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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,058 Likes: 20
Talk Morgan Guru
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Talk Morgan Guru
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,058 Likes: 20 |
Interesting post Jack. Thank you for sharing I am not a MTW owner � I have a +4.
I didn�t know exactly which forum to put this on, but this one about chassis modifications looked very relevant and as good as any.
However, there are other MTW issues included. Anyway, here goes with what I have to say:
I am on holiday in SW France with the +4 and dropped in on Alain, a very active Morganeer friend. He does a bit more than tinker with his cars � he is a professionally experienced metalworking engineer. Alain has a +4, an MTW and a big Audi. His wife has an A-H Sprite. When we called in two days ago there was a second MTW there too, belonging to one of Alain�s friends.
He has owned and restored Triumphs and has done a lot of mods on his +4 � new re-designed bonnet (yes) enclosed parcel area and lots of superficial things. It was his first Morgan and he has no issues with it � but it is a much-changed car.
He liked the +4 so much that as soon as the MTW came out he ordered one (RHD, he prefers that) and got no 9 of the production � a very early car. He collected it in England and drove it straight home. I rode in it in 2013.
He has had multiple issues with the car and little support to correct them. It seems clear to me that there are a number of serious problems, any one of which would justify a recall in most circumstances.
In desperation and, I suppose, on the basis of �if you want something doing properly, do it yourself� he has decided to design and implement a number of corrective modifications and improvements. He has facilities and the ability to do this. He believes he is the most active modifier of MTWs so far.
I have seen the car in its current partly rebuilt state. I will get more accurate and fuller details of his project but I immediately recall the following which are only some of the subjects being tackled:
� Removal of existing chassis members at the front of the car (too weak) and replacement by a braced tubular structure. � Complete re-design and replacement of clutch (it broke up). � Complete re-design of top front suspension arms to achieve a smaller radius of swing and improve the steering geometry of the car. � Additional bottom panels at rear of car. � Changes and additional ventilation and cooling with added fans (I don�t fully understand this but it is a major job.)
There is more and I will get details and pictures. Alain has asked me to post about this on Talk Morgan to make the France-UK link to MTW owners with problems. I believe he said there are 200 MTWs in France. He doesn�t speak English but is a fan of English cars and his are all RHD.
By the way, for anyone interested the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry is a super way to get to SW France quickly and without too many long day�s driving. We are on our 4th trip that way.
I will be back with more when I have it.
Now, where has that bottle of red gone �
A Morgan Identified Fastidious Owner... 2011 4/4 Bespoke, 1981 Delorean, Auburn Boat Tail
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,562
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,562 |
Looking forward to details and pics!
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2 |
I just chased up the replacement chassis for my sick 2012 M3W, as neither hide nor hair have been seen of it in France, where it is being sent. I sent an email to the person in charge of warranty matters at the factory and the person I had been in contact with, to get the authorisation for the replacement to be done and done at the service dealers in Provence, R D Racing at the Paul Ricard/Le Castellet circuit. He told me was aware that the Mk.2 chassis had been ordered with the chassis sub-contractors but he did not know what the state of completion was on it. If I wanted to know more, I would need to get the main dealers in France, Marcassus Sport, to contact Morgan's spares department.
Don't you just love Morgan's customer orientated service?
As soon as it is mended, I would considering selling it and getting a Polaris Slingshot in its place, except they are no longer sold in France.
Wilson
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,723 Likes: 2
Talk Morgan Sage
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Talk Morgan Sage
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,723 Likes: 2 |
Try ringing BMW and see if they are any different..
I would guess that your answer was on a computer screen and that's what you were given. It's always frustrating, but Marcassus or RD Racing should get a better response I guess.
Time will soon go, but it sounds like a sub contractor in the loop holds the ultimate key.
Steve
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2 |
Try ringing BMW and see if they are any different..
I would guess that your answer was on a computer screen and that's what you were given. It's always frustrating, but Marcassus or RD Racing should get a better response I guess.
Time will soon go, but it sounds like a sub contractor in the loop holds the ultimate key. The person concerned at Morgan, could have picked up a phone and asked the sub-contractors: What is the state of completion of chassis #xxxxxx? As the warranty manager he will or should know the order number for an authorised replacement chassis. He simply could not be bothered, which is Morgan's attitude to a T, sadly. My last experience with BMW was much better, which was on my Daughter's new type MIni Cooper, made in the first week of the new Minis in 2001. It had water leaks from badly welded roof seams, which then got into the electrics behind the dashboard. In the end, after a year, they replaced the whole car, with a brand new one. In reality, that is what Morgan should be doing with broken chassis cars. I suspect after everything has been moved over to a new chassis, there will be even more reliability issues than there have been to date. If not a whole new car, at least a whole new rolling chassis/body unit, to which the engine and gearbox from the old car could be transferred. Wilson
Last edited by WilsonLaidlaw; 22/07/17 07:07 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,653 Likes: 4
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,653 Likes: 4 |
Wilson: if an order has been placed then a delivery date will be known. The issue here will be, where is your order placed within the production orders and is its delivery being delayed to suit production priorities.
Martin (Deano)
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2 |
Wilson: if an order has been placed then a delivery date will be known. The issue here will be, where is your order placed within the production orders and is its delivery being delayed to suit production priorities. Martin, That is exactly what I suspect too and is why I was trying to tie down the only person, who has the influence to control this, the warranty manager. I only use my M3W in France over the summer, as it sits in storage for the rest of the year. This year, I have managed to drive it in May, the 45km from storage to my house and 85km from my house to the Paul Ricard circuit, where RD Racing, the service agents, are situated. I fear that is the only mileage that will be put on the Morgan this year. The original idea of the M3W was to use for all my short to mid length/local journeys. Not having it now means I am putting mileage on my main car, which is expensive to run, only getting about 18 mpg on short journeys and I have had to pay additional insurance to up the annual permitted mileage. Wilson
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,653 Likes: 4
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,653 Likes: 4 |
My advice wilson is go to the person who has control over spares and production. That might have to be Mr Morris.
Martin (Deano)
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 572 Likes: 2 |
Finally after two and a half months, my replacement chassis turned up in France but that is all, just the chassis and not all the additional bits necessary to changeover the car from a Mk.1 to a Mk.2 chassis. It took so long to get to France, I assume Morgan must have sent it by donkey cart. Just for two examples of missing parts: The bevel box mounts and the alternator regulator bracket and mounts. Apparently Morgan now expect these to be ordered separately. ONLY MORGAN! This is going to cause yet further delay on my car, which I have now been without since the beginning of May. I am dealing with the PR department at Malvern now, as apparently the only folk who have anything approaching a sense of urgency. Morgan have now asked for a list with part numbers, of any additional pieces required. Surely they should know and have a standard list of every piece required to complete the changeover. These should be included, as a complete kit, with the replacement chassis, as a matter of course and having to order them separately is a total nonsense. Until you have done one changeover, you are unlikely to know all the parts that may be required. Morgan must know themselves.
Really fed up M3W Owner Wilson
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 368 Likes: 1
Learner Plates Off!
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Learner Plates Off!
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 368 Likes: 1 |
I feel your pain!! My chassis was upgraded from a 2013 to a 2015 in February of 2015. Naturally, the new frame showed up without the bevel Box isolalation bits or the pieces to mount the regulator to the frame. It took an additional three weeks for the bevel box ISO kit to show up. The regulator bits never did show up so I made the hardware myself to mount the regulator. This was 2 years ago!! it boggles the mind that nothing has changed!
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