Every day tips for living with a 599

[cake eater]

The guys at MDL have been installing the new discs and doughnuts

Old before removal


Everything off including hub to allow installation of the front doughnuts


Doughnut backing plate installed


New disc


I thought the old / new looked a little different so here's a side by side


Fully mounted up along with the front doughnuts


With the challenge rims mounted up


Will definitely need the F12 rims to see the doughnuts properly and I think also get any positive effects from them.

[cake eater]

Rears are also being done but no doughnuts

Old before replacement




Hand brake is a drum and new shoes will be installed


Another side by side

[ConnectionError]

What do the doughnuts do?

[cake eater]

ConnectionError said:

What do the doughnuts do?

Well connectionError,

Mostly I think they just look good but according to Ferrari they're to assist with aero.

"the GTO can count on improved ducting to the brake discs and pads, and the adoption of wheel doughnuts – a disc positioned outside the brake disc that ensure that hot air exiting the wheelarch stays as close to the body of the car as possible to reduce drag"

https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/599-gto



This is the view through the front bumper brake duct


It's not clear to see in this picture but you can see the front suspension and from the right angle the brakes can be seen also.

With the F12 rims on the whole assembly will be more exposed


Hopefully giving truth to Ferrari's claim

[cake eater]

ConnectionError said:

What do the doughnuts do?

Actually I didn't do the rear doughnuts because they were almost twice the price of the fronts and without the duct on the rear bumper that the GTO has I didn't see it would be anything more than cosmetic.

From my limited reading any help with the cooling will help the life of the CCM discs

https://blog.racetechnologies.com/2015/05/01/bremb...

CCM discs are not known to be particularly good especially compared to the CCB type.

So if the doughnuts help duct air around the disc then my thought is it will help with temperature regulation also.


And this is my Nurburgring car

If I ever get GTO bumpers I'll probably add the rear doughnuts

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

Rears are also being done but no doughnuts

Old before replacement




Hand brake is a drum and new shoes will be installed


Another side by side

So the rears are all back together. You can see the spacers the I use with the Challenge rims in these pictures also




In my ignorance I asked Lee at MDL if they had changed the drums also. He very politely pointed out that the drums are built into the disc.


Another good reason to change the shoes along with the disc

[cake eater]

Only a couple things left, oil and filter change and a new oil pressure sensor.

I believe I have a good engine
she doesn't use oil
but I have had the pressure warning light flick on a few times for a few seconds during normal driving.

So with the recommendation of MDL a new one will be installed incase there's been any degradation / intermittent failure like with the alternator and TPMS on the right front. All 4 TPMS have been changed as a precaution also.

So if we get another warning light I know my overtime requirements will be going up

[cake eater]

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/electric-vehicles...

Faster than a 599.

But is it faster than my 599?

Definitely faster than a 599 with me driving

Maybe I can get an electric tow to sub 8

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

Only a couple things left, oil and filter change and a new oil pressure sensor.

I believe I have a good engine
she doesn't use oil
but I have had the pressure warning light flick on a few times for a few seconds during normal driving.

So with the recommendation of MDL a new one will be installed incase there's been any degradation / intermittent failure like with the alternator and TPMS on the right front. All 4 TPMS have been changed as a precaution also.

So if we get another warning light I know my overtime requirements will be going up

Oil and filter changed
Oil pressure sensor also


Looks perfect so now I'm a little nervous about my overtime

Fingers crossed

[cake eater]

It has been 4 months since I was back in the UK so I have been really looking forward to seeing the 599 again and driving her.

She does make me smile, even standing still


Lee of MDL took me around the car, going through all the work we had agreed to.

Start the car up, what a noise

[cake eater]

Take the car for a drive. I think after 4 months of not driving I'm rusty, nervous of the size and power, cold wet roads and the car can feel it too.

She's jerky and clunky and I'm not enjoying the drive. Warning lights on the dash are annoying me. I've not waited all this time for this.



I tell myself it's the battery, she needs a good drive after 4 months of shuffling in and out of the garage.

I push the TPMS calibrate button again and again and I'm still getting TPMS failed, TPMS not calibrated, parking sensors failed, CCM worn

I drive back home frustrated, I can feel the 599 is frustrated with me too

[cake eater]

I park the 599 at home and look back at her.

A lot of that frustration disappeared at this moment


I plug in the ctek and go for a few G&Ts with my neighbour Chris

Taking one more look at her as we walk to the pub


She looks mean, brooding, half hidden in the shadows.

I smile a little more

[cake eater]

Another drive to Liverpool for some work stuff.

Still getting the TPMS not calibrated warning light but push the button, drive a few miles and this time it's cleared. I can scroll to the TPMS page on the dash and all looks good.

Parking sensor failure seems to have cleared too.

Unfortunately while parking in Liverpool the parking sensor failure comes back.

Off to Stratstone in Manchester to get the CCM coded to the car.

Each disc comes with a bar code


Stratstone take the car in and plug in the diagnostic to code the CCM to the car to clear the warning light on the dash


There's some very nice metal in the garage


There's lots of 296 in the carpark and I rather liked a matt grey black one


Lots of the not SUV also

[ANOpax]

If she hasn’t been on the battery tender for the last four months and only driven in and out of the garage at MDL then the battery could well be shagged (though I’d hope not given that you recently replaced it). Time to get the tester out!

Lovely photos and narrative BTW. Sometimes an all too familiar set of feelings

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

If she hasn’t been on the battery tender for the last four months and only driven in and out of the garage at MDL then the battery could well be shagged (though I’d hope not given that you recently replaced it). Time to get the tester out!

Lovely photos and narrative BTW. Sometimes an all too familiar set of feelings

Hi ANOPax,

Thank you. Battery is okay. A good run today and the ctek seems to have made the car a lot happier

Pretty sure it's been battery related in the most part.

While at Stratstone in Manchester I asked them to run a diagnostic and it showed that the front inner right parking sensor had failed.

They had one in stock so bought it. Will need painting prior to installation.

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

Off to Stratstone in Manchester to get the CCM coded to the car.

Each disc comes with a bar code


Stratstone take the car in and plug in the diagnostic to code the CCM to the car to clear the warning light on the dash

So the coding to clear the CCM warning lights apparently takes a one off password from Ferrari to enter the system. Then input the bar codes and clear the warning. Sometimes the system asks for a second one off password but mine didn't.

So finally a clear dash. No warning lights.


I'm much happier. Obviously if I go into reverse the parking sensor failure will pop up but I'm a much happier bunny and the dolls are back in the pram.

And the car can tell. I'm getting a little of feel for her again and it's all much smoother. Maybe it's the sun and the drying roads around the Peak District.

I'll see if I can book some training or an FOC day too

Will take some time to bed in the brakes also but I can already feel the improvement.

[DeejRC]

Ah my brother from another lover
You are an inspiration to us all !

[cake eater]

DeejRC said:

Ah my brother from another lover
You are an inspiration to us all !

Mom enjoyed life didn't she

I did also see a forest green 296 and thought of you
Pic didn't come out very well due to the shadow

[cake eater]

Saw this in Ferrari




3 year training programme, didn't mention what the pay and conditions were

[cake eater]

Over the last few days I haven't driven the 599 much as Mum gave me lots of jobs and I've been ferrying people around in her car.

That meant Mum has been using the Ferrari for her usual shopping and a trip to the vets.

Apparently a Ferrari is acceptable in Lidl


But not in Asda


It was very amusing to see her seat position with two cushions so she could see

Anyway, her verdict was is too bumpy and the cat didn't like it. I think Mum secretly likes it though