First yearly service....

Argh!!!! So my my dealer (FOD) just quoted me 7.2k for a major service. They said that since the belts hadn't been replaced in almost 4 years that they needed to be done and because the camshaft covers were leaking a major service needed to be done vs a belt service. The car did have a major service done 4 years ago when it had 12k miles (now 15k).
Is this price about normal?

I am very bothered that despite the belts only having 3k miles on them I still have to replace them.
Are there aftermarket timing belt alternatives that do not require changing every 3 years? or is the 3 year belt replacement desired because of other parts?

Thanks,

Mauricio
2002 360 Modena

 

A common failure point that people are worried about are the cam belt tensioners. Apparently the bearings have a habbit of failing. The leak you are having is also a common problem.
Included in that price, they are most likely changing all the drive belts, tensioners, all the filters, all the fluids (engine, transmission, coolant, brake, steering), spark plugs etc. Even with all that stuff, the price seems high. If it's a Ferrari dealership, they are going to charge that much. A lot of owners are going to a good independent shop to perform the service. That will save you a few thousand dollars. If you choose that route, make sure it's a good shop that works on Ferraris ALL the time, not just some mechanic that says he can do it. A non Ferrari tech will screw it all up for sure.

 

I had the exact service described in post two done at a Ferrari dealer for $3400 last year. You should get an itemized estimate and shop around for same from other dealers and Indy shops. My price reflected a 15% discount, but anyone off the street would have gotten a price of $4000 at my dealer. There are at least two other official dealers whose advertised price for a full fluids, filters, belts, tensioner bearings and plugs is $4000. Your estimate of $7200 obviously includes something else (the cam shaft covers) and may likely also reflect higher prices for parts and or labor...


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If in Denver and its a 360, check Scuderia Rampante in Boulder?

 

Mauricio- With leaking cam seals, the intake manifold, cam covers, and 4 camshafts have to be removed to replace the seals. All the removed parts then need to be resealed. This also entails degreeing the cams so the cam timing is correct, since the marks on the cams themselves are only assembly marks for installing the cams without bending the valves.

Seems like the cam seals start weeping at around 8-10 years and need to be replaced. Mine are weeping now, so my cams will have to be yanked, too.

Cambelt changes are recommended at 3 year intervals by Ferrari, and are usually a fairly easy change using an access panel behind the seats. Once the cams are degreed and the shop has made their timing marks, the next change can probably be a lock and swap if the same shop does the job. Much fewer parts must then be removed and the price will be lower.

Go to ferrardatabase.com and you can download a 360 workshop manual and see what is entailed on the maintenance the shop will be doing.

 

Mauricio,

Perhaps fill in some information about yourself so we can help direct you? As Chaz says above camshaft seals will be a little more $$$$ given the work..

I do belts every 5 years on my 360. OTOH my car has been driven and doesn't sit for more than 7 days.. so I haven't had any weeping to contend with (yet). Perhaps consider a consult with an independent mechanic. Dealership will almost always be more spensive'.

btw, welcome to the world of Ferrari ownership. spensive' but worth it. OTOH if the belt breaks, multiply your above quoted cost times 2 or 3...

 

Thanks for the replies. I did call Scuderia Rampante but they haven't called back yet.
I will ask for an itemized estimate from FOD. Thanks for that suggestion.

Does anyone know of any other Ferrari shops in Colorado? The only independent shop I was able to find so far is Scuderia Rampante.

Thanks, Mauricio

 

given that Sil Terhar now has Maserati, I guess there is a blind chance in hell they may get Ferrari some day. but otherwise - that's your options. Scuderia isn't even an option if you have a 430+ vintage car

 

On a Spider replacing valve cover gaskets is a big job.


Your profile says Spider Modena and your post says Modena. Which is it? They are 2 different cars.


If it is a comprehensive service on a Spider it is not a bad price from a dealer.


Get in touch with Scuderia Rampante. Looking elsewhere is just not in your interest.

 

Ahh. I was unaware there was much of a diference
it is a 360 Spider

 

The convertible top mechanism has to be R&R'd on a spider to change out the cam seals. That accounts for a lot of the difference in labor vs. the coupe for this job.

 

Wow what a pain.

 

Mauricio, post in here also, maybe somebody can help:
Rocky Mountain - FerrariChat.com

 

if the belts only have 3k miles on them then why even change them? im sure they can last another 20k miles!

 

Keep us posted, I'm interested in Dealer v Indy prices...best of luck.

 

acmw, it is mainly because Ferrari has states that belts need replacing every 15k miles or 3 years. Like many others I dont buy that the belts go bad after 3 years. Yet clearly that is somewhat of a gamble.
The indy hasnt call me back yet.

 

Just make sure you compare apples to apples with the two quotes. It can get confusing.

If it bothers you to replace the belts every 3 years and not have too many miles then

1) trade up for an F430. I've seen some higher mileage spiders going for about 120K. Annual service on an F430 is about $1100 at the dealer.

2) put more miles on that thing!

 

if the belts last 3 or 5 years is irrelevant in this discussion, you are removing the cams to fix oil leaks, its really stupid to put 3 year old belts back on after they have been removed for the job.

If you can live with the leaks another year or 2 then go for it and wait as long as you feel comfortable.

By the way, its 3 years or 30,000 (NOT 15,000) miles. If it was 15,000 I would be changing belts almost every year with my 360. At my belts 3 year time I will have near 30,000 miles on the belts and will do them at 3 years because of it.

 

Good point. That's like taking a shower, and putting on dirty underwear!

 

Would be interested to know what sort of quotes you get for the leaking seals + timing belt job. I need to get the same thing done at my next belt change.

 

No self respecting shop would put the same belts back on. If any shop said that they would you need to look for a new mechanic, ASAP. The belts stretch when they are installed. You won't ever get them to tension correctly again and you are just asking for trouble. At least that is my understanding.

 

Agreed. It's insignificant. The money is in the labor, not the belt costs.

 

This may be a silly question, but what happens if you do NOT address this leak? Does it lead to anything worse than a less-than-tidy engine bay? Just asking!

 

I have no idea.

I have never seen the car, diagnosed the problem nor sold the work.

The answer to that question needs to be answered by the person or persons who did and not a crowd of armchair quaterbacks on the internet.

 

London,
I been wondering the same thing. I know that the dealer said that "...the cams seals were starting to leak". I am planning on asking the indy how long that can wait.