Ferrari 355, whats it like to own?
Discussion
Cactussed said:
That's because there is no buttress to speak of.
They just have the roof mechanism issues...
I think its something to do with the buttresses being made from a different material to the rear wings on the GTS and Berlinettas. Where as like you say there's no buttresses on the Spider.They just have the roof mechanism issues...
The roof mechanism had just been fixed when I bought the car, and luckily apart from one time when it got out of sequence its never caused me any hassle, and shouldn't do either.
I think its actually due to a poor join at the buttress. You can see the join if you stick your head in there (easier with the engine out) and there isn't really any reinforcing at all.
I've seen ones where they've welded internally along the seam and this apparently stops the problem, but you need to get the engine out go really get in there to do it, then repaint afterwards as the welding blisters the existing paint.
Either that or just live with the problem and get it done periodically.
I've seen ones where they've welded internally along the seam and this apparently stops the problem, but you need to get the engine out go really get in there to do it, then repaint afterwards as the welding blisters the existing paint.
Either that or just live with the problem and get it done periodically.
Or Why not buy an MR2 replica where this doesn't happen!!!! 
Seriosly though, to the opening poster, as you can see from my own posts and th plenty of the other posters on here, if you do buy a 355 you become obsessive with it because they're so much more than just a supercar. And if you're unable to go out and drive in it, then you never shut up about the damn thing!
Buy one! You'll love it!
Seriosly though, to the opening poster, as you can see from my own posts and th plenty of the other posters on here, if you do buy a 355 you become obsessive with it because they're so much more than just a supercar. And if you're unable to go out and drive in it, then you never shut up about the damn thing!
Buy one! You'll love it!
simonigrale said:
Bought my 348 from the Ferrari Centre. Had it about 18 months with no issues at all.
Had an anual last year at Graypaul for £450.
Its due a major soon which will be done at Graypaul and they have quoted £650
I've done 7000 miles since i've had it and i use it every week.
Most reliable car i've ever owned.
I went for the not so sensible buy it and worry about running costs after but it has caused no headaches at all.
Most of the maintainance work can be done yourself, they are quite simple cars and i'm no mechanic.
I think the main thing with these cars is if you're planning to use it don't buy a garage queen as the premium you pay for it will soon be wiped out when you use it.
Buy a good honest car that has been used and has done a few miles and make sure you use it regularly and drive it as its been designed for.
If you look into running costs too much you'll never buy one.
I like Jonty have got mine for sale to buy a new house but to be honest if it doesn't go buy the end of the month I'll advertise again in September
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1319725.htm
I have fairly recently bought a 348 TS and that sounds like my very unsensible approach - buy it and worry about running costs later :-)Had an anual last year at Graypaul for £450.
Its due a major soon which will be done at Graypaul and they have quoted £650
I've done 7000 miles since i've had it and i use it every week.
Most reliable car i've ever owned.
I went for the not so sensible buy it and worry about running costs after but it has caused no headaches at all.
Most of the maintainance work can be done yourself, they are quite simple cars and i'm no mechanic.
I think the main thing with these cars is if you're planning to use it don't buy a garage queen as the premium you pay for it will soon be wiped out when you use it.
Buy a good honest car that has been used and has done a few miles and make sure you use it regularly and drive it as its been designed for.
If you look into running costs too much you'll never buy one.
I like Jonty have got mine for sale to buy a new house but to be honest if it doesn't go buy the end of the month I'll advertise again in September
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1319725.htm
Even more unsensible was probably buying it privately and not getting an inspection. ;-)
It is correct that i think if everyone tried to justify the running costs then 99% would probably never buy them!
I didn't realise that the quoted Verdi prices for a cambelt service was engine in! I didn't think they did engine in services!
That quote for £650 for a major seems very cheap as well! Is that with a belt change?
Edited by chuno on Thursday 18th February 13:37
Edited by chuno on Thursday 18th February 13:38
Chuno, Vedies were the first ones in the UK to actually admit they offered the engine in belt service. Alot of the dealers/indies out there did but never shouted about it.
If it wasnt for the Internet and owners chatting together. The whole engine in process would still be an anomaly
If it wasnt for the Internet and owners chatting together. The whole engine in process would still be an anomaly
Edited by ferrari spider on Thursday 18th February 13:54
chuno said:
I didn't realise that the quoted Verdi prices for a cambelt service was engine in! I didn't think they did engine in services!
That quote for £650 for a major seems very cheap as well! Is that with a belt change?
Thats the method they apparently swear by. But I had mine done at Millbrooke in Sheffield just before Christmas, and had the engine out. They would do it with engine in if you wanted to, but they strongly advise the engine out as things can be missed. That quote for £650 for a major seems very cheap as well! Is that with a belt change?
Plus I've heard there are problems with setting the timing back up, checking all the hoses, cleaning everything up and stuff like that with the engine in.
Like someone has said before, dont skimp on servicing as it may cost you in the long run. I'd rather be extremely poor and be without food, water, a house or anything than my 355 not be sorted properly!
Well, having done it myself now, I can't see a problem with engine in belt changes.
Admittedly, it would be harder to do in terms of access and you wouldn't be as likely to spot any anciliary things that need sorting, but for belts and a service only, its no different to doing an engine-out job, but with the added bonus of being less likely to break something as you remove and reinstall the engine.
I removed mine to do a whole host of other things, but going forward I'd have no problems giving it to Verdi or anyone else to do an engine-in belt change.
Admittedly, it would be harder to do in terms of access and you wouldn't be as likely to spot any anciliary things that need sorting, but for belts and a service only, its no different to doing an engine-out job, but with the added bonus of being less likely to break something as you remove and reinstall the engine.
I removed mine to do a whole host of other things, but going forward I'd have no problems giving it to Verdi or anyone else to do an engine-in belt change.
Edited by Cactussed on Thursday 18th February 14:08
Jonty355 said:
chuno said:
I didn't realise that the quoted Verdi prices for a cambelt service was engine in! I didn't think they did engine in services!
That quote for £650 for a major seems very cheap as well! Is that with a belt change?
but they strongly advise the engine out as things can be missed. That quote for £650 for a major seems very cheap as well! Is that with a belt change?
Plus I've heard there are problems with setting the timing back up, checking all the hoses, cleaning everything up and stuff like that with the engine in.
Regarding the problems of checking the timing back up. This also is untrue, just like on a 360 belt change, very rarely is the engine timing reset. Its just a simple belt change.
On both cars if the car was running perfect before the change it will run right after the change as long as the relevant cam locks are used. It takes a hell of a lot of cam sprocket movement with the belts of to throw the timing out. The sprocket would have to move a whole 5+mm for the belt not to sit right in the valley. I have also known specialist to spend over 6 hours chasing that one degree, just to have the car run no better.
A cam belt change is not the rocket science that one is lead to believe. I have many friends who have there own ferrari servicing businesses, and they feel the same way.
There is another school of thought worth thinking about. How many times have we heard of a 355 set on fire after an engine out belt service. Or cars that have not run right after because something has been either forgotten to reconnect or has fractured. So there is a school of thought that with an engine out belt service, there is a chance of causing a serious electrical problem.
I have personally have done both engine in and engine out on 4 F355s to date. As well as belt changes on 3 360s. As a rule i take the 355 engines out. All i am doing is pointing out the pros and cons of the job.
Also, because the 355 onwards have hydraulic tensioners, even with the belts off the cams etc are quite rigid (you really have to try and move them) so it reall is just a case of get everything to tdc, mark it all just in case, slip the old belts off and shove the new ones on then retension.
I expect with practice, you could do the actual physical belt change in about 20 minutes. Its the added time of getting the undertray off, tank out, ancilliaries loose and other belts off, then crank pulley off to reach the belts, then reassembling it all...
I expect with practice, you could do the actual physical belt change in about 20 minutes. Its the added time of getting the undertray off, tank out, ancilliaries loose and other belts off, then crank pulley off to reach the belts, then reassembling it all...
Cactussed said:
Also, because the 355 onwards have hydraulic tensioners, even with the belts off the cams etc are quite rigid (you really have to try and move them) so it reall is just a case of get everything to tdc, mark it all just in case, slip the old belts off and shove the new ones on then retension.
I expect with practice, you could do the actual physical belt change in about 20 minutes. Its the added time of getting the undertray off, tank out, ancilliaries loose and other belts off, then crank pulley off to reach the belts, then reassembling it all...
You being one of the few on here who has actually done the job your self. I can see trhat you understand that there is no voodo involved, and the mystery bubble has been burst. Well done that man I expect with practice, you could do the actual physical belt change in about 20 minutes. Its the added time of getting the undertray off, tank out, ancilliaries loose and other belts off, then crank pulley off to reach the belts, then reassembling it all...
I'm not mechanically minded at all but I do more work on this car than I have on any other that I've owned.
They really are fairly simple cars to work on.
Don't think I would tackle a cambelt change, but hats off to you guys for doing them.
The reliability worries are all behind you when you go under a motorway bridge at full chat in 2nd with De Cats and a Sports Exhaust anyway !!!!
They really are fairly simple cars to work on.
Don't think I would tackle a cambelt change, but hats off to you guys for doing them.
The reliability worries are all behind you when you go under a motorway bridge at full chat in 2nd with De Cats and a Sports Exhaust anyway !!!!
Edited by simonigrale on Thursday 18th February 14:51
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