvious the seal had been unstuck for a very long time (maybe even never :rolleyes: )-
Posted Image

And the new seal fitted in place-
Posted Image

Posted Image

It poured down today - and not a single drop in the car thumbsup

There are four other parts to the full kit, but I need a sharp knife to cut through the glue holding the front window runner seals in place - tbh I'm not even sure I'll need them :)



#5 Coral flash

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Posted 02 July 2008 - 11:34 PM

Fitted the Lotus roof seal today :D - Prices & part numbers in here

Hmm; Interesting! Any improvement on wind noise?

#6 mandarinvx

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 05:16 PM

Hmm; Interesting! Any improvement on wind noise?

Maybe a little - I had the music on all the way to/from work tho B)

#7 The Batman

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 05:23 PM

if you come do mine then food and drink paid for (hopeyou like fast food?)and £££ lol

#8 mandarinvx

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 05:32 PM

It really is easy to do - should only take 1/2 hour I thought the seal would be 'stretchy' but it isn't so lining it up is easy - just start with one of the 'cupped' corners first thumbsup

#9 meo

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 05:41 PM

Looks good job. thumbsup What did you get the old seal off with? Did it leave any of the old glue on?

#10 mandarinvx

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 05:43 PM

Just pulled the old seal off by hand - you can see the thin (faint) trail of glue left behind, but came off easily with the tar remover and a rag :)

#11 meo

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 05:44 PM

Does the new seal just stick rite on? got some new seals maself.

#12 mandarinvx

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 05:46 PM

Yep - this one had various lengths of tape over the sticky foam stuff, so just pull off in stage and press down

#13 Retset

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 06:00 PM

So this is just the main seal from out of the 4 you bought? And already dry thumbsup

#14 mcewanslager

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 06:07 PM

any chance anyone who stays near a lotus dealer could get me the set and post it to me and make theirself a quick £10?

#15 mandarinvx

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Posted 03 July 2008 - 06:11 PM

So this is just the main seal from out of the 4 you bought?

And already dry thumbsup

Yep B)

#16 wierdjam

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Posted 04 July 2008 - 02:46 PM

That looks alot better than the standard NA one! Top Job. I might be needing to pinch yourhelpfulness one of these days... Nice new roof seal.. Mintex Pads.... Spraying Grills.... Alloy Rads.... Clam removal.... Easy when you know how!

#17 mandarinvx

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Posted 04 July 2008 - 03:29 PM

Nice new roof seal..
Mintex Pads....
Spraying Grills....
Alloy Rads....
Clam removal....

There's a full days work there!

#18 aron916

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Posted 11 July 2008 - 02:21 PM

I have just ordered a set for £139 from Lotus in Cheshire. Have got my car inside the warehouse today as it not holding water very well at all, the seals are coming apart so let’s hope this investment sorts out the problem! 2 week wait tho, the guy said I was the 3rd VX owner who had ordered from him!

#19 mandarinvx

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Posted 13 July 2008 - 08:31 PM

First true test today - went to the jetwash and no drips inside at all thumbsup

#20 aron916

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Posted 14 July 2008 - 07:51 AM

First true test today - went to the jetwash

and no drips inside at all thumbsup


im looking forward to that day! :D




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