1987 Maserati Biturbo Si from North America - Comments

Almost nothing. The common misconception of unreliable biturbos doesn't seem to apply to me.

I will tell you what has gone wrong.

Needed brakes (common maintenance).

Broke the rear diff because I am an idiot. I decided to rip around a corner with waaay too much power, and wheelhopped. I have since fixed it.

I love this car. It makes me sick to hear all of the horrible myths that Biturbos are these horrible cars. Internet junkies and people who do not know a thing about Biturbos spread bad words. That is fine by me. Us true enthusiasts know better.

Fast - with the manual trans, shifting is great. This car really hauls.

Reliable - it's all about proper preventive maintenance, and driving the car properly.

Awesome handling - you wouldn't understand unless you drove one. Simple as that folks.

Sexy - like it or hate it. I love it.

I have a good amount of mods done to it, and everything holds together well with the MUCH added power.

Thunderbird T3 turbos, HKS intercooler (custom fitted) tial BOV, custom tubular manifolds, 3.5" custom turbo back exhausts, Paeco cams, 9:1 compression with forged rods, shot peened and cryoed diff internals. Spec clutch stg 4, 18psi, 650cc injectors, supra TT fuel pump, megasquirt ems system.

Porsche boxter calipers, and 13" rpi rotors.

Koni yellows, H&R sport springs, all poly bushings, front sway bar deleted.

Eagle F1 GSD3 265/45/16 rear

235/45/16 front

I had this car dynoed and tuned. It knocked down 464hp and 478ftlbs of torque. This was on pump gas, 12:1 Air/fuel ratios, and 90% IDC (injector duty cycles)

The trans, diff, driveshaft, everything has held together amazing. I race this car often at the local track. I even drag raced it a few times.

My best full weight pass was a 11.82@121mph, which is pretty good considering the car is nowhere near setup for drag use...

I love it. I wouldn't take a thing for my baby. If you are considering one, do it. Don't be fooled by all the common myths about Biturbos. You will not be upset.

The problem is, if you can't get past the looks, none of the other stuff matters. Frankly, the Biturbo looks like the Homer, the sports car designed by Homer Simpson, but without the tail fins.

Thanks for writing about your Biturbo. I have two - a 1985 Left hand drive and a 1988 series 2 right hand drive. Both are standard, but I recently completed an engine rebuild on the early car. I find them great, cheap to buy, cheap to own, elegant and wonderfully quick for overtaking, which is where it matters. Yes, to the other commentator, it is not the best looking car in the world and it does not scream "look at me" like, say, a Ferrari 430 - but I don't really enjoy being stared at and cannot agree with the Homer epithet - it really does look classy, especially the Series 2.

The OP basically rebuilt and customized his car. So, it's a little wrong to judge his car as typical. I've always wanted to own one but fear they are a reliability/maintenance nightmare. Unfortunately, this post does nothing to change my mind. Is there a good Internet source for researching these cars further?

To the gentlemen who is looking at getting involved with Biturbo's. I have been interested in these cars since I became aware of them in the 90's. I have owned a 1989 Maserati 430 for the last eight years, using it for the first five as a regular family car. When I retired it a few years ago I decided it was just too good to give away and gradually tidied the whole car and realised just how sound and robust it had remained. It's done 85000 miles and has given me lots of fun and only a few moments of grief. I believe that if driven sensibly and maintained sympathetically they are very durable. If you don't look after them and drive them like a mad man then they'll break up. Nowadays I keep mine in a warm dry garage and only use it when the roads are dry but it coped with normal use for many years.

We need enthusiasts for the biturbo range because they actually represent the key that allowed Maserati as a brand to survive against very difficult economic odds. I believe that relatively few are surviving, which will spin the values round for this quirky characterful car that is a joy to drive.

How did you get the Spec stage 4 clutch? I can't find them available for the Biturbo.

Great to hear about your experience, because I wholeheartedly agree. My experience after almost 12 years of ownership of a 1989 228 mirrors yours. Extremely few problems, great performance and a practical, fast, and in my case, grand touring car.

I'd like to know more about the engine mods you made, and what sort of implications that has for service intervals and reliability?