I’ve bought a cheap Maserati

Matt82

Member
Messages
222
Well, I’ve gone and done what most say not to do and bought a cheap Masser!

We sold our immaculate low mileage GT back in January to release some funds for a house project. With that now paid for (if not completed!) we turned our attention to replacing the family run about, our beloved Alfa 156 v6 with 150k miles.

First thoughts were a giullieta qv. However, after realising that they are a similar price range as a Maserati 4200, and my wife loving the way the 4200’s look (her favourite car was the Fiat coupe turbo we had years ago), we decided to go back into Maserati ownership. We also thought it would be quite fun to use one as a family car. I should point out that I walk to work, the kids walk to school and the missus will take the car to work twice a week, so ‘family car’ isn’t particularly arduous in our case.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and we now own the Nero 4200 manual that was advertised on the forum for a while, if I was more cleverer I’d put the link to it here!

Initial impressions:
It feels much more ‘raw’ than the Granturismo. I may not be comparing apples with apples as the Granturismo was in great condition with 30k miles and this 4200 isn’t and has 73k but it feels quite old school.

Problems (obviously) so far:

Check engine light came on on the 4 hour drive home (waiting for a code reader)
Cow bell noise jangling underneath! May be a cat? Possibly linked to engine light?
Interior can be best described as ‘sticky’
Musty damp smell inside, water ingress, rather than engine coolant.
Cloudy front light covers
Can’t indicate right
Service due

The idea is to do as much work and maintenance as possible myself, I’m not a car mechanic, but I am a mechanical engineer and have done a few complete rebuilds of cars (Not Maserati’s mind!).

Wish me luck and I’ll probably need to post more on the forum than I did with the Granturismo!
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,759
Musty smell will be at best blocked a/c overflow pipe or at worse leaking heater matrix, cheap part but big job as most of the dash needs to come out. Sticky interior, give it a good clean and see what your left with, sticky buttons can be replaced. Front headlight covers you will probably get away with a gentle polish be careful don't go too aggressive too soon.

Other than that get out and enjoy.

PS before anyone else asks Photos please
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Well done sir!

As Zag said first thing to look at is the AC drain and associated stuff

I had two water leaks on my 3200. One was from under the wiper cover that made the front footwells wet the other was from the fuel filler cap that leaked onto the rear parcel shelf, rear seats and floor.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Yep; pollen filter will be sitting in water so wipers off, scuttle off and remove the old pollen filter and then drain the pint and a half of water sitting in there!, the drain will be blocked as others have said, just remove the trim panel (carpeted) to the left of the driver's footwell and you can feel for the pipe below the console: If you don't drain the pollen filter box first you will get the full pint and a half in your footwell at this point! I've found a wet and dry vacuum cleaner with a long nozzle best for this.

Look in Alternative parts thread for the replacement filter list, I have found the Cooper one to be best at around £7 from a motor factors.

I'd highly recommend replacing the air filter too as this is just as likely to be rotten too... If the box is beyond recovery I can send you details to change to an induction for the 4200 :)

Cow bell could be anything, good luck tracking that down.

Check engine light may well just need an Italian tune up to get everything hot and bothered (once you have the oil changed).

Sticky buttons and top vent, rubbing alcohol and care...
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,749
Good luck with the repairs... a generic code reader will get the light off... no good for airbags though.
 

Matt82

Member
Messages
222
That’s for the comments and advice, very much appreciated.

Couple of things I forgot from the list of ailments:
Cables need adjusting on the gear linkage as it’s very notchy
Handbrake is useless

Few photos below, it appears it has been parked in a tree for a while! I have given the headlight covers a quick buff and they are much clearer, not sure if they’ve gone a bit cloudy on the inside too though.
I’ve popped out the vents and started cleaning the stickiness off, not the most pressing job to do but something I can get on with while the weathers rubbish!
F7A53396-F240-4770-8AC8-7E42EE3C6787.jpegFFEDF0EF-C266-45F0-A8FE-A99DC091A77F.jpeg581FC80B-1224-420B-BCB8-1D04891569A4.jpegB000D550-70C8-4690-8FA2-496611B80919.jpegEF47A808-14AB-4BB1-9578-7A9DF76FCD7B.jpeg781A5FDA-6A53-4206-B1EB-F371215B070B.jpegC7AB326C-6F79-446C-B88C-1CB31D0E54C1.jpegF271B9CB-497C-47BE-9F14-F1B63621CD81.jpeg

Thanks all
Matt
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,749
The area where the twigs are need a good clean as it has a number of drain holes... I also suspect the scuttle will be full of detritus.
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Get the wiper/scuttle cover off. Carefully they’re a bit brittle. It’ll be full of pine needles under there.

Is the boot wet?
 

Matt82

Member
Messages
222
Get the wiper/scuttle cover off. Carefully they’re a bit brittle. It’ll be full of pine needles under there.

Is the boot wet?

Yes, I’m the picture of the boot that little darker patch to the right is wetness. Looks like it’s been an issue for a while as the boot lid lining is starting to go mouldy
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
I think the spare wheel well is a separate housing from the body so might be an idea to look for a leak there.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Handbrake is a relatively easy fix, just time consuming. Again check out the alternative parts thread as I’ve listed a set of Porsche shoes (set of 4) for £25 as opposed to north of £140 for stock.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,119
My first 2002 4200 Cambio Corsa bought 10 years ago was the cheapest one on the internet and served me well for 4 years with Euro trips and track days.
My second a 2004 was so cheap with a noisey engine again I couldn't get there quick enough with my Range Rover and trailer.
Repaired it myself and took it to New Zealand another 4 years trouble free motoring and the car still there going well 6 years on.
He who dares wins.
 

oaros

Junior Member
Messages
54
The AC drain - seems to the first job for all new 4200 owners. It should have been mine, but I only got the AC re-gassed the day before a trip to the continent and then found out about the blocked drain when the fan housing dumped out water on every fast right handed curve. Check the sound deadening mats under the carpet - probably damp. Conearo's post will get you there.

I almost made an offer on that when it was for sale over a year ago - but then bought a cheaper 4200.
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
good work chap - fortune favours the brave. I wield spanners too 'without qualification' and can report it is still a car underneath the magnificent clothing. I have got some things right and the rest of the time I have gained valuable experience. The saving in experienced labour cost has bought a few tools and many many hours of (happy) struggles with my cars.
^^^ as above sort out all the cr@p under the scuttle. get new wiper arms unless yours are really good. Think the official advice was to replace arms if they've already been off [ I did NOT do this of course :) ].
Hoep you're having fun already, look forward to seeing you at an event one day. btw I had 20v turbo too
 

Matt82

Member
Messages
222
Thanks for the kind words and advice all, there’s a wealth of knowledge and experience on this forum, and a great willingness to share it too.

I have started work on some of the easier jobs while I wait for parts and supplies to tackle the service items, but I thought (if anyone’s interested?!), that I’d start a thread in the running reports section (or a mod could move this one?) and detail all the required work as and when I do it. It’s a pretty good place for me to log what I’ve done as well!

Regards
Matt
 

BennyD

Sea Urchin Pate
Messages
14,994
Welcome to the madness, again! All your issues regarding the car are nothing compared to your name. Matt. On here, Matt is a swear word comparable with cnt. May I suggest you call yourself Pol Pot to preclude being associated with our Fuhrer, who is commonly known as Matt the twt (to those who know him). I will, most probably, get yet another ban for pointing this out, but its worth it if you take my advice and make the change. Such self sacrifice, as you will appreciate, makes me the good guy looking after your welfare.