| Author | Message | ||
| Keith (Kds)
New member Username: Kds Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2003 |
In the last 15 years of selling exotics for franchised dealerships I have seen the dealers I worked for receive 90-100% of their "door rate" on labor charges whereas the parts are re-imbursed at wholesale (as opposed to retail) so the dealer still recieves a healthy markup. Otherwise....warranty customers work would stand stil while retail work would be procossed first......with obvious consequences for CSI (customer satisfaction index) reports. Interestingly enough, the spread between wholoesale and retail on parts is about 15-20% maximum. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1668 Registered: 6-2001 |
David: While that may be true on a lot of dealerships, I suspect that on Ferraris, very few dealers would do that. Simple reason: most people who own Ferraris know quite a bit about the cars, and most people who own Ferraris have a pretty good relationship with the people there. Art | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 747 Registered: 5-2001 |
One thing to consider is that warranty reimbursement for dealers is generally paid out at a much lower rate than what they charge walk-in customers. That is, most manufacturers are going to pay, often times, half what a dealer can typically charge for labor. Add in the fact that they make nothing on the parts too, makes warranty work not so lucrative....Warranty work is great if your shop is slow, but not so good if you run a busy shop. Perhaps someone who works at a dealership can explain this better, I heard this from a friend who used to be a mechanic at a dealership. He said they would often times on stuff that was covered by the manufacturer out of warranty (known defect) the dealer would try to not tell the customer, and claim they could get the parts covered "free" if they would pay the labor. This way teh dealer still got the full hit on the labor, instead of the lower reimbursement from the manufacturer. So going to the manufacturer (FNA in this case), may be in your best interest. | ||
| David Moore (Speedmoore)
New member Username: Speedmoore Post Number: 46 Registered: 4-2003 |
Shutdown? I guess we got lucky. Thankfully, Miller Catalyzer Company in California completely rebuilt the cat. They also shipped documents along that they were certified and had us fill out mileage, date, customer, etc. One for my records and one for the customer to keep in his records. BTW, not one, but 2 different dealers (from different states) told us this cat on a Dec 1997 355F1 was not covered. We asked, they laughed. As for the comments that they should (and they certainly did not for us) leaves me to believe that there is something else to this. I have a hard time believing that if a part is covered by warrantee that it's not replaced when asked. Since I've been working on Ferrari cars (circa 1988), I've never personally encounterd any problem getting help with parts or technical assistance from any Ferrari dealer. D | ||
| Chris Aaron (T_rutlands)
New member Username: T_rutlands Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2003 |
From what I was told last night by my friend the warranty guru at a Ferrari dealer, the 8 yr./80K mile stands from late 96 to current. Like I said, this is what I was told so I am not 100%. He is however the warranty person for that dealer in service so i would think this to be correct. Also, from what I know: every cat rebuilder in the state of California has been shut down by the EPA and DOT. Apparently rebuilding cats is by law, illegal. If a cat comes off of a car or is defective, it must be replaced. I know every rebuilder we know in California is being told to stop immediately. I hope this all helps you in some way. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1589 Registered: 6-2001 |
Dave: There are several shops that will rebuilt CATS. We have several here in California that do, and the cars pass the emissions testing. My understanding of the emissions warranty is it depends upon the State where the vehicle was originally sold. Califoria cars get 7 years, others get 2 or 5. I'd be careful about blown cats because they can destroy the exhaust manifold, causing their replacement. If you use all new Ferrari parts, you'll pay over 15k for repair (assuming both sides). Art | ||
| Chris Aaron (T_rutlands)
New member Username: T_rutlands Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2003 |
CORRECTION!!! The first dealer I talked to was incorrect. All Ferrari models from late 96' forward have an 8 year/80K mile emissions warranty. Converters are absolutely covered under this warranty. If your dealer will not replace tham after you have mentioned this warranty, I would recommend getting in touch with FNA and talking to the service rep. for your region. This should be in your warranty booklet. This I am told from a good source is the final word. | ||
| allan fiedler (Allanlambo)
Member Username: Allanlambo Post Number: 498 Registered: 6-2002 |
I just took the cats off my 7,000 mile 1997 355 Spider and would be willing to sell them if youd like. | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Intermediate Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 1444 Registered: 11-2002 |
>>Cars sold in Ca. come with a 7 Yr./70K Mi. warranty from Ferrari. The other 49 states all have a 5 Yr./50K Mi. warranty. Hope this helps.<< This is discussed here often actually. Many Fchatters have had the cats replaced Free under warranty and quite a few have had Cats and Cracked Headers replaced Free under warranty. There have even been instances posted of the fixes beyond the time limits. Know the Law, Know your rights, talk to the right people. | ||
| Tom Bakowsky (Tbakowsky)
Member Username: Tbakowsky Post Number: 395 Registered: 9-2002 |
I've had cats made for 355's with out any problem. I made them to install on a car that had the test pipes on it. The owner of the car threw out the original cats!! (they were junk anyway) I just took it down the street to the local exhaust shop and they made me up a set of after market high flow cats. They fit and worked like a charm. The car passed the e-test with flying colors!! All for about $500 installed. FuckFerrari and their a$$hole prices. They need a big boot up the a$$ with no lube!! | ||
| Chris Aaron (T_rutlands)
New member Username: T_rutlands Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2003 |
Cars sold in Ca. come with a 7 Yr./70K Mi. warranty from Ferrari. The other 49 states all have a 5 Yr./50K Mi. warranty. Hope this helps. | ||
| Erik R. K. Jonsson (Gamester)
Member Username: Gamester Post Number: 313 Registered: 11-2000 |
Well for just $400 shipped, I can send you 355 cat bypass stainless pipes  and you can save your newly expensive cats for a smoggy day! [email protected] | ||
| Jens Haller (Jh280774)
Member Username: Jh280774 Post Number: 639 Registered: 9-2001 |
David, That is really hilarious! When my transmission broke down and I had to replace the two main wheels of them and some other parts my mechanic told me something similar! The prices had flatly doubled since there was the DM to � conversion. IMO that is absolutely unacceptable behaviour and total rip off!!!  One more reason to go for independent mechanics and avoid official Ferrari dealers as much as possible. BTW: I think the TUBI cats are race cats with more flow. Might as well be possible that they don�t pass strict californian emissions due do the better flow and better performance! Con saluti cordialissimi, Jens Haller | ||
| David Moore (Speedmoore)
New member Username: Speedmoore Post Number: 40 Registered: 4-2003 |
"Aren't emissions related items covered under a mandatory (federal) extended warranty of 7 years or something? This would still exclude all 1995's and some 1996's....but the others might by covered." You'd think so, but no, they are not covered. I asked 2 different dealers (Algar/Ferrari of Houston) regarding Dec of 97 F1, both say it's not covered. "Why wouldn't any converter do? One can be spliced into the place where the original one goes, by any competent exhaust shop. Are converters different, other than size?" By the time you make all the flanges set them up for OBD2 and get a "quality" hi flowing sport cat that performs equal if not better than the original, it's not worth the effort or money. The Ferrari cat ain't too shabby as long as you ignore the fact that they fall apart FAR too soon. | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 713 Registered: 5-2001 |
Aren't emissions related items covered under a mandatory (federal) extended warranty of 7 years or something? This would still exclude all 1995's and some 1996's....but the others might by covered. | ||
| Henryk (Henryk)
Member Username: Henryk Post Number: 685 Registered: 8-2001 |
David: Why wouldn't any converter do? One can be spliced into the place where the original one goes, by any competent exhaust shop. Are converters different, other than size? | ||
| David Moore (Speedmoore)
New member Username: Speedmoore Post Number: 37 Registered: 4-2003 |
Priced up a new cat from Ferrari for your 355 lately? They've more than doubled. A F-dealer quoted a list price of $4085 for the right hand on an F1 this week. Checked with another F-dealer and same price. I thought they were stupid money before at $1800 ea. Dealers say it's not a mistake, FNA has a supercesion to a new part no. Go figure. Anyway, as of today, I'm having them remanufactured back to full emmissions legal certification now at our shop for under a $1000 each. TubiUSA says they'll have one available in 3-4 weeks for about $400 more than one of our remans, but it may not be "totally" California legal if you catch my drift..... So drop me an email if you need help [email protected] |