Choppa

Not that I have a V8, but out of interest I downloaded the ZIP file from Peter's link onto an old Win7 laptop, extracted the files to a folder on the desktop and installed the software, ignoring the .DLL errors as mentioned above, and it installed OK. From that screen shot it looks like you are running the setup.exe from within the ZIP software?

As an alternative to a new one, I've used the Burghfield Starter and Alternator Centre near Reading to refurb a Vaelo unit like yours and they did a good job. Not sure what kind of service they are offering during lockdown, but there are lots of other companies across the UK who will refurb an alternator for you. The fuel leak is most likely down to the needle valves on the float chambers, you can get replacements from Eurocarbs.

Glad you got it sorted!

Here's one of the underside of the lid on my S3

I replaced the plastic sheeting behind the door cards on my S3 with Dynamat, a couple of years ago, it made a little bit of difference but not as much as I was expecting. I think you really have to do the entire cabin from top to bottom to get a substantial reduction in road noise.

Given your history with the car I think you are one of the few people on TLF or anywhere else who would have offered him that sort of money for a car that to all the world is only a step away from the breakers yard. My offer would have been very similar to Paul's, and that's probably why I never win any bids on eBay.

Regarding gearbox and diff, Harry Martens ( @dsvitesse1 ) every time. He's between Alkmar and Amsterdam. I took my gearbox off, stuck it in the back of my daily drive, nipped over to his place and swapped it (plus a few Euros!) for a new one with a Quaife LSD fitted. If you are wanting to keep you original so the number on the box matches the Lotus build records then you could get it palleted over to him and I'm sure he'd overhaul it and send it back. You can find quite a few specialists who can take the standard 160bhp unit in an S3 up to well over 200bhp without a turbo in sight. For example about 5 years ago I had my N/A engine rebuilt by a friend who is a guru in the Jensen Healey racing world. I asked him to get it to match a carb turbo and fair enough it dyno'd at 211bhp when he gave it back to me, but of course it didn't have quite the torque curve of a turbo. For JH's competing in events he typically gets them to 235 but those engines are not so happy being subject to normal driving. I have no experience in dealing with them so not in a position to recommend, but on the LotusBits web site they have a menu setting out what they would charge to enhance a standard N/A engine which you might find interesting.

Interesting, I had an advisory on this last MOT so I'm going to have a look at mine now to see if its something similar, I think the column on the S1 is the same as the S3 but no idea about an Elite.

I had a similar problem, and as I couldn't find anyone who could sell me the correct replacement CIBIE light units, I got them re silvered at a Chrome Restoration Specialist. Not a cheap alternative as they charge to dismantle the semi sealed unit on top of the cost of doing the re silvering, but they did an excellent job.

On @CHANGES "412BHP that will do nicely" thread two people mentioned glitter flake build up on the magnet in relation to GTO gearbox upgrades as being perfectly normal, its only big slivers that should cause concern

You don't say !!

I've spent the last couple of minutes trying to get this video to play

I'd suggest the underside and mechanicals on that look in better shape than the the majority of the UK/European S3's including mine. My only comment would be that on photo of the rear silencer there are usually two metal straps that hold it to a bracket that 'is bolted to the the gearbox. On this one there are marks where the straps might have been but I can't see them, so there must be something else (or nothing) holding it in place

Fitting a Veglia style digital dash as seen on Car SOS, or more likely going over to green LED dash illumination. Your Lotus Gold leather looks in really great nick.