2019 MORGAN PLUS SIX

Typical onset: 20,000-50,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission fluid spots under car, usually passenger side, Transmission overheating warning on spirited drives or hot weather, Burnt ATF smell, delayed shifting when hot

Fix: The tight engine bay and hand-routed lines create chafe points where cooler lines rub against frame tubes. Replacing cooler lines requires 3-4 hours due to bodywork access—often need to drop exhaust and partially lift body. Cooler itself may need replacement if fins are damaged. Full fluid flush mandatory after repair.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,400

Symptoms: Intermittent no-start, especially after rain or car wash, Multiple electrical faults: headlights, fuel pump, cooling fans dropping out randomly, Corrosion visible on fuse terminals

Fix: Morgan's cowl drainage isn't perfect—water pools near the passenger-side fuse box during heavy rain. Corroded fuses and relays are obvious; hidden issue is circuit board corrosion inside the box itself. Fix involves resealing cowl drains (1 hour), cleaning/treating fuse box contacts (1 hour), or replacing entire fuse box if board is damaged (4-5 hours due to wiring harness work). Preventive sealing recommended for all cars.

Estimated cost: $400-1,800

Typical onset: 30,000-60,000 mi

Symptoms: One headlight dims or flickers intermittently, Complete headlight failure on one side, Moisture visible inside headlight housing

Fix: Morgan uses aftermarket LED modules that aren't fully sealed against moisture. Vibration from the stiff suspension accelerates connection failures. Module replacement is straightforward (1 hour) but units are expensive due to low-volume sourcing. Some owners retrofit better-sealed units from other manufacturers. Check for moisture ingress during pre-purchase inspection.

Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle, worse with A/C on, Visible movement of transmission when blipping throttle in neutral

Fix: The hand-fabricated transmission crossmember uses rubber mounts not originally spec'd for the ZF 8-speed's weight and torque. They compress and tear faster than BMW OEM mounts. Replacement requires supporting transmission on jack (2-3 hours labor). Upgrade to polyurethane mounts recommended but increases NVH. Inspect mounts annually on these cars.

Estimated cost: $600-1,000

Typical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi

Symptoms: Oil weeping from head/block junction, passenger side rear, Coolant level drops slowly without external leaks, White residue on oil cap, milky oil in severe cases

Fix: Early B58 engines (through mid-2019) had head gasket issues exacerbated by heat cycling in Morgan's cramped engine bay. Head removal requires 14-16 hours in a Morgan due to body access limitations—far longer than BMW application. Head resurfacing often needed. BMW extended warranty covered some; verify coverage history. Post-2019 revised gaskets are more durable.

Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500

Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi

Symptoms: Hesitation or stumble during hard acceleration, Limp mode under sustained high load (highway passing, track use), P0087 code: fuel rail pressure too low

Fix: Morgan doesn't specify fuel filter service intervals clearly; filter clogs earlier than BMW specs due to potential tank contamination during hand assembly. High-performance driving exacerbates. Filter replacement is 2 hours (tank access requires body lift or working from underneath). If low-pressure pump is failing, tank drop adds 4-6 hours. Replace filter every 30k miles preventively on these cars.

Estimated cost: $400-1,800