08' Granturismo - recently acquired - two questions

[EJMMitchell]

I recently purchased an '08 GT, which I am generally loving, but two minor items that other owners might be able to advise on:

1) Battery life/charging issues - Battery died about a week ago - I don't use a mains conditioner (not practical). Vehicle had been driven 4 days prior on a long stint (Londoh to Bristol to London). Aside from the general chaos caused in the electrics (alarm sounding constantly, key getting locked in ignition...), problem has been resolved by jump starting, and a kindly neighbour running the car daily (breakdown occured four hours before holiday flight)...I guess my options are a) get the battery tested and then replace if found to be faulty or b) if not that then get the electrics looked at under the (independent) dealer warranty. Are there any specific electrical problems that are common? I assume the battery is the OEM (Varta) - what's the typical shelf life?

I use the car atleast once a week for a decent drive (i.e. not just a local short journey) but it's not a daily driver, should the battery be expected to function fine under those conditions? If not does anyone use or have experience with solar trickle charging? There seem to be various products on the market that are relatively good value, but do they actually work/provide enough juice?

2) Tyres - rears will need replacing in early 2012 - standard option is the Pirelli P-Zero, anyone got good/bad experiences with alternates or should I stick with the manufacturer recommendation? Continental & Bridgestone offer alternates (Sport Contact 3/Potenza RE050), not really significantly cheaper than the Pirelli though, but if they are as good as then worth considering?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[2b1ask1]

Hi EJM & welcome,

I can't help regarding the tyres but the battery drain is most likely to be assocoiated to a dead tracker battery, these are a gel or dry cell type and cannot cope with a deep drain cycle. If the car was allowed to go flat before this will knacker the tracker battery and it will continually call upon the car's main battery to try and recharge; this rapidly kills the cars battery and this will also fail soon after.

Assuming the vehicle has a tracker I'd get your main battery replaced under warranty and call the tracker people out to replace that one (life expectancy is only 3-4 years anyway).

Good luck.

 

[conaero]

Hello EJM, Ill try and help you but I only picked up my GTS on Friday so I am still getting to know my way round her.

Mind you, the questions you have asked get asked time and time again on all the other models.

Firstly, the battery. As you probably know, cold weather is the killer of batteries. Now, your car is coming up 4 years old, and TBH, I would just get a new battery. Don't go through the main dealer, as you will get pay through the nose for it. In the past, this typical flat battery problem has been traced back the tracker or NavTrak system. The Navtrak system has its own battery, thus it cannot be turned off by removing the power to it. This basically scavenges its charge from the main battery and after about 5 years, the NavTrak battery comes to the end of its life so puts more and more stain on the main battery and Voila, flat battery. If you do find the battery outside of Maserati, can I ask you post the model on here.

Tyres, well, sure there are other makes to chose from. If you want to go a very good budget make, Falkens are good. Many members run them and the only negatives we here is they can be a bit noisy. I have started running Kumhos on my Alfa and they are really good and Mercedes OEM fitment. The Vredsteins have a very good rep on here too, they will be mid prices between the OEM and the Falkens.

All the best with her, let us know how you get on.

 

[Woody]

Hello EJM, Ill try and help you but I only picked up my GTS on Friday so I am still getting to know my way round her.

sorry to divert.....Matt, this is the first I've read of this (not the sharpest tool in the box!) - 1) congratulations, 2) any links to threads/pics? Would love to know the details. Congratualtions. Great timing!

 

[conaero]

I will give her a good clean at the weekend and take some pics, she looks like me at the moment and is heavily suffering from a mad weekend.

Basically, 58/2008 black with red leather GTS, 7,900 miles and a years Trident warranty and a few toys on her.

 

[adam01]

I will give her a good clean at the weekend and take some pics, she looks like me at the moment and is heavily suffering from a mad weekend.

Basically, 58/2008 black with red leather GTS, 7,900 miles and a years Trident warranty and a few toys on her.

change your Avatar in due course & signoff immediately

BTW congrats

 

[Woody]

Nice one, good work. Keen to hear your impressions too... I look forward to hearing all about it!

Trident warrany...so from a dealer? Made use of the December lows?!

I wont divert any more but lookingforward to seeing/hearing about it...good work and congratulations again.

 

[Dan!]

With regards tyres, you may want to try Meridian in Lyndhurst, they actually turned out to be the cheapest way I could get P zeros fitted.
Personally I would stick with the P zeros, for what would probably only be a saving of a couple of hundred quid by using different tyre there is an element of the unknown, is it worth the risk?

 

[EJMMitchell]

Thanks all for the advice - the comment viz the Navtrak battery is interesting, the system is definitely working as I have transferred it to me (and tested), and I assume that it is functioning correctly at the moment as I did not get a call whilst on holiday (Maserati main dealer advised that if the main battery fully discharged or is disconnected then Navtrak would call as a precaution). I will call Navtrak/Cobra and get them to replace that first then get the main battery tested and replaced if necessary.

Conaero - the current battery is a Varta Silver Dynamic H3 100Ah - the Maserati main dealer service engineer actually told me not to get it from them because they were so expensive! Will post any alternatives that I find in due course. Re: tyres - best pricing seems to be black circles/event mobile tyres but only options being offered are Pirelli P-Zero/Conti Sport Contact 3 & Bridgestone Potenza - not sure if the Falkens etc come up in the 285/35 sizing but will do some further research?

Any further comments from experience on the tyres would be interesting, ditto the solar trickle charging.

Thanks!

 

[EJMMitchell]

Cheer GT_Dan will give Meridian a bell - they are also in Surrey which is closer to me.
Ta

 

[conaero]

EJM, Meridien are in the New Forest. Their sales is in the centre of Lynhurst but there service centre is on the Hyth Road, Totton end.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[conaero]

sorry to divert.....Matt, this is the first I've read of this (not the sharpest tool in the box!) - 1) congratulations, 2) any links to threads/pics? Would love to know the details. Congratualtions. Great timing!

Here you go, I only have a couple of pics and they were only taken on a phone:

 

[lozcb]

What a beaut , in th eflesh its even better , i can certainly vouch for that , mega pleased for you mate


poor old trev he 's gotta work harder to pay for it hahahha bummmer eh trev




regards loz

 

[Andyk]

Hi EJM and a big warm welcome to the forum...Hope you get loads out of it...

 

[bigbob]

Welcome - good to see another GT on the forum. These cars do not like short runs after sitting for a while. I had a flat on mine at under two months old - away for 12 days, a couple of short runs then....nothing. I now have a battery conditioner fitted which I use if the car will sit for more than about seven days or less if it has had some short runs. The car is garaged which makes plugging it in easy as it is hard wired into the battery. Not great if you use on street parking though.

I was told that it takes 45 mins on average to put back into the battery what is used on an ignition cycle. I just try not to run the car for a short distance which is a pain but worth putting up with. Changing the battery is a good idea though as it is bound to help. I suspect that living in London you will want to keep the navtrak though?

Matt, great to see that you have got a GTS. Looking forward to the stories.

 

[bigbob]

20-10-08 Matt, must be one of the first GTSs. Nice to find one with low miles.

 

[ratbag]

The Granturismos are electrically heavy and are notorious for battery drain if left unused. I was told by Dick Lovetts that they should NEVER EVER be jump started but the battery recharged . There then is a Maserati reset procedure for all the electrics folowing a battery disconnect.They even advised me to get a trickle charger if I was going to leave it unused for more than a few days.

If your wheels are 20" rather than 19" you are very limited in tyre choices because either the front tyre size (or rear, can't remember which) is made by very few manufacturers. You will be lucky to find anything less than £250 a corner. If you have 19" you have much more choice.

 

[bigbob]

Kwik Fit are about £1150 all round for P Zeros at the moment on 20". Most places are more like £1350 normally. Rears are hard to get.

Jumping should be fine with a box rather than another car.

 

[Parisien]

For earlier Maseratis we upped the Ah on replacement batteries ...not sure if this is neceassry for the GT.

Welcome to our forum, hope you enjoy being here and do stick up a few pics when you can of your pride and joy!


P

 

[rs48635]

I will give her a good clean at the weekend and take some pics, she looks like me at the moment and is heavily suffering from a mad weekend.

Basically, 58/2008 black with red leather GTS, 7,900 miles and a years Trident warranty and a few toys on her.

Top work Matt!

Would love to see it soone.