Thanks all. I inherited a M3A and it seems to have some weird intermittent click sounds. BUT, such glorious sound...and such a shame the business is what it is. My local dealer warned me off as well, exact same stories.
You'd think they would understand the Internet has changed everything, and that their business suffers because we all know. Sad, really.
Well, my money is probably going to PrimaLuna or something instead. Again, thanks for the warnings here!