Paint blistering issue update

[seventen]

Hello,

I wanted to get an update on a thread from some time ago regarding the well known paint blistering problem that affects some cars.

My car is ~2.5 years old and coming to the end of its warranty period. So far it has not been affected. Whether it's coincidence or not, it has been stored inside its whole life.

Talking to the local authorised Lotus service centre dealer today they said that this was continuing to be an issue with many cars, although there was no identifiable pattern with age, year etc.

My concern is that as the car comes out of warranty next year, if it is affected, it may end up costing thousands to put right, at my expense. They gave an idea of costs:

• Doors (each) £900 - £1800 total
• Paintwork (each) £2000 - £4000 total
• TOTAL: ~£5800 plus VAT @ 20%

These do seem high, especially the paint, but even if they are a slight overestimate it's a big financial hit. They alluded to the fact that some early cars may be covered for 5 years under the original warranty, but 3 years was now the norm. I am trying to find out what the situation is with my car from Lotus Customer services. There is also currently no official 'extended warranty' available - I am chasing Lotus on this separately.

With these costs it's a big question on the whole ownership proposition going forwards. Would I be prepared to pay for this work, or would I be better to sell the car and move onto something different?

I am keen to hear of other people's experiences. Thank you.

 

[geoffbland]

£5800 for the doors alone. The rear quarter panels and engine cover can also be affected, I would assume this costs a fair bit more than a door. Total price for replacing all panels, respray and re-doing possibly PPF is likely to be over £10,000. Another issue may be delays in getting the replacement panels, also there have been reports of the replacement panels also later having the same problems.

I think is also has been established that neither the paint nor water/rain is the problem but something inherent with the composite panels made in Portugal. See this thread https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/poll-for-those-with-paint-blistering-bubbling-defect.3626

Regarding warranties see this thread https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/uk-paint-warranty-escalations-bribery.5969/.
Paint was warrantied for 5 years on the web site as late as October 2024 so in theory you are covered for 5 years if you bought prior to that. However this has not been tested as no-one's 3 year warranty is up yet, it may need to go to court or legal action.

 

[AJ194]

I collected mine just over a month ago, already had to have a new drivers door due to the paint issues.

All the work done has been excellent and totally seamless.

However, I've been told going forward they aren't going to replace the doors and will just re-do the paint.

How true this is I don't know, but this was from a dealer.

I know alot of Mclarens have a similar issue, and they've managed to sort those with paint only.

 

[geoffbland]

I know alot of Mclarens have a similar issue, and they've managed to sort those with paint only.

Mclarens use aluminium panels - the problem here really is corrosion (although poor sealing seems to have made the problem worse) and you can sand these back and repaint.

 

[AJ194]

Mclarens use aluminium panels - the problem here really is corrosion (although poor sealing seems to have made the problem worse) and you can sand these back and repaint.

Yeah totally different problem really, but going from what they told me Lotus want to try sort it that way instead of replacing panels.

 

[freefall_junkie]

Hello,

I wanted to get an update on a thread from some time ago regarding the well known paint blistering problem that affects some cars.

My car is ~2.5 years old and coming to the end of its warranty period. So far it has not been affected. Whether it's coincidence or not, it has been stored inside its whole life.

Talking to the local authorised Lotus service centre dealer today they said that this was continuing to be an issue with many cars, although there was no identifiable pattern with age, year etc.

My concern is that as the car comes out of warranty next year, if it is affected, it may end up costing thousands to put right, at my expense. They gave an idea of costs:

• Doors (each) £900 - £1800 total
• Paintwork (each) £2000 - £4000 total
• TOTAL: ~£5800 plus VAT @ 20%

These do seem high, especially the paint, but even if they are a slight overestimate it's a big financial hit. They alluded to the fact that some early cars may be covered for 5 years under the original warranty, but 3 years was now the norm. I am trying to find out what the situation is with my car from Lotus Customer services. There is also currently no official 'extended warranty' available - I am chasing Lotus on this separately.

With these costs it's a big question on the whole ownership proposition going forwards. Would I be prepared to pay for this work, or would I be better to sell the car and move onto something different?

I am keen to hear of other people's experiences. Thank you.

I'm in the same boat. My Emira is coming up to 2.5 years old, no sign of paint bubbling but I am concerned about potential costs out of warranty. Lotus CS have told me that the paint warranty is definitely 3 years not 5, and the the 5 years stated on the website for over two years was a 'mistake'. This is clearly bullshit and cynical backtracking from Lotus to reduce their soaring warranty costs. I suspect the legality of this is going to end up being tested when owners inevitably end up with bubbling after 3 years. Shameful and unbelievably short sighted position for a company which aspires to being a global 'premium' brand. It is certain to further trash their reputation and ensure many owners will never buy a Lotus again.

On another note I recently had a conversation with a Lotus employee which revealed a few interesting snippets of information. Lotus apparently have a rig in the factory where doors are repeatedly soaked to try and replicate the problem, so it sounds like it may not be 100% resolved even now. I also got the impression that the problem is clearly batch related, it is not simply a case of all cars before a certain date have the issue. Some cars on Lotus's own management fleet have had the bubbling within a few weeks of production, other batches are fine. Being stored outdoors is obviously a major factor, but it seems it really is a lottery if your car has the faulty panels, and if you do, how long the bubbling takes to show up.

 

[Nick in Sydney]

When you wash an Emira, water builds up inside the closed doors, especially when parked on a slope. After I'm finished with the hose, I always open the doors and watch a waterfall come flooding out of the drain holes.

Presumably, the same thing happens when cars sit out in the pouring rain— water builds up inside the doors, but no one is there to open them and drain it out! I wonder if this is one of the reasons why Emiras left outside tend to suffer from bubbling. Moisture gets into the composite panels from the unpainted inside, and then works it's way out, eventually causing a blister.

 

[MiamiBlue]

It took over two years for my paint to bubble. Then it happened on both sides almost overnight. Top of the doors in the usual area. Strange.

They can't backtrack on having 5 years written down because it 'was a mistake'. If that was true then every legal document ever written could be overturned if they simply said 'it was a mistake'! -truly ridiculous thing to stay that obviously won't hold up in any court.