Buying a 3R

[Sam3R]

Hi all,
Very close to buying a 3R and it seems that the only mod is an ECU remap. The seller described it as 'ECU remapped to M400 fast road use' and it's down as 'ECU-Re-Map-M12' on the service sheet for £60.
Does anyone know of any reason for concern with this?
Also, this may be a bit of an unanswerable question without lots of info, but does £28k sounds reasonable for a 2004 3R with 37k miles and decent history (6 services 2004-2010 and about £9k spent over last 3 years)
Thanks
Sam

[AMG Merc]

...to your second question Sam, assuming you do the usual common sense checks then yes, absolutely.

[Green3R]

An M400 has different turbos, so an 'M400 map' wouldn't really work. Plus £60 is way too cheap. That wouldn't have been on a rolling road.

I'd guess maybe it's just been flashed to the latest factory map?

[Sam3R]

Thanks guys, always nice to have a bit of reassurance before taking the plunge!
Yes I guess the remap was something minor. Only the seller (not previous owner) mentioned the M400 bit. Just a £60 remap was on the paperwork.
Planning to pick it up tomorrow so I look forward to seeing you at future meets!

[mrpbailey]

Considering 99% of us pay £500 for a re-map I'd be a little worried about what's been adjusted, better to get it checked out on a rolling road I'd say.

[andygtt]

you wouldn't want it remapped to M400 power if the remap is the only mod as there would be a lot of things on their limit.

A remap doesn't add any value to the car IMHO anyhow and money sounds ok if its a good un.

BTW for £60 it could be the latest maps have been uploaded to the edu... during production the map was refined, doesn't add any power but makes the car smoother etc etc... main dealers often offer this worthwhile service, 'yellowshed' on this forum loaded the latest map to mine shortly after I bought the car and it transformed it making it smooth etc.

[Sam3R]

Thanks again. Sounds like a check over and a few tests will be a good idea.
I've heard Jetstream or Mole Valley are sound options for this.
Any recommendations? I'm based in London but travel to north Notts quite often.

[Fett]

I've used both. The only people I let near my car now are Jetstream.

[stevegto3]

Try Martin or skip at Bespoke performance. they are just outside london and skip knows nobles like the back of his hand. They look after mine!

[AMG Merc]

+1 Skip at Bespoke knows Nobles Re Mole Valley: check if their mechanic Warren is still there as he has the longest serving and continuous mechanical knowledge of the marque going back to 2002.

[Lofty999]

AMG Merc said:

+1 Skip at Bespoke knows Nobles Re Mole Valley: check if their mechanic Warren is still there as he has the longest serving and continuous mechanical knowledge of the marque going back to 2002.

warren was still there when I bought mine in September!

[Sam3R]

Thanks all, good to know.
Picked up my new beauty today but didn't have the best start!
Pulled into the petrol station about 300 metres from where I picked it up and when about to leave, a van reversed into to me putting a sizeable crack in the bonnet and bending the fan casing underneath
So it will be going somewhere sooner than expected!
Does anyone know what happens or what can be done regarding where the insurance company will organise or allow the repairs to be done with it being a specialist car?
The crack in the bonnet is about a foot long and a small chunk has been ripped off where the number plate bracket was pushed back. Does this type of thing normally get repaired or will it be a new bonnet?
Not the type of questions I was envisaging asking! But as always, any advice welcome.
Sam
P.s. I still thoroughly enjoyed drive home despite the wet and I'm very happy to be joining the Noble owners!

[kenloen]

oh no that's gutting..

if your nearby take it to Bee Gee Coachcraft in New Malden, he will advise if you need a new clam or if a repair will be OK. he is actually a TVR specialist but I have used and recommend, also believe Mole Valley send some cars to him..

[mgbond]

You can take it where u like but often will need more than one quote if its expensive.

[wessexrfc]

mgbond said:

You can take it where u like but often will need more than one quote if its expensive.

Correct, you don't have to send it to where your insurance would like it to go. It needs to go to a specialist, I'm not sure where you are, but I'd take it to Jetstream or a company who has experience with spraying and repairing fibre glass.
Sorry to hear your poor start of Noble ownership, but at least the stone chips will be done.

[Sam3R]

Thanks, may try to swing by Jetstream on route tomorrow and New Malden is less than 10 miles from where I live.
I just hope it's straight forward to get the claim through on the guy's van insurance.

[5paulmv]

You could always have your insurance contact his ref not having a like for like hire car for a speedy resolve it worked for a mate on his 911 turbo as he was gonna have a 997 turbo on hire at 1100 quid a week he got his answers in less than a week

[Sam3R]

Interesting thought, will bear that in mind if they start to drag their feet

[DaveM1969]

Hi Sam I have a 3R for sale you might be interested in?