Coming back to Maserati?!

[cowsurgeon]

Hello there,

It's been a long time since I’ve been on the forum, but am thinking about returning to Maserati ownership! Don’t know if anyone remembers, but I bought MAF260’s 3200 back in 2010 and had it for 4 years. Now my wife's interested in getting a Granturismo, and so I have been doing some forum searching to see what the potential pitfalls are.

I came across this thread which seems to sum things up nicely.

Would be keen to have anyone’s opinion on buying one – we’ve been to see a 2011 4.7S in Gateshead with what seems like a good service history. The car itself looks neat and tidy, good paintwork and interior. Service stamps either by Maserati or later by Emblem, and has been serviced every 2 years.

A couple of things I noted:

Ongoing beeping from the parking sensor system as we were pulling away for a test drive with the screen showing it was the front ones were detecting something (despite there being nothing in front of us) – I can see in the thread above that a couple of people mention parking sensors that needed replacing - was ongoing beeping the symptom?

Also when the car was parked up and idling, the engine fan was coming on and off fairly regularly as we were walking around giving it the once over – is that an issue anyone has any experience of? Is it normal? It seemed to be every 30 seconds or so it would come on – we’d done maybe a 15 minute test drive, and not at breakneck speeds.

Any advice would be very welcome, as I’ve barely been on the forum since I had to sell my 3200 and so haven’t been keeping up with all the info. Am I right that the variators ought not to be an issue on a 2011 car?

I know that ideally I’d get a proper inspection by a Maserati indy but that’s always been a bit difficult up here (Newcastle/Durham). Am considering autolink that ‘deals with’ Maserati and Ferrari, but I’ve no experience with them as I used to take my 3200 down to Autoshield in Manchester.

Cheers

Chris

 

[DaveT]

Yes, I remember you on here Chris.

Someone wil be along soon I'm sure to help with those specific queries.

Welcome back and good luck with the search

 

[Grantoonriusmo]

Hi Chris,

My GT is a 2013 and the front parking sensors are really sensitive. They bleep especially when there's a a bit of wind. A bit irritating when sat in traffic but I can forgive it.

I think most variator issues got sorted post 2010 models. But one of the gurus on here will confirm.

I'm based up in Newcastle and JM Imports (www.jm-imports.co.uk) maintain and service my GT. Chris the operations manager and forum member is also a GT (2011) owner. They look after a fair few Maserati's up north and from Scotland, so it maybe worth contacting him to see if he knows the car you are looking at.

Send me a PM if you want any more info.

 

[DaveT]

A quick search throws up that if the engine number is higher than 148697 it's OK on the variator question - August 2009 build or thereabouts.

 

[ratbag]

Hello there,

It's been a long time since I’ve been on the forum, but am thinking about returning to Maserati ownership! Don’t know if anyone remembers, but I bought MAF260’s 3200 back in 2010 and had it for 4 years. Now my wife's interested in getting a Granturismo, and so I have been doing some forum searching to see what the potential pitfalls are.

I came across this thread which seems to sum things up nicely.

Would be keen to have anyone’s opinion on buying one – we’ve been to see a 2011 4.7S in Gateshead with what seems like a good service history. The car itself looks neat and tidy, good paintwork and interior. Service stamps either by Maserati or later by Emblem, and has been serviced every 2 years.

A couple of things I noted:

Ongoing beeping from the parking sensor system as we were pulling away for a test drive with the screen showing it was the front ones were detecting something (despite there being nothing in front of us) – I can see in the thread above that a couple of people mention parking sensors that needed replacing - was ongoing beeping the symptom?

Also when the car was parked up and idling, the engine fan was coming on and off fairly regularly as we were walking around giving it the once over – is that an issue anyone has any experience of? Is it normal? It seemed to be every 30 seconds or so it would come on – we’d done maybe a 15 minute test drive, and not at breakneck speeds.

Any advice would be very welcome, as I’ve barely been on the forum since I had to sell my 3200 and so haven’t been keeping up with all the info. Am I right that the variators ought not to be an issue on a 2011 car?

I know that ideally I’d get a proper inspection by a Maserati indy but that’s always been a bit difficult up here (Newcastle/Durham). Am considering autolink that ‘deals with’ Maserati and Ferrari, but I’ve no experience with them as I used to take my 3200 down to Autoshield in Manchester.

Cheers

Chris

I had the fan cutting in and out all the time on my old 08 GT, the relay had got hot and melted, shorting out. A cheapish fix

 

[cowsurgeon]

Thanks guys that's v helpful - engine number is higher than that Dave, so good on that front.

Also good to know that hopefully neither fan nor parking sensors are too much of a big deal.

I think the car owner lived down south and it's in Gateshead as it was a part-ex for an aston martin, so I doubt jm would know about it, but it's good to know they're here and available to service a GT if we get one!

 

[conaero]

Blimey, that was quite the sabbatical CS but absolutely the right choice. Only thing I would add is go for a Strad if you can stretch that far, you won’t regret it and seem to still be holding their values.

 

[JMS]

Parking sensors are super sensitive and go to a constant beep at a distance of about a metre, so not great for tight parking, and very irritating at traffic lights.

I’ve also read somewhere that if they are fitted at the wrong angle they can be triggered by the ground. I struggle to see how they could be fitted that badly though. My conclusion is that they’re just a bit rubbish.

Apologies if you already know this but key things to check (big cost items):
- subframe rust (don’t be confused by the square chassis plates)
- Brake disc wear
- Cam cover gaskets (need doing every 4 years & labour intensive)
- Clutch wear if it’s an MC shift.

 

[cowsurgeon]

Hi conaero - would absolutely love to, but funds aren't sufficient unfortunately!

Thanks JMS, very useful info - am compiling a list of things to make sure I mention when getting an inspection...

 

[bigbob]

Thanks guys that's v helpful - engine number is higher than that Dave, so good on that front.

Also good to know that hopefully neither fan nor parking sensors are too much of a big deal.

I think the car owner lived down south and it's in Gateshead as it was a part-ex for an aston martin, so I doubt jm would know about it, but it's good to know they're here and available to service a GT if we get one!

My front parking sensors are forever being set off by nothing (you get used to it) and the fan is a bit keen to come on. Replaced the resistor and it made no difference. I got mine undersealed and would highly recommend it if you live in northern england/scotland.

 

[Maser Sod]

Blimey, that was quite the sabbatical CS but absolutely the right choice. Only thing I would add is go for a Strad if you can stretch that far, you won’t regret it and seem to still be holding their values.

Funny, I looked last week to see what a Stradale costs 2nd hand these days and they're about the same price as they were when I last looked, which was probably 10 years ago! I'm getting the itch to get something fast again, I sold my 4C a couple of years ago and am missing it. May go for a 4C Spider. Funds aren't endless anymore ... I retired a couple of years ago so it's a little harder to justify to the other half any extracurricular expenditure!

 

[conaero]

Blimey, they are all coming out the woodwork, Mr Sod, it’s been too long

 

[dickygrace]

Welcome back to the fold @cowsurgeon and also @Maser Sod.

 

[Andyk]

Funny, I looked last week to see what a Stradale costs 2nd hand these days and they're about the same price as they were when I last looked, which was probably 10 years ago! I'm getting the itch to get something fast again, I sold my 4C a couple of years ago and am missing it. May go for a 4C Spider. Funds aren't endless anymore ... I retired a couple of years ago so it's a little harder to justify to the other half any extracurricular expenditure!

Bloodyhell, it’s been a while. Hope you are well buddy.

 

[Andyk]

Hello there,

It's been a long time since I’ve been on the forum, but am thinking about returning to Maserati ownership! Don’t know if anyone remembers, but I bought MAF260’s 3200 back in 2010 and had it for 4 years. Now my wife's interested in getting a Granturismo, and so I have been doing some forum searching to see what the potential pitfalls are.

I came across this thread which seems to sum things up nicely.

Would be keen to have anyone’s opinion on buying one – we’ve been to see a 2011 4.7S in Gateshead with what seems like a good service history. The car itself looks neat and tidy, good paintwork and interior. Service stamps either by Maserati or later by Emblem, and has been serviced every 2 years.

A couple of things I noted:

Ongoing beeping from the parking sensor system as we were pulling away for a test drive with the screen showing it was the front ones were detecting something (despite there being nothing in front of us) – I can see in the thread above that a couple of people mention parking sensors that needed replacing - was ongoing beeping the symptom?

Also when the car was parked up and idling, the engine fan was coming on and off fairly regularly as we were walking around giving it the once over – is that an issue anyone has any experience of? Is it normal? It seemed to be every 30 seconds or so it would come on – we’d done maybe a 15 minute test drive, and not at breakneck speeds.

Any advice would be very welcome, as I’ve barely been on the forum since I had to sell my 3200 and so haven’t been keeping up with all the info. Am I right that the variators ought not to be an issue on a 2011 car?

I know that ideally I’d get a proper inspection by a Maserati indy but that’s always been a bit difficult up here (Newcastle/Durham). Am considering autolink that ‘deals with’ Maserati and Ferrari, but I’ve no experience with them as I used to take my 3200 down to Autoshield in Manchester.

Cheers

Chris

And a big welcome back also. Good luck with your search buddy.

 

[Tallman]

This Maserati doc is great for people making a (pre 2013) model choice for both QP and GT. I’ve posted it before a couple years ago but I’m sure the link will have expired by now.

2012-quattroporte-granturismo-technical-updates.pdf

Shared with Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Maser Sod]

Bloodyhell, it’s been a while. Hope you are well buddy.

Hey Andy (+ Matt + Dicky) - yeah it's been a while! Not sure how/why I fell by the wayside, other than a very heavy workload up at O2 followed by Covid lockdowns, etc. Time flies.
I'm often up your way, Andy - lots of nice coffee shops for the bone idle like myself!

 

[zagatoes30]

Welcome back you know this is the only place for honest advice on Maseratis

 

[cowsurgeon]

Happy New Year all!

Am now a 2011 Granturismo S owner! Well tbh, the husband of the owner, but that's just minor detail. Given the crummy weather, haven't had a chance to take it out too much, but even looking at it on the drive makes me smile! It's lovely to be back with the marque again. Thanks to everyone who helped with info on this thread and by PM - such a nice welcome back to the forum, feels as if I'd never been away! Managed to get an inspection sorted and some money off the price to cover a few bits and pieces - battery/tyres/discs. To that end Safrane mentioned that Zep can scource discs at a good price - do I just need to PM?

Will post some pics when I've the chance,
Thanks again!
Chris

 

[Zep]

Happy New Year all!

Am now a 2011 Granturismo S owner! Well tbh, the husband of the owner, but that's just minor detail. Given the crummy weather, haven't had a chance to take it out too much, but even looking at it on the drive makes me smile! It's lovely to be back with the marque again. Thanks to everyone who helped with info on this thread and by PM - such a nice welcome back to the forum, feels as if I'd never been away! Managed to get an inspection sorted and some money off the price to cover a few bits and pieces - battery/tyres/discs. To that end Safrane mentioned that Zep can scource discs at a good price - do I just need to PM?

Will post some pics when I've the chance,
Thanks again!
Chris

Congrats! And yes, just send me a PM