Every day tips for living with a 599

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

As luck would have it, my BMW uses the same battery as the FF. the OEM battery in the BMW lives in the boot and lasted 5 years before it needed to be replaced. The BMW now gets the FF’s hand me downs!

Hahaha

[ANOpax]

Cake - you’re too quick on the uptake. I had to delete my last post as I forgot that I trialled the Varta Silver non-AGM (not the Blue) before switching back to Silver Dynamic AGM

Here’s the Silver non-AGM when new. It’s rated at 830CCA but tested at 949, 14% over rated capacity.




It wasn’t much better than the two year old Silver Dynamic AGM which came out of the FF. Here’s what the brand new Silver Dynamic AGM tested at for a rated 850CCA.



That’s a whopping 43% above the rated capacity. The FF is hard on batteries as they live in the engine bay and are subject to a lot of heat which significantly shortens the battery life. You should get better longevity out of yours since it lives in the boot of the 599.

As luck would have it, my BMW uses the same battery as the FF and the OEM one lasted 5 years before needing replacement (the BMW battery is in the boot). I see batteries for the FF as consumables which need to be replaced every 2-3 years and the Sealey tester lets me know when the time is right. The BMW now gets the FF’s hand me downs

[cake eater]

Thank you.

I'll look for a " Silver Dynamic AGM " Varta in the correct size

[ANOpax]

You’re welcome. Varta have a ‘battery finder’ tool on their website and it comes up with the E11 Blue which you currently have as well as this for the Silver Dynamic AGM option.



Good luck with the Sealey and the Varta and let us know how you get on

[xcentric]

Just a nod to Tayna batteries as a supplier - I've no connection to them - but they provide excellent advice, great pricing, and good shipping.

[cake eater]

xcentric said:

Just a nod to Tayna batteries as a supplier - I've no connection to them - but they provide excellent advice, great pricing, and good shipping.

Thank you, I've just been on their website and will call on Monday

[Akajak]

Meridien just fitted an AGM replacement for me rather than a like for like OEM.

[cake eater]

Thanks to all who advised and gave their experience regarding the 599 battery.

I wasn't able to get the Sealy tester that was recommended as for some reason they would not deliver to my address.
This one, topdon ab101 was recommended elsewhere.


Tested the Varta blue in place and it tested 'good' but had already made the decision to replace.


The new Varta silver dynamic arrived this morning from Tayna. Very fast delivery. Tested it in the box.


Removed the blue and installed the silver.
I hate working with electricity! Scares me, something you can't see that wants to hurt you!
Anyway, found a nut missed on one of the red leads going to the battery that I will have to size and replace.

Silver dynamic in place


Turned the ignition on. No warning lights.

Pushed the big red button. Nothing. It turns over but won't catch?

Phone rings, it is Vodafone automotive. They've detected a battery disconnect / low voltage and attempt to start the vehicle so have immobilised the car.

Thank God! I didn't something up!

Confirm its me playing with the car. Car starts first time. Quick drive and all is okay, no warning lights.

Hopefully the AGM battery will help in the long term.

[xcentric]

No Ferrari experience but lots of battery experience - AGM seem to last longer, have better cold weather performance, and generally higher power than rated, so think you'll be pleased with it. It's also safer in an accident, though that'd be low down on your list of worries. And this thread has cost me a better condition tester - mind you, it's also getting me interested in a 599 so that may be the least of my worries

[ANOpax]

Wow, Cake. That was fast.


I was joking when I said that you're quick on the draw but maybe I shouldn't have. You clearly don't hang around!

It'll be interesting to see how your new AGM tests once it's been on the CTEK for 24hrs. I find a significant improvement in test results once a battery has been charged vs 'out of the box' results as I believe that the battery is delivered with a 'storage' rather than full charge. My AGM which tested at 1213CCA after a full charge (in the earlier picture) was 'only' 1045CCA out of the box.

[cake eater]

xcentric said:

No Ferrari experience but lots of battery experience - AGM seem to last longer, have better cold weather performance, and generally higher power than rated, so think you'll be pleased with it. It's also safer in an accident, though that'd be low down on your list of worries. And this thread has cost me a better condition tester - mind you, it's also getting me interested in a 599 so that may be the least of my worries

I think that the 599 is a real sweet spot for price for a big GT. At the price range you have lots of great options, Aston in particular but for me the 599 is just a bit more special. I think the looks are a bit more marmite and there are prettier cars but I really get a smile every time I look at it and when you open it up and find that crazy side, it really is wonderfully crazy.

I never thought about an accident and how the battery might be affected. It does sit well inside the boot in the rear 3/4 panel so hopefully good crash protection. But to tell you the truth, I never ever want to find out.

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

Wow, Cake. That was fast.


I was joking when I said that you're quick on the draw but maybe I shouldn't have. You clearly don't hang around!

It'll be interesting to see how your new AGM tests once it's been on the CTEK for 24hrs. I find a significant improvement in test results once a battery has been charged vs 'out of the box' results as I believe that the battery is delivered with a 'storage' rather than full charge. My AGM which tested at 1213CCA after a full charge (in the earlier picture) was 'only' 1045CCA out of the box.

Tayna batteries were really good with delivery. The quick draw was taken in good humour This was an easy choice as I had never been very happy with the battery choice the dealer installed and with the PH wisdom I am happier with what is in the car now.

I have had a couple of electrical system faults come up yesterday on the ignition checks but as other people have mentioned I don't think the battery came fully charged. I will test again after a few days after it has had a few nights on the ctek.

[Oilchange]

cake eater said:

willy wombat said:

Just a small point. If you do have to leave the car on a trickle charger for months at a time, make sure you blow the tyres up (50 psi seems to be most peoples’ recommendation for storage).

Thank you. I wouldn't have thought about that

I wouldn't but up to you. They will look normal but if you forget to deflate them to the correct pressure when you start to use it again you'll have some super hard tyres that will let go unexpectedly, especially in the wet. And you will forget.

[cake eater]

Oilchange said:

cake eater said:

willy wombat said:

Just a small point. If you do have to leave the car on a trickle charger for months at a time, make sure you blow the tyres up (50 psi seems to be most peoples’ recommendation for storage).

Thank you. I wouldn't have thought about that

I wouldn't but up to you. They will look normal but if you forget to deflate them to the correct pressure when you start to use it again you'll have some super hard tyres that will let go unexpectedly, especially in the wet. And you will forget.

it is a good point about forgetting so will have to put a sign in the car, which I will no doubt forget to do

[ANOpax]

cake eater said:

Oilchange said:

cake eater said:

willy wombat said:

Just a small point. If you do have to leave the car on a trickle charger for months at a time, make sure you blow the tyres up (50 psi seems to be most peoples’ recommendation for storage).

Thank you. I wouldn't have thought about that

I wouldn't but up to you. They will look normal but if you forget to deflate them to the correct pressure when you start to use it again you'll have some super hard tyres that will let go unexpectedly, especially in the wet. And you will forget.

it is a good point about forgetting so will have to put a sign in the car, which I will no doubt forget to do

There's a very simple solution to this problem...

Don't leave the car on trickle charge for months at a time!

Drive the damned thing (even if only in and out of your garage in winter should you decline to buy a set of winter wheels for it or are squeamish about road salt)

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

cake eater said:

Oilchange said:

cake eater said:

willy wombat said:

Just a small point. If you do have to leave the car on a trickle charger for months at a time, make sure you blow the tyres up (50 psi seems to be most peoples’ recommendation for storage).

Thank you. I wouldn't have thought about that

I wouldn't but up to you. They will look normal but if you forget to deflate them to the correct pressure when you start to use it again you'll have some super hard tyres that will let go unexpectedly, especially in the wet. And you will forget.

it is a good point about forgetting so will have to put a sign in the car, which I will no doubt forget to do

There's a very simple solution to this problem...

Don't leave the car on trickle charge for months at a time!

Drive the damned thing (even if only in and out of your garage in winter should you decline to buy a set of winter wheels for it or are squeamish about road salt)

I do worry about the salt but as long as it is washed after. . . . .
Unfortunately it is work that takes me away and not the weather that prevents me from driving for months at a time. Otherwise, I will need a volunteer to come and drive my car.
My next door neighbour did offer but after sitting next to him in his tesla I am a little concerned he has forgotten how to drive.

[Oilchange]

I am at your service, where are you?

[cake eater]

Oilchange said:

I am at your service, where are you?

Please form an orderly queue!

[cake eater]

So the dreaded ABS failure/CST failure/Manettino failure warning lights came up on the dash again.


Called GreyPaul Nottingham and the service department were very good at squeezing me in to get the ECU read.

This time it's a wheel sensor failure. They cleared the fault and the car seems fine. Put it in race mode, manual, WOT as that seems to be settings that give the most faults and nothing flashed up.

We'll see how it goes for a few days but I think it will be another preventative change as I don't want to get stranded in limp mode.

Edited by cake eater on Tuesday 29th March 22:36

[cake eater]

I've booked a Ferrari Owners Club Pista day at Silverstone. The hospitality was fully booked but got a place in the 'sport' group.

They sent the online briefing and I'm very concerned about the recommendation to increase tyre pressures at 1:37
https://youtu.be/Ib_BrsLCEig

This is very much against all my experience and previous advice which has been to set the cold pressure. Do a session and set the hot pressures. Continue checking tyre pressures after each session, bleeding back to hot pressure.