HI folks, I am considering buying a 2003 575M, with 23000 miles, FFSH. The car is to be supplied with brand new service including cam belts. Are there any potential issues I should be looking out for? Appreciate any guidance offered. TIA
Mark- Assume FFSH is full factory service history? Have you read through the 575 technical thread? Standard stuff for late model V12s, shrunken dash and passenger airbag leather, sticky plastic bits, lack of coolant changes, poor intake manifold sealing, plus for the 575M poorly maintained F1 systems, TPMS sensors and air conditioning panel fastener bracket failures. Latest recommendation from Ferrari (on the 599) is for F1 fluid change and system bleeding every three years.
Coming from a string of Astons, I'm a bit burnt out with greys and silvers. Fancy getting bold in my old age! This is the car. Second visit tomorrow morning, for a shake-down Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mark- Looks just like mine, except it looks like she has the racing seats from what I can see. Here are all the updates done to 575Ms during production. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I saw the wrong 23000 miler ad ! Strangely most of the cars currently for sale in the UK are not red - I've been hearing recently of several Aston men moving over to 575s to get a bit more character/pizzazz Some folk find the sports seats harder to get into/out of & less comfortable for long journeys
The vin is 128474 with build number 45789 This car does not have the handling pack, not sure how to find out if it I'd FHP. To be honest, after just road testing her around the local UK country roads, I found the handling to be more than adequate. Pleasantly, very slightly softer than my DBS, but the whole car feels much more nimble and alive than the Aston. I imagine the handling pack makes these 575's much stiffer? Not so sure I need track-like levels of stiffness. I will not be tracking this car.
Mark, easiest way to at least begin to figure out whether you have FHP is to measure the diameter of your rear sway bar. Accessible behind one of your rear tires while car is parked. 21 mm = FHP, 17 mm = std. Are you sure either the vin is correct you posted or the car is indeed a 2003, it's a lower vin than my 2002? Maybe there is a difference with euro cars versus US, Taz? Also FHP is not significantly stiffer, you would still have a good ride on less than ideal roads. Bill FL
Correction. Vin is 128475 Assembly number is 45789 I telephoned HROwen in London and they confirmed the car to be warranty activated (1st registered), on 6th March 2003. I assume a 2002 build from that info.
They could also tell you from MODIS the options fitted - although internet warriors insist on FHP the reality is UK roads do not need a stiffer suspension
Mark- That is a 2002 575M, no matter when she was first registered. The only bad thing about early 575Ms is that many were fitted with a soft shock absorber ECU, part number 183960. Easy enough to check and if you have that one, replacing it with 201674 will cut down on pitching and rolling complained about by the British press when the 575M was first introduced. 575Ms without FHP handle fine, as long as the early shock ECU is replaced. If she already has the 201673, 197211 or 201674 shock ECU, she should be fine. Based on Assembly Number 45789, she was originally fitted with 183960. Here is more on 575M shock ECUs than you ever wanted to know. If she is at an authorized Ferrari dealership, ask the dealer to go to MODIS and print a build sheet for you. Will look something like this: Matthias Urban's database shows she was built in July 2002, F1, Rosso Corsa with black racing seats, shields, and red calipers. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks guys. This is really helpful information. If there is no supporting paperwork with the car, to indicate that the shock ecu was ever upgraded, I will have to put it on the 'things to do' list, after living with her for a while. The whinging UK motoring press, seem to think that everyone wants to cahoon around like a maniac. I drove this car pretty spiritedly on the back roads of Warwickshire and a couple of major dual-lane roads. I didn't consider the car to be 'pitching and rolling' around corners. My main concern is more general. Is it better to consider a later build perhaps? I don't want to necessarily spend more cash than I need to. I am no road racer, or track day super-hero. However, I don't want to stick myself with a less than desirable model, when, in a few years I may wish to move on again. Any thoughts? I am venturing into completely uncharted waters here folks. Appreciate your views. By the way. I do less than 4,000 miles per year and this Ferrari will be a sunny weekend only car.
Mark replacement of the shock ECU Taz has mentioned is very simple should you choose to do, certainly not a deal breaker. Bill FL
Cheers Bill. Good to know. I fear I have that pre-Christmas feeling that I used to get as a small child. Trying to remain clear-headed and not let emotions control the purchase!
My recollection is when this came up before many UK cars had had 197211 fitted at a dealer level even if they predated the factory fit Go for it !
Mark- Absolutely nothing wrong with early 575Ms and many owners do not find the early shock ECU a problem, so only you can decide. The US press loved the early 575M. 15 minutes to swap ECUs if you ever want to. Very nice spec with a lot of extras, so the original owner checked a lot of boxes. Many more than mine did. Considering all the gripes I have been reading about the condition of your B roads (nowhere near as bad as our NE and MW roads after this winter, likely), softer suspension is probably not a bad deal. What they printed for you is an option sheet, similar but not identical to the build sheet, but it has all the info you needed. The racing seats are fairly rare and look good with red stitching, even if seat memory is lost and there are no electric adjustments. The large size means they should be pretty comfortable. I will add her to our database. Note the delivery date of 11 September 2002, which is when Maranello Concessionaires likely received her.
I really appreciate the guidance guys. @Taz, the interior is lovely. Here's a pic. The dealer has to refurbish the leather section covering the passenger airbag and the top dash covering has to be rectified for some very minor shrinkage behind the instrument housing. Also, the wheel centre caps are a little grotty, so they are replacing those. They are also carrying out the annual service to include belts and gearbox oil. I am requesting replacement coolant hoses in silicone at my cost. Question: Is it worth replacing the waterpump when the belts are done? In previous cars I owned, it was always routine to replace the WP at this time. For the record, the history shows the cam belts changed in 07 @ 10k miles, 08 @ 13600 miles and again in 2010 @ 20300 miles, with trans oil changed in 2011 @ 22600 miles. The clutch was inspected at the annual sevice in 12 @ 24600 miles and showed 3% wear. The car currently has covered 25,400 miles. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mark- Very pretty, except how did the steering wheel get over there? May ask you to measure the stitchings on your rear shelf, because I want Bradan to make one in leather for me and mine has Charcoal with red stitching, but carpeted rear shelf.
