550's Euro versus US versions

From what I understand there are no major differences. There were different interior colours available in certain markets I believe. The only noticeable difference is the side markers. The European and Japanese cars had them, North American cars didn't.

My car is from Japan. I'd rather save the 20% and put that towards maintenance and fuel.

 

Look at Ricambi's site and go through the parts catalog for the 550 and you will see those parts noted for US and rest of world 550s. Things like Motronic ECUs, fuel cooling systems on late US models, etc, in addition to the obvious lighting differences.

 

Yeah, but does Ricambi sell those Euro parts at 10-20% discount/ price penalty?

 

Yup, Chatters get a 10% discount from FChat. Otherwise, your joke is lost on me.

 

Instrumentation is normally metric on Euro cars also.

 

i think he was alluding to the discount since euro cars trade at a discount... ???

 

Henry- I know.

 

The early intake manifold gaskets on the Maranellos were pretty flimsy and tended to wear out quickly, sometimes leaking air and sometimes even sucking pieces of the gasket down the intake. Later ones had a metal center surrounded by plastic or rubber that were much more sturdy. The very low torque on the manifold bolts also tended to make manifolds more prone to leaks, especially with the flimsy, early gaskets.

So I have not seen anything on the manifold itself needing to be replaced, but many maintenance items call for the manifold to be removed (plenum hoses, cam cover removal, etc).

 

There was a TSB on taking the manifold apart and replacing the air horns. On the early cars they fell out and rolled around inside. Never heard of replacing a manifold.

 

Brian- I do remember that one, thanks.

 

Yep, happened to mine. Ben Salerno caught it and fixed it.

 

I owned both federalized euro and USA 550's at the same time in cali. The differences as I remember minor evap container euro has 2 usa 1, euro side lights by doors, euro had foglight switch for rear fog light, usa no foglight and blank switch on dash. Everything else was the same including what it took and parts it took to do majors. All parts were interchangeable and available in USA. Part of federalization was gauge changes like speedo. Mine had basically usa guages. Some of the euro cars will still have DRL's or headlights running as required in some euro places and canada. Smog wise they were both a breeze even in California...