430 broken transmiision mount?

OMG.......I'd better take a look.

 

My dealer just informed me that I have a cracked transmission mount. They're blaming it on my Hill Exhaust tips. Is this kind of crap common? The car has 600 miles on it and the tips went on 100 miles ago. I just paid $600 for them.

What would you say to your dealer if this was you?

 

Arnie -

Unless I'm mistaken or you bought directly from Hill Engineering, you probably don't have Hill tips on your car. If they were purchased under a different name, please let me know ASAP, but Ricambi America has no record of shipping any ET430 to Westlake Village. As the primary US Distributor for all Hill Engineering products, I'd likely have this data.

Please let me know where you purchased these exhaust tips. Could you perhaps have bought them from another source? Ours are not $600 either... they are $349.

Please advise.

 

I bought them from Kevin at Audio Illusions. He mentioned he sells the new tips for the F430, and I assumed they were the sames ones made by Hill. I had just read about them on the forum and told him that. He said they were the very same ones and that they sell for $599 online so I paid him $700 installed.

Sounds like somethings a miss.

 

Kevin is a very good and trustworthy guy. He made several mods to my F430 while I was in LA.

 

If Kevin sold them to you then they are quality and Kevin stands behind everything he sells and all of his work.
Did BH Ferrari or Auto Gallery tell you that your problem was caused by the tips. I am willing to bet it was BH.

 

Those are not manufactured by Hill Engineering.

I believe you probably have tips from a different manufacturer -- but having said that, I strongly reject a claim that any exhaust tip (whether made by Hill Engineering, or little green men from Mars) could cause a broken transmission mount. Our Hill Engineering tips are only 330 grams each, I cannot fathom how that would cause damage all the way upstream at the transmission. Maybe a muffler tip mount; maybe an exhaust silencer mount; maybe a cat flange..... but a transmission mount? No way.

 

Hey Ronnie:

Sure was BH. This **** fasinates me. No complaints with Kevin. He did a few different things for me and I love the guy. It must have just been a misunderstanding. The way things went, I assumed the tip were from Hill.

My bad!

 

I couldn't agree more. I just don't how you deal with a dealer that put's you in that position. Something I'm not used to with all the other cars I've owned. I guess it just goes with the territory.

 

Save yourself future headaches and extra mileage by going to Auto Gallery for service. Your car is under warranty anyway. Go see Chuck at Auto Gallery Service and you will not be disappointed!

 

They're trying to stick you with it, obviously. The optimal thing would be take it to another dealer, original and stock. Bummer, but F are cracking down on these add-ons and not honoring warranties. The good news is that it is really at the dealer's discretion whether they decide to dick you or not as F would never know one way or the other. Cry to the guy and tell him you intend to buy your next car there or whatever. Or, take a shot at another dealer, as is. Good luck.

 

Just to be clear, BH is taking care of me. They just insisted that the tips be removed with a claim that the extra weight could have caused the problem. No doubt it's a bunch of BS, but as long as they take care of it, it is what it is.

Just as a matter of interest, they also claim that a representative from Ferrari Italy was at the dealer yesterday and they recommended a new software load to solve my clutch slipping problem. They plan on testing it tomorrow morning and letting me know what they find.

I also have a rattle/resonance from the engine compartment that he siad may be considered normal. It was there when I took deliverey of the car 1 1/2 months ago, they replaced my exhaust tips, it was gone for 3 weeks, and now it's back louder than ever. Scary that they're telling me it might be considered normal.

I really hate *****ing about my dream car. A piece of me says that I should just suck it up and forget *****ing. Afterall, it's a Ferrari and not a Lexus. It just seems wrong to have these issues with a car that's this expensive!

Sorry to vent guys.

 

Nope, grind it. The scary thing is owning this car much past the warranty expiration. $2,500 for a power train extended

 

Hey Guys -

There is a thread on this forum about these transmission mounts having issues and soon, if not already, being the subject of a campaign. I am in the middle of buying a 2006 F430 F1 and the dealer selling it was going to replace them. They ordered the mounts a few days ago but were told they can expect them to be on back order for about 1 month. I'm going to take delivery of the car and they will ship me the new parts when they arrive. Then I'll take it down to my local dealer for installation. The story about the tips seems silly given that warranty work is good money for the dealers - no skin off their backs. Good luck.

 

OK, thanks. A software upgrade to the Becker stereo is another campaign. Not sure what years it applies to?

 

Hey man, you should wander into the 308, 328, 348, 355 forums.... we're all about jumping without a parachute.

 

Hmm, there's only one way that landing turns out

 

Yup. Blown transmissions, valve guides, cracked headers, fried cats. 348/355 folks play hard, and die harder.

 

Everytime you take your car to BH you are being told that either the problem is normal or some BS as in their explination regarding your tips. Your car is brand new and you are having WAY too many problems!!! You have a warranty...take it to Auto Gallery and see Chuck and tell him I sent you! Have Eric take you car on an extended run to experience your problems. Eric is the best. You are not going to get your car problems fixed on F-Chat.

 

Hey Ronnie:

No reason to get testy. (-:

I heard you the first time, and the second time. I'm trying to give the BH guys a chance to do their thing before I blow them off. I've been doing this dealership service thing for over 30 years starting with my first BMW bought new in 1977, which has major issues at the beginning. We all know the dealer loyalty game and I'd rather not piss them off. That being said, if they don't get it right this time, I'm out of there.

PS: I really didn't think I'd get my problems fixed on this forum.

 

Not sure I get this. If you were to just take it to another dealer it really wouldn't make a difference nor would they care. This is warranty stuff and they don't make much on it anyway as hours and rates are dictated by FNA. They're obligated to do it though. You have to do what's right for you. Hopefully things work out.

 

Thanks man. It will end up at Auto Gallery if they don't take care of it ths time.

 

Sorry if i gave you the feeling that I was getting testy...I was just trying to help you out because I know how frustrated you are with your car. Furthermore, it is a pain to drive from WLV to BH and not be satisfied.
Finally, to the fellow who posted that if you take the car to a different dealer from the one that you purchached your car through that you may not be happy, I can tell you that this will not happen with Auto Gallery.

 

It all good! I'll let you know what the result is when I get her back.