Thought I would write a quick update after almost 3 weeks of ownership of the 4200/GS Hybrid.
For recent history see here and here.
Pre purchase inspection was a crawl underneath the car, chatting to Dean who was very honest about the car, and reading the old threads about the car. That is the recommended way? No? What could go wrong? Well, it is how I buy cars.
I did have the car up on stands the day after buying it and crawled some more trough it. It definitely needed a service. Oil, oil filter, air filter, cabin filter, coolant, transaxle oil and filter, brake fluid and misc washers and bolts ordered. Air con got checked and refilled. Time was ticking on as we were due to leave on trip to Germany a week later; got all done except the gearbox and brake fluid. Gearbox oil felt and looked OK and I wasn't brave enough to bleed brakes as the bleeders look very rusted on and I didn't want to brake one off. Rear tyres got changed as one of them had side wall bulges.
Thoughts so far - not that different to working on a 928, similar amounts of space and weird ways to get to parts. At least the Maserati bodgers have a higher class of bodging. When I first serviced my 928 the front spoiler had wood screws and zip ties to hold it on, on the 4200/GS, only a third of the screws are in and only two look original - but at least no zip ties.
Trip worked out fine - we travelled on the hottest days last week, temp never went above 90. Oil pressure at 5 once above 1.5k RPM. A family of four fits into the car, spare wheel well is highly useful as storage space.
Things to do soon are bleed brakes and clutch, gearbox oil and filter change, spark plugs, fix air box, adjust/fix handbrake, fix fuel flap/boot release. Ah, and fix passenger's foot spa - or avoid long right hand bends.
Winter maintenance list is growing - check gear change, front wheel arch liners, tiny oil weep from rear of cam cover, high idle - check for air leaks. Investigate nut on oil pipe - one corner seems to have oxidized off. Find out why a piece of wood is rammed against head light box.
My inner child is having a great time, I still haven't used the radio - exhaust keeps me entertained. Not a car for early morning starts.
For recent history see here and here.
Pre purchase inspection was a crawl underneath the car, chatting to Dean who was very honest about the car, and reading the old threads about the car. That is the recommended way? No? What could go wrong? Well, it is how I buy cars.
I did have the car up on stands the day after buying it and crawled some more trough it. It definitely needed a service. Oil, oil filter, air filter, cabin filter, coolant, transaxle oil and filter, brake fluid and misc washers and bolts ordered. Air con got checked and refilled. Time was ticking on as we were due to leave on trip to Germany a week later; got all done except the gearbox and brake fluid. Gearbox oil felt and looked OK and I wasn't brave enough to bleed brakes as the bleeders look very rusted on and I didn't want to brake one off. Rear tyres got changed as one of them had side wall bulges.
Thoughts so far - not that different to working on a 928, similar amounts of space and weird ways to get to parts. At least the Maserati bodgers have a higher class of bodging. When I first serviced my 928 the front spoiler had wood screws and zip ties to hold it on, on the 4200/GS, only a third of the screws are in and only two look original - but at least no zip ties.
Trip worked out fine - we travelled on the hottest days last week, temp never went above 90. Oil pressure at 5 once above 1.5k RPM. A family of four fits into the car, spare wheel well is highly useful as storage space.
Things to do soon are bleed brakes and clutch, gearbox oil and filter change, spark plugs, fix air box, adjust/fix handbrake, fix fuel flap/boot release. Ah, and fix passenger's foot spa - or avoid long right hand bends.
Winter maintenance list is growing - check gear change, front wheel arch liners, tiny oil weep from rear of cam cover, high idle - check for air leaks. Investigate nut on oil pipe - one corner seems to have oxidized off. Find out why a piece of wood is rammed against head light box.
My inner child is having a great time, I still haven't used the radio - exhaust keeps me entertained. Not a car for early morning starts.