FChatters- I did a search and couldn't seem to find any new alternatives. I was looking to get new wires and it seems like there are the stands options: -OEM: $1200 -Ricambi: $500 -Kingsborne: $400 Now I completely understand the Ferrari Tax, but this seems a bit unreasonable. I understand that the wires are molded and have resistors, but still crazy! Are there any new alternatives these days?
I am sure i have the Kingsbourne set, i grabbed them at a bargin £50 brand new and never opened. It was from flea bay and i was the only one bidding on them. The guy who bought them crashed his 355 before he could fit them. There a very nice red set to, i got very lucky that day
I guess my question is, are there cheaper alternatives? I'm familiar with the current offerings. Thanks!
I've been doing the same search for the past few days. Not finding anything other than the options you listed.
I remember seeing a thread on here where a guy either matched up the wires at an auto parts store 1 by 1 or bought a set for an American V8 I was ok with $400 for a purpose made set vs like $1,200 from the dealer
I guess you could use a universal V8 set. Spark Plug Wires and Sets at Summit Racing But something tells me they cost what they do for a reason...
A guy on here made some from a spool of wire. If you bought a high grade wire you could cut it to length yourself.
Curious, do you know what the reaso is? There are two things that I believe may driving a small uptick in price: -Molded construction -Resistors in end plug As you can see, these may only added marginal expense. I would think an more inexpensive (and potentially even better/more efficient design) could have been developed by now.
I'm sure you are right and the costs to make them are marginally more expensive then it is to manufacture a set for a Chevy Camaro that will last for 100,000 miles, but it doesn't matter how low a cost the manufacturer can make them for they are still for a Ferrari so they are going to charge you the name tax. If it costs them $30 to make the Camaro set they sell it for $100, if it costs $30 to make the Ferrari set they sell them for $400 to $1200. I guess what I'm trying to say in all that is that manufacturing cost means nothing to the retail cost. They're still going to mark it up as many thousands of percent as they can.
I wouldn't advise that. The Kingsborne wire sets are the way to go. They use all the correct oem Beru connectors on each end, infact on the spark plug end, they use the updated Beru connector with an additional seal on it. (understand the plug connectors have seals to keep moisture of the spark plug hole) If you use any old plug wire set, it will not have these seals, and if water gets past the valve cover gasket, then you have no other line of defense and will get an ignition miss. I've seen a few times when people make up wire sets and they have hinky connections....the Kingsborne is "plug and play" and nicely made. Its only $400...a significant savings over oem...yet made from the same components as the oem wires...in fact better with the updated seals.
True that. Kingsborne used to charge $175 for the F355 wire set back around 2006. They raised the price to $400 around 2009 when they found out what the oem wire set was selling for.
Problem with the Ferrari market...the volume is too low. Manufacturers have to charge more to go to the trouble of sourcing and making stuff for Ferrari. How many 355s are there in North America? How many Honda Accords? Honda makes more cars than there are 355s in the world probably every 30 minutes.
I am a business person by trade, so I completely get it. But, remember the genius who was charging $750 for a prescription drug? It didn't end up well. This is by no means on the same scale, but conceptually the same. Regardless, I was simply asking if there are alternatives that do not have a drop off in quality. As a fairly knowledgable car guy, I know this is very realistic based on the parts needed to make these components. Folks can still make a decent margin, I just think that margin should be less than what is out there today.
If that's the only option, well, it's the only option. It's not a big expense in the grand scheme of things, but I'd rather put it or invest into something else for the car that's more rewarding.
You say you "get it", but you don't. This is a (relatively) free market system...if someone could make wires sets for the F355 of similar high quality to the Kingsborne, and sell them for less, and corner the market...well I am sure they would. But the market is too small, and obviously the margins aren't all that great, or someone would be doing so. So you pick your battles, and move on... Kingsborne was a HUGE deal when they first started offering F355 wire sets around 2004 or 2005...they rightly cornered the market...but apparently that isn't good enough for you. Remember also that Ferrari has been jerking us on part prices since their inception...and guess what? We all keep buying the cars anyway... lol It seems to be working out just fine for them.
So when can we expect the wires coming from you for sub 200$ prices? You seem to loose quite some time by wandering around, time is money remember!
This thread was not meant to debate the validity of setting Ferrari parts margin, it was to discuss options for plug wires. Let's try and keep it on topic, happy to debate with anyone in another thread/subforum. Thanks!
Dude, this the 355 section. EVERY thread ends like this. BTW, buy the Kingsborn wires. No Ferrari tax and they fit very well. In addition, make sure you have the 4 hole rubber gasket that seals the wires in the valve cover & associated valve cover cover (if that makes sense)
