Orange Murcielago in Paris
Discussion
Afternoon,
A good day but not a great one - weather / nerves.
Flight out of London city was delayed and we landed in Paris Orly in the pouring rain - dealer was a 15 min ride away.
There were two guys working there, one who speaks English but knows nothing about the cars, and one of speaks French and knows about them.
Have you changed the oil filter ? - it leaked badly when I looked at it and they had said they would change it. I quite like the French mannerisms, there was genuine shrugging of shoulders, some little noises followed by a "NO". They had tightened it up. I tried to protest but gave up after more shrugging from them. Upon inspection it seemed to have stopped leaking - but yet another job to be put on the list.
What about my Warranty ?
I had cunningly negotiated a 3 hour warranty to get me to Calais, but had gone with a friend and I was going to pay for lunch. I managed to get them up to four and a half hours! 1 hour for lunch 3 hour drive. We both signed the paper, the car was very much "sold as seen".
It has 1 key and fob - they will send the other when they get it - hopefully.
The French speaker then started making noises about the clutch - this was translated to be careful when getting on and off the train -short steep gradients aren't its forte. They said it has about 20% clutch life left, not as much as I would have hoped for but so be it.
Will it get me to Calais, again some noises and discussion in French - a not very convincing yes...
Petrol ? yes it has some... In fairness it was half full and I put another €100 in filling it up it got me all the way home.
We then set off in the pouring rain.
I was surprised at visibility - the large wing mirrors are excellent, but rear vision is poor and I am not skilled enough to open the door and sit on the sill.
The first 5 mins were fine, a touch nervous a little discomfort in the pit of my stomach, but progress was good. We then hit the "periphery" and traffic ground to a halt. I don't know if any of you know the south east area of Paris, but as you follow the A3 and A86 you go through a lot of tunnels, some with modest inclines in them. I now felt sick and scared. On and off the clutch inching forward was not nice. Should it have died there I was in real trouble.
It then started to "hunt" now I have read about this - clean the throttle bodies and resync them on diagnostics, but 500 to 2000 revs and back again is a horrible feeling, when stuck in a 3 lane tunnel. I didn't feel very cool either.
Eventually the road cleared and the car felt better - it had nearly stopped raining. We stopped at Senlis - pretty little town, for a quick lunch - quick as 4 hour warranty was ticking away. Stalled a couple of times reversing it but no undue noises or smells.
Back on the A1 in the dry and the car came alive, once moving the clutch and hunting problems go away, I could accelerate hard in all gears without any clutch slip, it just pulled. I believe it has Tubi Sport pipes on it that make a great noise, the car wanted to pull to the right slightly but nothing too bad. No trim rattles, nothing fell off it was fast loud and very smooth. Oil pressure read a steady 6 bar cruising at 100, temperature gauges both oil and water worked sitting not quite half way, oh and the fuel gauge works - very quickly. The suspension was on Auto and could see it moving through the various settings, so that worked aswell. I doubt there was any difference in the way the car felt or drove than the orange one for sale on PistonHeads for £106,000, other than the pulling to the right.
Windows, mirrors, air con and the rear spoiler all worked as they should. Somebody had fitted an after market stereo with a 7 inch screen that kept opening and blocking the air con controls. The "vents" on the rear wings open on the button, but the car was never hot enough for them to open automatically.
We arrived at Calais 30 mins outside the warranty, but the car was either going to make it or it wasn't, 30 mins didn't make much difference. There had been a problem during the day so there was a 3 hour delay. This has caused a back up at UK passport - the queue snaked back through French passport control. This was when the hunting became embarrassing as it is so loud suddenly going to 2000 revs everybody looks at the boy racer. I would drive forward a couple of car lengths and then switch the car off, rather than have it making such a noise. Then all of a sudden it levelled out at 1000 revs and seemed ok. I am now thinking the clutch is ok, but the hunting is a problem and in turn is causing the clutch problems. As you are never quite sure what revs you are going to get when you pull away you either stall or pull away at 2000 revs which makes a hell of a noise and a smell. This morning I drove out of the garage down our little road on just the clutch - no drama nothing. I planned my journey to the MOT via the least amount of traffic lights as once warmed up it started hunting again.
Train was uneventful on and off, I waited until the queue on the ramp had gone as there was no way I was doing a hill start in it ! Biblical levels of rain on the M20, and due to the poor quality of our road a few trim rattles from the drivers door. Reasonably steady at speed in the rain and standing water.
Car will fail the MOT, but I asked that he only fail it on "cheap" items..
Bad points.
Ripped steering rack gaiters.
Hunting / possibly clutch
Front lift system worked when I went to view the car, but didn't seem to work at Calais
Interior needs a little tidying, some leather pulling away on door cards due to failed glue, the radio, and some of the rubberised coating is coming off the buttons - but no worse than the Ferrari 550, and not a huge job.
Handbrake - very difficult to get it to release, all I ended up doing was pulling it on more and more.
One of the rear vents doesn't sit flush - it works so just needs a bit of repositioning.
Tyres - I think they will pass MOT but the rears will be a "notice".
I have a lift in the garage with another car on top, as the doors open upwards I couldn't get out of the car !!
Good Points
Everything else, it is fast, wide, loud, orange and the doors go up !
I think I have been lucky here - although will report back MOT failings, yes it was a risk. I think the hunting and poor history put most people off. I don't think it was a hire or track day car. the drivers seat looks ok for 50,000miles. The car was sold new in Monaco and had been seen Switzerland and finally Paris, so perhaps the miles were motorway ones ??
Overall very pleased, not as pleased as our 7 year old who was up before 7 to sit in and rev it !
del
A good day but not a great one - weather / nerves.
Flight out of London city was delayed and we landed in Paris Orly in the pouring rain - dealer was a 15 min ride away.
There were two guys working there, one who speaks English but knows nothing about the cars, and one of speaks French and knows about them.
Have you changed the oil filter ? - it leaked badly when I looked at it and they had said they would change it. I quite like the French mannerisms, there was genuine shrugging of shoulders, some little noises followed by a "NO". They had tightened it up. I tried to protest but gave up after more shrugging from them. Upon inspection it seemed to have stopped leaking - but yet another job to be put on the list.
What about my Warranty ?
I had cunningly negotiated a 3 hour warranty to get me to Calais, but had gone with a friend and I was going to pay for lunch. I managed to get them up to four and a half hours! 1 hour for lunch 3 hour drive. We both signed the paper, the car was very much "sold as seen".
It has 1 key and fob - they will send the other when they get it - hopefully.
The French speaker then started making noises about the clutch - this was translated to be careful when getting on and off the train -short steep gradients aren't its forte. They said it has about 20% clutch life left, not as much as I would have hoped for but so be it.
Will it get me to Calais, again some noises and discussion in French - a not very convincing yes...
Petrol ? yes it has some... In fairness it was half full and I put another €100 in filling it up it got me all the way home.
We then set off in the pouring rain.
I was surprised at visibility - the large wing mirrors are excellent, but rear vision is poor and I am not skilled enough to open the door and sit on the sill.
The first 5 mins were fine, a touch nervous a little discomfort in the pit of my stomach, but progress was good. We then hit the "periphery" and traffic ground to a halt. I don't know if any of you know the south east area of Paris, but as you follow the A3 and A86 you go through a lot of tunnels, some with modest inclines in them. I now felt sick and scared. On and off the clutch inching forward was not nice. Should it have died there I was in real trouble.
It then started to "hunt" now I have read about this - clean the throttle bodies and resync them on diagnostics, but 500 to 2000 revs and back again is a horrible feeling, when stuck in a 3 lane tunnel. I didn't feel very cool either.
Eventually the road cleared and the car felt better - it had nearly stopped raining. We stopped at Senlis - pretty little town, for a quick lunch - quick as 4 hour warranty was ticking away. Stalled a couple of times reversing it but no undue noises or smells.
Back on the A1 in the dry and the car came alive, once moving the clutch and hunting problems go away, I could accelerate hard in all gears without any clutch slip, it just pulled. I believe it has Tubi Sport pipes on it that make a great noise, the car wanted to pull to the right slightly but nothing too bad. No trim rattles, nothing fell off it was fast loud and very smooth. Oil pressure read a steady 6 bar cruising at 100, temperature gauges both oil and water worked sitting not quite half way, oh and the fuel gauge works - very quickly. The suspension was on Auto and could see it moving through the various settings, so that worked aswell. I doubt there was any difference in the way the car felt or drove than the orange one for sale on PistonHeads for £106,000, other than the pulling to the right.
Windows, mirrors, air con and the rear spoiler all worked as they should. Somebody had fitted an after market stereo with a 7 inch screen that kept opening and blocking the air con controls. The "vents" on the rear wings open on the button, but the car was never hot enough for them to open automatically.
We arrived at Calais 30 mins outside the warranty, but the car was either going to make it or it wasn't, 30 mins didn't make much difference. There had been a problem during the day so there was a 3 hour delay. This has caused a back up at UK passport - the queue snaked back through French passport control. This was when the hunting became embarrassing as it is so loud suddenly going to 2000 revs everybody looks at the boy racer. I would drive forward a couple of car lengths and then switch the car off, rather than have it making such a noise. Then all of a sudden it levelled out at 1000 revs and seemed ok. I am now thinking the clutch is ok, but the hunting is a problem and in turn is causing the clutch problems. As you are never quite sure what revs you are going to get when you pull away you either stall or pull away at 2000 revs which makes a hell of a noise and a smell. This morning I drove out of the garage down our little road on just the clutch - no drama nothing. I planned my journey to the MOT via the least amount of traffic lights as once warmed up it started hunting again.
Train was uneventful on and off, I waited until the queue on the ramp had gone as there was no way I was doing a hill start in it ! Biblical levels of rain on the M20, and due to the poor quality of our road a few trim rattles from the drivers door. Reasonably steady at speed in the rain and standing water.
Car will fail the MOT, but I asked that he only fail it on "cheap" items..
Bad points.
Ripped steering rack gaiters.
Hunting / possibly clutch
Front lift system worked when I went to view the car, but didn't seem to work at Calais
Interior needs a little tidying, some leather pulling away on door cards due to failed glue, the radio, and some of the rubberised coating is coming off the buttons - but no worse than the Ferrari 550, and not a huge job.
Handbrake - very difficult to get it to release, all I ended up doing was pulling it on more and more.
One of the rear vents doesn't sit flush - it works so just needs a bit of repositioning.
Tyres - I think they will pass MOT but the rears will be a "notice".
I have a lift in the garage with another car on top, as the doors open upwards I couldn't get out of the car !!
Good Points
Everything else, it is fast, wide, loud, orange and the doors go up !
I think I have been lucky here - although will report back MOT failings, yes it was a risk. I think the hunting and poor history put most people off. I don't think it was a hire or track day car. the drivers seat looks ok for 50,000miles. The car was sold new in Monaco and had been seen Switzerland and finally Paris, so perhaps the miles were motorway ones ??
Overall very pleased, not as pleased as our 7 year old who was up before 7 to sit in and rev it !
del
Great write up!
I can identify with the story as every car i've bought has been at the "value for money" end - i.e. the ones that everyone else has overlooked because they need a little tidying. I usually spend a load fixing them up and then sell on for a net loss when I find the next one.....
That nervous first drive home in a new car that you know has a few faults but not sure how bad!
I can identify with the story as every car i've bought has been at the "value for money" end - i.e. the ones that everyone else has overlooked because they need a little tidying. I usually spend a load fixing them up and then sell on for a net loss when I find the next one.....
That nervous first drive home in a new car that you know has a few faults but not sure how bad!
ciao Del, I'm very glad that you now have a Murcy especially orange, but I am truly sorry for the many problems.
I had been in Paris and had seen several of these, but not all.
However now you'll have fun for rebuild.
great car.
I write in PM a couple of things.
ciao and good work but also very fun drive!!
I had been in Paris and had seen several of these, but not all.
However now you'll have fun for rebuild.
great car.
I write in PM a couple of things.
ciao and good work but also very fun drive!!
Love this story, it brings back memories of my Countach QV bought 20 years ago, I had scraped enough funds together and part exchanged a 911 for a slightly abused car that was being used for commuting by a nice but clueless guy in London, we drove it home late one night with one working headlight, no ventilation, blowing exhaust and oil leaks, everything got fixed gradually and ten years later after loads of fun I sold it for a tiny profit, happy days.
Good luck with your car and keep us updated.
Good luck with your car and keep us updated.
Great job and wonderful write up. The best thing I did with mine was drive it to Italy to chase the MM, driving round tiny Italian hill top villages, squeezing it into tiny hotel car parks- you develop a (little) but of confidence and worry a little less! Loved the comment about the lift....I had exactly the same thing - I solved it with a small cloth I leave on the floor to put in the top of the door to prevent damage and a 3 week yoga course! Never had the balls to put it on the top!! Enjoy the car, sometimes the buttons work...sometimes they don't! Italian electrics ;-) All worth it I'm sure when you see your 7 year olds face!
Gareth - you wimp ! 
It was a nervy 10 mins - the front was worse than the rear.
The car failed its MOT on Steering rack gaiters only ! I view that as success, I have order a pair from Sevenoaks.
Offending items removed last night
The car is legal and safe to drive - granted the MOT makes no reference to the Clutch or Engine health, but I am half way there.
I removed the air intake hoses and cleaned out the throttle bodies;
I then replaced all the clips with new jubilee ones, the older ones were not a tight fit, the car now idles at 1100, without the hunting upto 2000 revs. It is much easier to pull away in now. No excessive revving - I even drove away on a slight incline without any problems.
It has K & N filters which need a good clean - part number 33 - 2573, they come up as an old BMW 5 series or Audi A6.
Some rust on the rear sub frame around exhaust brackets, but nothing a good scrub down and repaint wouldn't address. If I can remove them I will get them powder coated.
Will order engine oil, diff/gearbox oil and plugs and change all them - having a lift is wonderful and I am too tight to pay a dealer for a job I THINK !! I can do myself....
The last service used 10w60, which seems to go against the 5 or 10w40 - I know oil always creates much discussion - but what is everybody else using ?
There is a cd changer and sat nav system behind the passenger seat (LHD), I presume you need the original head unit with these ?
Del.
It was a nervy 10 mins - the front was worse than the rear.
The car failed its MOT on Steering rack gaiters only ! I view that as success, I have order a pair from Sevenoaks.
Offending items removed last night
The car is legal and safe to drive - granted the MOT makes no reference to the Clutch or Engine health, but I am half way there.
I removed the air intake hoses and cleaned out the throttle bodies;
I then replaced all the clips with new jubilee ones, the older ones were not a tight fit, the car now idles at 1100, without the hunting upto 2000 revs. It is much easier to pull away in now. No excessive revving - I even drove away on a slight incline without any problems.
It has K & N filters which need a good clean - part number 33 - 2573, they come up as an old BMW 5 series or Audi A6.
Some rust on the rear sub frame around exhaust brackets, but nothing a good scrub down and repaint wouldn't address. If I can remove them I will get them powder coated.
Will order engine oil, diff/gearbox oil and plugs and change all them - having a lift is wonderful and I am too tight to pay a dealer for a job I THINK !! I can do myself....
The last service used 10w60, which seems to go against the 5 or 10w40 - I know oil always creates much discussion - but what is everybody else using ?
There is a cd changer and sat nav system behind the passenger seat (LHD), I presume you need the original head unit with these ?
Del.
first comment....
balls of steel... love the story and well done taking a chance.
I assume without sounding rude that you took the risk on this car in Paris as it didn't have a full story and you were able to buy cheap.
Certainly nothing wrong with that... as most of us on here will agree, cars are for driving and they all require money spending on them so its no big deal having a car that needs a few bits doing.
impressed you can sort the bits yourself, I guess adding to the willingness to take the risk on it.
what is the background to this? you viewed a few abroad first? this was a no brainer?
balls of steel... love the story and well done taking a chance.
I assume without sounding rude that you took the risk on this car in Paris as it didn't have a full story and you were able to buy cheap.
Certainly nothing wrong with that... as most of us on here will agree, cars are for driving and they all require money spending on them so its no big deal having a car that needs a few bits doing.
impressed you can sort the bits yourself, I guess adding to the willingness to take the risk on it.
what is the background to this? you viewed a few abroad first? this was a no brainer?
It was not the most expensive car in Europe, and the poor service history put people off ! I went to view it in August and then agreed a price when the Garage realised how much work was needed......
Registering the car.
You need to register it on-line via NOVA - 3 min job.
MOT
Form V55/5 - 10 days for the thing to turn up !
You may or may not need a certificate of conformity - a main dealer can supply these.
Chubb gave me 15 days coverage to get it to and from garages etc, you can pick and choose when you use the days. This Friday it will be MOT'd and I have used 4 days, but they now wont let me drive the car until it is fully registered. Which could be easy, but it could be a few weeks. They wont amend the policy to laid up or offer any reduction in premium for the period when they know the car cannot be driven - I will winge at them a bit more, that does not sound TCF "Treating Customers Fairly" !
The ashtray is broken - cheap plastic hinges with a heavy metal cover glued on it. Eurospares has the plastic base for £88 plus VAT !!! I removed it last night and it has an Audi part number stamped on it - £20 on ebay.
I went for Motul Oil for the gearbox / diffs and Millers for the Engine, along with NKG plugs from Opie Oils- £300 !
I cleaned up the underneath of the car, engine and gearbox diffs where the oil filter had been leaking. As it is now all clean I can look for any other leaks. Not as confident over power steering pipes, they seem wet. Original pipes are £400 plus VAT and as rigid a pain to fit. If they need replacing I was going to get some quality braided hoses made up - noting the increased pressure needed for the lifting system. Cheaper and easier to fit although I would probably still need to remove the front diff and prop shaft.
Things like this I am happy to have a go at, the experts didn't train for years to change a metal pipe, their skill is in rebuilding engines etc.
Del
Registering the car.
You need to register it on-line via NOVA - 3 min job.
MOT
Form V55/5 - 10 days for the thing to turn up !
You may or may not need a certificate of conformity - a main dealer can supply these.
Chubb gave me 15 days coverage to get it to and from garages etc, you can pick and choose when you use the days. This Friday it will be MOT'd and I have used 4 days, but they now wont let me drive the car until it is fully registered. Which could be easy, but it could be a few weeks. They wont amend the policy to laid up or offer any reduction in premium for the period when they know the car cannot be driven - I will winge at them a bit more, that does not sound TCF "Treating Customers Fairly" !
The ashtray is broken - cheap plastic hinges with a heavy metal cover glued on it. Eurospares has the plastic base for £88 plus VAT !!! I removed it last night and it has an Audi part number stamped on it - £20 on ebay.
I went for Motul Oil for the gearbox / diffs and Millers for the Engine, along with NKG plugs from Opie Oils- £300 !
I cleaned up the underneath of the car, engine and gearbox diffs where the oil filter had been leaking. As it is now all clean I can look for any other leaks. Not as confident over power steering pipes, they seem wet. Original pipes are £400 plus VAT and as rigid a pain to fit. If they need replacing I was going to get some quality braided hoses made up - noting the increased pressure needed for the lifting system. Cheaper and easier to fit although I would probably still need to remove the front diff and prop shaft.
Things like this I am happy to have a go at, the experts didn't train for years to change a metal pipe, their skill is in rebuilding engines etc.
Del
The headlights can be adjusted.
Eu cars have fog lights - I think it is the Japanese only cars that didn't.
Speedo - on new cars I think you do need to change them, that said I have a UK RHD Maserati Ghibli (90's car) and that had a KM speedo fitted from new, the factory "ran out" of mph ones and other than an HPI report looking odd has never caused any problems.
Del
Eu cars have fog lights - I think it is the Japanese only cars that didn't.
Speedo - on new cars I think you do need to change them, that said I have a UK RHD Maserati Ghibli (90's car) and that had a KM speedo fitted from new, the factory "ran out" of mph ones and other than an HPI report looking odd has never caused any problems.
Del
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