Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) High mileage cars

Good advice from Dave.I put my car on Sorn last year for a couple of months and had all sorts of lights come on when i put it back on the road after doing the usual earth clean and re connect the battery couldn't hold charge. I fitted a new battery and had no fault codes since. On the usual 3 rads.

One thing I love about Morgans is in their consistency over different models and different platform types, in their ability to get the basics like the earthing wrong. Maybe someone needs to put up a educational poster in the design/engineering room....

''Everything works better with a good earth''.

The other consistent element is very few Morgans like to hibernate.

May I ask, not wishing to tempt fate, but post the software upgrade to deal with the 'thermal shock' how many people have replaced their radiator?

Is that unfortunate episode hopefully now all behind us and what we have is a very usuable and reliable CX, making allowances for the hand built properties, especially with what appears to be a more focused quality control better delivered product these days.

I've just been forced to have some electrical work done on my trad....... an indicator wire short caused the dash pcb to blow....🤯😤
My auto electrician (who is a genius) was absolutely astounded by how bad the cars electrical system was. Very little seemed to be how he would normally expect it to be, and this was totally stock from the factory.....!
To add insult to injury I had to buy a new pcb from the factory. Even after furnishing them with all the info, chassis number and photos of the original pcb they managed to send me one with totally different internal wiring, after assuring me it was the correct unit....... which obviously blew as soon as it was plugged in...🤯

Your comment about Morgans dislike of hibernation is absolutely right, they do certainly seem to improve with regular and steady use.... perhaps you wear a few components out, but at least you've had the pleasure of driving it to wear them out....😁

🇬🇧🇬🇧

Due to lack of mileage on many cars for sale and garage queens i have no doubt there will be rad issues poping up now and again.I had the software update on second rad only for it to fail a while later and was told it was an uprated rad.I think Morgan have been quite fair with their warranty but for some it does mean a stay over in Malvern with costs involved. Just the cynic in me thinks these rads must have been repaired and altered until maybe a better design was produced. On a resent trip to the Cotswolds in very hot weather we had the air con on all the time when travelling roof off so one cool leg. After arriving home checked the water it hadn't moved. MPG 42 to 48 fantastic for such a performance car.

MY23, no radiator replacement(s). I obtained the car in November 24 with 850 miles on the clock, took it in to Williams soon after for their 'ready for Winter lanoguard and checkover', then into the factory for a service in March 25. On returning the car MMC commented that they attempted to install a software upgrade but found it had already been done. I suspect Williams did it without needing to be asked when I dropped it in to them.

I can only imagine the frustration and added expense in your case over a simple short. That's why and I'm sure some may think it over the top but experience has taught me and I always recommend an electrical inspection on buying a trad Morgan, a few hours of an autoelectrician's time, can save you or at least minimise a lot pain and added expense. .

Mine's in with Morgan for them to investigate the diff and wiper clonk, on the 3rd of August...........it's out of Morgan warranty now, and with them also for service and MOT, so I'm sure there will be some pain associated with it , but its a nice day out, catching a train back, haven't used one of those in a while...........

After a fith radiator AND software upgrade i have no leaks since 2 years . But since it is over two years if a leak appears all the fixing cost will be for me . They have a new radiator solving the problem but it is too expensive and was not installed on my car . So i have to wait and see .

Look at the age of Morgans still in use.
A combination of years covering new/a few//many/decades old and low mileage. Add in a generally (that'll do ) less than well thought out design, Lucas style electrics, exposed wiring.....
At some stage the systems should be upgraded and replaced due to deterioration. Bullet connectors ( rubbish) insulation hardens and cracks, earths corrode/get dirty. Fuel systems the same. Brakes. Interior ( leather/vinyl,wood). One decision is whether to keep originality or improve. A harage queen might be original but a car that's used well needs upkeep and improvements aid this. Do you enjoy looking at the car in the garage or driving miles or both?
My Plus8 was 21 years old when sold with 74k miles. Many little tweeks done to cure minor faults and each time the thoughts were "how can I improve this?". Sometimes a cleaning session was the choice. I had compiled a list to be done to keep the car long term and future proof it. Brakes had been done on the back of a repair. Wings respray, under bonnet heat management, engine cooling improvements on the list.The car was running well so keeping it that way and improvements on the list.
Bought a Plus Four. A couple of minor warranty jobs done but otherwise excellent. No radiator problems! 3 years and 23k miles. Starting to look at personalising it. MMC build the car and owners finish it.

Our Plus Six has covered just shy of 11K miles, not that many over 5.5 years, but we use it mainly in Europe through the summer, our West Country road ( track) is terrible in winter, so mainly use our 4x4. ( our Plus Six exhaust is very well dented!! ).
With regard to the radiators I think the one fitted is either No 4 or 5, lost track to be honest, most have lasted 1 year to 18months. The last one failed 14 months ago and after the latest software update. It failed 2 weeks prior to last years long tour of France, I talked to the factory and Williams about our situation and to be fair the factory pulled out the stops for us, as did Williams and they fitted a replacement quickly. I believe the radiator was replaced with the latest design that is meant to stop the issue, I know at the time they only had a few ready to go. They covered it under warranty as the previous radiator had only been in the car 14 months.

Ref other failures.. best described as lots.. and most mentioned on TM at one time or another. Most fixed by the factory under warranty or Williams, since end of warranty I have undertaken repairs that I can do..

It appears that the earlier Plus Six cars showed a fair amount of areas needing attention.. All were fixable issues. Most covered in warranty, but Morgan learnt from this and corrected areas in each MY build.. similar for the Plus Four. An early Plus Six or Four is just as good as later ones.. if they have been worked through.. Later cars have the benefit of the early car R+D by owners and factory changes, so seem to be more reliable.. Its a similar pattern in most manufacturer models, just shows a bit more with Morgan. In addition the factory has made efforts to improve overall QC in build.. We attended factory tours in 2020 and this year, the factory now seems a lot more united and dare I say it professional.