Possible move to a Noble, some advice needed please.
Discussion
Hi, totally new to the world on Nobles but due to not having any luck in finding a good s/h E46 M3 SMG i hav eadded a few other cars to my search. One being the S2 Exige, enjoyed the drive but not that keen on the looks. Now thinking about an M12 GTO Noble.
A garage not to far from me has a 2002/02 Blue M12 GTO for sale as 30k and wanted a bit of feedback from people in the know.
Its got 10k on the clock and 3 owners. serviced on 3k, 6k and 9k. Mole V did the 1st 2 services (also supplied new by them) then the selling garage did the 3rd.
Car has the original ECU and i guess its the 2.5 TT V6 duratec from its age.
Porbably going to look on Fri. Any things to be concerned of and look out for.
I would rather save and been advised to for a 3.0 3R but my budget only allow 2.5.
Also after info on running cost of roughly 6k per annum and will be using the car 12months a year.
cheers for any advice
Toby
A garage not to far from me has a 2002/02 Blue M12 GTO for sale as 30k and wanted a bit of feedback from people in the know.
Its got 10k on the clock and 3 owners. serviced on 3k, 6k and 9k. Mole V did the 1st 2 services (also supplied new by them) then the selling garage did the 3rd.
Car has the original ECU and i guess its the 2.5 TT V6 duratec from its age.
Porbably going to look on Fri. Any things to be concerned of and look out for.
I would rather save and been advised to for a 3.0 3R but my budget only allow 2.5.
Also after info on running cost of roughly 6k per annum and will be using the car 12months a year.
cheers for any advice
Toby
Toby, i would suggest maybe buying private ( for peace of mind several of the dealers would check the car over for a couple of hours labour ), and maybe getting a early 3 for that. one of the dealers sells a good warrenty for around the £700 mark for a year.
The original ecu is a well known faulty item and to replace you are talking £000's. Also worth asking if it has a track sump, as this can reduce resale value, and chech it has had the Updates, like the shroud and bigger fans on the rad.
Good luck in your purchase.
Alex
The original ecu is a well known faulty item and to replace you are talking £000's. Also worth asking if it has a track sump, as this can reduce resale value, and chech it has had the Updates, like the shroud and bigger fans on the rad.
Good luck in your purchase.
Alex
It would be a 2.5 litre car and with the original MM ECU its worth £26K - £28K IMHO. MBE ECU Upgrade is a £4K job if performed at the factory so factor this in as you will want it doing, if only for much improved driveability.
There is nothing wrong with a 2.5 litre car and for just over £2K its performance can be upgraded to beyond that of the GTO3/3R.
At 6K a year your looking at one service (although we recommend 3K mile oil changes), possibly a set of tyres/pads if you track it regularily and general maintenance which shouldn't add up to much. Using the car every day and over winter will not be a problem and I know of two 2.5's which have covered 40K miles+.
If you are interested in a private sale the PH classifieds are a good start, we would be happy to inspect any potential purchase your looking at and good 2.5's with reasonable mileage via private sales are fetching around £25K.
If careful £30K should get you a MBE managed car with a track sump, fresh service, track prep inspection and 350bhp+
Best Regards
Matt
There is nothing wrong with a 2.5 litre car and for just over £2K its performance can be upgraded to beyond that of the GTO3/3R.
At 6K a year your looking at one service (although we recommend 3K mile oil changes), possibly a set of tyres/pads if you track it regularily and general maintenance which shouldn't add up to much. Using the car every day and over winter will not be a problem and I know of two 2.5's which have covered 40K miles+.
If you are interested in a private sale the PH classifieds are a good start, we would be happy to inspect any potential purchase your looking at and good 2.5's with reasonable mileage via private sales are fetching around £25K.
If careful £30K should get you a MBE managed car with a track sump, fresh service, track prep inspection and 350bhp+
Best Regards
Matt
Nuva question, soz.
Is a warranty advisable? are they any good and who underwrites them. From previous experience 3rd party warranties are cr@p. £700 does'nt sount too bad if its good (same as the BMW) but is a lot if not.
Are the 2.5's prone to breakages?
Also are consumables pricey?
Disks
Pads
Tyres
Diffs and gearboxes, are they strong?
Is a warranty advisable? are they any good and who underwrites them. From previous experience 3rd party warranties are cr@p. £700 does'nt sount too bad if its good (same as the BMW) but is a lot if not.
Are the 2.5's prone to breakages?
Also are consumables pricey?
Disks
Pads
Tyres
Diffs and gearboxes, are they strong?
Several customers of ours have third party warranties and whilst I can't comment directly on them they do seem to have paid up when an issue has occured, if they would on something expensive is another matter though.
2.5 weak spots are:
-Original MM ECU, MBE ECU Upgrade resolves the issue
-Exhaust Manifolds and Turbo Gaskets, rear bank a quick and easy job, front bank is a pain due to limited space, we have a modification to duct cold air to front turbo to improve cooling. M400 manifolds offer a solution due to being double skinned.
-Original Ford standard open diff can fail, Quaife ATB diff a much better prospect
-5 Speed Box can have issues with synchro's if used in anger on a regular basis.
-Original Rad Fans weren't sufficent, an upgrade was issued with rad shroud and larger fans 95% of cars have had this by now.
-Air Con can refuse to work in high ambients during prolonged idle time after hard use due to high ambient in engine bay, fairly rare.
-Gear linkage is sprung at the selector end and any slack or wear in linkage can lead to poor change quality.
-Hub nuts can losen leading to pad knockoff, vibration and rapid bearing wear (common to all 12's)
-Carbon Fibre rear wings fade
I think that covers pretty much everything, nothing too bad or particularily damming and most 2.5's will have had ECU, Fans, Manifolds etc. done by now.
Tyres, discs, pads etc. are pretty much standard costs for a car of this type, certainly not extortionate.
Clutches are a bit pricey, £1250 job to replace one (using AP 'standard' clutch) as its engine out but they seem to last fairly well even in cars which are driven hard.
Best Regards
Matt
2.5 weak spots are:
-Original MM ECU, MBE ECU Upgrade resolves the issue
-Exhaust Manifolds and Turbo Gaskets, rear bank a quick and easy job, front bank is a pain due to limited space, we have a modification to duct cold air to front turbo to improve cooling. M400 manifolds offer a solution due to being double skinned.
-Original Ford standard open diff can fail, Quaife ATB diff a much better prospect
-5 Speed Box can have issues with synchro's if used in anger on a regular basis.
-Original Rad Fans weren't sufficent, an upgrade was issued with rad shroud and larger fans 95% of cars have had this by now.
-Air Con can refuse to work in high ambients during prolonged idle time after hard use due to high ambient in engine bay, fairly rare.
-Gear linkage is sprung at the selector end and any slack or wear in linkage can lead to poor change quality.
-Hub nuts can losen leading to pad knockoff, vibration and rapid bearing wear (common to all 12's)
-Carbon Fibre rear wings fade
I think that covers pretty much everything, nothing too bad or particularily damming and most 2.5's will have had ECU, Fans, Manifolds etc. done by now.
Tyres, discs, pads etc. are pretty much standard costs for a car of this type, certainly not extortionate.
Clutches are a bit pricey, £1250 job to replace one (using AP 'standard' clutch) as its engine out but they seem to last fairly well even in cars which are driven hard.
Best Regards
Matt
chillidog said:
Bear in mind that a 3rd party warranty policy normally stipulates that it's a 100% original car so if you modify it,then as with normal car insurance your cover may be void, unless you have agreed the modifications with the insurer.
--
Richard
Plus they seem to cap there payouts on certain parts. Sometimes pays to bank wot u'd pay on a warranty and keep aside if parts are genuinly cheaper. Allows u to buy s/h parts too if available and if say over the 2-3yrs nothing goes bang u can put it towards the new purchase. Will be weighing up this b4 i buy.
Can u buy a warranty for a Noble is the previous factory warranty has lapsed? know u can't extend on some manufacterers.
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