355 service dilemma
Discussion
Hi Guys, as a few of you will remember I picked up my 355 back in August.
Car had a major service including cambelts early 2010, has done minimal miles since.
In order to keep things in line as it were the car could do with a 2011 service stamp, however this would not be the first time a yearly service has been missed.
I will get the ferrari centre at maidstone to do the service which should (cough) be £600.
Car is currently in the garage with trickle charger and cover and although used yesterday will not get used until spring (or maybe the PH xmas meet.
Question is this do I service before end of year just to get a 2011 stamp or wait until april time when car will be used ?
Funds aside, I would rather service the car so its fresh to go than spend the money now to sit in the garage for 4 months. At the end of the day it will only matter to the next buyer.
Thoughts ?
Car had a major service including cambelts early 2010, has done minimal miles since.
In order to keep things in line as it were the car could do with a 2011 service stamp, however this would not be the first time a yearly service has been missed.
I will get the ferrari centre at maidstone to do the service which should (cough) be £600.
Car is currently in the garage with trickle charger and cover and although used yesterday will not get used until spring (or maybe the PH xmas meet.
Question is this do I service before end of year just to get a 2011 stamp or wait until april time when car will be used ?
Funds aside, I would rather service the car so its fresh to go than spend the money now to sit in the garage for 4 months. At the end of the day it will only matter to the next buyer.
Thoughts ?
No exactly it was / is due a service when I bought it / now.
If it had absolutely perfect history like some allegedly, serviced every march of every year then I would get it done now, looking back on the history it has missed the odd year, not to say its been neglected but on mileage didnt really warrant it.
Just thinking a few years down the line would it bother someone that no service was done in 2011 ? even though if it was done it will sit idle until spring when it would be done anyway.
Like I say common sense tells me to leave it but others would look for a perfect service record.
Also early 2010 to late 2011 is not ideal anyway but looks better in the book.
If it had absolutely perfect history like some allegedly, serviced every march of every year then I would get it done now, looking back on the history it has missed the odd year, not to say its been neglected but on mileage didnt really warrant it.
Just thinking a few years down the line would it bother someone that no service was done in 2011 ? even though if it was done it will sit idle until spring when it would be done anyway.
Like I say common sense tells me to leave it but others would look for a perfect service record.
Also early 2010 to late 2011 is not ideal anyway but looks better in the book.
Ahh, the madness of the Ferrari market.
TISPKJ said:
If it had absolutely perfect history like some allegedly, serviced every march of every year then I would get it done now, looking back on the history it has missed the odd year, not to say its been neglected but on mileage didnt really warrant it.
If it's already not 'perfect' then this won't make much difference I wouldn't have thought. Personally, I'd leave it until spring.Personally, I wouldn't be too bothered about historic gaps in the history, but I would want 'Perfect' recent history. Early 2010 to early 2012 is two years and a missed service imo. Although, the price point and condition of the car when you come to sell would also come into play into how much weighting was given to the service history.
I'd service it now and then again in the spring of every subsequent year.
I'd service it now and then again in the spring of every subsequent year.
First up, any buyer who looks at a service book as an indicator of car history or condition is either very naive or just a bit thick.
Secondly, ask yourself whether paying some monkey £600 to change some oil and a filter, and then repeat the process in a few months time without actually using the car seems frankly daft to my mind.
If you're made of money, knock yourself out.
If you'd simply waited until next year to buy it and had it serviced just before purchase, would you have been just as happy?
Secondly, ask yourself whether paying some monkey £600 to change some oil and a filter, and then repeat the process in a few months time without actually using the car seems frankly daft to my mind.
If you're made of money, knock yourself out.
If you'd simply waited until next year to buy it and had it serviced just before purchase, would you have been just as happy?
Shows differences between markets. Here in Switzerland I've noticed that cars are generally serviced according to mileage and not done yearly. People would think you were mad to service twice within 6 months, just to get two stamps in the book. No one keeps copies of invoices for work done either.
Interesting as expected to hear both sides of the story as it were.
Only other thought that I had is that I intend to do as much of the maintainence as I can myself, if I had serviced now it would at least alert me to anything that needs doing and I would have time over winter to do any jobs as opposed to working on next spring when I could be using it.
Decissions decissions
Only other thought that I had is that I intend to do as much of the maintainence as I can myself, if I had serviced now it would at least alert me to anything that needs doing and I would have time over winter to do any jobs as opposed to working on next spring when I could be using it.
Decissions decissions
If that is genuinely the case, then I would suggest that a dealer service isn't going th throw up too many issues. You'd be better off throwing oil and filter at it now yourself for peace of mind (assuming you think it needs it) and doing stuff over the winter, then getting the 'book stamped' next spring.
Service will cost you about £100 if you DIY (oil filter and about 9L of decent quality oil).
If you have time and inclination, I would then go through and start checking other routine things. eg
Air filters
Spark plugs - bit of a fiddly job to be honest.
Fuel filter
Condition of all the coolant lines
Condition of the braided fuel lines
You shuld definitely think about replacing both coil packs. They are inexpensive and prone to failure.
Also, change the 2 jubilee clips on the heater control unit hoses in the front compartment. They are prone to failure which dumps all your coolant into the boot space and can be catastrophic.
Also, go over the entire engine subframe and give it a good bash with a hammer or screwdriver to check for rust, especially at the base of the uprights or anywhere where water and debris can linger.
That will keep you occupied for a little while. There's plenty more to keep you busy if you fancy dropping the engine out.
Service will cost you about £100 if you DIY (oil filter and about 9L of decent quality oil).
If you have time and inclination, I would then go through and start checking other routine things. eg
Air filters
Spark plugs - bit of a fiddly job to be honest.
Fuel filter
Condition of all the coolant lines
Condition of the braided fuel lines
You shuld definitely think about replacing both coil packs. They are inexpensive and prone to failure.
Also, change the 2 jubilee clips on the heater control unit hoses in the front compartment. They are prone to failure which dumps all your coolant into the boot space and can be catastrophic.
Also, go over the entire engine subframe and give it a good bash with a hammer or screwdriver to check for rust, especially at the base of the uprights or anywhere where water and debris can linger.
That will keep you occupied for a little while. There's plenty more to keep you busy if you fancy dropping the engine out.
At the end of the day all you are paying for is the dealer stamp in the service book for the next owner.
Plan is to have car serviced at an independant and any issues raised ie rads, clutch, discs - pads, brake hoses I can and will do myself.
Just be nice to have an independant pick up on any problems which will be documented and then fix myself which will also be documented.
If the car was to be kept for ever it wouldnt go anywhere near a service department, I will reserve judgement on Ferrari but basically none of the "technicans" as they like to call themselfs are car mechanics anymore they are just replacement engineers systematically replacing what the laptop tells them too until the warning light goes out.
Plan is to have car serviced at an independant and any issues raised ie rads, clutch, discs - pads, brake hoses I can and will do myself.
Just be nice to have an independant pick up on any problems which will be documented and then fix myself which will also be documented.
If the car was to be kept for ever it wouldnt go anywhere near a service department, I will reserve judgement on Ferrari but basically none of the "technicans" as they like to call themselfs are car mechanics anymore they are just replacement engineers systematically replacing what the laptop tells them too until the warning light goes out.
Gassing Station | Supercar General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff