how to value a car where the owner did the major themself

How convincing is the documentation? Photos and descriptions do a lot to convince a potential buyer of the parts, tools, procedures and knowledge used to service the car.

A 355 I was shopping had been serviced by a DIYer, and he could not offer any documentation to provide evidence of even the parts bought. There was no way to convince myself to buy that car, even though it had the manual transmission and the right colours for me. If it needed, say, $40k of work to bring to good shape, I would have practically needed to take the car for free.

 

I agree, who wants to fix a car with $40k when its worth $40k. Law of economics must come into play at some point unless the vehicle is sentimental or special to you in some other way.

The example that this thread makes me think is the yellow spider that got a big one..

Ever wonder about typical maintenance cost of F355? - S2KI Honda S2000 Forums

Either way, parts receipts as well as old parts, photo docs etc, will work when you sell your car. I have dealt with Aston martin, porsche, benz, Ferrari in this fashion, it doesn't matter. An educated consumer will buy a car if they see a seller who is honest and cares for his vehicles. It is quite evident just by the conversation with somebody if they are trying to take your money, or if they are truly passionate about the cars they drive, caring for each while they owned the vehicle. My favorite is when somebody tells me an f430 just had its major engine service done, its not like that car even has timing belts.

 

Dead on perfect. Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKFW42igdss[/ame]

 

DIY service is worth less than zero imho.....

 

Just so we are clear here.

The value of a non Ferrari tech, who uses the same tools as a Ferrari tech, and torques to the same specs as a Ferrari tech, and puts on belts the same way a Ferrari tech does, and degrees the cams the same way a Ferrari tech does, is worth less? And if so, on what grounds?

 

you know what they call the guy that graduated last in med school...... doctor.

 

Funny, that's what they also call the guy who graduated at the top of his class

 

I was referring to the comment a couple posts before yours.

 

hmm I said Here like as in Fchat. I was not stating fact about the entire Ferrari community many of which I am very aware are not on car forums, just like any thing that may have a Internet forum the majority are not on the forums.

But you are...

 

Great! All great!
I am going to do the major myself (engine already out), and at least now I know I will be hurting the value of my car bigtime!
Will be doing it anyway, as I trust my own work.

And I am the person that will be depending on it in the years to come that I drive it.

So I better start shaking and shivering each time I start the car. (if it will start of course lol)

 

Here is a DYI 348 major, sold for $48k...

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/484816-what-do-you-think-348-a.html

 

Yes, to me as a buyer.

However, the Ferrari tech doesn't have to work for a Ferrari dealer.

They can be a highly regarded independent who is properly trained and has worked on these cars for many years. In fact I'd probably regard that person higher than the average dealer mechanic.

But both of those are another thing entirely to the "enthusiastic amateur".
Nothing wrong with that. In fact I admire people who tackle the big jobs on these cars.

But, like everything in life, it all balances out. If you save a bucketload of money by doing your own maintenance, you shouldn't be surprised at the other end if a potential buyer values your car lower BECAUSE you've done your own maintenance.

 

Someone should get the VIN #'s to these cars so we can add them to the list that includes cars with salvage titles. Maybe add every spider to the list too as they're also worthless?

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/485082-acemasters-348-major-service.html

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/484909-fiorano-95-major-service.html

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/348-355-sponsored-bradan/484816-what-do-you-think-348-a.html

 

Dealers and indies stand behind their work. Do DIYers?

Additionally, all I read is talking about replacing parts. How many DIYers have an SD1 or SD2? Suppose you have a cat CEL that is to be corrected during the major. A DIYer might replace O2 sensors and cat and the CEL goes away. Has the problem been fixed or just the symptom been treated? Has anybody asked why the cat failed? Replacing parts and turning wrenches alone does not constitute a major unless everything else is correct.

 

That's a great idea. Better yet, include paper copies of these threads bury them under the carpet of said vehicles , this way when these cars sell for big money in 50 years they can all laugh at this.

 

Brilliant!

 

None of us will be here to do the laughing so what happens in 50 years is irrelevant.

I don't really understand why the DIYers would struggle to understand why their cars could be seen as less valuable than those that have been maintained by a professional Ferrari mechanic.

I'd bet most of them are hypocrites when it comes to their own profession.
How do they feel about the value of amateur lawyers, doctors, pilots, accountants, paramedics, stockbrokers etc. etc.

The backyarder might have some knowledge, sure, but does their "work" have the same value as an expert?

 

Do DIYers stand behind their work? Usually we are the ones depending on the work, if I cut a corner on something I may be stranding myself on the side of the road.

I concede on the issues with codes being thrown. I have an OBD II code scanner that can be very helpfull and works well on my other cars, but not so well for the 355. I'm lucky enough to have a friend who works at a shop with great diagnostic equipment who will let me in after hours, but I can see how it could be a problem to many DIY guys.

I do separate doing your own preventive/ scheduled maintenance like a major service or brakes and rotors etc. From trying to diagnose and repair a break down/ CEL.

 

I got news for you. The days of implicitly trusting any of the pros you mention are long since over. It is always trust but verify. No one knows your life better than you. Your docs should not be laying out your treatment plan. They should be discussing all your options and you should be doing your research so you can ask cogent questions. With that information you can make intelligent choices on your treatment direction. That is how you get the best outcome for you. Same goes with your estate attorney and numerous others. And about stock brokers or financial advisors as they are called today do you trust someone with a net worth less than your own to know what is best for you?

 

I'm sure you'd feel the same as you and your family board the 747 with the enthusiastic Cessna private pilot in the front.

As usual with the amateur experts, it'll all be fine until something goes wrong, right?

 

So now we are comparing a car to a Boeing 747?
Steve, click your heels three times and come back on topic.

 

I won't name names but I recently had an Italian car specialist tell me the valve guide issue is a myth and that they've never seen headers fail in a 355. Digging deeper I found they've also never smoke tested a set of headers. I'd bet this place has a major or two going at any one time.

Years ago this same shop told me you need to remove an engine from a Gallardo to change a rear main seal.

Take my work over theirs? Hmmm

 

Post of the year!! Bar none.

 

Qualifications are very important but they are a start not an absolute evidence of the ability of a pilot to get you from point A to point B safely as evidenced by this qualified pilot who flew the plane into the ground.

Germanwings Flight 9525 co-pilot suicidal at one time - CNN.com