409 replies to this topic

[Dave H]

Lee never stood still for very long!!!! A shame in a way he didn't as the M14 was a stunning looking car. The M15 had some interesting features as well. Dave

[Ormes]

The original gto was a 2.5 v6 at 310 bhp.
The differances on the outside are the headlights, wheels although alot may of had their wheels changed and the exhausts exited through the rear floor (again many may of had an exhaust fitted from a later model by now and exit above the diffuser.
Looked like these

About 85 were made.
Next they brought out the gto-3
All had the same wheels. Most had the same headlights although i think some had the headlights mine had.
So only way to tell is the exhausts (not fool proof) or the badge. These were a 3ltr v6 hence the 3 part of the name.
352bhp and about 116 made
Next was my model, the gto-3r.
Hedlights and wheels were changed. Leather was standard and so was a 6 spd box and LSD.
Again 352bhp and around 150 made.
Final one was the m400, on the outside the differance was the ears in front of the rear wheels.
On the inside it has less turns in the steeeing, seats closer together, bigger turbos, an anti roll bar and a few other bits.
415bhp and 75 made.

All the bhp figures are hit and miss though as many have been modified and even just changing the exhaust releases about 30bhp on my model.

Interesting stuff - I had no idea that they were all such low volume!

[Zoobeef]

Took it down to work this week. 305 miles to plymouth, 28mpg. Just driven back although my brother wanted picking up from near reading, so only took 9 hours to get back. Thankfully they shut the M1 so had a chance to stretch my legs :/ Noticed the bump steer is pretty bad. Feels like you've been hit by a huge side wind as you cross the tramlines in lane 1

[Zoobeef]

so, the car managed its 700miles last week with no problems. The little bit of felt in the drivers window panel dropped on sunday though meaning the window rattled and wouldnt go down properly. 15 minutes and the door card was removed and it glue3 back in properly. Just ordered 10 litres of Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 from opie oils. £55 delivered with there current discount. It needs about 8 litres for its service in May but want to top it up a little now so or4ered it all in 1 go

[Zoobeef]

As you know from my other bored thread i spent the whole day cleaning the car yesterday.
Its a job i detest doing as i normally just run a sponge over it but thought i would go a little deeper. About 10 minutes in i regretted ever starting.
Looks a little shinier now though.

You can see my newly painted calipers too


Then came to move it to one side of the drive. Would it start? Would it chuff.
Immediate thought was because of the washing so lifted the rear clam and yup the rocker covers had water on them. Dried it off, took all 6 coil packs off and used some electrical spray. No change.
Took everything off again. The sparkplugs were drenched in petrol and a little rusty, so i dried them out using the gas stove. Then unplugged the injectors and tested each plug and coil to make sure they worked.
Then put it all back together and hey presto, life on the first touch.

I dont want to drive it now though but i feel asthough i must

[Zoobeef]

Took my splitter off this morning as it had clipped one to many speed bumps in its life. Done some fibreglass repairs and going to get on the beers now hopefully do some sanding, filling, sanding, primering and spraying gloss black tomorrow. Hopefully wont be to hung over and be ready for the meet on sunday

[Zoobeef]

Couple more pictures as i was leaving the meet yesterday



Who needs wind tunnel testing when you have rain?

[Zoobeef]

Also need to get my splitter back on. Second coat of gloss black going on now!

[techieboy]

That second pic is proof that the rear wing works to some degree at least. The water is streaming off. If that was a VXT spoiler, it'd still be sat there by the time you got home.

[MrSimba]

Great photo's

[Zoobeef]

Some other photos of the last weeks shananigans.
Calipers before


Calipers after. All 4 are the same


Splitter smoothed as it needed a little tlc

Primered

And after gloss black today. Its getting 1200 wet n dried tomorrow then a couple of coats of laquer


Also started getting some stuff ready for its service next month.
10 litres of Shell Helix Ultra for £55 as the sump takes 8.5 litres
6 NGK BR7EFS Spark plugs. Very almost only bought 4 :/
New fuel filter ordered at £60 :/ Looks like this


Then going to pick up an oil filter from Ford tomorrow.Also going to pick up a new anti rollover valve and a relay and some wiring for the fuel pump. They are known issues that i want to make sure are done. The ARV sticks and causes a vacuum in the tank and problems relating to that.The fuel pump gets its power from some piddly wires from the ecu. This causes a problem at high RPM where the pump doesnt get enough voltage and therefore the engine can run lean. The fix is to use the little wires to activate a relay which sends power direct from a decent positive source

Edited by zoobeef, 09 April 2012 - 10:10 PM.

[Zoobeef]

Aaaaaand now comes the expense of Noble ownership. Did the fuel pump wiring upgrade earlier and noticed that the rear exhaust manifold had sheared a stud in the head. Then saw the front turbo heat shield had broken its crappy little bracket (easy to fix) but looked under it as it was loose and saw the front manifold has a big crack in it. This is a common problem but the manifolds are around £450 plus vat each. Im hoping the rear ones ok and i just need to get the broken stud out. Means i need to remove the whole exhaust system, both turbos, intercooler and box and then both manifolds, winner winner chicken dinner haha

[rob999]

Oh crap How would you rate ownership so far Mark? It has really given me an insight into ownership of a car that's always been on my list of cars to own.

[Zoobeef]

It really is like moving into the big big boys club, you are regared the same as people with £100k+ supercars. That in itself is a really good experience. Go anywhere and sit and watch and many will take photos and most dads will get there kids to stand next to it and take pictures The running costs have been alot harder on the wallet but its more because of the crap mpg and my addiction to driving it. I need a mrs so i dont get bored and go for a drive haha. ive expected problems i just hope i dont get long runs of them as that will take the fun out of the car. im definatly not increasing power as that seems to suck money in and reliability out of the car.

[Goosenka]

and that is with you doing all of the work....deep pockets if you can't do mechanical stuff!!

[spuk87]

Oh crap
How would you rate ownership so far Mark? It has really given me an insight into ownership of a car that's always been on my list of cars to own.

Good look at the real-life problems of owning it.

[Zoobeef]

and that is with you doing all of the work....deep pockets if you can't do mechanical stuff!!

Indeed, i would of thought a good couple of £k in labour if a specialist was doing it :/

Going to see if i can get a look at the rear manifold today to see if that needs replacing too.

[ChrisS1]

Thanks for keeping the thread updated, as others have said interesting to hear the real life experience of ownership without the rosetinted specs. Must all be worthwhile when driving it Sounds like a mammoth job if trying to do it in your driveway.

[techieboy]

There's a Buyers Guide to the M12 in this months Practical Performance Car magazine. Looks like they might have based their common problems list on this thread.

[Zoobeef]

It depends how quickly i get moved into my house as it'll be much easier in a large garage and will be able to spread it over a couple of weekends. The MOT is in may though and im guessing the emissions will be effected so thats my current target?