Suspected FF Magride shock issue

[catfood12]

Mates

As per FF thread, I've been enjoying a 2012 for the last year. It's been great fun and very little trouble.

Rear handling has just gone funny however. Like a shock has gone but twitchier. I'm pretty sure the adjustable suspension on FFs and 599s of that vintage were a version of the Magneride that is fitted on the R8s. R8s seem to have a reputation for leaky shocks and Magneride issues.

I've had a look underneath, no leaks, nothing loose. 4 wheel alignment done, marginally out on the toe, but nothing else. No change post alignment. Springs and levels OK.

I'm now wondering if it's a shock, I don't think I'm left with anything else. On the later Audis, the Magneride ECU would constantly energise or vary each shock if roll or similar was detected, not just comfort/normal/sport. I'm not sure if that was always a feature on Magneride, or on the Ferrari version, although it would explain the extra twitchiness and the rear can now be provoked into some really odd handling.

I think I'll unplug the loom from the rears tomorrow, and see if that makes much a difference.

Long shot I know, but has anyone had anything similar, or relevant experience?

[ANOpax]

Not heard of this problem on Ferraris at all even though they use the same system as magneride. How many miles do you have on your car? I’d suggest that for peace of mind you just take it to whoever does your servicing and ask them to take a look at it.

Edited by ANOpax on Monday 14th September 19:29

[jakesmith]

The R8 shocks are the same as the 458 ones and the R8 ones have a terrible reliability reputation in fact they are the weakest link on the R8

[ANOpax]

Does anyone know/have a theory on why they fail in the Audi application but not the Ferrari?

[jakesmith]

ANOpax said:

Does anyone know/have a theory on why they fail in the Audi application but not the Ferrari?

Because they often fail at 20,000+ miles so not as common to see that sort of mileage at a guess. Think it's pretty much exactly the same part.

[ANOpax]

jakesmith said:

Because they often fail at 20,000+ miles so not as common to see that sort of mileage at a guess. Think it's pretty much exactly the same part.

I suspect you’re right. Euro Ferraris tend to do more km than the U.K. ones but I haven’t heard of leaking shocks being an issue.

Edited by ANOpax on Monday 14th September 21:40

[jakesmith]

ANOpax said:

jakesmith said:

Because they often fail at 20,000+ miles so not as common to see that sort of mileage at a guess. Think it's pretty much exactly the same part.

I suspect you’re right. Euro Ferraris tend to do more km than the U.K. ones but I haven’t heard of leaking shocks being an issue.

Edited by ANOpax on Monday 14th September 21:40

Few interesting comments about it on here
Ignore the bottom third of the thread which gets weird (& for once I wasn't involved)
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[catfood12]

ANOpax said:

Not heard of this problem on Ferraris at all even though they use the same system as magneride. How many miles do you have on your car? I’d suggest that for peace of mind you just take it to whoever does your servicing and ask them to take a look at it.

Edited by ANOpax on Monday 14th September 19:29

Just coming up to 30K. Bought at 24K.

jakesmith said:

Because they often fail at 20,000+ miles so not as common to see that sort of mileage at a guess. Think it's pretty much exactly the same part.

Looks like I'm right in the zone here in terms of age. No leaks that I can see though, and I've looked around the rams very closely.

jakesmith said:

Few interesting comments about it on here
Ignore the bottom third of the thread which gets weird (& for once I wasn't involved)
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Interesting thread. Never thought of searching for R8 issues on here, all searches took me elsewhere. I wonder if it is the same gen system... Caravan Colin..

ANOpax said:

Not heard of this problem on Ferraris at all even though they use the same system as magneride. How many miles do you have on your car? I’d suggest that for peace of mind you just take it to whoever does your servicing and ask them to take a look at it.

I think I'm out of options, it must be the shocks. It's worth a trip to Macari's though to have one of their techs drive it. They must have seen leggier FFs than mine, and from the Audi horror stories it's almost a dead cert!

Edited by catfood12 on Tuesday 15th September 08:58

[MDL111]

Any help you as I haven’t had that issue so far - car is on 79k km atm
I suspect if it pops up on mine I will have a look at after market suspension options for it (that is if I keep the car - still a bit scared of all those expensive/complicated parts getting old

[catfood12]

MDL111 said:

Any help you as I haven’t had that issue so far - car is on 79k km atm
I suspect if it pops up on mine I will have a look at after market suspension options for it (that is if I keep the car - still a bit scared of all those expensive/complicated parts getting old

Thanks MDL. I've just seen the info posted by ANOpax on the FF prices thread, and looked at the SS website for PTU options, worth a read;

https://www.ssautotech.co.uk/ferrari-ff-ptu-rebuil...

They're approaching a decade old hand built Italian sportscar, I'd long since resigned myself to a couple of scary bills during ownership, but bang for buck, I'm still delighted. I think as these get older, the enthusiast owned ones with provenance for the bits that have been replaced will hep maintain value.

In terms of shocks - I've just replace the fronts on my 2017 VW T6 due to wear, so am quite accepting that the ones on my FF have probably failed...

[MDL111]

catfood12 said:

MDL111 said:

Any help you as I haven’t had that issue so far - car is on 79k km atm
I suspect if it pops up on mine I will have a look at after market suspension options for it (that is if I keep the car - still a bit scared of all those expensive/complicated parts getting old

Thanks MDL. I've just seen the info posted by ANOpax on the FF prices thread, and looked at the SS website for PTU options, worth a read;

https://www.ssautotech.co.uk/ferrari-ff-ptu-rebuil...

They're approaching a decade old hand built Italian sportscar, I'd long since resigned myself to a couple of scary bills during ownership, but bang for buck, I'm still delighted. I think as these get older, the enthusiast owned ones with provenance for the bits that have been replaced will hep maintain value.

In terms of shocks - I've just replace the fronts on my 2017 VW T6 due to wear, so am quite accepting that the ones on my FF have probably failed...

Thanks that looks like a good option - so far have not had an issue with my PTU (knock on wood) and my car sees a lot of winter use, so plenty of slip where power will be transferred forward
So far apart from 2 gearbox issues (resolved under warranty) and now the screen of my Nav having failed (have not figured out what to do in a cost effective manner on that), the car has been trouble free by Italian standards
My Scuderia has thrown its first big bill this year (both manifolds plus a second back box) and the 355 a decade ago also had quite a few repairs - so am really quite happy with FF reliability

[MDL111]

And to add I still think it is pretty much the perfect daily driver

[F355GTS]

Leaking Magnaride shocks are common on 599s, Californias and 458s, I'm not surprised the FF may suffer too although mine's been fine to date (24k miles)

[DubaiJohn]

Not sure if this helps but here’s my rear shock when I had some work done recently. Look like an Ohlins unit.

[Durzel]

ANOpax said:

Does anyone know/have a theory on why they fail in the Audi application but not the Ferrari?

Hi. I'm that guy who had to replace all 4 dampers on his 9k mile 458. Nice to meet you.

[TheAnimal]

MDL111 said:

Thanks that looks like a good option - so far have not had an issue with my PTU (knock on wood) and my car sees a lot of winter use, so plenty of slip where power will be transferred forward
So far apart from 2 gearbox issues (resolved under warranty) and now the screen of my Nav having failed (have not figured out what to do in a cost effective manner on that), the car has been trouble free by Italian standards
My Scuderia has thrown its first big bill this year (both manifolds plus a second back box) and the 355 a decade ago also had quite a few repairs - so am really quite happy with FF reliability

Give Greg a call at Auto Audio London about your Nav screen. Tell him Rehan sent you. They do quite a few FFs so he could perhaps advise you on the most cost effective option.