Granturismo S purchase query - service history?

[smg800]

Hello chaps,

I am here to call on your collective knowledge and ask for some advice/guidance having been pointed in the direction of the forum.

I have a purchase lined up on a 2009 (December 17th 2009 first reg) Maserati Granturismo S MC Shift. Great spec car with 22k miles, white with interior and exterior carbon fibre, sports handling upgrade etc etc.

I have one slight nagging doubt and it pertains to the service history.

The car had its first service on 2nd November 2010 on 11 543 miles, this was with Maserati (JCT600 in Leeds). The rest of the official service book is empty, but comes with a receipt from an independent supercar specialist (PK Supercars in Edinburgh) on 20th May 2014. This receipt pertains to a minor service, brake fluid change, flushed the transaxle oil and a new shock absorber bush. The clock read 21490 at this time of service.

The distances aren't an issue as I know it is each 12500 miles for a service, but do I need to be concerned about;

a) the time between service 1 and service 2
b) the fact that service 2 wasn't carried out by Maserati themselves?

The clutch wear is 37% on the vehicle, is this in line with the age and claimed mileage?

This is the first time I will have bought a non approved used car, I usually buy used BMW's from BMW so am being a little cautious in this instance. Ironically it is actually BMW who have this car, up in Glasgow having taken it as a part ex from a chap who just bought a 640d (which is what I am getting rid of for this!).

Finally, is there any merit to getting Maserati or a supercar/Maserati independent to do a vehicle check on this, or am I worrying too much in terms of the fact it has already been checked out by BMW?

It is worth pointing out that the price on this vehicle is making it incredibly attractive, for the spec and mileage I would expect to pay circa 6k-10k more than the agreed price which is a consideration.

Please do let me know whether I am worrying about nothing or if I should have any concerns at all here. Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[ChrisQP09]

congrats if this is the white one in Graypaul's, its lovely

 

[allandwf]

PK look after mine, and many others on here. Highly recommended, so nothing to worry about there.

 

[mcs]

Welcome to the forums mate...I'm pretty new myself but Im sure the more knowledgable will be along soon. Service intervals are two years or 12.5k miles.

If the first service was at 11,500 miles in 2010 then the next service should have been in either November 2012 or at around 24k miles. As far as I know the rationale is 'whatever comes earlier' i.e either when you hit the 12.5k miles or when you hit 2 years.

If the above is correct it would have missed a major service which to me with a car of this nature would be a BIG deal no matter how cheap I could get the car for.

These cars really do need TLC so any skimping on services etc would be a big NO NO. An inspection would be a good investment if you are serious about the car but if there are things that come up and you want to walk away thats circa £600 you could have put towards another car

As I said the more knowledgable on here will be along soon but that's my view on it

All the best.

 

[CatmanV2]

AN inspection is often a good investment. Both the companies you mention, though, have a good rep.
I'm sure PK would have a look and set your mind at rest, or otherwise.

C

 

[AndyW]

I wouldn't worry about the independent service - oftern better than main dealers in my experience. Also if buying from BMW main dealler you still have a lot of comeback if there are any issues under consumer law regardless of warranty or not. If the car looks right and drives well I wouldn't be too worried.

 

[smg800]

Thanks for the feedback so far chaps, much appreciated.

As mcs has pointed out, it appears to have missed a service which is very disconcerting. However, the fact a couple of people have mentioned PK being reputable who serviced it since kind of puts my mind at ease a little.

A browse through a few other threads has sold me further on the car in terms of the spec as it really does have pretty much everything one could ask for;

Front and Rear sensors
Carbon/Leather steering wheel
Alumin pedals
Interior carbon pack
INterior carbon pack evolut 1
Handling package
Carbon Fibre pack
Alcantara internal areas
Bose
Comfort pack

And a price tag starting with a 4!

Apparently it needs to go to Maserati for something regarding the instrument cluster which is costing £1k to fix that BMW are paying for which kind of makes me think they've done some due diligence. Perhaps if I can get Maserati to do an inspection simultaneously it'll seal the deal.

Does anyone think a call to PK may be worthwhile in the event they recall the car or have any info on it? Perhaps it had the missed service but the book didnt ever get stamped!

 

[smg800]

I wouldn't worry about the independent service - oftern better than main dealers in my experience. Also if buying from BMW main dealler you still have a lot of comeback if there are any issues under consumer law regardless of warranty or not. If the car looks right and drives well I wouldn't be too worried.

Just what I want to hear

 

[allandwf]

Does anyone think a call to PK may be worthwhile in the event they recall the car or have any info on it? Perhaps it had the missed service but the book didnt ever get stamped!

They would probably remember the car, and would do no harm. I just picked up mine from there today. Phil is away this week though.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Sounds like a cracking car, lovely spec and a good deal. Sensible mileage, too. Too low is not good - these cars love to be used and get the hump when they're not. Any Maserati MD worth their salt will be quite happy to give the car a very thorough once over while they've got it in. Find it where it's going, get them to do you a favour and they'll quite likely work on the basis that you'll turn into a customer. Which if they do a good job you may well do. Even better, get yourself over there while
the car's in, introduce yourself to the service lead guy and have a chat with him.

 

[Andyk]

Welcome to the forum smg800..The car sounds lovely in that spec but the service interval needs looking at without a doubt.

Saw the advert for this car and thought it looked great value .... It's rare to see a white car with all the carbon bits around the price it's advertised at as most are black or dark grey......I would say the reason it's cheap is because of the service history as long as you know that and know it will need to be explained when you sell...and its a good car...buy it.

 

[mcs]

Welcome to the forum smg800..The car sounds lovely in that spec but the service interval needs looking at without a doubt.

Saw the advert for this car and thought it looked great value .... It's rare to see a white car with all the carbon bits around the price it's advertised at as most are black or dark grey......I would say the reason it's cheap is because of the service history as long as you know that and know it will need to be explained when you sell...and its a good car...buy it.

Could you post a link to the car please? Ive looked on Autotrader, ebay and Pistonheads but can't see it?

 

[smg800]

Thanks for the continual advice and the warm welcome all, greatly appreciated.

mcs, the ad has been taken off, it was off as soon as it was on pretty much. I was going to wait until end of Feb to buy a GTS as I am looking at moving house early in the new year, but as usual the new car bug hit me and I couldn't help checking auto trader once a day to see what is around and I saw this one pop up and it was at such a good price I called the day it came on and put a deposit down for them to take it off sale! The car came in as a part ex on Wednesday, went on auto trader Thursday and I rang up and put a deposit subject to viewing down on it on Friday.

I think it is still on the Arnold Clark website as the BMW group up there is part of the Arnold Clark group; http://www.arnoldclark.com/used-car...o/v8-s-2dr-mc-shift/2009/ref/arn04d-u-524421/

Hopefully the link will work!

 

[smg800]

Welcome to the forum smg800..The car sounds lovely in that spec but the service interval needs looking at without a doubt.

Saw the advert for this car and thought it looked great value .... It's rare to see a white car with all the carbon bits around the price it's advertised at as most are black or dark grey......I would say the reason it's cheap is because of the service history as long as you know that and know it will need to be explained when you sell...and its a good car...buy it.

Many thanks Andy.

I am hoping that if I can get Maserati to inspect it and stick to main dealer servicing for the duration of my ownership, I can salvage the service history if that makes sense. Hopefully anyone buying it from me in future will know it has been in good hands. I am fairly comfortable with the service history given the price, my main concern is ensuring that it is sellable in future.

 

[hoyin]

If it missed a service then does it have a warranty?


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[mcs]

If it missed a service then does it have a warranty?


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Good point! All warranties state that the car should have been maintained according to manufacturers guidelines so it would be difficult to get a warranty on this one. You would probably get a warranty but it may cause issues when you come to claim if they decide to look into the cars history a bit more.

All said and done, just seen the link and the car looks amazing...love all the Carbon interior bits and those in itself are worth around £10k!

How many previous owners has the car had?

 

[hoyin]

Just had a look at the photos. It does not have a full carbon pack! The only parts that are carbon are the dash board trims and door trims and the steering wheel.

It is missing the paddle shifts in carbon, the reverse and 1 surround and the instrument cluster. My car has the interior and exterior carbon pack and has these.


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[mcs]

Just had a look at the photos. It does not have a full carbon pack! The only parts that are carbon are the dash board trims and door trims and the steering wheel.

It is missing the paddle shifts in carbon, the reverse and 1 surround and the instrument cluster. My car has the interior and exterior carbon pack and has these.


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Wow well spotted mate!

 

[smg800]

Right, just got off the phone to PK Supercars.

Firstly, what an incredibly helpful guy I spoke to, he knew his stuff and spent 20 odd minutes talking to me which he didn't need to do.

He remembered the car immediately, and knew the previous owner by name which is a good start. He said it was kept garaged, on a trickle charger, well looked after and barely driven. The guy I spoke to had picked the car up and driven it last time it was in and said it is in top condition.

Apparently the previous owner was the 2nd owner, and he purchased from Gray Paul in Edinburgh. He was told when he bought it that it had been serviced by them, and only established at a later date that the service book hadn't been stamped. Upon establishing this he took it into PK who gave it a full service which came to circa £500 so there wasn't much needing doing to it at all.

I know a chap who works at Gray Paul elsewhere in the country, so am going to give him a shout to see if he can find anything out about the history of the car and why it was sold without a service stamp when clearly they would have serviced before selling it approved used. But from what I have heard from PK I am greatly encouraged. I asked them if they'd do an inspection and his response was that it would be a waste of my money as they've seen the car less than 1000 miles ago and it is in mint condition.

Based on that I am comfortable going ahead.

It also comes with a 60 day Arnold Clark warranty, I may chance my arm and see if they'll extend to a year but I am not particularly worried at this stage (famous last words......)

I can't speak highly enough of PK, certainly a level of service you wouldn't get ringing your average main dealer in terms of 20 odd minutes talking through the car, what they knew of it etc.

 

[hoyin]

Excellent! Sounds like you are going to get a good deal.


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