Belt service

What is the average cost of a belt service for a F355? I have heard numbers from $3k to $4K is that a reasonable number?

 

For what model???

 

Rick, are you looking for the cost of just the belt replacement service, or are you interested in the other common repairs done as part of an engine-out major? Belts and tensioners only would probably be around $4k minimum assuming you are in located in a major city.

 

It varies wildy depending on what you need or what you know you need and mileage. $3-4K would cover just a belt but you usually want to look a little deeper. You get what you pay for in the mechanics experience and know how and $3-4K sounds low. Now if your talking just labor then you are in the right range.

 

There isn't a 355 out there these days that needs just a $3-4k belt service. You should double that number and use it as a more realistic starting point.

As the guys said there a many many variables for these cars and nothing can be determined until it's out, apart and throughly inspected.

The 355's needs range from water pump to headers to valve guides to complete rebuilds as "additional" items.

The SRInnovations Hose and Electrical upgrades are also "must have" add ons which a lot of shops won't be offering.

 

I agree with Josh - that figure you threw out is about half of what I understand it to actually be.

 

Just to do a proper belt job takes more than 3/4 of the money to do a complete major. Might just as well do the whole thing at that point.

 

If I told you what I spent on major services (each) you would shudder and run away. I accept this cost structure as part of the cost of running my car on race tracks. Heat gets to plastic, rubber, wire, injectors, not to mention tires, wheels, brakes, axles, and miscelany.

Consider that the youngest F355 is now 11 going on 12 years old. The rubber boots on the connectors, keeping the weather from ruining your day, are on their death bed, the various other rubber parts in the engine bay are in simiar condition, vacuum hoses should probbly be replaced, <and on and on>. And don't forget the water pump!

Then consider how much a flat-bed from city A to mechanic B will cost when the random <water hose> lets go, not includng the agrivation and delay.

A major service (with the engine out of the car) is THE time to get everything "put right" that could possible give you trouble between now and the next major. It will cost less in the long run to fix it when it is within easy reach than later when the mechanic has to spend an hour removing parts to get to the trouble spot.

On the other hand, if you are just going to drive this car for a short while and dump it on the next unsuspecting victim, scrimp on the major.....

 

The quoted figure seems unrealistic. Our "standard" major service for the F355 is $5,395.

The following parts are included.

1 x RIGHT VALVE COVER GASKET
1 x LEFT VALVE COVER GASKET
4 x CAM SEAL
4 x O-RING
2 x CAM O-RING
8 x SPARK PLUG O-RING
2 x END PLATE GASKET
1 x LEFT PLUG GASKET
1 x RIGHT PLUG GASKET
2 x FUEL BLOCK O-RING
2 x TIMING BELT
2 x TENSIONER BEARINGS (HILL ENGINEERING)
4 x CAM BOLT O-RING
1 x FUEL FILTER ** SEE OPTIONS BELOW **
1 x OIL FILTER
2 x AIR FILTER
1 x PS BELT
1 x ALT BELT
1 x AC BELT
2 x WATER HOSE
1 x S-WATER HOSE

Use this as a starting point. Spark plugs and a water pump rebuild are other common items to service during a major.

 

+1. Most cars have enough "needs" (even well cared for examples) that $8k to $12k is not at all unusual. It has more to do with simple age of component, than actual wear.

Areas that can "add on" are things like cats, exhaust manifolds, CV boots, engine/trans mounts, water pump, and all the various coolant hoses.