I just bought a 1995 348 spider, but???

Yes, find a good independent and get the check book out.
You are due for another 30k mile service.

 

Yes ... It is time for another 30k ... do it now. For an idea of the parts required for a 30k service see here --> http://www.eugeniosferrariservice.com/service5.htm

Rifledriver on this board is an independent Ferrari mechanic. He is in your neighbourhood. Send your car over to him

 

The big things being done on the Major Service are changing out the water pump, cam belt, cam belt tensioners (there are two different units and they each have slightly different names), and all coolant hoses. Plus, if you have any oil leaks the Major Service is the time to take care of them because the engine is already out.

Skimping on maintenance is *not* recommended, however, from what I've seen you've got a couple of different groups of people and things going on.

On the one hand, most timing belts won't slip or break after 5 years. On the other hand, most of the timing belt failures (e.g. slippage or breaking) do happen after 5+ years of age.

So while most belts aren't going to fail that soon, of the belts that do fail, most tend to fail right at 6 to 7 years of installed, tensioned age. Two different groups of cars, really.

Confusing? Most failures at 6 to 7 years of age...but most belts don't fail. Likewise, many/most belt failures occur right when you start the car, or at low RPMs when driving.

Anyway, play it safe and replace your timing belt and tensioners every 5 years or sooner (3 years is Ferrari recommended and a good practice to boot).

Oh, there is a bonus to doing the Major Service: you get to set/re-set your precise cam timing (more hp, better gas mileage, better idle, better emissions).

 

Yep ... It is 30K miles or 3 years since last major service per Ferrari bulletin. Most owners will relax the time interval so that it is 30K miles or 5 years.

Post some pics of your car! Did you buy from an fchatter?

 

"30K" is a misnomer. The service is every 3 years or 30k miles, whichever comes first. With Ferraris, the time always expires before the mileage.

It's really a 3 Year service. You're way past 3 years.

 

It's time and mileage. You've reached the time limit. Don't gamble with a $20,000 bill. Please.

 

After all my research and reading, I favor a longer than 3 yr. belt change interval, more like 4-5 yrs. But you are well past that even! So yes, do the change very soon...

 

I would suggest that the 5-year interval is fine. Figure a 30K service every 5 years regardless of mileage, unless it is abnormallly low. In that case u might stretch it a bit, but not too long.

The 3-year interval is Ferrari's revised timing to match the 360 service interval. Really, before the 360, it was 5 years for all belt driven Ferrari engines.

Have fun and post pix! I had a '94 Spider and it was tres cool.

 

What is the cost (average) for a 30K (or 5 year) service?

 

Averages about $5k in the U.S. for a turn-key job. About $1,500 if you do it yourself.

 

I got a quote of $11-13K from Ferrari of Houston when I was trying to buy my car.

 

...See your local independent, then!

Also, it matters if you are using aftermarket or yellow-box Ferrari parts.

The definitive answer is Eugenio's in Southern Cal ( http://www.eugeniosferrariservice.com/service.htm ) :$4,000


No one...anywhere...complains about Eugenio's 30K Major Service for 348's.

 

My TR belts were done at the agent in 2001 by 65.000km,I've got the car 4 months ago with 71.000km,now she's covered 78.000km...
The belts are still the same. The 3 year change program is a joke IMO,and it's just good to pay a littl' money to Schumacher from time to time...
The 3 year change program should be OK if you drive your car just 100miles every year or so,or if you drive it all days in the rain,sand,snow etc...If the car drives on a constant base,the belts won't dry out.
I'm planning to do them next year(hell yes,could I do otherwise??)
BTW Do I see a nice 930 flat nose in your garage or is it a 3.2L WTL?
Speedman

 

Very clean car! Congrats

 

Ferrari and a Porsche! The best of both worlds!
Absolutely gorgeous!

 

That Ducati monoposto ain't that bad either....
Speedman

 

Dumb question - are there 1995 model year 348's? Production of the 355 started in May, 1994...

 

Yes, there are 1995 348's (made in 1994, just as the 1994's were made in 1993).

 

Sweet garage there!!

 

Yes I agree, 5 years is plenty good! If was good before the 360 it is good after the 360 IMO.

 

I wouldn't hedge a day past that, though. The belt failures really do come in spades starting at the 6 year mark and increasing into 7 years, from what I've tracked online so far.

Of course, you *could* get lucky and go 15 years without a belt failure...but it's just that...luck. There is a big bump in the stats at 6 years increasing into 7 years.

3 years = pretty safe
4 years = reasonably safe
5 years = safe zone ending
6 years = high rate of failures
7 years = great rate of failures