1st day with a QP today!

[Kiwibrit]

Hi all

I finally took the plunge and bought a 2005 QP today after too many years of German cars - this one is black with black leather and red stitching. Looks great and I will post a couple of pics tomorrow.

Firstly, what a machine to drive...beautiful!

It did have a few gremlins on an extended drive to Poole today and with having zero mechanical knowledge and wanting to get things into shape, I was wondering if there is a good specialist around Weymouth, or at least in Dorset. A quick check online only showed one in Poole (Emblem) but any recommendations gratefully received!

Out of interest, the following errors showed up today...n/s dipped beam xenon out, parking sensor warning light (they seem to work ok?), electric mirror switch only works on o/side mirror. Most worrying is that twice the car went into neutral and cut out when I stopped at lights - I am hoping this is an electrical gremlin as apart from that the gearbox is smooth as.

I don't want these to ruin our enjoyment of this fine machine, so I thinks it's best to spend a few pounds and get them sorted once and for all, ideally without breaking the bank!

Hope you can help and thanks for reading this!
Guy

 

[Wack61]

A quick check online only showed one in Poole (Emblem) so I thinks it's best to spend a few pounds and get them sorted once and for all, ideally without breaking the bank!


Guy

Firstly congratulations on your new purchase

From what I've read you won't go wrong with Emblem, they're very well respected on this forum

But also from what I've read they're very thorough so when they've given you the inspection report you might need a whisky

 

[safrane]

Welcome.

Emblem is a fantastic place and has worked on all three of my Maserati's and I would not hesitate to recommend them. They are however costly, but you get what you pay for. Try their Saturday service, a free two hour inspection, but sit down when the report comes in.

The dropping out of gear could be a few things including sorry to say the clutch being worn out. The inspection above will confirm this.

You also have FTech in Exeter who I have started to use from last year...again great service and ex-main dealer trained.

 

[Klive]

I've been using Emblem for my last 5 services. Great company to use and very helpful. They know I like to do some of the work myself and will advise me.
When I was in Germany a few years ago I hit a problem at high speed. A short call to them and they diagnosed it precisely. These are one of the few companies that I trust to work a car that I own.

 

[CatmanV2]

I've been using Emblem for my last 5 services. Great company to use and very helpful. They know I like to do some of the work myself and will advise me.
When I was in Germany a few years ago I hit a problem at high speed. A short call to them and they diagnosed it precisely. These are one of the few companies that I trust to work a car that I own.

Given that Klive lives just up the road, the fact that he's prepared to travel to Emblem speaks volumes.
I don't want to take the shine off day one, but I have to echo Pete's and Darren's thoughts. Prepare yourself when you get the estimate.....

On the plus side, the symptoms as described might be cheap fixes
C

 

[Ewan]

Your best choice is Emblem. Or, if you'd rather travel further, FTECH in Exeter. Or the main dealers, Meridien in Lyndhusrt or Carrs in Exeter. All will do you proud. But I can't see why you'd bother looking further afield than Emblem.

By the way, welcome! The QP is a fine car, just as long as you gave a good example (or the wallet to make it such).

 

[Kiwibrit]

Many thanks for all the replies so far...really helpful. It does sound like I have a good local specialist and I think the best plan is to drop it off to them and see where we go from there. The car came with 80k miles and FSH but has been laid up for a bit, so I'm trying to be realistic. I'm happy to travel any distance if there is a much lower cost recommendation, since it's only an occasional car and I don't have a fixed timeline.

From your responses so far, other owners appear to be as nice as the cars... Wack61, we happen to part own a brewery and distillery, so I may just take up the suggestion!

Cheers all.

 

[zagatoes30]

Another vote for Emblem, they look after my car even though I live in Silverstone wouldn't trust it to any one else. They are not cheap but they know what there talking about, Myles is the best Maser man I know and Martin has a knack of finding that elusive part at the best price.

 

[Mr K]

Most worrying is that twice the car went into neutral and cut out when I stopped at lights - I am hoping this is an electrical gremlin as apart from that the gearbox is smooth as.

Going into neutral may be normal - depends on what you were doing. When stationary, the car goes into neutral after a minute without touching the accelerator or brake pedals. Or after 10 mins holding the car with the brake pedal. It shouldn't cut the engine, though.

 

[conaero]

Welcome. As your so close Emblem is a must.

Speak to Miles and mention the forum and you will be extremely well looked after.

 

[Andyk]

A big warm welcome...As all has said Emblem are well respected. Look forward to seeing pictures of your lovely car

 

[Wack61]

Wack61, we happen to part own a brewery and distillery, so I may just take up the suggestion!

Cheers all.

Staff discount on craft beer and spirits, noted , I can see you being popular on here

 

[CatmanV2]

Staff discount on craft beer and spirits, noted , I can see you being popular on here

Indeed! Kiwibrit, which one?

C

 

[cheshiremaserati]

I'm assuming you bought privately? If it was dealer the there would be warranty to fall back on and get these sort of things sorted.
I'm new to Maserati having bought a GranSport in Autumn last year, but I would not buy one of these cars without an inspection.
Thankfully mine had been through an inspection at Marios (Autoshield Maserati) and anything he picked up had been fixed as part of preparing the car for sale. I also discussed the inspection with him.

I hope the cost of your fixes is small and simple.

 

[AndyG]

Many thanks for all the replies so far...really helpful. It does sound like I have a good local specialist and I think the best plan is to drop it off to them and see where we go from there. The car came with 80k miles and FSH but has been laid up for a bit, so I'm trying to be realistic. I'm happy to travel any distance if there is a much lower cost recommendation, since it's only an occasional car and I don't have a fixed timeline.

From your responses so far, other owners appear to be as nice as the cars... Wack61, we happen to part own a brewery and distillery, so I may just take up the suggestion!

Cheers all.

Mine was also laid up for a bit before I got her, one of the main things I suggest you do is change the gearbox oil urgently, I serviced mine when I got her home, but didn't think the gearbox oil needed changing as I had a service receipt showing full service only 800 miles before including gearbox oil change, what I didn't factor in was this was 18 months before I got her.

She drove fine for the first 6 months then she developed a bearing whine, knowing the clutch was 80% worn she was booked into Migliore cars while I was on holiday, the upshot was, the bearing we thought was causing the issue (bell housing) although worn was ok, further investigation found that every bearing in the gearbox had signs of light pitting from, we concluded the damage was caused by condensation, now very much poorer, she runs like a dream.

Well she did after I forked out to replace a blown variator.

Don't be put off with all the stories, these cars are not cheap to run, but always manage to put a smile on your face.


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[Ebenezer]

AndyG
Can ypu provide more details about the blown variator. I've been told that they might get noisy but never fail. What happened?
Eb

 

[AndyG]

Correct they don't fail, just get bloody noisy on idle and go quite above 2000 rpm, but you only need to change the one that fails, mine went from slight rattle on start up, to mad rattle over night.

From what I can gather, the main culprit is the o/s variator that seems to go first, go figure that one out !


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[CatmanV2]

Yes but they can cause mis-fueling and all sorts of nastiness. I don't think it's something you can say 'never fails' really.

C

 

[Kiwibrit]

Thanks again, I will definitely get the oils changed ASAP. Took another spin today (20 miles) and no issue with cutting out. The car had been very 'lumpy' from standstill but I filled her up with high octane just now and that has already improved the drive considerably. I took a few pics and will post them as soon as I work how to!

The brewery is Bournemouth Brewing in Poole..I'm a 'silent' partner. Perhaps, if there is interest we can do a summertime meet and a drive along the coast...I may be able to get team to brew up a Maserati IPAin time? Will post a suggestion once the car is sorted and see if there is any interest (yes, staff rates etc!!)
Cheers, Guy

 

[Mr K]

Thanks again, I will definitely get the oils changed ASAP. Took another spin today (20 miles) and no issue with cutting out. The car had been very 'lumpy' from standstill but I filled her up with high octane just now and that has already improved the drive considerably. I took a few pics and will post them as soon as I work how to!

Probably just old fuel causing the rough running and cutting out. You said it had been laid up for a bit. Hpefully that's all it was. It'll run fine on standard 95 octane unleaded in future.

Looking forward to some piccies