F430 things to look for/stay away from

Hello everyone,
My name is Eric and I am in the market for my first Ferrari, an F430 spider. I have a few questions and would appreciate some feedback. Are these cars difficult to work on? I work on my cars for the most part and I have a few Maseratis, a 3 BMWs and had 2 Mercedes. Are parts readily available? I understand Ferrari parts are very expensive, are there plenty of aftermarket parts or are those frowned upon? Anything weird, like my mechanic said you must buy a McLaren branded battery (which can run $5,000)for a McLaren because if you don’t the electronics act up. Is there a specific year(s) to stay away from? I know they can have exhaust cracking problems and cam variator issues. Anything visually I should look for? I will get a PPI but don’t want to look at 10 cars and spend $500+ each time. I like the idea of a gated manual, are the manual conversions worth looking into or should I just stick with the F1. Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get an idea. I have never spent this much money on car before but this is a lifelong dream of owning a Ferrari. I will of course still do digging on this forum. I hope to gain some knowledge and be an active contributor in the process. Thank you! I very much appreciate any and all feedback.

 

Hello Eric and welcome! I think there are a fair bit of other owners that also became first time F car owners with the 360 or the F430 (myself included). Because of that, you'll see quite a few posts very similar to yours with the same concerns. Suffice to say that you'll only get brief responses at this point as a lot of these topics have been covered at length through other threads. This forum is a great resource and I would highly recommend reading through a lot of the other first time buyer threads and take in whatever youtube content you can as well.

To give you a brief rundown though, here are my opinions on your questions. There are others here that are far more qualified but some of the questions you're asking require a sizeable conversation.

1. The F430 is one of the easier Ferrari's to work on. Many here do their own maintenance and upgrades. There are also many members here very knowledgeable in repair should anything serious go wrong. However, it is very important to at least have access to a local independent mechanic that would be familiar with these cars for the time when your skills or tools fall short.
2. Yes, parts are expensive, but there are a number of vendors that sell factory parts at reasonable (comparatively) prices. There are also aftermarket solutions for a lot of the parts that are of poor quality or had inherent issues. I can't think of any basic maintenance item like the McLaren battery that are egregiously priced that cannot be substituted with a non-Ferrari branded part. Overall, I find the part pricing to be on part with European brands.
3. There are owners that have trouble free examples from all year runs. That said, there were a number of improvements over the years with the most happening for the 2008-2009 model years. There are lists of specifics if you search. Because of that, I see that 2008+models hold a premium.
4. Visually, just look for sticky buttons, and poor appearance of parts as it could signify an owner that was not on top of maintenance as well. There are other specifics, but it's all mechanical and there are others more qualified to answer. Your best bet is to read up on common problems and know what the signs are when searching for cars. Maintenance history is paramount here and any good owner should have stacks of receipts, even if they're not from a dealer. Avoid vehicles that have changed hands often.
5. Gated conversion opinions can fill pages of conversation. The main thing is to know who carried out the conversion and with what parts. EAG was a major player in the past but has since gone through enough drama that most owners are choosing to avoid them. If not done right, there can be a host of issues that are not inexpensive to fix. For that reason, conversions are fetching less in the used market and often times can the same price as non-converted cars. Definitely making it a bargain but they can carry a lot of unknowns that can be scary for first time owners. Unless you're dead set on a conversion, the F1 is a fantastic transmission when properly set up and maintained. It lacks nothing and is really engaging. It might be best to find a good F1 example first and live with that for a while.

If you're after a drivers car, don't be afraid of a car with more miles. Typically, cars with lower miles sit more often and tend to have more issues.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck!

 

Thank you very much! Yeah, the sticky button issue is something I am all too familiar with. It’s good to know parts are obtainable and that aftermarket is an option for the more prone breakable parts. Kids are almost outta the house and their colleges are paid for. Finally freeing up the funds for my wife and I to obtain a dream. Thanks again!!!

 

Eric,

As Joe mentioned above .. there are many ( i mean many) threads with a similar question .. search the forum using google e.g. "f430 buyer advice guide ferrarichat"
You will see alot of info on those threads
Once you had a chance to digest all of that - I would happy to have a call with you to answer ay questions or concerns - Just DM me
Best wishes on your search

 

Eric welcome to Fchat,
From someone who has been in the technical field my entire career I can honestly say these cars are dam close to bullet proof if well maintained. After 7 years of ownership a high mileage 360 or 430 would not deter me from the purchase again emphasizing the importance of quality maintenance.
Seems like you have some insight has to their weak points and has Goggles pointed out there are many threads that discuss these issues.
The F1 system is something you need to fully understand if you want to be a DIY'er, a quality Bi directional scan tool will also be a must in your tool box.
Parts for these cars do carry a premium fortunately there are many good options out there, a late production 2007, 2008, and ofcourse 2009 have been well sorted from previous model year issues.
I still Love my car like the first day I owned it, if smiling is challenge for you don't buy these cars because it is unavoidable.
I've attached a assembly improvement chart that will give you good insight to the improvement's along the way. This plate is located just below the left hand air cleaner housing on the silver frame.
Good luck with your purchase.!

 

Hello, Eric,

Yay!!! Please share when you do find your perfect unicorn!! I have thoroughly enjoyed my 2008 Spider!

Here are my immediate thoughts... Everything you read tells you that you will eventually need to replace the headers. I replaced mine last year with Ferrari Challenge headers, which deletes 2 of the 4 cats. I did this because I believed what I read. After the headers were removed, they smoke tested the old ones and there were no issues. Come to find out, the newer type headers on the 08 and 09 were not as susceptible to cracking. I also found out that the ECUs in 08 and 09 are more sensitive when it comes to diagnosing O2 readings, meaning the check engine light (CEL) will definitely light up if you do not do something to counteract it if you replace them with something different than original. In prior years, you had a better shot at the CEL not lighting up with the Challenge header replacements.

Things to lookout for when doing your own inspection:

• When you open the driver side door, this activates the F1 transmission pump. If it runs for an extraordinary amount of time beyond 5 seconds, that may be a sign the accumulator needs to be replaced.
• Check underneath the car to make sure there are no cracks in the under shields. These are fairly inexpensive to replace but may be a bargaining chip if cracked.
• Check the under part of the front bumper for excessive scrapping or cracks.
• Wiggle the taillights to see if they are loose. These things are 7 to 800 bucks a piece and have a fragile connection to the car. If they can't be tightened, another bargaining chip.
• Wiggle the sideview mirrors. These things have a wonky connection to the car. You can generally fix these issues yourself (the forum has DIY fixes for you to review), but again, bargaining chip.
• Check to make sure the engine isn't twisting too violently when you goose it, indicating a need for new motor mounts. This is a common issue with f430's.
• Check to see if the AC works properly between heat, cold, and auto. The climate control system, IMHO, seems to be out of an old Fiat and is prone to be quirky.
• Check the side bolsters on the seats for excessive wear.
• Check the dash where the passenger air bag is located to see if it is sinking in too noticeably, also a common issue that requires $$$s to fix.
• Check the little door between the seats to make sure it opens without issue. I have to occasionally push mine in first a bit then hit the button for it to actually pop open.
• Open and close the top a few times to make sure there are no issues. Also, check to see that the engine cover settles back down evenly with the adjacent surface (on both sides) when the top is retracted back in.
• Finally, for now, make sure there are no engine lights and perhaps take an ODB scanner with you so you can see what fault codes may be lurking unbeknownst to the casual observer. I would do a scanner check AFTER a good test drive. I have a Foxwell NT510 Elite (under $200) and it has been an essential diagnosis tool for me and was even able to adjust some clutch settings.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I can't wait to see your new ride!!!

Warm regards,

Daryl

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Holy crap!!! That's a lot of replacements!!

 

Also, if you post your location, there might be a local F-chatter that's willing to help you go over things or at least show you their car so you have a better understanding of what to look for.

 

Don't let anyone tell you to avoid an early F430 based on fear. There is nothing to be afraid of, and in most cases, it just means there is a better chance all the wear items (brakes, rotors, clutch, tires, bushings, motor mounts, etc.) have been replaced and nuances have been addressed (such as headers, sticky buttons, defroster vents, shrinking dash leather, etc.)

 

thank you sir much appreciated!

 

I will certainly look at the older cars as well! Something well sorted of course. Thank you sir!

 

I am in Cincinnati, OH. Thank you!

 

Fantastic info! Thank you for all this great info! Really wonderful and much appreciated

 

Thank you so much for the info! What is considered high mileage? 40,000+?

 

Yeah I would start there however there are threads with vehicles at much higher mileage then that proving these cars are built for the long haul if once again well maintained..

 

Just thinking of stuff that hasn't been covered yet...

I've owned 2 of them now, 1st being an '07 and now an '06, but have spent plenty of time in and around the 08/09's. The latter will give you carbon ceramic brakes, which are great but really expensive to replace if the need arises. I can't stand the F1 starting in Auto mode every time you fire up the car in years 08/09, but that's just a personal pet peeve. When the fuel pumps went out, I was able to swap my 06's in about an hour. A newer model requires you to drop the fuel tank (coupe), as they added a stupid flange mount...can't explain without pics sorry. I'll add though it's a very easy car to work on.

I have 45k miles on mine now, so I hear it's time to just put it out to pasture for parts But in all seriousness, I'd put the mechanical condition and drivability up against most cars with a fraction of the miles. It's all about keeping them maintained and driven. Good luck and have fun in your search!

 

I bailed from Lotus to Ferrari almost two years ago and my first purchase was an 07 Spider.

What I wish I knew then was SEE MAINTENANCE RECORDS!

I got a “good deal” on the car - then spent $30k in repairs within six months and suddenly it wasn’t a good deal any more, so I wish I’d bought a higher priced one that would have required less repair.

There’s a popular phrase around here: You’re not buying the car, you’re buying the owner!

That’s so true…

Kevin

 

Something I don't think has been mentioned but seems to come up missing when acquiring these vehicles: The tool kit and all its tools, tire inflator and all needed components, Owners manual with a complete set of documents, two working keys, and lets not forget the original flashlight which lives inside the glovebox.
Make sure the flashlight works and if not make sure you can remove the end cap to service the battery's.
All that I mentioned here excluding the keys can cost in upwards of 2k or more.

 

True! I have 46k miles on mine and I'm still crushing motorcycles and Teslas headed for corners

 

Good to know! Thank you sir!

 

Yikes! Yeah want to avoid that certainly!

 

happy to help with some advice

Happy to help with some advice / tips if you want to chat. Might be easier than to write a whole book on here. Danny - 561-523-8863 - Florida

 

Thank you! I will take you up on that!

 

Welcome to the community and good luck on your hunt. it took us 6 months (searched between new years 2022 and june 2023 we took delivery of our car after having done alot of europe trips to view cars all around europe) almost till we found our car in Belgium. Be patient the right car for you will turn up...

Yes parts are expensive, but it also depends on what you compare it to i noticed ((not so) fun fact, we are currently restoring a jaguar XK, loads of parts for that car are new more expensive than those parts for a ferrari parts are new....) its a matter of searching and taking your time for the search on parts aswell.

I tend to do alot of work on the car myself, except for its interval service, that i leave to a specialist just so i have bills and stamps in the service book if i ever want to sell it i dont have to deal with people moaning that theres no official history to the car... As for a PPI, in my opinion its a waste of your money (i have not ever had a positive experience with cars ive done a PPI on although they all came through clean, but those i bought without went without any issues)

As for the gearbox i think it depends on your expectations. Do you expect it to be silky smooth like a DSG, than you will not like the F1 gearbox. If, however you are abit like me and like hard and rough shifts, than you will love the F1 gearbox, for me swapping it isnt even an option UNLESS theres no F1 parts to be found anymore.... but then again i wouldnt want any supercars with a manual gearbox, maybe its a generational thing, as i notice ALOT of people getting horny over manual cars on here....

I also come from the BMW (M) family, this is opur first Ferrari and so far ive had far, far FAR less issues with our 430 spider than ive had with any 1 of my old BMW's.... so far the car has been bulletproof for us and works amazing. I dare to say best car we ever had (apart from the emotional aspect)

 

Great to know! Yeah my 3 BMW’s were always broken in some form or fashion. We have an older Z4 with a 6 speed manual just to scratch that manual itch when we want. This will be the most we have ever spent on a car so I will be vigilant about things being sorted and correct. Thank you for your feedback!