Hello! Thinking a QP is more reliable than Merc CL or V8 BMW

paul kenyon

paul kenyon

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CL has air suspension and coil pack problems costing ££££. BMW V8 valve stem leaks, coolant transfer pipe rust, and more oil leaks. It seems quality german engineering is a myth. All my Porsches had problems. My Ferrari 430 on the other hand has been faultless after 7 years of ownership. So is a QP the way forward? Always thought they are the best looking saloon. Prefer the original QPV shape. Is there a buyers guide on here?
 
RobinL

RobinL

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456
So......Maserati or MB...... I sold my 4200 CC - 'we' needed 4 seats and a big boot / estate and the resident minister for finances decreed that my Maserati would be sacrificed.....
Not being able to contemplate life without a V8 the replacement is an CLS 63s AMG..... Shooting Brake...
It is mercilessly efficient and fast. I absolutely love it.
It carries sh1t to the reycling centre. It packs a wardrobe in the back....
It hangs its tail out when I get enthusiastic on the right foot.
I tried 'race launch' - I got tunnel vision and nearly lost it. Sooooo fast....
However, I miss the sheer joy of polishing my Maserati.
I miss the howl of the Quicksilver exhaust on my Maserati....
MB is not the same as a Maserati for many reasons

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
 
Andyk

Andyk

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61,149
I had a V8 BMW and it never let me down and was far cheaper to run than my Maserati. There is the oil leak piece but you will also find different issues with the QP....sub frame which is an issue with early cars and is not cheap to fix. Buying a QP is the easy bit but it's parts prices that is the killer as Maserati basically should say 'stand and deliver' when buying parts from them.....So the good bit is that the QP is the best looking saloon out there....well up until they made the one they do now. It's a brilliant drive and can waft along like a big saloon should but also turn into a one of the best sports saloons out there. It should not handle a good as it does....So much fun.

Just go in with your eyes open and get a car inspected before buying and if you get a good one you will not regret it...They are such good value at the moment ...A bad one though will have you running away from the marque at speed......Also a good bet is if a members car comes up for sale on here as it will be a well known car and looked after.
 
Motorsport3

Motorsport3

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I think the nearest BMW to the QPV ethos is the previous M5 (E60 most likely with SMG box). Highly strung engines mated with sequential gearbox and lots of space.
 
paul kenyon

paul kenyon

Junior Member
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24
Thanks for the replies. I've done alot of research on all three marques and in particular the 650, CL500, CL600 and the QP.

Perhaps the BMW and Merc problems appear worse due to higher numbers sold?

I ruled out a CL63AMG as I'm not really looking for a 4 seater that's trying to be a sports car. Interesting you guys feel the QP compares more to an M5 or AMG.

Is the ZF with skyhook combo a good limo/ cruiser ? I think this is the Executive spec?
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

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7,763
paul kenyon said:
Thanks for the replies. I've done alot of research on all three marques and in particular the 650, CL500, CL600 and the QP.

Perhaps the BMW and Merc problems appear worse due to higher numbers sold?

I ruled out a CL63AMG as I'm not really looking for a 4 seater that's trying to be a sports car. Interesting you guys feel the QP compares more to an M5 or AMG.

Is the ZF with skyhook combo a good limo/ cruiser ? I think this is the Executive spec?
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If you are thinking zf I guess you are looking at 2008 onwards. There is then the 4.2 or 4.7. They all came with skyhook apart from the gts around this time. I guess some may have been specced without if that was possible. The 4.7 had variator issues early on but will have probsbly been fixed or not affected (do search for more info an engine numbers). The zf has paddles and you can play but you will never be truly in control. I personally am happy with that but some prefer the duoselect. If you DS route, clutch wear is important to know as it is costly to replace with all the other bits required flywheel, release bearing etc...
Try one. You will like it or not. The noise is like nothing else but you won't notice unless the double glazed windows are down.
 
Twinspark

Twinspark

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460
I think the best QPVs are the late 4.7 GTS in terms of performance and reliability. The 4.2 DuoSelect is quite different due to the nature of the drivetrain its much more sport oriented which some people prefer, but personally if I wanted sporty I’d go the extra mile and get a 4200.

I’d avoid the 4.2 automatic and some of the earlier 4.7 as I’ve heard they had cam variator issues. I also vastly prefer the facelifted look which came out in 2008/09
 
Guy

Guy

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2,116
Outside of CV times, I do 30-40k miles per annum, mainly because I enjoy driving. I had 3 years with a QPV GTS and have had many years running V8 Mercs and the last couple running V8 BMWs as daily transport. The QPV is, by some margin, the most desirable 4 door I have owned or driven and I will at some point buy another one. However, based on my experience, despite being very well put together, the QPV is not as robust underneath as an S Class or 7 series. Apart from corrosion, they require more attention on a regular basis and, thanks to Maserati parts pricing, cost a lot more to run. Man maths or follow your heart, not your head is the strategy! I will probably look to spread the load so that the QP miles are special ones and leave the motorway munching and more mundane stuff to the Germans
 
rs48635

rs48635

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3,181
depends on your "use case" very much.
The QP is unsurpassed as a place to just sit, sit and drive, listen to, wash or just look at. They might now be cheap enough to buy and flog to death? Lease a car for 2-3 years or buy QP and use it up?
Mine is a keeper so daily driven and needed a subframe repair. Get any QP that suits you but it must have a good subframe. All of the other bits can add up but unlikely to need replacement in the same pay packet.
 
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makeshiftUK

makeshiftUK

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1,091
paul kenyon said:
CL has air suspension and coil pack problems costing ££££. BMW V8 valve stem leaks, coolant transfer pipe rust, and more oil leaks. It seems quality german engineering is a myth. All my Porsches had problems. My Ferrari 430 on the other hand has been faultless after 7 years of ownership. So is a QP the way forward? Always thought they are the best looking saloon. Prefer the original QPV shape. Is there a buyers guide on here?
Click to expand...
Perhaps I'm lucky, but also I made sure the QPV's I was serious about I had inspected at my expense... and finding out about the subframe (or other issues) before I parted with my hard earned cash.

After flirting with 3x facelift ('08 onwards) QPV GT S's and paying for two inspections, I settled on the 4th... here's a breakdown of my costs of ownership, one year in: https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/qpv-gts-1-year-in.31371/

I personally wouldn't go near a V8 powered BMW (with the exception of the M5 E39) and expect it to be synonymous with German reliability... that's reserved for their straight 6's, in my experience, and the amount of tech in the newer 7's surely means something will give eventually. The CL was a barge I also considered for wafting away the miles... biturbo 4.7 'bluefficiency' (LOL) was a screamer, but lacked the excitement of an Italian.

The Quadrifoglio Giuila is more modern, faster... but I don't think quite as pretty as a QPV GT S (and I like to remind them of this by driving past with the exhaust valves bypassed at full chat :D). If you're considering a QPV, I'm with @Twinspark - the facelifts are better looking (2008 - 2012), and you can't go wrong with the 4.7 (so long as it's a post-varistor fix car... I think the cutover was 2009-ish).
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

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7,763
makeshiftUK said:
Perhaps I'm lucky, but also I made sure the QPV's I was serious about I had inspected at my expense... and finding out about the subframe (or other issues) before I parted with my hard earned cash.

After flirting with 3x facelift ('08 onwards) QPV GT S's and paying for two inspections, I settled on the 4th... here's a breakdown of my costs of ownership, one year in: https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/qpv-gts-1-year-in.31371/

I personally wouldn't go near a V8 powered BMW (with the exception of the M5 E39) and expect it to be synonymous with German reliability... that's reserved for their straight 6's, in my experience, and the amount of tech in the newer 7's surely means something will give eventually. The CL was a barge I also considered for wafting away the miles... biturbo 4.7 'bluefficiency' (LOL) was a screamer, but lacked the excitement of an Italian.

The Quadrifoglio Giuila is more modern, faster... but I don't think quite as pretty as a QPV GT S (and I like to remind them of this by driving past with the exhaust valves bypassed at full chat :D). If you're considering a QPV, I'm with @Twinspark - the facelifts are better looking (2008 - 2012), and you can't go wrong with the 4.7 (so long as it's a post-varistor fix car... I think the cutover was 2009-ish).
Click to expand...
Post fix was more like 2011 but it was an engine number lottery too. I would not be worried by an earlier car if a) variators were done or b) cost negotiated in the price. After all it is the same cost roughly as a ds clutch and should be a one off fix although there was talk here about a car having to be done twice from memory.
 
makeshiftUK

makeshiftUK

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1,091
Gazcw said:
Post fix was more like 2011 but it was an engine number lottery too. I would not be worried by an earlier car if a) variators were done or b) cost negotiated in the price. After all it is the same cost roughly as a ds clutch and should be a one off fix although there was talk here about a car having to be done twice from memory.
Click to expand...
74658
 
rs48635

rs48635

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Messages
3,181
Buying mine in 2014 I wanted a back car with light interior - luck brought me to the 2006 Sport GT with duoselect and is perfect for me.
If I was setting off now.................as with many complex machines getting on in years, I would buy on condition first. Everything is expensive to replace, just work out what needs doing right away and what can be done over time.
 
rs48635

rs48635

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3,181
All these new fangled worries about a bit of noise. Back in my day there was a deep dark terror that I dare not mention for fear it will strike my own 3200. (don't mention the end float). :D
 
Dan!

Dan!

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3,029
I'm sorry to have to point this out, but if you want a BMW that is quicker, handles better, comfier, better tech, and more reliable than a QP... you just need a 335D
 
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