I did all the no things when I bought mine 3.2 evo auto, bought it from Italy unseen and wo PPI. I had some help inspecting the car before I bought it and had a lot of luck I guess as it was a very nice example. I have had some issues with it, the biggest one the tendency to run hot. That now solved with the kind help of fellow memeber ZAM400209 who helped me with an override switch for the fans. In my opinion the check engine light isn't that big of a problem as it comes on and off mostly depending on the position of the moon. Mine eventually stayed on and I had to change a whole bunch of sensors and both lambdas to cure it, wasn't actually that expensive as the parts are the same as those in some Rovers and Fords but with original Maserati spares it would have been 3000+. What has cost me most money so far:
- the windscreen, extremely hard to find and costs +2500 euro + fitting
- heater blower fan not available anymore and those on market cost 900 euro for the original part, luckily a motor from BMW fits but you have to take whole dashboard out to change which cost 1600 euro
- AC Compressor started leaking last summer, new original costs 2000 euro. Alfa V6 compressor should be identical so will investigate that.
- Starter blew, Citroen 1.7 starter identical and costs around 100 euro
- Fuel sensor gauge inside tank
- Heater valve, not available new anymore. Saab & Ferrari 355 have identical part
- Return oil pipes to turbo
- Some coolant pipes
- Ignition coil
- All track end rods and joints mostly due to wear caused by the weight of the engine, quite cheap parts considered the car
This is what I remember I have had to change during the 3y/20000 km I have had the car. Remember when deciding on purchase that some of the parts starts to be hard to find nowadays, most can be found from other cars if you bother to do the research but some are unique and either not available or cost their weight in gold.
Hope this helps,
Ake