Discussion
4rephill said:
The first Ferrari I ever saw was in 1979 when I was 9 years old.
It was a red 308 GTS with cream leather interior, parked in a parking area of the small country town that I lived in.
….
I still have dreams of owning a 308 GTS one day (a QV model - Red with cream leather interior), but should my current 328 GTS be the last Ferrari I ever own, I will have no regrets
What a lovely story. I was bitten by the Ferrari bug as a teenager when a wealthy US contact of my Dad’s heard I was into cars and sent me the 308 QV brochure. Love at first sight too (and still have that brochure).It was a red 308 GTS with cream leather interior, parked in a parking area of the small country town that I lived in.
….
I still have dreams of owning a 308 GTS one day (a QV model - Red with cream leather interior), but should my current 328 GTS be the last Ferrari I ever own, I will have no regrets
I then went to University near a Ferrari garage and used to pop in to see the 328 GTSs they had there. “One day” I thought, and it was about 15 years later it finally happened.
Still fancy a 308 QV though. “One day”…
Picked up the 328 yesterday from Kent High Performance Cars. Handover and explanation of the working etc was done by James. David, our salesman was busy with a lovely couple who were owners of a 308 and were looking at a gorgeous 360. (This was going to be an addition as they were keeping the 308). Hope they managed to secure a good deal!
Anyway, many thanks to the team. The 328 was fully serviced and had new cambelts completed before handover. We drove to East Grinstead then back to Bournemouth. The weather was fabulous. Was buzzed by two other Ferraris and we waved to each other showing the spirit between owners. Was a lovely buzz. Had a silly grin all the way home.
rdbrooksie said:
Thought I would post a photo with the roof on. It’s colour coordinated which is different to the previous 328’s that I owned which were black. I’m not sure if this was a factory option or how many cars have the roof painted this way?
My roof panel is also colour coded, which I much prefer to the black, crinkle texture of the factory standard finish:
(For the eagle eyed out there: I have now put the wiper arms back on the correct sides of the car - At some time previous to me owning the car, someone had put the driver's side wiper arm on the passenger's side, and visa versa, and that's steam from the exhausts, not smoke - It was chillier than the sun suggests it was!
)The painted top on the 328 does an okay job of giving the GTS the look of a GTB, but it's hampered by the raised lip above the windscreen, put there to deflect air over the cockpit area.
On the 348 TS/GTS (painted by owners after the car left the factory), and F355 GTS cars, colour coded roof panels do a better job of replicating the TB/GTB cars, because there is no raised lip above the windscreen (there are giveaway lines at the front and rear edges of the roof panels, but at a glance, they are hard to spot):
4rephill said:
It will have been painted after it left the factory - Ferrari didn't start offering body coloured targa roof panels until 1997, with the F355 GTS.
My roof panel is also colour coded, which I much prefer to the black, crinkle texture of the factory standard finish:
(For the eagle eyed out there: I have now put the wiper arms back on the correct sides of the car - At some time previous to me owning the car, someone had put the driver's side wiper arm on the passenger's side, and visa versa, and that's steam from the exhausts, not smoke - It was chillier than the sun suggests it was! )
The painted top on the 328 does an okay job of giving the GTS the look of a GTB, but it's hampered by the raised lip above the windscreen, put there to deflect air over the cockpit area.
On the 348 TS/GTS (painted by owners after the car left the factory), and F355 GTS cars, colour coded roof panels do a better job of replicating the TB/GTB cars, because there is no raised lip above the windscreen (there are giveaway lines at the front and rear edges of the roof panels, but at a glance, they are hard to spot):
Thanks for the information, always good to know in case anyone asks me. My roof panel is also colour coded, which I much prefer to the black, crinkle texture of the factory standard finish:
(For the eagle eyed out there: I have now put the wiper arms back on the correct sides of the car - At some time previous to me owning the car, someone had put the driver's side wiper arm on the passenger's side, and visa versa, and that's steam from the exhausts, not smoke - It was chillier than the sun suggests it was!
)The painted top on the 328 does an okay job of giving the GTS the look of a GTB, but it's hampered by the raised lip above the windscreen, put there to deflect air over the cockpit area.
On the 348 TS/GTS (painted by owners after the car left the factory), and F355 GTS cars, colour coded roof panels do a better job of replicating the TB/GTB cars, because there is no raised lip above the windscreen (there are giveaway lines at the front and rear edges of the roof panels, but at a glance, they are hard to spot):
Having an unusual issue with the car. When I drive it after a while the door pops open onto the latch. It doesn't fully open, just likes partially open and is stopped on the latch. Weird! I have tried pushing the door lock down, but that just springs back up. Any ideas/thoughts? Thanks!
lovely car, enjoy in good health!
328 GTS was the first Ferrari I ever got a lift in (by my then girlfriend) - very fond memories and look at them pretty much every spring/summer. one day I will buy one esp. as I am more and more looking for slower driving experiences as I get older. A 328 GTS and a longhood 911 Targa are high on my "want" list atm.
328 GTS was the first Ferrari I ever got a lift in (by my then girlfriend) - very fond memories and look at them pretty much every spring/summer. one day I will buy one esp. as I am more and more looking for slower driving experiences as I get older. A 328 GTS and a longhood 911 Targa are high on my "want" list atm.
I’ve had a 355 GTS for twelve years or so and yes, the targa panel is well concealed. Plenty of scuttle shake (when pushing on) without it though.
A couple of years ago I bought a ratty, but low mileage, 308 GTB and there’s certainly a purity of line without the impact on the rear windows on the GTS versions of Dino-355.
I’m also enjoying the slightly more agricultural/mechanical nature of it vs the 355.
Enjoy your 328! Which I guess lives somewhere in between.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/yyE2JRW4[/url
A couple of years ago I bought a ratty, but low mileage, 308 GTB and there’s certainly a purity of line without the impact on the rear windows on the GTS versions of Dino-355.
I’m also enjoying the slightly more agricultural/mechanical nature of it vs the 355.
Enjoy your 328! Which I guess lives somewhere in between.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/yyE2JRW4[/urlrdbrooksie said:
Thanks for the information, always good to know in case anyone asks me.
Having an unusual issue with the car. When I drive it after a while the door pops open onto the latch. It doesn't fully open, just likes partially open and is stopped on the latch. Weird! I have tried pushing the door lock down, but that just springs back up. Any ideas/thoughts? Thanks!
Basically, the body is flexing, and it's allowing the door to become unlatched - Quite common on the 308/328 GTS'.Having an unusual issue with the car. When I drive it after a while the door pops open onto the latch. It doesn't fully open, just likes partially open and is stopped on the latch. Weird! I have tried pushing the door lock down, but that just springs back up. Any ideas/thoughts? Thanks!
The first thing to do is check the door aligns correctly - 3*8 GTS' are renowned for having sagging doors.
Part of the problem can be people putting their weight on the door, especially getting out of the cars.
I posted this on the Ferrarichat site a couple of weeks ago, on this very subject ( https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/328-door... ):
The 3*8 GTB/GTS door hinges are not designed to take someone's body weight pushing on them (the same goes for the 348 and 355)
Getting out of a 3*8 GTB/GTS, you have got to use the Tom Selleck/Magnum pi method: Open the door, place the hand next to the door on the carpet covered sill, place your weight on that hand/arm, and use that hand/arm to push yourself up and out of the car.
Check how the horizontal recess in the door lines up with the horizontal recess in the rear quarter panel just aft of the door. If the recess at the rear edge of the door is slightly lower than the recess in the quarter panel, the door has dropped slightly.
The way to correct this does not sound right, but it is from an official Ferrari service bulletin, and is how the factory states how to re-align the doors:
You open the door, place a length of 2" x 4" wood against the underside of the door, at the rear edge, you place a jack underneath the wood, and then you slowly raise the jack, pushing the door up a bit at a time, until the hinges bend back, and the rear edge of the door gets lifted back up. (I kid you not!)
The 308/328 series are also renowned for needing their latches to be perfectly aligned, in order to work correctly. With GTB's this is not much of a problem as they are very rigid cars.
With GTS' though, they like to flex quite a bit, and so the latches go out of line very easily (when checking and adjusting the latches, it's essential to ensure the car is on flat/level ground)
To adjust the latches, start with the mechanism in the door jam. Open the door, and (very slightly) loosen off the four countersunk screws that hold the latch to the door jam. close the door a couple of times, and then tighten up the countersunk screws.
If adjusting only the door jam latch doesn't work. the latch mechanism on the door itself can be adjusted too. It's done the same way: (Very slightly) loosen off the screws holding the mechanism, close the door a couple of times, and then tighten up the retaining screws. The process can also be carried out loosening (very slightly) both the door jam side, and the door side at the same time.
It could be that the latch is worn. In that case, the latch needs replacing. If it's the driver's side, then it's a £71.43 + VAT part. If it's the passenger's side, it's a £414.28 + VAT part (both from Superformance)
If you're not already a member, it's well worth signing up on the Ferrarichat.com website. You can sign up for free, which will enable you to make posts/start threads, and reply to posts (but you can't post pictures on the site or sell items/cars on there), or you can sign up and subscribe to the site, which allows you to make posts/threads, reply to threads, post pictures, and sell items/car on there.
The guys on there are far more knowledgeable about Ferrari's than I am, and (in general), are a friendly bunch.
4rephill said:
Basically, the body is flexing, and it's allowing the door to become unlatched - Quite common on the 308/328 GTS'.
The first thing to do is check the door aligns correctly - 3*8 GTS' are renowned for having sagging doors.
Part of the problem can be people putting their weight on the door, especially getting out of the cars.
I posted this on the Ferrarichat site a couple of weeks ago, on this very subject ( https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/328-door... ):
The 3*8 GTB/GTS door hinges are not designed to take someone's body weight pushing on them (the same goes for the 348 and 355)
Getting out of a 3*8 GTB/GTS, you have got to use the Tom Selleck/Magnum pi method: Open the door, place the hand next to the door on the carpet covered sill, place your weight on that hand/arm, and use that hand/arm to push yourself up and out of the car.
Check how the horizontal recess in the door lines up with the horizontal recess in the rear quarter panel just aft of the door. If the recess at the rear edge of the door is slightly lower than the recess in the quarter panel, the door has dropped slightly.
The way to correct this does not sound right, but it is from an official Ferrari service bulletin, and is how the factory states how to re-align the doors:
You open the door, place a length of 2" x 4" wood against the underside of the door, at the rear edge, you place a jack underneath the wood, and then you slowly raise the jack, pushing the door up a bit at a time, until the hinges bend back, and the rear edge of the door gets lifted back up. (I kid you not!)
The 308/328 series are also renowned for needing their latches to be perfectly aligned, in order to work correctly. With GTB's this is not much of a problem as they are very rigid cars.
With GTS' though, they like to flex quite a bit, and so the latches go out of line very easily (when checking and adjusting the latches, it's essential to ensure the car is on flat/level ground)
To adjust the latches, start with the mechanism in the door jam. Open the door, and (very slightly) loosen off the four countersunk screws that hold the latch to the door jam. close the door a couple of times, and then tighten up the countersunk screws.
If adjusting only the door jam latch doesn't work. the latch mechanism on the door itself can be adjusted too. It's done the same way: (Very slightly) loosen off the screws holding the mechanism, close the door a couple of times, and then tighten up the retaining screws. The process can also be carried out loosening (very slightly) both the door jam side, and the door side at the same time.
It could be that the latch is worn. In that case, the latch needs replacing. If it's the driver's side, then it's a £71.43 + VAT part. If it's the passenger's side, it's a £414.28 + VAT part (both from Superformance)
If you're not already a member, it's well worth signing up on the Ferrarichat.com website. You can sign up for free, which will enable you to make posts/start threads, and reply to posts (but you can't post pictures on the site or sell items/cars on there), or you can sign up and subscribe to the site, which allows you to make posts/threads, reply to threads, post pictures, and sell items/car on there.
The guys on there are far more knowledgeable about Ferrari's than I am, and (in general), are a friendly bunch.
That’s amazing advice. Thank you so much. I will study what you’ve written and have a go at trying to sort over the weekend. I will update the forum once I have had a go. Many thanks for this. The first thing to do is check the door aligns correctly - 3*8 GTS' are renowned for having sagging doors.
Part of the problem can be people putting their weight on the door, especially getting out of the cars.
I posted this on the Ferrarichat site a couple of weeks ago, on this very subject ( https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/328-door... ):
The 3*8 GTB/GTS door hinges are not designed to take someone's body weight pushing on them (the same goes for the 348 and 355)
Getting out of a 3*8 GTB/GTS, you have got to use the Tom Selleck/Magnum pi method: Open the door, place the hand next to the door on the carpet covered sill, place your weight on that hand/arm, and use that hand/arm to push yourself up and out of the car.
Check how the horizontal recess in the door lines up with the horizontal recess in the rear quarter panel just aft of the door. If the recess at the rear edge of the door is slightly lower than the recess in the quarter panel, the door has dropped slightly.
The way to correct this does not sound right, but it is from an official Ferrari service bulletin, and is how the factory states how to re-align the doors:
You open the door, place a length of 2" x 4" wood against the underside of the door, at the rear edge, you place a jack underneath the wood, and then you slowly raise the jack, pushing the door up a bit at a time, until the hinges bend back, and the rear edge of the door gets lifted back up. (I kid you not!)
The 308/328 series are also renowned for needing their latches to be perfectly aligned, in order to work correctly. With GTB's this is not much of a problem as they are very rigid cars.
With GTS' though, they like to flex quite a bit, and so the latches go out of line very easily (when checking and adjusting the latches, it's essential to ensure the car is on flat/level ground)
To adjust the latches, start with the mechanism in the door jam. Open the door, and (very slightly) loosen off the four countersunk screws that hold the latch to the door jam. close the door a couple of times, and then tighten up the countersunk screws.
If adjusting only the door jam latch doesn't work. the latch mechanism on the door itself can be adjusted too. It's done the same way: (Very slightly) loosen off the screws holding the mechanism, close the door a couple of times, and then tighten up the retaining screws. The process can also be carried out loosening (very slightly) both the door jam side, and the door side at the same time.
It could be that the latch is worn. In that case, the latch needs replacing. If it's the driver's side, then it's a £71.43 + VAT part. If it's the passenger's side, it's a £414.28 + VAT part (both from Superformance)
If you're not already a member, it's well worth signing up on the Ferrarichat.com website. You can sign up for free, which will enable you to make posts/start threads, and reply to posts (but you can't post pictures on the site or sell items/cars on there), or you can sign up and subscribe to the site, which allows you to make posts/threads, reply to threads, post pictures, and sell items/car on there.
The guys on there are far more knowledgeable about Ferrari's than I am, and (in general), are a friendly bunch.
rdbrooksie said:
That’s amazing advice. Thank you so much. I will study what you’ve written and have a go at trying to sort over the weekend. I will update the forum once I have had a go. Many thanks for this.
To give you an idea of how pernickety the door latches can be, I've been battling my drivers door lock.With the driver's side window down, the car could be locked on the key without any issue (the door buttons would go down and stay down)
With the driver's side window up, the car would not lock (the door buttons would go down, but then come straight back up again, unlocking the door)
The door seal was putting just enough pressure on the door, to keep the latch from catching correctly, which prevented the lock from operating.
If I kept the driver's side window down, locked the car, and then put the window up (carried out without the roof panel in place), the doors stayed locked.
That mostly took place when the weather was colder.
I had another look into the door lock situation a couple of weekends ago, during a warmer day, and the door locks worked perfectly, even with the window up, so it seems the warmer temperature softened the door seal enough to let the latch catch properly, and for the door locks to work correctly.
So for the time being, it looks like I'm going to have to put up with fully operational door locks, and will not be able to investigate the issue further until the cold weather returns - Most annoying!
4rephill said:
To give you an idea of how pernickety the door latches can be, I've been battling my drivers door lock.
With the driver's side window down, the car could be locked on the key without any issue (the door buttons would go down and stay down)
With the driver's side window up, the car would not lock (the door buttons would go down, but then come straight back up again, unlocking the door)
The door seal was putting just enough pressure on the door, to keep the latch from catching correctly, which prevented the lock from operating.
If I kept the driver's side window down, locked the car, and then put the window up (carried out without the roof panel in place), the doors stayed locked.
That mostly took place when the weather was colder.
I had another look into the door lock situation a couple of weekends ago, during a warmer day, and the door locks worked perfectly, even with the window up, so it seems the warmer temperature softened the door seal enough to let the latch catch properly, and for the door locks to work correctly.
So for the time being, it looks like I'm going to have to put up with fully operational door locks, and will not be able to investigate the issue further until the cold weather returns - Most annoying!
Very sound comments above and I put the above to the test on my 328. With the warmer weather we have experienced over the weekend I had the roof off. Both windows up. Doors wouldn’t lock. So I drove along and hey presto drivers door opened to the first latch. I stopped. Windows down. This time doors locked. Drove. No door popping open. Later wife put her window up. I tried the door locks. They stayed locked. Note my window still down. All good. Finally tried again both windows up. Nope. Door wouldn’t lock and popped again. Finally tried my window down. Doors locked. Put my window up. Drove. No popping open! With the driver's side window down, the car could be locked on the key without any issue (the door buttons would go down and stay down)
With the driver's side window up, the car would not lock (the door buttons would go down, but then come straight back up again, unlocking the door)
The door seal was putting just enough pressure on the door, to keep the latch from catching correctly, which prevented the lock from operating.
If I kept the driver's side window down, locked the car, and then put the window up (carried out without the roof panel in place), the doors stayed locked.
That mostly took place when the weather was colder.
I had another look into the door lock situation a couple of weekends ago, during a warmer day, and the door locks worked perfectly, even with the window up, so it seems the warmer temperature softened the door seal enough to let the latch catch properly, and for the door locks to work correctly.
So for the time being, it looks like I'm going to have to put up with fully operational door locks, and will not be able to investigate the issue further until the cold weather returns - Most annoying!
So yup, definitely a characteristic here but at least I know how to ‘get around’ it popping by having the window down then locking the car and then I can put the window up if needed.
Guess all part of the fun of owning a classic.
Many thanks for the advice and comments received on this. I guess I’ll live with this for a bit and when the car is next in for a service I’ll see if they can address the issue.
Right, feet up and Magnum PI is back on.
rdbrooksie said:
Very sound comments above and I put the above to the test on my 328. With the warmer weather we have experienced over the weekend I had the roof off. Both windows up. Doors wouldn’t lock. So I drove along and hey presto drivers door opened to the first latch. I stopped. Windows down. This time doors locked. Drove. No door popping open. Later wife put her window up. I tried the door locks. They stayed locked. Note my window still down. All good. Finally tried again both windows up. Nope. Door wouldn’t lock and popped again. Finally tried my window down. Doors locked. Put my window up. Drove. No popping open!
So yup, definitely a characteristic here but at least I know how to ‘get around’ it popping by having the window down then locking the car and then I can put the window up if needed.
Guess all part of the fun of owning a classic.
Many thanks for the advice and comments received on this. I guess I’ll live with this for a bit and when the car is next in for a service I’ll see if they can address the issue.
Right, feet up and Magnum PI is back on.
I checked my door locks again yesterday, and the locks are still working perfectly due to the warmer weather.So yup, definitely a characteristic here but at least I know how to ‘get around’ it popping by having the window down then locking the car and then I can put the window up if needed.
Guess all part of the fun of owning a classic.
Many thanks for the advice and comments received on this. I guess I’ll live with this for a bit and when the car is next in for a service I’ll see if they can address the issue.
Right, feet up and Magnum PI is back on.
(I need to either get up ultra early and try the door locks when the temperature is still cold, or wait for one of the reported cold snaps to hit the Country)
My 328 is definitely female - Stunningly beautiful, but every now and again has a moody strop for no apparent reason!
4rephill said:
I checked my door locks again yesterday, and the locks are still working perfectly due to the warmer weather.
(I need to either get up ultra early and try the door locks when the temperature is still cold, or wait for one of the reported cold snaps to hit the Country)
My 328 is definitely female - Stunningly beautiful, but every now and again has a moody strop for no apparent reason!
Italian cars are like having a sultry temperamental Italian mistress that gives you a hard time for no reason (I need to either get up ultra early and try the door locks when the temperature is still cold, or wait for one of the reported cold snaps to hit the Country)
My 328 is definitely female - Stunningly beautiful, but every now and again has a moody strop for no apparent reason!
but the high's are soooooo high you would forgive her anything once you stroke her curvaceous bodywork
4rephill said:
I checked my door locks again yesterday, and the locks are still working perfectly due to the warmer weather.
(I need to either get up ultra early and try the door locks when the temperature is still cold, or wait for one of the reported cold snaps to hit the Country)
My 328 is definitely female - Stunningly beautiful, but every now and again has a moody strop for no apparent reason!
Took the car out yesterday. It was noticeably cooler the weather and as you alluded too above, the door no longer locks and pops back open! I must admit that I never had this issue in Hong Kong with either the 308 or the two 328’s that I owned there and HK did get cold weather occasionally. Guess I will try some of the adjusting techniques mentioned by an earlier post to see if I can solve things. Will keep me busy over the weekend…. 😀(I need to either get up ultra early and try the door locks when the temperature is still cold, or wait for one of the reported cold snaps to hit the Country)
My 328 is definitely female - Stunningly beautiful, but every now and again has a moody strop for no apparent reason!
Went to the Ferrari National Day event yesterday. Lots of beautiful 328’s on show as well as a few others models…. A lovely event despite the weather. We really enjoyed the drive there and back to Bournemouth as well as seeing all the beautiful cars and met some lovely members. Many thanks to the organizers. ![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/YjgCBnNW.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/i7qvEczK" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/i7qvEczK.jpg)
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