Lowering the 458 Italia?

This is one of my few posts after being on this site for a while but I feel that reality and not subjectivity is relevant here and that I can contribute some useful feedback. Murcielago boy is correct on his post. My 430 has been lowered. Its predictable and responsive and at speed very stable! My car has been done by a Ferrari challenge mechanic and followed the same setup as speedmore. With that said... it is a little low for city driving when it comes to speed bumps and driveways but freeways and canyons the car rides as nice or better than stock. The better looks is a perc as I do agree with most here... the 458 is high. I look forward to one day getting a 458 and doing the same thing to it. Here is my car.....
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

How about lowering 550/575s? I am curious if the 550 is also as sensitive. As well as 456s.

 

I lowered all my 550, 575, 456 and 430...

Alex

 

THANK YOU!!! despite what many long time owners seem to think, the cars are NOT 'Perfect' from the factory. DOT requirements and target demographics is why they are the way they are from the factory.

 

That looks fantastic!!!

 

I asked my dealer if they ever lower Fcars at customers' requests but the cryptic answer I got was "don't mess with it" and "drive it like you stole it". While I love the look of a lowered car, I've gotten front air dams caught up on cement parking bars too many times with cars that have better clearance than the Italia's standard 6", not to mention scraping the front end when entering and exiting steep parking lots, so I will just have to forgo the visual pleasure of a lowered car in favor of the practicality of being able to drive the car and not worry so much about scraping it up. For those of you who must lower their cars, I wish you good luck with it and will wait for pictures.

 

Bump on this thread. Anymore pics of lowered Italias?

All my Ferraris except the F40, and some of my Pcars have been lowered. All lowered by the Authorized dealers. No problems whatsoever. I even lowered the so called "lowered" Scud and CS. Improved looks is only a byproduct. Feels tighter......more planted.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Can anyone answer what seems like a pretty straightforward question - is the height of the U.S. 458's different from that of the cars delivered to other markets?

 

this is the best thing , just keep it as it is

 

well said , " all lowered by the authorized dealers " or just keep it as the factory setting , this is what will i do ...

 

Now, those are two great byproducts!

 

PM sent on the 29/12, waiting patiently for a reply, thanks.

 

Kuzi your Scud looks fantastic, where did you get your wheel centers ?

 

Thanks Richard. The "centers" on the Scud are oem titanium. They match the darker rims nicely.....pic attached. The ones on the 16M are oem carbon fiber.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Checked with lowering of the Italia at my dealer and they have done a few cars. All the techs agree it looks way better. And no problem with warranty issues as previously stated.

 

So if the dealer can do it, then no new parts are required?

 

I think you can change it with the stock coilovers, as the F430 is able to.

 

You are right, that was the case on my 430, no issues. But with speedmore's post he makes it sound like the adjustment needed can't be had without new parts.

 

Kuzi you bought these from where, your dealer ? cost please for the Scud

 

Yes from the dealer parts dept. I think they were 2 and a qtr?? Can't remember exactly.

 

no no no...that's blasphemy! the cars look PERFECT from the factory, and lowering will hurt handling!

 

no PM back from speedmore, no post on here from him recently.

very weird.

 

My 458 should be here this week and I've done my homework on lowering it. Just visited the dealership and they have done a 'couple' already. Not sure exactly how many that is. I measured two cars. The 458 and a 16M. The stock 458 has roughly 2 3/4" clearance between the fender and tire and the 16M was 1 1/14!!! HUGE difference. Im going to lower mine all around to have 1" clearance. My old 430 had 3/4". The Ferrari Master mechanic said the cars without lifters are no problem. The ones with cannot be lowered much. He also mentioned there is NO ill effects but was reserved in saying that it would enhance anything too.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I was told the head lights need to be re-aimed in addition to the obvious front end alignment. I asked if there was a reason why the 458 was so high and he said the simple answer is DOT bumper height..... nothing else. And again...this is a master mechanic who told me this and not an enthusiast.

 

Robert, some of us, even us non owners, have been saying that for some time only to be rebutted by many owner experts "the cars are setup ideal/perfect from the factory...lowering will DESTROY dynamics, the designers know best, etc, etc"