Snapped soft top rail for S1

elise82 · Post by **elise82** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:11 pm

Hi everyone.

When I bought the S1 in July there was a piece of duck tape at the front of the soft top just where the little grommet is that catches on the rail. On investigation it was revealed that the plastic piece along the front of the soft top was snapped and to prevent this worsening the previous owner had taped it. I have since replaced the duck tape with another piece and all seems fine. Roof only leaks at the front corners!!

The only thing bothering me is the cosmetics of this repair. Does anyone know how to fix this? And if so, does the cost make it not worth it?

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:02 am

Woody got his soft top refurbed by lotus.

by all accounts they made a great job and the price was sub <£100

no doubt he will be along later to spill the beans

haggis catcher · Post by **haggis catcher** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 7:55 am

MMC is the answer. THey did a great job on mine, and its very good value for the little amount of cash.

mac · Post by **mac** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:21 am

or leave it - I've seen dozens of S1 roofs with the front rail broken in this location.

Mac

woody · Post by **woody** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:21 am

BiggestNizzy wrote:Woody got his soft top refurbed by lotus.

by all accounts they made a great job and the price was sub <£100

no doubt he will be along later to spill the beans

http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... 0&start=15

$75 inc Vat & return postage from MMC to Lotus. There are a lot of them broken, but the roof fits so much better and easier with it intact, plus the refurb means the whole thing is taught again.

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 9:31 am

woody wrote:
BiggestNizzy wrote:Woody got his soft top refurbed by lotus.

by all accounts they made a great job and the price was sub <£100

no doubt he will be along later to spill the beans
http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... 0&start=15

$75 inc Vat & return postage from MMC to Lotus. There are a lot of them broken, but the roof fits so much better and easier with it intact, plus the refurb means the whole thing is taught again.

$75 - so about £38?

Corranga · Post by **Corranga** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:01 pm

I really must get around to this, especially with the crap weather and tin lid on the car atm... Thanks for reminding me

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:14 pm

if the stitching starts to go it will only get worse - i got the rlc's redone at MMC think it was £60-70? The roof was like new on its return - was tempted to give them the car

graeme · Post by **graeme** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:17 pm

I broke mine on purpose. It makes it easier to roll the roof up if you fold it in half first.

Don't worry about fixing it. Save your money for the next head gasket failure.

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:35 pm

I think on the very early cars it was split in two at the lug anyway.

Both of mine were like that, and they had not snapped, edges were smooth with a small gap between them.

tut

delands · Post by **delands** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:58 pm

I had my S1 roof re-stitched in places by Ramsay in Loanhead... could be very near SLS?

However, for the money, probably better sending it back to Lotus .

woody · Post by **woody** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:46 pm

RDH wrote:
woody wrote:
BiggestNizzy wrote:Woody got his soft top refurbed by lotus.

by all accounts they made a great job and the price was sub <£100

no doubt he will be along later to spill the beans
http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... 0&start=15

$75 inc Vat & return postage from MMC to Lotus. There are a lot of them broken, but the roof fits so much better and easier with it intact, plus the refurb means the whole thing is taught again.
$75 - so about £38?

American keyboard that I didn't know how to change

elise82 · Post by **elise82** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:06 pm

Thanks for all of the posts. Repair sounds a lot cheaper than I thought it would be (£38 would be a bargain, lol). I like the idea that it makes it easier to fold away for boot, when broken. All in all I still haven't made my mind up. I've lasted half a year without bothering so could just leave it, especially when so many other people have done so.

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:43 pm

I've read a lot about this over the years, it's apparently well worth the money. IIRC you used to be able to do it direct with Lotus Hethel, always worth calling them first anyways, they know a tad more than Murrays. heh