New Noble M12 Owner!
Discussion
Hi Folks,
I have been looking at buying a Noble for quite a while now and am happy to say I think I have found the one!
It's the silver 2003 plate GTO3 in Parkways Edwinstowe.
Looks cosmeticly fantastic and from what I can tell is good spec also.
There is bags of service history and the following upgrades:
Complete ball joint change front and rear
Track Day sump fitted
Strengthened manifold headers
New exhaust back box
New battery
New throttle cable and re-route
New ECU
New Brake Master cylinder
New Alloy Breather Tank
Larger actuators and remap to 375BHP (Area 52 Autosport)
Embossed Full Oxblood Leather Seats.
Carbon Fibre Front Diffuser.
Carbon Fibre Rear Wing
Quaife ATB LSD.
Fuel Pump wire upgrade.
Upgraded Wheel centre nuts.
Only issue is I was unable to drive the car but will be driving it on Monday prior to finalising the deal.
Can you help to suggest anything I should look out for or give me specific things to check?
Does anywne on here know this car and can vouch for it's history?
Any Local Noble experts fancy giving it a once over for me?
Thanks in advance and look forward to joining the club!!
Cheers,
David.
I have been looking at buying a Noble for quite a while now and am happy to say I think I have found the one!
It's the silver 2003 plate GTO3 in Parkways Edwinstowe.
Looks cosmeticly fantastic and from what I can tell is good spec also.
There is bags of service history and the following upgrades:
Complete ball joint change front and rear
Track Day sump fitted
Strengthened manifold headers
New exhaust back box
New battery
New throttle cable and re-route
New ECU
New Brake Master cylinder
New Alloy Breather Tank
Larger actuators and remap to 375BHP (Area 52 Autosport)
Embossed Full Oxblood Leather Seats.
Carbon Fibre Front Diffuser.
Carbon Fibre Rear Wing
Quaife ATB LSD.
Fuel Pump wire upgrade.
Upgraded Wheel centre nuts.
Only issue is I was unable to drive the car but will be driving it on Monday prior to finalising the deal.
Can you help to suggest anything I should look out for or give me specific things to check?
Does anywne on here know this car and can vouch for it's history?
Any Local Noble experts fancy giving it a once over for me?
Thanks in advance and look forward to joining the club!!
Cheers,
David.
Welcome to the clan Davie and I hope you'll be happy with your new purchase. Looks like you've got most of the essential bits and bobs and good to see it's got the LSD as that is essential if you're fond of your bank balance.
On the basis all the history stacks up and it's HPI clear, the only things I'd recommend to look for before you drive it is smoke from the exhaust when cold which could suggest one of the Turbos is on the way out. Difficult to diagnose which one if it still has a standard exhaust but something to look for nonetheless. Also when cold, listen out for a ticking noise which may suggest the manifolds are cracked. I notice you said it had strengthened manifold headers but if that means they've previously cracked and then been re-welded and gusseted, chances are they will fail again in the not too distant future.
Essential to do the above when cold as both the smoke and ticking will disappear once warmed up. Apart from that, normal checks apply; make sure there's no sludge in the oil filler cap etc etc.
Good luck
On the basis all the history stacks up and it's HPI clear, the only things I'd recommend to look for before you drive it is smoke from the exhaust when cold which could suggest one of the Turbos is on the way out. Difficult to diagnose which one if it still has a standard exhaust but something to look for nonetheless. Also when cold, listen out for a ticking noise which may suggest the manifolds are cracked. I notice you said it had strengthened manifold headers but if that means they've previously cracked and then been re-welded and gusseted, chances are they will fail again in the not too distant future.
Essential to do the above when cold as both the smoke and ticking will disappear once warmed up. Apart from that, normal checks apply; make sure there's no sludge in the oil filler cap etc etc.
Good luck
Thanks for the warm welcome Lakelord!
Also thanks for the great advice!
Although I was not able to drive the car I did start it up from cold and did not notice any smoke although it was only running for a couple of minutes due to not wanting to gas everyone in the showroom lol!
I will be sure to watch closely and also check for the ticking noise from the manifolds when I go back down on Monday. I got the impression from the paperwork that the original cracked manifolds were replaced with new uprated units but will also try to confirm, can they be viewed from with the clam up or is it a floor off job to see them?
The work was carried out at the Noble factory so perhaps if I call them and give the chassis number they will have a record?
One further question, on test drive what sort of boost pressure should I see with both turbos running full strength with no leaks etc?
cheers,
Davie.
Also thanks for the great advice!
Although I was not able to drive the car I did start it up from cold and did not notice any smoke although it was only running for a couple of minutes due to not wanting to gas everyone in the showroom lol!
I will be sure to watch closely and also check for the ticking noise from the manifolds when I go back down on Monday. I got the impression from the paperwork that the original cracked manifolds were replaced with new uprated units but will also try to confirm, can they be viewed from with the clam up or is it a floor off job to see them?
The work was carried out at the Noble factory so perhaps if I call them and give the chassis number they will have a record?
One further question, on test drive what sort of boost pressure should I see with both turbos running full strength with no leaks etc?
cheers,
Davie.
Hi Dave welcome to the gang , sounds like a nice car with a few choice upgrades !!! Std boost is 0.5 bar uprated actuators should read something like 0.7 bar on full boost .
Make sure it drives straight and stops in a straight line , gearboxes are a bit week in both 5 speed and 6 speed so make sure they are quiet and smooth too change .
Good luck . Tux
Make sure it drives straight and stops in a straight line , gearboxes are a bit week in both 5 speed and 6 speed so make sure they are quiet and smooth too change .
Good luck . Tux
andygtt said:
so did the 3L... M400 was 1bar
i don't know the car but it looks good spec, well thought through running a realistic power for the spec without pushing the limits which is a good sign.
Indeed. My comment was really based on the 0.5/0.7 actuators comment as it doesn't matter what it has as it would still boost to 0.7 as they had a bit of boost control on them and if that is turned off it would drop to the actuator level. i don't know the car but it looks good spec, well thought through running a realistic power for the spec without pushing the limits which is a good sign.
I think that's right?
Hi
Firstly, great choice....pretty sure this was my Nob. I owned it for 2 years and Duke Trust had it before me.
I had it serviced every year regardless of mileage and she only failed me once - in the 1st 2 weeks of ownership due to duff battery (hence new battery and the fitment of the trickle charger).
Through her life the service history has been done at Noble specialists and she has been ultra reliable and all essential mods have been done - hopefully they gave you the full service history folder? The carbon bits are from Tuxman and really set her off.
It was the toughest PX I've ever done....rest easy, I believe she is a fantastic Nob !!
Enjoy and look after her!!
Mail me if I can help more, I work away regularly so it can take me a few days to respond?
Ade
Firstly, great choice....pretty sure this was my Nob. I owned it for 2 years and Duke Trust had it before me.
I had it serviced every year regardless of mileage and she only failed me once - in the 1st 2 weeks of ownership due to duff battery (hence new battery and the fitment of the trickle charger).
Through her life the service history has been done at Noble specialists and she has been ultra reliable and all essential mods have been done - hopefully they gave you the full service history folder? The carbon bits are from Tuxman and really set her off.
It was the toughest PX I've ever done....rest easy, I believe she is a fantastic Nob !!
Enjoy and look after her!!
Mail me if I can help more, I work away regularly so it can take me a few days to respond?
Ade
Hi Ade,
Thanks for your comments sounds like you might be the last owner as I see the battery change was done in 2011 at TVR Srourbridge so if you had the car 2 years you must have just recently traded it in?
Also from HPI check last plate change was from J12ADY which I'm thinking must be yours?
Ive managed to contact a couple of the other owners and all say the same thing that the car was a great car and maintained well regardless of cost they all regretted selling her on!
Only issue now is the snow down there could make the drive back to Scotland on Monday a bit of a challenge!!
Thanks for your comments sounds like you might be the last owner as I see the battery change was done in 2011 at TVR Srourbridge so if you had the car 2 years you must have just recently traded it in?
Also from HPI check last plate change was from J12ADY which I'm thinking must be yours?
Ive managed to contact a couple of the other owners and all say the same thing that the car was a great car and maintained well regardless of cost they all regretted selling her on!
Only issue now is the snow down there could make the drive back to Scotland on Monday a bit of a challenge!!
Hi Dave
Yes, 100% that was my car....the plate is now on my F1 360 Modena.
I used Adrian at Midlands TVR for the services - great team with vast experience.
PX'd only a couple of weeks ago (that 1 nice weekend) but not to the garage you are getting it from...must have passed it on.
Mileage over the last 2 years has been very low as I only took her out on dry days. She has had all new tyres over the last 1000 miles.
Really nothing to tell you about to look for on her....if I was to have sold it private I would have the confidence she would have sailed through any inspection.
Got to say, if you need any advise the Noble forum has been fantastic and the experience on here is second to none!
Good luck with the drive home.
Yes, 100% that was my car....the plate is now on my F1 360 Modena.
I used Adrian at Midlands TVR for the services - great team with vast experience.
PX'd only a couple of weeks ago (that 1 nice weekend) but not to the garage you are getting it from...must have passed it on.
Mileage over the last 2 years has been very low as I only took her out on dry days. She has had all new tyres over the last 1000 miles.
Really nothing to tell you about to look for on her....if I was to have sold it private I would have the confidence she would have sailed through any inspection.
Got to say, if you need any advise the Noble forum has been fantastic and the experience on here is second to none!
Good luck with the drive home.
Hi Ade, thanks for confirming and I agree the Noble forum members have been great in providing helpfull advice I'm sure I will be on here regularly!
As for driving home tomorrow I have just spoken to the garage and the snow is horrendous down there they are advising me not to make the journey!
Might need to pull the ECU fuse and get the AA Relay patrol to bring the car home for me LOL!!!
As for driving home tomorrow I have just spoken to the garage and the snow is horrendous down there they are advising me not to make the journey!
Might need to pull the ECU fuse and get the AA Relay patrol to bring the car home for me LOL!!!
Good call on the fuse.....its not stopped snowing over my way either, good few inches (my wife thinks it's at least 12 inches).
Yes, I do still have the end plates and did mean to leave them in the car (160 mile round trip so didn't bother going back to drop them off). They are in the correct colour but do show slight signs of blistering, hence one of the reasons for replacing them plus Tux's end plates look awesome.
I also had real trouble getting the last bolt out (corroded into the alloy)so the one hole needs a bit of filler to make it perfect. A quick respray would sort them.
I don't have any other bits though, unless you want to covert her to a 6 speed gear box (need to change LSD too for that, which is why I never did it). The remap was also done to give greater torque so the 5 speed was always good enough for me.
Mail me your address and I'll get them too you
Ade
Yes, I do still have the end plates and did mean to leave them in the car (160 mile round trip so didn't bother going back to drop them off). They are in the correct colour but do show slight signs of blistering, hence one of the reasons for replacing them plus Tux's end plates look awesome.
I also had real trouble getting the last bolt out (corroded into the alloy)so the one hole needs a bit of filler to make it perfect. A quick respray would sort them.
I don't have any other bits though, unless you want to covert her to a 6 speed gear box (need to change LSD too for that, which is why I never did it). The remap was also done to give greater torque so the 5 speed was always good enough for me.
Mail me your address and I'll get them too you
Ade
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