Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Questions from a m3w buyer

Dear friends good day

Long time reader, first time poster...
Right now I'm the market for a m3w here in the south of France and I've sorted out a few items, namely reassuring myself in regards to having knowledgeable mechanics in the vicinity since we are in kind of a deadzone here. Now, coming to the m3w itself, I've seen one and will see another one soon. The one I saw was a 13 model with 9k km fully opted out including the new rear sprocket and the alternator repositioned sideways but without the chassis reinforcements nor the centadrive which worries me (at the very least for its resale appeal) and I have basically passed. Another one which I hope is "the one" is also the same year with 12k km with less bells and whistles but with the chassis taken care of and the centa Drive installed. I think it's a relatively safe purchase but priced here are no bargain at low 40k Euros and no real alternatives although in Italy they go for like 37k Euros (plus cost of import).

So my question to you is, how much trouble should I expect for a sproadic use? Am I better off waiting for a year or so and wait for those factory fixed up 2015+ models to hopefully hit the market and avoid the stress and headaches with the older models?

I'm quite split on this. I read here that even the upgrades like the centa drive fail anyways so it would be silly to end up spending maybe close to 50k euros in a few months for a newer version and have basically trouble from time to time anyways, when maybe this one I am looking into has already been "broken into" and can be the best of both world with a price under control and decent mechanical conditions.

Am I getting "tunnel vision" reading about the forum members issues and just assuming stuff will always break down?? After all there are a few thousands Morgan's out there and how many have big, continuous issues?

Am I missing anything??

Questions questions questions....

Thank you gents

I think concensus is that the chassis and Centa upgrades are the main ones and everything else is luck in terms of reliability. Checking the bevel box noise for a quiet ride might be another check item...

Hmmmmm...

Well Monaco3W, good luck with your search. The M3W contingent will be along soon with some answers I'm sure.

I agree with paul1V chassis brace is important and the Centa is a must I have seen expensive disasters with the old compensator - very expensive! try to get one with a steel rear sprocket - the aluminium ones fail quickly.
I will be in Langres during July and August if you would like to meet and chat.

Good luck, Phil

Hi Monaco and welcome to TM.

You are very right to be wary of early cars without the full list of upgrades.

If you look at a 2015 car most of the upgrades will have been built in at the factory by this stage.

The steel rear sprocket I think came later.

There is a full list on here - but I cannot find it - hopefully another poster will.

If you can find an early car with all the upgrades then you could be on to something. But even then there have been cracking chassis issues - a very expensive fix out of warranty.

I would not buy anything without recept confirmation of upgrades.

For instance my 2012 car had

Uprated Wishbones. New rectifier. Strengthened chassis inserts.
New Centa Drive Compensator. New ECU flash. New uprated/thicker material exhausts.New Exhaust headers. New rear sprocket.

There are more that others will add.

The general consensus seems to be the the Bevel Box kit is a waste - fit the Bleazey version.

Hope all this helps - and all the best with your search.

Welcome Monaco

The major upgrades were on the 2014 model - Centa compensator, Urban cooling kit and NVH kit. All are retrofittable to 2012/13 models.

however, the NVH is a waste of time - if you've not got it don't bother.

The chassis brace mod is a bolt on fix and shuld have been done by the dealer already.

The best thing to do with these beasts is to get out and drive them! Don't worry too much about what may happen - remember the nature of this sort of forum is ot focus on problems.

If buying a pre 2015 ish it's worth also checking the cambelt drive sprocket bolt has been upgraded to the new version.

For early low mileage cars also check the age of the tyres - if getting on for 5 years old budget for new tyres all round.

Good luck with your search and ask away for advice

Thanks to all!

Certainly a full list would help like Neil suggested. I kind of came up with my own list just browsing through the forum but I may have missed something... Rear sprocket this one does not have nor bevel box I think. If it's a noise item I can always fiddle with that later...how do I check if these are serious concerns? And are they mostly noise related issues or fairly common mechanical failures??

My big concern is pulling my hair a few months down the road if there are continuous little issues... I forgot to mention I work full time as I have a little 2 year old running around so extra time is limited and precious. I'd like to have something working when I want it to. I'm even concerned about the ride back as it's a 6 hours highway ride...am I paranoid?

For instance I remember noticing cables in full view and even some exposed wires from the first one I saw. It's something that disappointed me a bit to be honest as did the overall feeling of the car which at this price I expected more solidly put together. Is there any smart wire covers you suggest? Is this an issue? I rode a Royal Enfield for years and the "basic technology" and " simple time tested design" only goes so far and some rain on the machine is a serious cause for stress which I don't want to live again.

On the other side I'm super excited to grab one...

Welcome to TM Monaco I have put this link in to a previous owners thread all the M3W guys on here have chipped in with their knowledge and years of experience of ownership. It is a good informative read with many arears outlined to check before buying.

Good luck in the choosing.

http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/516705/1

Hi Monaco

I have recently purchased a 2013 M3W and the thread provided by Richard above was as a result of the input kindly provided to my questions.

If you have any trouble identifying any of the changes, let me know as I have a full set of pictures now allowing me to identify the changes.

If it is any help, my logic in buying a 2013 car was simply that to purchase a new car of the spec I have got would have cost me an additional £18,000. These cars are not well developed, only have a 30 month warranty on them and I am likely to keep it for longer than the warranty period. I am not convinced that a new car will prove to be any more reliable than the one I have, which at least has covered some miles now and so will have had a number of the issues shaken out of it now.


Good luck with your search

Martin

That makes sense.
Nice post MJF