How new of a Ferrari is still diy friendly?

It's depends on what you want to do. Oil changes or major diagnosis?

Starting at the 355 in 95, you need an SD to do very detailed diagnosis but you can do a lot without it.

 

Doing mechanical work really is no different old vs new. But with out the diagnosis tools, you just won't get a look into the ECU's. Modern cars have service light for oil changes, etc. you won't be able to reset those without more hi level scan tools.

 

Yep. I bought one about 2 years ago.

 

I can also vouch for the ease of working on the 355. It's certainly assembled a little bit differently than a Camry, but everything comes apart and goes together as expected with a bit of careful consideration.

If you've got an OBD-2 car ('96+), you can read the generic trouble codes with a hand scanner, which can help with identifying a system or sensor giving the error. Without the SD, my understanding is that you could only throw parts at a problem, not necessarily get it fixed right the first time.

Of course, there are systems (like the F1 gearbox, or top ECUs) that can only be diagnosed with an SD. I imagine newer cars are worlds apart from the 355 in this respect, I wouldn't want to know what a CAN-BUS Ferrari would need to diagnose...

 

The 348 is definitely DIY friendly.
The F355 is a bit less friendly {Manual is more friendly, F1 is less friendly, Vert is less friendly}
The 360 is quite less friendly.

 

I don't believe a 360 is any less DIY than a 355.

 

I bought a $400 Actron SD that has been an amazing addition to the tool chest. Worth it's weight in gold. Works on OBD-I and OBD-II.

 

348. Last of the 80's analog-do-it-in-the-garage.

If it has an F1 you need the SD. I can do *almost* everything with my stick 360. Suspension faults and some of the subsystems need an SD2 to query them for the fault. *Most* everything else can be hinted at with the OBD2.

 

If anything, belt changes are made simpler on the 360 by the access panel inside the cabin...

 

A digital shop manual, quality tools and $400+ scanner, access to youtube, a lift, 550 Maranello, posting help questions on F.C., to the mechanically gifted, and a high school education does not guarantee you can perform just beyond entry-level mechanical upkeep ?

 

Quite a few of us in the 550 forum are DIY.

 

Lots of stuff can be done DIY as long as ECU's are not in the mix. My local friend (GTS Bruce) had two issues last summer with his 575:

He switched to different tires, then had TPMS error. He then had a suspension fault.

I used my SD2, changed the tire manufacturer in the parameters and fixed the first issue. Then used my SD2 again to see he had a bad acceleration sensor, installed a new one, reset the faults and fixed that issue.

Both of those required an SD. I'm probably the only one in a 250 mile radius that has one so he would have been screwed if I was not a tool nerd

 

It’s a balancing act.

Too old, and you need to be exceptional mechanical...an artist with a screwdriver/wrench, even though special tools aren’t required. Too new, and you re stuck with all the computers, but a generally more reliable vehicle.

I’d lean to the newer side, because a lot of maintenance has little to do with computers...even just changing some sensors is pretty doable. I can live with farming out the really ecu related work.
So, for me, the 360 (manual) is in the diy sweet spot, esp since lots of parts are easily cross referenced to other vehicles...eg viper brakes.

 

The 360 is more DIY friendly than my old Chevy Silverado.

 

My Fcar mechanic doesn't work on anything 348 and newer. I was told it was because they don't have the tools required to do so. From research that I've done it appears that if you are willing to invest in some tools to deal with electronics it wouldn't be impossible for an owner with some mechanical aptitude to diagnose and work on the 348/355 models.

 

I’ve found my 458 to be very easy to work on. I have a service manual for it and the layout on the car is pretty straight up. It’s like working on a race car with a/c. Good access to key components and easy to follow the layout and wiring/plumbing of the car if needed. So far I haven’t needed to do much. But I can see the things you would want to see if needed.

 

If you're talking oil changes and minor stuff and everything including the autotrannies hold together then pretty much all of them.

If you expect any kind of failures then the 328 is the last DIY car.

 

Rob,
Is this mechanic in VT? If so, are they located in Vergennes?

 

My first thought as well, or even go for a more pure mechanical experience and go with a carb'ed car like a 70s 308.

 

Yes and yes.

 

There are lots of systems in the 360 that are not a DIY without an investment in a scan tool. Mechanicly any car can be DIY..they are just nuts and bolts. However the computerized systems which run every aspect of the car is where the problem sits for the DIY guy.

I would say the last Ferrari that could be figured out with a multimeter and a good understanding of how a modern car operates would be the 348 and with a streach the 355 6 speed.