"Major" Gripe

+1 ...

glad to see another owner thinks $4500 is obscene ...and that 3yrs is ridiculous ...

 

Rifledriver says something about the cost being high here due to the lack of tort reform, etc... In the UK a timing belt change is around $1500 or so.
It is expensive, but that's the cost of playing in the USA.
BT

 

$4500 sounds cheap for a major service on a 348/355. What all is included in that price tag?

 

Not saying $4500 is a paltry amount, but yeah...all of the cars I have looked at had $8K+ major service bills in the records. Of course, I'm sure it was "while you're in there" kind of stuff...I guess $4-5K may be more in line for just the belts and bearings?

 

It's around £800 ($1,300) for engine in and £1,400 ($2,200) for engine out.

Whilst our servicing may be cheap, we get screwed on everything else when it comes to living in the UK.

 

same in australia

 

And in Sweden!

 

+2!

 

Cost of major at the Ferrari dealership here in Calif is $9500 (recently went up "due to increase in price of parts")

 

"Obscene" prices?

My local ferrari dealer wants $5,000 to install a nippondenso alternator, says they will not rebuild the current delco alternaor because "it won't last". The new pulley for the new alternator, $1200. The guard pan under the alternator has been damaged as well......$2500 for that.

While I was at the dealer I saw a guy purchasing an exhaust donut/gasket....not unlike the one I purchased from my local muffler shop for 3 bucks........ferrari dealer price - $23.00.

I was told that if I want to own one of these it is no different than purchasing a boat and all the expenses that come with it............I think a boat/yacht/ship is cheaper.

 

That is XXX obscene!!! I think I would get a second opinon from an independent shop, and also see if any used parts are available, especially that pulley and pan. Ricambi's website shows what appears to be the Nippon alternator for $2685...

 

Here is the breakdown of that $23 donut/gasket from the Ferrari dealer:

1) $3 for the donut/gasket (like the one from your local muffler shop)
2) $20 for the cardboard box that has the word "Ferrari" and a Prancing Horse on it

 

I had to replace the shield for the alternator and belts recently. The Ricambi price was around $650 or $700. I then looked on eBay and found a new one for $320.
You need to find a new mechanic.

 

Funny you mention that Mark, when I fit my XOST exhaust, it never came with any new gaskets. No probs, I went to the local exhaust shop and bought 4 gaskets. They werent the right size, but I made them fit.

They cost me AU $16 for 4 of them. I called the Ferrari dealer in Brisbane for a laugh to see how much genuine gaskets for it cost. They were AU $24 each!

$16 as opposed to $96. Im in the wrong game!!

 

Ridicolous prices, no matter how you put it ...

 

Pap...I put an Xost on my car too. The donuts I got from the muffler shop were a little larger, but not enough to make a difference, sealed just fine. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about.....some of this stuff is just crazy.

 

Larger, that would have been easy then.

My exhaust gaskets were A LOT smaller. I had to hacksaw a slot in them, then I got some side cutters and started to "peel" the exhaust gasket apart. This enlarged the internal diameter by a few mm which was just enough to squeeze them on.

When I pull the engine out to do the major, I will get Daniel to throw some new gaskets into my 30K kit that I will order from him soon.

The gaskets are not leaking, but I will change them out with the right ones anyways.

 

Anyone care to contribute?
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The alternator thing has been addressed before, and is crazy.

I was trolling the vintage section and there is a thread where guys are paying $6 a nut for nylocs that have yellow nylon inserts instead of blue, because that's what the factory used. They even have a vendor post suggesting that the hardware you get in the US isn't up to Ferrari "factory" specs. And people buy that.

Oops, I was wrong, it's $7 a nut:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187003

 

People also spend $1,000 on shielded fiber optic cables and claim it makes their stereo sound better.

 

That is ridiculous....I mean for both, spending the $1000 for that AND claiming they can hear the difference

 

Everything about this whole major service costs is just despicable BS!! Its one thing when it comes to a newer car thats still worth 6 figures, but when it comes to our older cars and the current market values, its INSANE that it costs 30% of what the entire damn car is worth, just to "maintain" it??? And when you get it back, it simply looks and does what it did when you dropped it off!!

My car isn't actually due for a major for a couple years yet... but I suspect I will need to break the gearbox open soon for an inspection, and a new clutch kit & flywheel.

There's no way i'm paying some shop's rent for the year, just to get that done!! My plan is to bribe the Stooges into a long (all expense paid) weekend to Vegas and let them do it. The money will be better spent, I might learn a few things, have a few laughs... and I KNOW the job will get done RIGHT!

PS. Consider this your "heads-up" guys

 

Lol!! Very good Steve!