348 Service Schedule

The major is theoretically 30 000 mile / 3 years with an annual minor

You could take along read of this site for background on 348's

http://www.club348.com/technical/Tech/348.html

 

This is probably the most debated of all 348 topics. The opinions will typically vary from 3,5,7, and 10 years. I lean toward the latter, not so much because of the expense of a service, but I'm paranoid of tearing down something that runs perfectly well and replacing all those GOOD parts with parts that might be faulty or, worse yet, might not be correctly installed. And then you have that occasional wrench-that-was-left-in disaster. Anything before 10 years is overkill for my purposes. But I drive my car like a granny and it's never even seen rain.

The key to the engine-out service is quality, not quantity. If it's been 10 years and you don't bother to change out the tensioner bearings, rollers, water pump, and put in the oil pump upgrade, you might as well not have done the service at all.

A good portion of 30K services are done on the cheap. That's like going to a car wash and telling them to just wash one side of the car because you can't afford a full wash.

 

1. It is a belt.
2. Pulling the engine isn't that big of a deal. It is on its own subframe.
3. I suppose that the belt could last for 100K miles, but I doubt it. Then again, no one has ever put 100K miles on a 348 that I know of.
4. Many people that say they did a 30K service are either lying or did one on the cheap. It is important that EVERYTHING was done that should have been done. The chance of a seized roller or water pump failure is as great as a broken belt, yet the $5 part is the one that gets all of the attention.

 

Better yet, buy one that needs the 30K badly and buy it cheaply. Then take it to a reputable independent Ferrari mechanic and have it done RIGHT yourself. Complete with pictures for your future buyer.

 

As both a Saleen owner and a 348 owner I will say that depending on what year Saleen you had, the ride may be softer, or harder than the 348.

What year Saleen caused you to almost become toothless?

 

I had the major service performed after owning my 348 for about 16 years. Components showed little to no signs of wear or weathering. However, my car only had about 1850 miles on her at the time of service, and is housed in a climate controlled garage.

 

Original cam belt after 16 yrs mate?

 

I think this happens all the time. When I bought my 1990 TS two years ago, it had never had a 30K. So that's 23,000 miles and 18 years. I've got all of the old parts, including the belt, and they all looked just fine.

Granted, 18 years is some serious neglect, but every 3 to 5 is some serious overkill.

But I guess it all depends on how you drive your car. Believe it or not, mine's never been above 90mph since I have owned it. I'm just not into driving fast.

 

I had an engine out 30K service two years after the last one and will do another one this year, which is only two years later.

After that, I'll go back to a 3 year cycle.

 

My schedule:

Major Service: 4-5 years or 30K miles.
15k service: Not doing it.
Bi-annual: 1) Radiator/coolant flush 2) A/c refrigerant refill
Annual: 1) Fluids: Gearbox + Engine + brakes 2) Inspect/replace Air filter 3) Electrical contacts + MAF 'pot' clean 4) Check leanness of engine 5) check brake pads and replace fluids 6) Bleed clutch
Quarterly: Tires or after a track day

 

I agree with this approach, and will use it next time I'm in the market. When I bought mine, I only looked at cars that had a recent major at a reputable shop. Turns out that the reputable shop missed some very simple things that should have been taken care of.

- Eric

 

IMHO the 2005 Saleen ride is "soft and floaty" compared to the 348.

The 348 is more compliant than an older Saleen with a "," in the spring rate.

 

You have had your 348 for 16 years...... and put 1850 miles on it! Now THAT is scary!

That's like dating a super model, not sleeping with her and 'saving' her for the next guy!

 

That can be a good approach, but one word of caution, as someone who had recently done this, sometimes a major on a 348 is $5k and more likely $10k (done right) and sometimes closer to $20k depending on what is needed. As I learned, even with a solid motor/ transmission, extras like transmission mounts, new auxilary belt bearings, other seals, ignition wires ($800 alone), etc. etc. can add up really fast. Unfortunately, many of these are hard to tell until the engine is out. If it has been done, just make sure it's at a very reputable shop and you can verify it having been done. Way too many people out there with fake service receipts etc. Sick, but true.

-SE

 

If you're paying more than $10K for a 30K service you're getting the royal hose job for every penny over it. My 30K service would have impressed the queen mother and it was still just under $7K I believe. That was from a good independent. Even at a Ferrari dealership, I can't see how it could be over $10K.

 

I don't think that you can generalize a major service any more than any other major car repair. I've had 3 majors on 3 different Ferraris (2 at authorized dealers and 1 at an independent) and I can tell you that it depends what the car needs and what you choose to have done, where and by whom. Only 1 of the 3 majors I have had was under $7k, but I have always done them right. If you want to see how, let me know and I will be glad to share with you in detail. I agree that independents are often cheaper (and both the scope of work done and the quality varies a great deal, although many independents are excellent, the top shops are unlikely to be a bargain either.)

The bottom line is many 348/ 355s are getting old and many have been majorly neglected at this point, by people unwilling to drop the $$ to maintain them properly.

The real "hose job" is being left by the side of the road because of something overlooked/ postponed. I am a believer in both: you generally get what you pay for and, in doing it right the first time - I know all do not share in this belief.

-SE

 

7-8k would be a good quote now for a major with new water pump and inspection of a few key things. Next month, I am getting my car's major done at Norwoods and my estimate was in line with this. FYI the water pump is now a $1800 part at the Ferrari dealer. Fortunately, T Rutlands sells it for $1300.

A major is just really basic tune-up of the engine. If you add clutch work and if some head work needs to be done it will easily be a $12k job. There could be a lot of other items that add to the total bill.

 

This is a big reason why the cost of "majors" gets so out of hand. Why would you buy a new water pump when you can get a rebuilt one, with all NEW parts, for less than $200 with exchange? Same logic applies for something like the alternator.

Do you buy a new dress shirt every time you lose a button?

 

Peace of mind.

Didn't you get a new water pump too?

 

I purchased the ebay rebuily waterpump.... then had second thoughts and paid £600 for a new one. Sold the ebay one to a friend and he's had no problems.

At $1,800...... that's taking the piss.

 

I was planning on doing something similar - re-build my current water pump (assuming it is decent serviceable condition) and sell it or perhaps keep it as a spare.