Doing your own work on an exotic (15yrs+)
Discussion
How many people out there service and maintain their 15yr old+ exotic car themselves?
Is there the same level of support (good manufacturers service books and parts catalogues) from e.g. Ferrari as their is for the mainstream?
Are the cars really so radically different you need to be another level of mechanic to do the work?
I know the resale argument for not doing it is a biggy, but there must be people out there doing it.....
Is there the same level of support (good manufacturers service books and parts catalogues) from e.g. Ferrari as their is for the mainstream?
Are the cars really so radically different you need to be another level of mechanic to do the work?
I know the resale argument for not doing it is a biggy, but there must be people out there doing it.....
Edited by was8v on Wednesday 14th July 17:22
I have done a fair bit of work on my 308 such as hose replacement, electrical fixes, clutch cable adjustment/replacement and some minor suspension work myself. I tend to leave the more skillful stuff to the experts though.
Support for Ferrari parts for the older models is based here in the UK and is very good.
You can download workshop manuals and parts lists for free if you know where to look. There is good technical help from experts online at the big Ferrari forums.
Support for Ferrari parts for the older models is based here in the UK and is very good.
You can download workshop manuals and parts lists for free if you know where to look. There is good technical help from experts online at the big Ferrari forums.
Yes, I do 99% of the work on my mine - engine out servicing, rebuilds etc. Exotics are really no different to the everyday machines I cut my teeth on 20+ years ago... they just have more cylinders and you have to search harder and pay more for the parts! I think you need to be a competent mechanic and have a 'go for it' attitude, also helps if you are sympathetic and patient - snapping off bolts on snotters is no big deal, do it on your Ferrari and it can get very expensive!
To be honest part of the reason I do it is so that I know it has been done 'right' - you would not believe the cock-ups I have seen on machinery serviced by supposed professionals! (new cambelt one tooth off, oil slopped all over the engne bay, oil drain plate replaced the wrong way round so it blocked the oil pick up (by a main dealer!), cable ties used to replace sheared bolts etc. the list goes on and on). Just because you take your car to an expensive garage, does not mean it will be worked upon by old Luigi with half a decades experience.... the shop juniors all have to start somewhere too and I hate to say it, but I have alot more experience than alot of the grease monkeys let loose in the service bay.
For me, its also part of the ownership experience - I actually enjoy geting my hands dirty and experiencing the engineering on these cars first hand. I am also much more likely to spot a potential forthcoming problem before it occurs if I have an intimate knowledge of my machine. Added to that I am much more sympathetic when it comes to older machinery - a modern technician isn't really trained in the black arts of removing rusty nuts and bolts from ancient nooks and crannies... they are more likely to get in there, snap or cut the bugger off to get the job done within the time alloted than they are to work through the various levels of techniques learnt over years of dealing with this stuff to get the assembly apart in one piece - I may be being unfair here, but that is my experience.
I hear the argument for maintaining service records etc., but the older exotics get, the less important that becomes. Equally, I take pictures and detailed notes of all servicing work I do on my exotics, write these up and add them into the service history - any potential buyer will clearly be able to see the work that has been done and the standard to which it has been carried out. I intend to carry on working on (and enjoying) my own cars until I no longer have the time....
To be honest part of the reason I do it is so that I know it has been done 'right' - you would not believe the cock-ups I have seen on machinery serviced by supposed professionals! (new cambelt one tooth off, oil slopped all over the engne bay, oil drain plate replaced the wrong way round so it blocked the oil pick up (by a main dealer!), cable ties used to replace sheared bolts etc. the list goes on and on). Just because you take your car to an expensive garage, does not mean it will be worked upon by old Luigi with half a decades experience.... the shop juniors all have to start somewhere too and I hate to say it, but I have alot more experience than alot of the grease monkeys let loose in the service bay.
For me, its also part of the ownership experience - I actually enjoy geting my hands dirty and experiencing the engineering on these cars first hand. I am also much more likely to spot a potential forthcoming problem before it occurs if I have an intimate knowledge of my machine. Added to that I am much more sympathetic when it comes to older machinery - a modern technician isn't really trained in the black arts of removing rusty nuts and bolts from ancient nooks and crannies... they are more likely to get in there, snap or cut the bugger off to get the job done within the time alloted than they are to work through the various levels of techniques learnt over years of dealing with this stuff to get the assembly apart in one piece - I may be being unfair here, but that is my experience.
I hear the argument for maintaining service records etc., but the older exotics get, the less important that becomes. Equally, I take pictures and detailed notes of all servicing work I do on my exotics, write these up and add them into the service history - any potential buyer will clearly be able to see the work that has been done and the standard to which it has been carried out. I intend to carry on working on (and enjoying) my own cars until I no longer have the time....
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