Between a rock and a hard place!
Discussion
I'm having a bit of a nightmare with my 355. I bought it 2 months ago from a Ferrari main dealer (known as 'dealer A' for now) with full warranty. Took it to Le Mans and it started playing up - the catalyst control unit was faulty and was shutting down one bank of cylinders - great!!!
Anyway, got back home and took it to Maranello's to get control unit replaced under warranty. Turned out £1000 of additional work was needed including replacement of engine and gearbox mountings, handbrake adjustment, air vent repair, reversing lights faulty, exhaust re-alignment, etc. Of course none of this was covered under warranty and I was none too pleased!
I contacted 'dealer A' and they authorised payment for all work except the replacement of the engine/gearbox mountings (the most expensive items) unless they examined the car first.
I now have to take the car up to 'dealer A' - the problem I have is that they say they have never come across this problem before (hence will probably say they don't need replacing) whereas Maranello's say they do it all the time (although admittedly it's in their interest to find so called 'faults' from a financial point of view).
Does anyone have any advice here - maybe I should get the RAC to check the car out and give an independent opinion?
Sorry for the long post
Anyway, got back home and took it to Maranello's to get control unit replaced under warranty. Turned out £1000 of additional work was needed including replacement of engine and gearbox mountings, handbrake adjustment, air vent repair, reversing lights faulty, exhaust re-alignment, etc. Of course none of this was covered under warranty and I was none too pleased!
I contacted 'dealer A' and they authorised payment for all work except the replacement of the engine/gearbox mountings (the most expensive items) unless they examined the car first.
I now have to take the car up to 'dealer A' - the problem I have is that they say they have never come across this problem before (hence will probably say they don't need replacing) whereas Maranello's say they do it all the time (although admittedly it's in their interest to find so called 'faults' from a financial point of view).
Does anyone have any advice here - maybe I should get the RAC to check the car out and give an independent opinion?
Sorry for the long post
First thing Craig - don't YOU pay a damn penny - this is the kind of Bullsh*t that I hate.
It could be that Maranellos are trying to make some money out of you (knowing that your car is covered by a warranty) - (I know my Ferrari exhausts well -exhaust re-alignment?????? what the hell is that?)
But let me get one thing straight - did you take your car in for an overall going over or just a replacement Cat sensor/cat unit - because your answer to this may indicate whether Maranellos are being totally straight (a lot of people have said good things about them so I don't know). They may not have come up with all these "faults" if they don't/didn't know your car was covered.
Either way Dealer A should fork out for the whole lot - engine/gearbox mountings are hardly perishable items which means that they MUST be covered under warranty.
If I were you I'd be in a major razz. I'd call Dealer A and say that I didn't have the time to drive the car up and I would shout them the following down the phone:
a) believe what Maranellos are telling them about engine/gearbox mountings and PAY.
or b) send one of their own men down to inspect it.
c) that you'll happily put it on a transporter and send it up to them if they will pay.
I'm not convinced an RAC inspection will be useful. Don't let them mess you around. In reality this is a problem between Maranello and stingy Dealer A.
It could be that Maranellos are trying to make some money out of you (knowing that your car is covered by a warranty) - (I know my Ferrari exhausts well -exhaust re-alignment?????? what the hell is that?)
But let me get one thing straight - did you take your car in for an overall going over or just a replacement Cat sensor/cat unit - because your answer to this may indicate whether Maranellos are being totally straight (a lot of people have said good things about them so I don't know). They may not have come up with all these "faults" if they don't/didn't know your car was covered.
Either way Dealer A should fork out for the whole lot - engine/gearbox mountings are hardly perishable items which means that they MUST be covered under warranty.
If I were you I'd be in a major razz. I'd call Dealer A and say that I didn't have the time to drive the car up and I would shout them the following down the phone:
a) believe what Maranellos are telling them about engine/gearbox mountings and PAY.
or b) send one of their own men down to inspect it.
c) that you'll happily put it on a transporter and send it up to them if they will pay.
I'm not convinced an RAC inspection will be useful. Don't let them mess you around. In reality this is a problem between Maranello and stingy Dealer A.
Manu
The car went it with the following list of faults - cat sensor, reversing lights not working, squealing noise from front wheels and air vent faulty. They susbequently found the other problems of which only the cat sensor was covered under warranty (the warranty will not cover faults that would have been in existence when the car was delivered - i.e. engine/g'box mountings).
In terms of sorting this out I may try the route of getting one of their mechanics down to look at the car. Dealer A offered to pick the car up but as their transporter is off the road would not be for some time!
The car went it with the following list of faults - cat sensor, reversing lights not working, squealing noise from front wheels and air vent faulty. They susbequently found the other problems of which only the cat sensor was covered under warranty (the warranty will not cover faults that would have been in existence when the car was delivered - i.e. engine/g'box mountings).
In terms of sorting this out I may try the route of getting one of their mechanics down to look at the car. Dealer A offered to pick the car up but as their transporter is off the road would not be for some time!
Craig,
I've read, and re-read your post very carefully. Once you strip out all the 'emotional' stuff (sorry, can't think of a better descrption) the only real issue relates to whether the mountings need replacing and if so who pays for them. Everything else has been done and it has not cost you right? Dealer A have not in fact refused to replace the mountings; you suspect they might. I personally think this suspicion is unfounded. If they dither, get Brian Kimber to call them. They are offering their transporter (when it is available), so the emotive issues relates to how long it will be before it is on the road again and you can get the process in train (why should this > 1 week?), and whether you can drive the car in the meantime. Do Maranello's recommend that you take the car off the road?
Overall, I do not see paying anything to get this stuff fixed.
I've read, and re-read your post very carefully. Once you strip out all the 'emotional' stuff (sorry, can't think of a better descrption) the only real issue relates to whether the mountings need replacing and if so who pays for them. Everything else has been done and it has not cost you right? Dealer A have not in fact refused to replace the mountings; you suspect they might. I personally think this suspicion is unfounded. If they dither, get Brian Kimber to call them. They are offering their transporter (when it is available), so the emotive issues relates to how long it will be before it is on the road again and you can get the process in train (why should this > 1 week?), and whether you can drive the car in the meantime. Do Maranello's recommend that you take the car off the road?
Overall, I do not see paying anything to get this stuff fixed.
craigw - no the dealer is not in SW London (but I'd rather not say where)
456mgt - you are right in most respects. My only real concern is that dealer A will not recommend changing the mountings. The other issue is being without the car for some time over the summer. I'm going to another dealer tomorrow to get a second opinion.
thanks for the comments
456mgt - you are right in most respects. My only real concern is that dealer A will not recommend changing the mountings. The other issue is being without the car for some time over the summer. I'm going to another dealer tomorrow to get a second opinion.
thanks for the comments
Craig,
I purchased my 355 from Maranello's nearly 2 yrs ago and have had a couple of services plus one other minor issue attended too. IMO Maranello's are very honest and provide a superb level of service. I would tend to go with what they are saying irrespective of dealer A's opinion. Assuming dealer A is not the other Ferrari dealer in Egham ( by the railway station ) you could always get a third opinion from them.
Mark
I purchased my 355 from Maranello's nearly 2 yrs ago and have had a couple of services plus one other minor issue attended too. IMO Maranello's are very honest and provide a superb level of service. I would tend to go with what they are saying irrespective of dealer A's opinion. Assuming dealer A is not the other Ferrari dealer in Egham ( by the railway station ) you could always get a third opinion from them.
Mark
sorry to say it but a used ferrari only comes with mechanical brake down insurance, aka a 'warranty'.
normal rule of thumbs, and experience, is give it back to the supplying dealer for niggles as below, only take it to an alternative dealer when it has a obvious component failure.
when you think about it, both garages are a bit right, maranello did not sell you the car and therefore do not have any reason to bend over backwards to sort it....on the other hand the supplying dealer do and should sort it, but only at their internal cost not at another dealers marked up rates etc.
i also learnt the hard way in the past...always give back to the supplying dealer where possible, then it is their problem if the warranty covers it not yours.
might be worth getting them to sort only the bits under warranty and then put on paper that the engine mounts are defective and need replacing and then send this up to the original dealer for him to sort.
Bennno
>> Edited by bennno on Saturday 6th July 00:09
Craig, from what you say the dealer has agreed to resolve all your problems except the mountings. Good that this happened now rather than two months down the road as the Goodwill Charter is only 3 months long!
If the warranty does not cover items that were damaged before you took delivery of the car then surely that is a major failing of Dealer A. Are they one of the newer dealers?
If its one of the newer dealers then tell them that you are going to complain to Ferrari UK and that this is not the level of service you have come to expect from an authorised Ferrari dealer. They may shit their pants and decide to keep you happy and not ruin their reputation. Most of the time they will tell you shit like "it can't be repaired", "they always do a little of that", etc. but that is most of the time total crap.
I agree with another post that it is very likely that they will repair it for you. You have to give them the chance to inspect it for themselves, which is only fair. But the transporter is not your problem and they should send a technician (they like to call themselves that) down to you to inspect. Its not your problem how they do inspect it.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
If the warranty does not cover items that were damaged before you took delivery of the car then surely that is a major failing of Dealer A. Are they one of the newer dealers?
If its one of the newer dealers then tell them that you are going to complain to Ferrari UK and that this is not the level of service you have come to expect from an authorised Ferrari dealer. They may shit their pants and decide to keep you happy and not ruin their reputation. Most of the time they will tell you shit like "it can't be repaired", "they always do a little of that", etc. but that is most of the time total crap.
I agree with another post that it is very likely that they will repair it for you. You have to give them the chance to inspect it for themselves, which is only fair. But the transporter is not your problem and they should send a technician (they like to call themselves that) down to you to inspect. Its not your problem how they do inspect it.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Well I picked up the car on Sat from Maranello's after they had replaced the cat control unit and other minot parts. Half an hour later it played up again so had to take it back. Just got a call to say that they had to replace the lamda sensors and ?thermo couplers? in both cats and all seems to be fine after a road test - luckily all is covered by warranty!
Dealer A is collecting car from there on Friday to check out the engine/gearbox mountings - at least there's no summer to speak of that I'm missing!
Will keep you posted
Dealer A is collecting car from there on Friday to check out the engine/gearbox mountings - at least there's no summer to speak of that I'm missing!
Will keep you posted
If thermo couples are what I think they are (a la 360 Modena - i.e temp sensors) then if the cats get too hot the thermo couples trigger because hot cats start melting and cracking manifolds and means cats may be malfunctioning.... Unsure but from here could be check engine warning lights or a complete shutdown of the engines bank of cylinders which feeds the the exhaust line for the corresponding cat.
well dealer A did not find fault with the engine or gearbox mountings - surprise, surprise!
I had the car delivered back 2 weeks ago, took it out and it started misfiring! arghhhh!
dealer A were disinterested and advised me to take it back to Maranello's who were very helfpul - they found the problem and luckily it was covered by warranty
I starting to think I made a mistake buying the 355 but it sounds like I've just been unlucky.
I think I may well be renewing the warranty next year - does anyone know the cost?
I had the car delivered back 2 weeks ago, took it out and it started misfiring! arghhhh!
dealer A were disinterested and advised me to take it back to Maranello's who were very helfpul - they found the problem and luckily it was covered by warranty
I starting to think I made a mistake buying the 355 but it sounds like I've just been unlucky.
I think I may well be renewing the warranty next year - does anyone know the cost?
A Power Warranty is 1176GBP from main dealers, which includes nearly 300GBP for a pre-warranty inspection. A 2yr extension is 2k incl. inspection.
As I understand it, any car that hasn't been serviced by a main dealer must have this inspection. I also understood that all cars had to be inspected prior to applying any warranty anyway to avoid the sort of hassle you've had - warranty not covering faults on delivery! I ask you!!
Power warranties cover the same stuff as the Formula ones but have unlimited claim limits (F ones are 10k per claim). They can only be applied to cars 6yrs old or newer though (F is up to 15yrs I think).
Good luck sorting it out. I'm sure once it's back in full fettle you'll quickly learn to love it again.
As I understand it, any car that hasn't been serviced by a main dealer must have this inspection. I also understood that all cars had to be inspected prior to applying any warranty anyway to avoid the sort of hassle you've had - warranty not covering faults on delivery! I ask you!!
Power warranties cover the same stuff as the Formula ones but have unlimited claim limits (F ones are 10k per claim). They can only be applied to cars 6yrs old or newer though (F is up to 15yrs I think).
Good luck sorting it out. I'm sure once it's back in full fettle you'll quickly learn to love it again.
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