Opel Speedster Turbo
Sporting 2.0-litre turbo with K04 turbocharger (BorgWarner), known for good power delivery. Turbo sealing and oil supply to the turbocharger are the most important purchase criteria – bearing problems on the K04 are regarded as a design weakness.
Turbo kart with bite
0–100 in 4.9 seconds in under 930 kg without power steering and with a mid-mounted engine. Strong power across the entire rev range. A genuine experience; not for the unwary in the wet.
Engine Weaknesses 7
The standard K04 turbocharger has a poorly sealed shaft bearing by design. The seal ring on the shaft bearing leaks, allowing oil to escape on the compressor side into the charge air circuit. Often only visible as blue smoke or an oil film in the intercooler.
Symptoms: Blue smoke from exhaust on load changes, oil film in intercooler and intake tract, faint burning smell inside, rising oil consumption
The two-piece oil feed line to the K04 turbocharger is a design weak point. If it ruptures, the vehicle pumps out all its oil within minutes — engine damage and turbo damage result.
Symptoms: Oil pressure warning light illuminates, then severe oil loss, engine damage without further warning
At higher mileage, the crankcase ventilation clogs up, oil control rings lose tension and valve stem seals harden. Engine oil enters the turbocharger and intake tract via crankcase pressure. Typical consumption: 0.3–1 litre per 1,000 km.
Symptoms: Blue smoke after long periods of sitting or on overrun, oil deposits in intake tract and intercooler, steadily rising oil consumption from around 130,000 km
The oil return hose from the turbocharger to the engine block becomes brittle and porous internally. Oil escapes and reaches hot exhaust components. Problem documented on opel-turbo.de forums; relatively cheap to fix if caught early.
Symptoms: Oil smell from engine bay, visible oil traces on turbocharger, smoke after switching off engine
After a cold start, a dull knocking sound appears that changes with engine speed and gets louder under load. Cause is worn big-end bearing or main bearing shells. Noise usually disappears after 30 seconds of warming up.
Symptoms: Dull rhythmic knocking immediately after cold start, becoming more frequent with rising engine speed and louder under load; disappears after approx. 30 s
The Getrag 5-speed gearbox suffers from synchro wear with spirited use. Crunching when engaging especially 2nd and 3rd gear and bearing noise under load are typical warning signs.
Symptoms: Crunching or grinding on gear changes, resistance engaging 2nd and 3rd gear, bearing noise
Crankshaft and camshaft oil seals tend to leak at higher mileage. Typical oil loss visible at the gearbox flange or at the rear of the cylinder head. Repair sometimes requires gearbox removal.
Symptoms: Oil spots under the vehicle, oil film on gearbox flange or behind cylinder head, slightly elevated oil consumption with no visible turbo damage
Vehicle Weaknesses 12
The ball joints on the rear track control arms of the Lotus Elise-derived suspension can seize and fracture under load — sudden suspension failure. Joints must be checked for free movement.
The Lotus aluminium chassis is difficult to assess after accidents — fresh GRP panels can hide frame damage. Track day accidents are common. Only checkable with the car on a lift.
Coolant lines can become leaky through age and vibration. Coolant loss quickly leads to overheating of the mid-mounted engine.
The entire body is made of GRP, which develops osmosis in cold and damp conditions. Moisture diffusion lifts the paint. GRP must be thoroughly dried and sealed.
Water from the leaky soft top enters the rear compartment where relay carriers and control units are located. Corroded connectors cause difficult-to-diagnose electrical faults.
The early 2-channel ABS system is prone to failure and activates an ice mode with drastically reduced braking performance at the slightest fault. Many owners have deliberately disabled the ABS.
The lightweight aluminium steering rack on the Lotus-based Speedster develops play after intensive use. Worn steering joint pins are a known sign of ageing.
The F23 gearbox in the Speedster shows synchro ring wear especially with spirited driving. Engaging 1st and 2nd gear becomes difficult.
The Lotus extruded aluminium chassis suffers from galvanic corrosion at steel bolts and brackets. Attached components are difficult to remove and threads seize.
The soft top leaks by design — virtually every car is affected. Water enters the footwell and boot. Long-term fix: new hood or optional GRP hardtop.
The Elise-derived suspension is sensitive to worn dampers. Track day use — common with the Speedster — accelerates wear considerably.
Hardly any Speedster is free of rattles. Loose wiring looms behind the dashboard and leaky headlight and tail light housings are typical second-hand issues.
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