Small crack near intake - advice needed

[TrevS]

Hi there

I am currently looking at an Evora S for sale. The car looks great apart from a crack that the owner has made me aware of. It's at the bottom edge of the drivers side air intake (see image attached). As you can see it's about the size of a one pound coin in length. Can anyone tell me if these sort of cracks are common and what would be the fix. Is something like this a big/expensive job and how much should I budget to fix? Also are there any recommended body shops, specialists or dealers that would be recommended for this type of job?

Thanks

Trev

[Rambo]

I think that's known as the "sail panel"

Yes, they are very flimsy but can be replaced at great expense. I believe some companies make carbon fibre ones which will be even more money.

I have a similar sized crack on mine. It doesn't bother me. Maybe I should just try superglue.

 

Have just searched and found this. It may be helpful?

https://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/topic/88073-cracked-ventilation-sail-panel/

 

[jerzybondov]

I think this is on the painted section of the wing just behind the door - black and white is making it look more sail panel-y!

[TrevS]

Gez is correct, I believe it's on the body work around this intake vent just behind the drivers door

[Rambo]

Oh, sorry. I just looked at 0630 this morning, bleary eyed and assumed sail panel. Like mine.

 

[Rambo]

Looking at the original photo. more closely it does look like a crack to the fibreglass rather than that flimsy sail panel.

Strange place for a crack though.

[Bravo73]

8 hours ago, TrevS said:

Can anyone tell me if these sort of cracks are common and what would be the fix. Is something like this a big/expensive job and how much should I budget to fix? Also are there any recommended body shops, specialists or dealers that would be recommended for this type of job?

Hello Trev,

No, cracks in this area aren't common. At least, I can't recall anyone mentioning it before.

It should be straightforward to fix but... to do it properly, I suspect that the rear clam will have to come off (to remove the grill). This isn't difficult; just a bit costly in terms of time.

There is a very good Lotus approved bodyshop at Beaconsfield (so not a million miles away from you): https://thebeaconsfieldworkshop.co.uk Maybe send them an email and ask them for an approximate price to fix it? Tell them that @Bibs sent you.

[Whitey]

Never seen a crack there before. With a bodyshop repair, the main risk will be to get a perfect paint match but it should be possible and wont be cheap. If that happened on my car I would do a diy repair and not remove the clam. You would have to cut the grill out so you can access the rear of the crack and then bond a reinforcement in to stabilize the crack damage. Then a little paint touch up stick will hide the crack pretty well. You would then have to source or make a new mesh grill and use something like sikoflex to bond it in place.  As you're potentially buying this car and want it as perfect as possible then you would need an estimate from a decent bodyshop that will guarantee as near perfect paint match as possible.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Looks like something might have been dropped on it. The adjacent mesh looks a little scratched/damaged as well. Personally I would have got that sorted prior to advertising, if I was trying to sell the car. It now becomes “a thing”, which might encourage potential buyers to look elsewhere.

[TrevS]

Thanks all, really useful. The car is not actually being advertised it's someone I reached out to as the car is my No1 colour choice and finding an exact car in the classifieds is nearly impossible. The owner has agreed to look at selling the car but immediately made me aware of the issue. So I think it's something I have to be aware of if I'm taking on the car and what the repair cost will be.

Depending exactly where the damage is if you could disguise the area maybe with some of these vent trims. Not ideal but might hide any discrepancy in the paint match.

 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Yes that would work.

[Rambo]

1 hour ago, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

Looks like something might have been dropped on it. The adjacent mesh looks a little scratched/damaged as well. 

I agree. Something heavy has been dropped on the mesh causing a stress fracture to the fibreglass. Probably find the mesh is attached to the fibreglass by a lug at that point.

I'm sure a competent fibreglass repairer could do something in situ. That would be be my 1st approach anyway.

[TrevS]

I've just pinged over an email to Beaconsfield so let's see how they would approach and possible cost. Thanks for the recommendation Jonny, not too far away and look like they are the place to take the car to.

[Cdm2018]

I purchased the side scoops made a nice little touch and in your case hide the crack ! Job done 

 

[TrevS]

Well just had an email back from Beaconsfield. They've estimated cost of the job at £1440 inc VAT to repair and then repaint the wing and blend through to the door. Not terrible but not brilliant either as I'd have to budget this into the purchase.

[jerzybondov]

This is less than I would have expected to be honest!

[Phaeton91]

I think the seller is making the right call.  It’s one thing to want a perfect car but would that crack change the driving experience in any way. Not really, so it becomes the buyers choice as to whether to get it done or not.
 

My only concern is whether it could potentially get worse over time so even if you went the carbon vent cover route it would be prudent to do something to bond the crack so it doesn’t get bigger.

[Bruss]

The car has market value minus £1440.00.

 

 

[TrevS]

I'm happy that this isn't a bigger more expensive issue and the bodyshop have emailed me again tonight to say the car can be booked in at any time as they don't see this as a major repair and would take them about a week. I've always been told to buy a car on condition so that's what I'm doing and just doing some homework on here to help. When I bought my e-type I had some very expensive bills for some repair work so trying to avoid some of the mistakes I've made in the past.

If I do buy the car I will have the repair work done. The crack may well stay as is but it might get worse and for the sake of £1400 for peace of mind and a car that is then perfect it's worth getting it fixed. Thanks all

[TdM]

Beaconsfield have an excellent rep. If you are nearby, bodywork and paint can also be done by Steve Williams who is also excellent and does everything properly. Those are the two best places in the area of your are looking for competitive quotes.

 

Steve also does all mechanicals as well so if you need anything fine going forwards he's a good guy to have to hand.