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Always get your car serviced at the dealers

Discussion in '360/430' started by luicci, Oct 3, 2009.

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  1. luicci

    luicci Rookie

    Jul 12, 2008
    33
    #1 luicci, Oct 3, 2009
    I had to learn the hard way but I took my 2008 f430 spider to a guy that only does ferraris and seemed very good. There is no doubt that the guy is a perfectionist, but I put my car with him to change my engine oil for $350, so I told him to fix the wind deflector because it was vibrating on high speeds. I went yesterday to pick my car up and pay the bill, he charged me $350 for an oil change and $300 for fixing the wind deflector. I payed up like a very good boy, and decided that in the future I will always get my car fixed through my dealer no matter how much he quotes me.
     
  2. JSL

    JSL Formula 3

    Jan 5, 2002
    2,212
    California
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    J.S. Leonard
    #2 JSL, Oct 3, 2009
    Do you feel that it was an unfair price?
     
  3. fc2

    fc2 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Nov 2, 2006
    5,263
    Silicon Valley Ca.
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    Frank C.
    #3 fc2, Oct 3, 2009
    I'm not sure what you mean.

    First... when you say "wind deflector" what are you talking about? Whatever it was, did it constitute a complex fix?

    A dealer would have fixed the vibrating component for free... that's b/c your car is under warranty.

    A little more detail would help.... there are a number of excellent, non-dealer, Ferrari shops around who provide first-rate service at non-Ferrari dealer prices.
     
  4. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,451
    Winston Salem, NC
    #4 Ricambi America, Oct 3, 2009
    The pins that hold the wind deflectors are quite expensive -- and the deflector itself is a princely sum. $350 doesn't seem out-of-line, but it'd be helpful to know what was actually done to resolve the vibration.
     
  5. luicci

    luicci Rookie

    Jul 12, 2008
    33
    #5 luicci, Oct 3, 2009
    I'm not saying that $350 for an oil change is expensive, but $300 for fixing a wind deflector is a little out of line in my opinion. The pins were not replaced to my knowledge, and BTW wind deflector is the plastic in between the seats. The guy is very very good by the way so I'm not saying that he's not good. I was just trying to say that taking the car to the dealership is better overall even with a price difference in the long run (that's just my opinion).
     
  6. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
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    Tim Keseluk
    #6 2NA, Oct 3, 2009
    Good luck with that. ;)
     
  7. charliebronson

    charliebronson Formula 3

    Dec 5, 2004
    1,244
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    Charliebronson
    #7 charliebronson, Oct 3, 2009
    I don't get it. I really don't.

    -Peter Oh
     
  8. fc2

    fc2 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Nov 2, 2006
    5,263
    Silicon Valley Ca.
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    Frank C.
    #8 fc2, Oct 3, 2009
    Ah, your car is a Spider. I see... sorry, mine's a coupe so I don't have one of those.

    IMO... you bring a car that's under warranty to a dealer for warranty work. That's what warranties are for. Trust me, you're paying for it, so you might as well use it.
     
  9. RobD

    RobD Formula 3

    Nov 10, 2003
    1,182
    USA
    #9 RobD, Oct 3, 2009
    Assuming an independent shop rate of ~$100/hour, spending 3 hours on a seemingly minor repair does sound like a lot of time (and if no expensive parts were involved).
     
  10. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
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    #10 2NA, Oct 3, 2009
  11. luicci

    luicci Rookie

    Jul 12, 2008
    33
    #11 luicci, Oct 3, 2009
    First of all I want to clarify that in no way am I bashing non-dealer ferrari shops or saying they're bad, some are as good as the dealer if not better, and that guy was very good.
    Here's what I'm trying to say:
    For example, he asked me if I had skid plates on and if I wanted to install some, I answered Yes. He quoted me $850 for the skid plates installed, on my way home after I dropped my car off, I called Ferrari of Orange County since my car was scheduled to get all the campaigns and recalls done and asked them how much they charge for the skid plates and they said $550. So I called him back and told him not to do the skid plate.

    The only reason I would take my Ferrari to a non-dealer Ferrari shop is to save a couple of bucks while still getting some good or custom service done. But when the non-dealer is charging more than the dealer, I think I would stick to my dealer.
     
  12. luicci

    luicci Rookie

    Jul 12, 2008
    33
    #12 luicci, Oct 3, 2009
    That's true too, and going to a well known and good non-dealer ferrari shop (like Eugenio's) has great advantages. I hate to say it but I think I would still take my chances with the dealer..
     
  13. Carnut

    Carnut F1 Rookie

    Nov 3, 2003
    3,797
    Gladwyne PA
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    Morrie
    #13 Carnut, Oct 3, 2009
    I agree, that was too much, but the defector does nothing but block rear vision, take it out.
     
  14. OceanSide760

    OceanSide760 Karting

    Jul 8, 2009
    185
    #14 OceanSide760, Oct 3, 2009
    maybe you can answer the following for me?

    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259900




     
  15. csun213

    csun213 Karting

    Feb 1, 2006
    117
    #15 csun213, Oct 3, 2009
    If the guy does good work, I would just get a quote before he does any job. If you like the price then have him do it but if you don't like (like the skid plates), just take it to someone else to do the work.
     
  16. luicci

    luicci Rookie

    Jul 12, 2008
    33
    #16 luicci, Oct 3, 2009
    I'm afraid I'm speechless :(!!!! I came to a conclusion, as long as your car is under warranty you should have it serviced by a dealer, and take it to a reputable non-dealer shop when the warranty ends.
     
  17. cove26

    cove26 Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2007
    1,135
    CT
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    Mike
    #17 cove26, Oct 3, 2009
    Just curious what the warranty terms are on a 360?
     
  18. djantlive

    djantlive Formula 3

    Jun 30, 2005
    1,015
    #18 djantlive, Oct 3, 2009
    You guys are whining about expensive repairs? You know it's a few grand every time you take it into the dealer. Part of it is dealer will find work to fix and Ferraris do have problems to be found if you look close enough.

    Those water hoses will eventually burst someday. It's a few grand and you might as well change them all (there are a bunch). Otherwise, you'll be "hosed" a few times and be stranded also.
     
  19. hardtop

    hardtop F1 World Champ

    Jan 31, 2002
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    #19 hardtop, Oct 3, 2009
    The deflector should have been done under warranty. 350. for an oil change is no bargain either. Did you ask the dealer what they charge? We pay about $200 around here.

    Dave
     
  20. BLAMPEE

    BLAMPEE Man Card Status: Never Issued

    Jun 28, 2008
    15,424
    Sunny Heavenly Beautiful Arizona
    #20 BLAMPEE, Oct 3, 2009
    Dealer here quoted me $450 for an oil change on my F355.

    Seriously. I got mine done at an indepedent for about $200.
     
  21. rimoore

    rimoore Formula 3

    Nov 18, 2004
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    Island in Maine
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    Richard Moore
    #21 rimoore, Oct 4, 2009
    That's insane. Dealer or non-dealer. The only thing that's important is the tech and the price.
     
  22. CyclingPeaks

    CyclingPeaks Formula Junior

    Jun 11, 2006
    361
    Big Island, Virginia
    Full Name:
    Hunter Allen
    #22 CyclingPeaks, Oct 4, 2009
    Hey people, changing oil in your Ferrari isn't hard. If you can change oil in your normal car, then you can do it in the Ferrari. I have done it many times and I ain't no mechanic. Definitely you'll need the oil filter removal tool from Daniel at Ricambi though. That's the only special tool you need(along with the monstrous Allen key to get the drain plug out)...
    Still $350 to change the oil? Amazing. That's like nearly $300 profit.

    Hunter
     
  23. Oengus

    Oengus F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    Sep 29, 2004
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    Between timing belts/chains or West Palm Beach FL
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    Chas
    #23 Oengus, Oct 4, 2009
    There are plenty of excellent independent shops out there.
    I use NJB just outside of Columbus Oh......they are excellent and very reasonanble!!
     
  24. delta2210

    delta2210 Karting

    Aug 15, 2009
    128
    Las Vegas
    Full Name:
    Jason
    #24 delta2210, Oct 4, 2009
    This thread is pretty painful. To say that every dealer is great and independent shops are bad is pretty silly.
     
  25. luicci

    luicci Rookie

    Jul 12, 2008
    33
    #25 luicci, Oct 4, 2009
    I think you should read the thread better, because No one ever said the statement you're talking about. Just make sure you understand the thread before you post something like this.
     
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