Stupid Italian metal... MOT failure - GTS 2009

stewarttownsend

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
Messages
469
So Im still alive and not been doing much due to Covid and before that was still doing Pendle Powerfest but not really going to many shows... anyway passed my 50th few months ago and been looking at a nice day to day runner to replace the Insignia of dreams and thought better get the GTS on the road..... hmmm the winter wasn't kind.

So it needs a front subframe !!!! awaiting a price but feel I may be passing out and looking at the threads, welding it isn't a choice as it's probably rotted all over the place.

Needs new chassis plates on both sides. (Is this what the part is called? Located both sides middle of the door area under and attaches to subframe - Flat metal plates)

Front springs snapped on both sides
Rear springs corroding

Failed emissions on lambda on the second run - assume one sensor needed or could it just be because stood for a year without moving

2 New front tyres (had 4 wheel alignment done as well aarrgh scrubbed on inners)

Also needs the on/off solenoids for exhaust and new alarm and major service (Needs also the rocker cover seal replacing as dripping oil)

Apart from that, all is good.. !!! Let's play a game of how much to keep her on the road :)

Few Questions:

Parts - the best place to source to get an idea on prices?
Subframe - assume not wise getting one from a breaker?

Fitting - so garage said can do subframe without removing the engine, waiting to get a quote. I would normally go to Marios but thats 70 minutes away and I also need to get someone to collect me and same other way round, any places in Lancashire that have opened up that can be recommended ?


Had my eye on Ghibli as a runner but now I think the Panamera is ahead, Alfa Romeo Guilia and followed by Audi RS4 or a tractor !!!
 
Last edited:
DaveT

DaveT

Member
Messages
2,831
stewarttownsend said:
So Im still alive and not been doing much due to Covid and before that was still doing Pendle Powerfest but not really going to many shows... anyway passed my 50th few months ago and been looking at a nice day to day runner to replace the Insignia of dreams and thought better get the GTS on the road..... hmmm the winter wasn't kind.

So it needs a front subframe !!!! awaiting a price but feel I may be passing out and looking at the threads, welding it isn't a choice as it's probably rotted all over the place.

Needs new chassis plates on both sides. (Is this what the part is called? Located both sides middle of the door area under and attaches to subframe - Flat metal plates)

Front springs snapped on both sides
Rear springs corroding

Failed emissions on lambda on the second run - assume one sensor needed or could it just be because stood for a year without moving

2 New front tyres (had 4 wheel alignment done as well aarrgh scrubbed on inners)

Also needs the on/off solenoids for exhaust and new alarm and major service (Needs also the rocker cover seal replacing as dripping oil)

Apart from that, all is good.. !!! Let's play a game of how much to keep her on the road :)

Few Questions:

Parts - the best place to source to get an idea on prices?
Subframe - assume not wise getting one from a breaker?

Fitting - so garage said can do subframe without removing the engine, waiting to get a quote. I would normally go to Marios but thats 70 minutes away and I also need to get someone to collect me and same other way round, any places in Lancashire that have opened up that can be recommended ?


Had my eye on Ghibli as a runner but now I think the Panamera is ahead, Alfa Romeo Guilia and followed by Audi RS4 or a tractor !!!
Click to expand...
Gosh that's not great.

Good luck.
 
Zep

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,264
Ouch, that’s a pain. We need to keep on top of those subframes!
 
stewarttownsend

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
Messages
469
Yep 2009 - GTS 4.7S. Left it out of the barn as doing campervan and never put it back, winter ate it up. Did have it treated a few years ago but never thought that they would rot so much, compared to my Insignia of dreams lol.
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,424
Wow feel your pain there.
Nothing wrong with a second hand subframe as long as it ain't rusty.
Do it all from underneath it's a bit of work and the one I did a couple of years ago i had to do all the bushes and springs.
Got the subframe from David Askew.
Good Luck
 
stewarttownsend

stewarttownsend

Junior Member
Messages
469
Its Bowkers Ribble Valley who are quoting or would go to Marios at Autoshield - Bowkers were Maserati franchise pre covid, agree not something I want done wrong and make sure when ready to go that all like new.

Reached out to these guys https://www.eurospares.co.uk/ who have a few GTS in.
 
Chrisb2015

Chrisb2015

Member
Messages
540
stewarttownsend said:
Yep 2009 - GTS 4.7S. Left it out of the barn as doing campervan and never put it back, winter ate it up. Did have it treated a few years ago but never thought that they would rot so much, compared to my Insignia of dreams lol.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear of the troubles! Interesting that you had the underside treated and it still happened. How long ago? Are you surprised it hasn’t been sufficient to protect it?
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,763
Ouch. Sorry to hear that. I imagine the exhaust are just rusted valves which wd40 and a wiggle will finally sort. Switch springs to H&R as cheaper than oem and maybe it needs an Italian tune for the lamdas. Ship it to Matt and it will return as it should.
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,936
Not good news, 2009 and rotted through the subframe how do they still get away with failures like this at such a relatively young age given all the chemical treatments that have been around for years.
 
Wattie

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
Pretty appalling init that these are so affected.
Hope you can get yours remedied relatively inexpensively.
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,150
That’s sh1t news. I am amazed at this subframe issue. I know others manufacturers have this issue and on what is a modern car it is just unacceptable and Maserati needs to take a long hard look at themselves. My 16 year old BMW 3 series didnt do this so why should should expect this on a Maserati that is younger. When the specialists recommend you get the underneath sealed when you buy one no matter how old that tells you a lot about the marque. We all say they are more reliable these days but until this sort out these type of issues that reputation for unreliability just will not go away.......Even if it isn’t so true these days. I really hope you get it sorted soon. I don’t think I would take the Italian route again if it happened to me. Good luck.
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,424
The one I did in Yorkshire was shocking underneath with brake discs red rusty all four springs and corrosion on the suspension arms.
The body, interior and engine perfect this was a 2007 QPV done exactly 2 years ago.
 
S

Simon1963

Member
Messages
819
Mrs1963 has a Mercedes SLK and I’m on a couple of Mercedes forums. The earlier R171 model are having issues with rotten rear subframes and Mercedes are replacing them for free. The cars will now be a minimum of 10 years old. I had an Alfa Brera and at 8 years it needed a new subframe as the front rail had rotted out and with under trays on it’s not visible.what baffles me is the cost to put some protection on would be minimal.
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,424
Totally agree.
The Maserati GT and QP subframes almost look home made and the factory paint very poor and then no wax protection.
A disaster for the UK winter weather.
The one I replaced got shot blasted and then painted followed with a wax treatment after.
 
Andyk

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,150
Simon1963 said:
Mrs1963 has a Mercedes SLK and I’m on a couple of Mercedes forums. The earlier R171 model are having issues with rotten rear subframes and Mercedes are replacing them for free. The cars will now be a minimum of 10 years old. I had an Alfa Brera and at 8 years it needed a new subframe as the front rail had rotted out and with under trays on it’s not visible.what baffles me is the cost to put some protection on would be minimal.
Click to expand...

Absolutely shocking.....Commendable that Mercedes will fix them though. Don’t get me on Brera...Worse car I have ever owned. My TVR was more reliable than that piece of Alfa rubbish. In fact my TVR was also more reliable than my Alfa 156 Sportswagon. Agree that to protect it would have not cost a fortune.
 
philw696

philw696

Member
Messages
25,424
That's very honorable of Mercedes Benz and will do them good in the long run I reckon.
Customer Service has to be Mk1 in any business.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.