| Author |
Message |
Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
Junior Member
Username: Dbr328gtb
Post Number: 212
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 31, 2003 - 8:37 pm: | |
As it is a hassle to get my car to a shop from where I live, getting the job done right the first time is much more important than spending more. I know I pay a premium to have it serviced at an auth dealer, but doing so helps to maintain the value of the car and there are other intangible perks such as walking into the dealer and without asking having the salesman, mechanic, and detailer spend 45 minutes showing me a new Enzo. The Ferrari experience is much better for me by using the dealer and I dont mind paying for it. Enough said. |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 2216
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 10:08 pm: | |
Daniel,
Not to belabor the point, but as is typical for dealers, it's still way too much...my independant Ferrari technician had to remove my radiator, have it opened up and cleaned, rewelded and refinished, installed. All for around $400. |
Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
Junior Member
Username: Dbr328gtb
Post Number: 211
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 9:39 pm: | |
Guys, the radiator repair was only $75. The other part of the cost was the labor getting the radiator in and out. |
dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 2205
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 2:07 pm: | |
Sweet, gotta love those unexpected repairs that are under $100! Wish I had more of those... |
Mule (Mule)
Junior Member
Username: Mule
Post Number: 161
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 1:14 pm: | |
Optimism pays off - just the lower radiator hose. New hose, labor, top off coolant, donuts, coffee, meeting two guys in town from the Maserati factory, watching two hours of Speed TV, and checking out a black 550 all under $100. Other hoses and radiator look good.
Thanks all for the radiator info and advice. I will store it away for when the radiator does go south. I will probably contact some places in Denver and get quotes for future use, if the dealer is too high when the time comes.
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Mule (Mule)
Junior Member
Username: Mule
Post Number: 150
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 6:21 pm: | |
Thanks Dave,
Still optimistic on the diagnosis, though it may just be a matter of time. Seems like it might be a common occurance, since this many people have experience. If it is only the hose, I am going to have them take a hard look at the condition of the radiator while they are in there.
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dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 2148
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 3:28 pm: | |
Very common for the 308/328/Mondial to have the radiator seam split at the top or bottom (I spoke to my mechanic about it once and he says he sees them all the time, but once repaired, they are good from then on. He usually has the entire top or bottom removed, the core cleaned inside and out to remove any possible obstructions, then have it welded back up. |
Julio Valladares (Jbanzai)
Junior Member
Username: Jbanzai
Post Number: 159
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 1:36 pm: | |
My 328 radiator is going to be copied in Aluminum and with a high performance core. They said that they can do an all new aluminum radiator for about 300 Euros (255 US$). But this is here in Madrid, Spain.
I am going to remove the radiator this weekend and take it to the manufacturer on Monday. I will confirm the cost and ask them if they accept foreign orders just in case somebody is interested.
- Julio.
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Mule (Mule)
Junior Member
Username: Mule
Post Number: 148
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 10:23 am: | |
Thanks Jim,
We will see what the diagnosis and estimate is on Thursday. Might get lucky, and it is just the hose. I know of a few other options around, so we will see.
The car is getting some other work done, so if the coolant leak repair is a fair price (radiator or not), I may let them do it all at once. If it isn't, I'll look around (as I am doing here).
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Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member
Username: Parkerfe
Post Number: 3129
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 10:19 am: | |
I had my Boxer radiator recored with a high performance core for only $370.00 ! |
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Advanced Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 2762
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 10:11 am: | |
Mule, there are other qualified Ferrari mechanics around Denver that will charge you a lot less. My 328 had the exact same leak you describe. I took it to my 'independant' shop and got it repaired for a lot less than $700. |
Mule (Mule)
Junior Member
Username: Mule
Post Number: 147
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 9:00 am: | |
Skip,
Thanks for your input. |
Skip Williamson (Darolls)
Junior Member
Username: Darolls
Post Number: 181
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 1:14 am: | |
$700 IS A RIP OFF; any independent can R&R the rad., and send it to a radiator shop to have it boiled out and soldered/recored, for a lot less than that!
Example: About 10 years ago, a Rolls dealer quoted me $600+, to have my radiator R&R + whatever it cost to have the radiator repaired.
Bottom line, I had my independent mechanic do the job, plus he put a new muffler and tailpipe on one of my other cars. Total cost for both cars; $250!!
The only difference in R&R on the radiator, than most cars, was that the bonnet had to come off to get the rad. out.......big deal!
So many people are into the mystique that, if it doesn't cost a lot to fix your exotic, the job won't be done right!
C'mon, if you don't mind flushing money down the toilet, that's your business. Myself, I just don't like being taken!! |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Intermediate Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 1315
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 10:48 pm: | |
ONLY $700 That's one expensive radiator rebuild/replace.
IMHO At least 2/3 of that was their labor that must have been something like $100/hour. Last time I had a radiator rebuilt, it was something like $200-$250 & that included a high capacity core with an extra row of tubes.
I've seen similar numbers mentioned in recent threads for a radiator re-core.
If it's just a leaking seam, then re-soldering it will be a lot less of course. |
Mule (Mule)
Junior Member
Username: Mule
Post Number: 146
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 9:45 pm: | |
Thanks, Daniel. $700 isn't TOO bad, but I will have to rent a car in Denver to get home, since I won't be able to wait on it. Unless FOD has a 575M loaner car.
Let's hope I get lucky and it is only the hose... |
Daniel B Reese MD (Dbr328gtb)
Junior Member
Username: Dbr328gtb
Post Number: 210
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 9:42 pm: | |
Had the same problem a few years ago. If the leak is slow and you carry coolant and keep your eye on the thermostat I dont think it would be a problem to drive. I was told my slow leak wasnt an emergency, but it drove me nuts to have coolant on the floor. Ferrari of Wash removed the radiator sent it to a radiator shop and then put it back in -- $700. |
Mule (Mule)
Junior Member
Username: Mule
Post Number: 144
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 9:27 pm: | |
My 1989 328 GTS is dripping coolant in the front at the bottom edge of the radiator on the passenger side. Unfortunatly, I dont think it is from the lower hose, but the radiator itself, but it is hard to tell.
It seems to drip on the passenger side, then run along the top of the lower valance and hit the ground on the driver's side. Not much, but enough to make a 4 inch cirle on the ground every now and then (not after every drive).
I am taking it to the dealer on Thursday, who is an hour away. Other than losing coolant, I will watch the temp gauge, which has never gone above normal, even after the leak started. Any problems or things to watch for? Is it safe to drive it one hour at highway speeds to the shop?
I have seen the aluminium radiator thread. Does anyone have any experience or costs, if it is the radiator?
Thanks.
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