Looking to Buy a Noble M12

[L888DER]

I know we are only in April/May but.... In January 2016 I plan to buy my first Noble M12 with an assumed budget of £30k

I have previously owned Lotus and Porsche cars but I feel it's now time for a proper weekend toy as a third car.

I have very little engine and maintenance knowledge and I am concerned that this may upset my ownership. Ideally I want something to have a blast in on a Sunday morning and tuck her back up again ready for the following weekend. I am not interested in any other brands or vehicles, I simply want a Noble M12.

I stupidly never tracked my Exige which is still a huge regret of mine so I do plan to track the Noble occasionally.

Can you please assist me on what to look for etc. I understand that paying up for the M12 GTO 3R is the way to go, is this correct? also, how much does a respray cost? I understand that paintwork is an issue on these cars.

running costs are a given so I am willing to watch the £'s trickle away but reading about engine rebuilds, track day sumps, new clutch's etc is all a little concerning.

thanks, any help appreciated.

[mgbond]

If you go for a 3R then it will already have the TDS and LSD. Depends on the spec of the car but std exhaust has a bracket that keeps breaking but most cars have upgraded exhaust systems.

If car is not tuned up too much then clutches seem to be good for quite some miles. Engine rebuilds only tend to be for when you want more power.

There are plenty of things you can do to improve the car but a std 3R would fine until you want more power as u will want it. Lol

[Jarcy]

mgbond said:

If you go for a 3R then it will already have the TDS and LSD.

I thought the TDS was still an option on the 3Rs...

And AFAIK, the only differences between a 3 and a 3R (of similar age) are asthetics: Headlights, Leather, Sound proofing, Aircon.

Earlier 3s and 3Rs had 5 speed boxes, which are fine. Later, 6 speed was standard.
Not all 3s came with LSD, but (I think) by the time the 3R was introduced all had LSDs.

For your budget you'd be looking at a 3 litre car (GTO-3 or GTO-3R), or a very well sorted 2.5 litre (GTO). The nomenclature can confuse!

TDS essential if you are going to track it. Can be retro sourced and fitted, but a PITA.

Most of the failures are well known and common fixes and upgrades are well-versed. But still expensive! I bought my 3R 2 years ago. Have since spent £10k on service, repairs, rubber and upgrades.

[L888DER]

10K? can I ask how much of that was due to "issues" rather than upgrades?

thanks

[Jarcy]

Roughly 50:50 on upgrades vs maintenance, split thus:

Upgrades;
£1k Suspension
£1k Spare rims & track rubber
£1k Gear linkage
£800 Intercooler (ProAlloy)
£500 Radiator (ProAlloy - needed changing anyway, the 3rd unit in 30k miles)
£200 Oil swirlpot (ProAlloy - essential!)
£500 Brake pads (arguably a service item, but the Pagid RS29s are the biz and worth paying double the std pads cost)

Repairs & service = balance, but included;
Replacement ECU (mine failed)
Front turbo gasket
Rear manifold welding (although replacement is advised when they go)
Aircon (was not working when I bought the car. Cost £2k to fix the various issues)
Exhaust bracket welding
Rubber for road wheels.
2 x services.

My car was standard when purchased. It's worth paying a premium for a car with choice upgrades.

Edited by Jarcy on Thursday 30th April 13:15

Edited by Jarcy on Thursday 30th April 13:16

[L888DER]

Thank you Jarcy. Very very informative.

[Blu3R]

Jarcy said:

mgbond said:

If you go for a 3R then it will already have the TDS and LSD.

I thought the TDS was still an option on the 3Rs...

And AFAIK, the only differences between a 3 and a 3R (of similar age) are asthetics: Headlights, Leather, Sound proofing, Aircon.

Earlier 3s and 3Rs had 5 speed boxes, which are fine. Later, 6 speed was standard.
Not all 3s came with LSD, but (I think) by the time the 3R was introduced all had LSDs.

Nearly right....

3s and 3Rs with 5 speed boxes will have been supplied new with an open diff. All 6 speed boxes supplied by Noble have the ATB (it's fitted as a matter of course, a Ford box bearing the same part number won't necessarily have the ATB if you start ebaying for spares).
AC was an option still on my '53 plate 3R and I also have alcantara in lieu of leather.

[Blu3R]

L888DER said:

I know we are only in April/May but.... In January 2016 I plan to buy my first Noble M12 with an assumed budget of £30k

I have previously owned Lotus and Porsche cars but I feel it's now time for a proper weekend toy as a third car.

I have very little engine and maintenance knowledge and I am concerned that this may upset my ownership. Ideally I want something to have a blast in on a Sunday morning and tuck her back up again ready for the following weekend. I am not interested in any other brands or vehicles, I simply want a Noble M12.

I stupidly never tracked my Exige which is still a huge regret of mine so I do plan to track the Noble occasionally.

Can you please assist me on what to look for etc. I understand that paying up for the M12 GTO 3R is the way to go, is this correct? also, how much does a respray cost? I understand that paintwork is an issue on these cars.

running costs are a given so I am willing to watch the £'s trickle away but reading about engine rebuilds, track day sumps, new clutch's etc is all a little concerning.

thanks, any help appreciated.

I think you'll be able to find a 3R next January for your budget as they're a seasonal toy. Anyone selling in the winter only does so because they need to so a bargain can be had if any are for sale - nothing unusual there.
The things to look for on a car are - floor panels, wear and tear inside and out, accident repairs, general condition.
Then look in the history for - TDS, ATB, manifolds, fuel pump mod, other mods, servicing - and compare what you've seen/read to the car itself.

If I were buying again the shortlist I'd want to see in anything for sale is:
6 speed box (with ATB of course)
TDS
Oil breather
Fuel pump upgrade
Exhaust
Manifolds
Wheels
IC
M400 gearshift
And those are the order of importance for me too.

[LazyRoss18]

Blu3R said:

I think you'll be able to find a 3R next January for your budget as they're a seasonal toy. Anyone selling in the winter only does so because they need to so a bargain can be had if any are for sale - nothing unusual there.
The things to look for on a car are - floor panels, wear and tear inside and out, accident repairs, general condition.
Then look in the history for - TDS, ATB, manifolds, fuel pump mod, other mods, servicing - and compare what you've seen/read to the car itself.

If I were buying again the shortlist I'd want to see in anything for sale is:
6 speed box (with ATB of course)
TDS
Oil breather
Fuel pump upgrade
Exhaust
Manifolds
Wheels
IC
M400 gearshift
And those are the order of importance for me too.

Oh good mine has got all of those and will be up for sale soon lol