Pre buy suggestions

[jeff hodgson]

So its been settled. Going for a 2007 Ovation 3. Aprox 500TT.

Anything in particular one should look at during the pre buy?

thanks

jgh

[carusoam]

PPI from a reputable MSC...?

G1000?

The Ovation has been good from day one, accept a couple early ones with bad oil coolers back in the old millennium.

The O3 got the IO 550 (N) with the 2700 RPM red line and top prop.

Best regards,

-a-

[bd32322]

So its been settled. Going for a 2007 Ovation 3. Aprox 500TT.

Anything in particular one should look at during the pre buy?

thanks

jgh

Read the logs in great detail first. On previous pre-buys I could have saved money by going through the logs, identifying the problem areas myself and having the mechanic take a look at those first.

Also doesnt hurt for multiple people to scrutinize the logs.

And have a mooney service center do the pre-buy inspection like carusoam said.

[JoeSpeed]

Try and find one that has WASS and the G 700 autopilot. Some in 07 came with STEC autopilot and no WASS

Mooney offered the upgrade for 60 k

[harrispa]

It is my understanding that the Ovation 3 achieved its 310hp via the Midwest STC at the factory and is the IO550 (G) engine.  I have been unable to find an Ovation 3 POH to verify this, but on advertised planes for sale on Controller, this is the case.  The IO550 (G) is the engine on all Ovations and Eagles, just different RPM limits and different props depending on the model.  All can be made to have the 310 hp same as the Ovation 3 with the Midwest STC.

[JoeSpeed]

You are correct it is a 550G set up according to the STC by Midwest in addition to an prop governor adjustment the fuel flows arebalco set up to match the higher RPM

The POH s are posted on the web somewhere

[John Pleisse]

I second Joe Speed's G1000 concern. If there is an Stec 55X in the panel, a WAAS upgrade could be over $60k. Not only that, it is STC'ed through Mooney...they would have such an upgrade, at least the paperwork. 

[bd32322]

Try and find one that has WASS and the G 700 autopilot. Some in 07 came with STEC autopilot and no WASS

Mooney offered the upgrade for 60 k

 

Damn ! Who comes up with these numbers? 60k for a software upgrade?

[bd32322]

Makes me love my vintage Mooney, the entirety of which is currently worth no more than that, all the more!

 

 

Jim

Yeah exactly ! The 60k will cover the price of all the rental cars or cabs hired in a lifetime because of landing at an alternate with ILS instead of being unable to shoot a non WAAS approach at the true destination.

[Cris]

In researching the Ovation 3 I found that the G1000 Wass upgrade can only be done thru Mooney at whatever price they chose to charge- 60 K? Garmin dealers can not do the waas upgrade on the Mooney G1000. Although I'm in the camp that uses the ILS there will come a time that wass is required due to ADSB etc. I'd pass on an O3 with a G1000 without wass and look for another Ovation. You can easily add the Midwest Mooney STC and get the same 310 HP. The Midwest STC allows one to use either the IO 550-G or N engine. which I believe is what Anthony was referencing but they use the fuel settings from the N version in either case. The baffling on the N is a bit differant but the real differance is the cylinders which come from the factory rated for 310 HP.

[OR75]

In researching the Ovation 3 I found that the G1000 Wass upgrade can only be done thru Mooney at whatever price they chose to charge- 60 K? Garmin dealers can not do the waas upgrade on the Mooney G1000. Although I'm in the camp that uses the ILS there will come a time that wass is required due to ADSB etc. I'd pass on an O3 with a G1000 without wass and look for another Ovation. You can easily add the Midwest Mooney STC and get the same 310 HP. The Midwest STC allows one to use either the IO 550-G or N engine. which I believe is what Anthony was referencing but they use the fuel settings from the N version in either case. The baffling on the N is a bit differant but the real differance is the cylinders which come from the factory rated for 310 HP.

You don't have to upgrade your G1000 to WAAS to get ADS-B.

For ADS-B , you will indeed need a GPS WAAS position. However , you can choose to have a standalone ADS-B out (look at freeflight products) that gets a position from another GPS WAAS source. Install the box that has a GPS-WAAS sensor in it in the tail cone, be compliant and leave it alone.

If you want to get the ADS-B in on your G1000, then you will need to look a pulling a wire from the box to your G1000.

 

I have a non-WAAS 430 and I am not sure I will upgrade it to WAAS yet.

 

I am not recommending. Just saying you have options.

[47U]

Order up a copy of the aircraft CD from the FAA. It lists the ownership history and has all the major repair/alteration 337s. Maybe not that relavent on a 2007 model, but for that much money you don't sure don't want any surprises... just a thought.

[jetdriven]

I heard the WAAS G1000 upgrade was 80 grand. Garmin licensed the STC through the manufacturer, where they are free to rape you for a couple black boxes. FWIW the Cessna 182 G1000 WAAS upgrade is 20 grand.

[KSMooniac]

Another reason Mooney is it's own worst enemy sometimes... Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2