30K Service on 1998 355GTS F1

You ought to be able to find an good independent to do the job for about $4500 including a rebuilt water pump. The dealer will be considerably more. If the F1 pump needs work, well, that's another matter.

 

Really? Aren't there like 40 hours needed to be a basic 30k? Add another 1,500 for parts, and your number seems low. I hope you're right though.


BTW, is that Rosso Batchetta?

 

That car looks awesome. Please don’t cut any corners, give her what she deserves…

 

Our local dealer quoted $10k for a 30k a while back. I generally get $6500 w/ water pump and thats a fair price.

 

You need to ask what is included, many shops (including dealers) do not include setting the cam timing...that is labor intensive, but necessary for proper operation.

If you are not concerned with the cost, then why ask?
I would focus on who is doing the work, and what and how they will do it.

 

Wow, I have never seen your car around, Cars and Coffee or any other car meetings.
I have had my car serviced at the Wynn and that's where I am going to do the major this autumn. First class service, Richard is a very nice guy and will not take you by the nec. Don't be scared... give him a call at 702-491-7874, don't forget to mention Fclub price

 

Holy Smokes--Never heard of one being that cheap...

 

My independent charged me 30 hours labor @ $100 per. (+ $ for fluids) on my 355.

Bought all my parts from Ricambi.

Thanks again, Daniel.

 

For what its worth, I recently had my 355 spider done at the local dealer. It is a very nice car with 12,000 miles, but some "minor" deferred maintenance. I saved by not using their $2,000 plug wires and $58 plugs ($475 and $26 respectively), but they would not install the Hill tension bearings and warantee the service. I did restore the shift linkage, new CV boots inside and out and had the injectors cleaned ( clutch was ok) and the bill was $13.500. Of course they degree'd the cam timing and I also had an alignment done. Throttle bodies adjusted and syncronized, and a small crack in an exhaust header welded up to save money.
Pricey, but these guys are perfectionists and worth it IMO. Can only help re-sale down the road.

 

Wow, that's 25 - 33% of the car value in a single service...

 

Yes, but the resale is $500 better!
Oh wait....deduct $500 for not using Hill Engr bearings....sorry.

 

I will tell you I've been in the car business for forty years and have been playing with fcars for almost thirty. Richard (702-491-7874) and staff at the Wynn are the very at what they do. Richard will invite you to pull up a chair not behind a rope but next to your baby while they work on her, or as most of us do not have time to do that he will send pictures of progress in a email. Their pricing is reasonable you get what you pay for. You what to cut conners drive something else. A 30K for 4,500 is scary! I've had lots of work on my 98 355 GTS F1 car and as we speak my 86 328 GTS is there finshing the 30K service. VERY SATISFIED.
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I'll put my car up against any 355 that has been serviced at an independent, will still have issues and I'm sure I'll get $15-$20K more than he will. My dealer is still routinely selling clean low mileage 355's for mid $70's, despite all the ads you see for "drivers" at $59k and lower. these cars are cheap for a reason. Besides, it's only money - can't take it with you. And no,
I don't make a 6 figure salary - long ways from it.

 

Well said ... both of you !

 

It's rare that i dont see people that dont have a 6 fig salary or bank account owning one of these cars. Good for you. Whats the trick?

 

Well being single for most of ones life and saving and investing 50% of ones take home pay is the trick. Being well diversified and not trying to get "rich quick". Get rich slowly.
Also at least a bachelors degree is a must. I'm an engineer at Boeing, good company, but not know for high pay )

Mike

 

I was quoted $6500 for the 30K service but we did quite a bit more like new tensioners (not just bearings), replaced all the mounts, hoses, etc. Just over $16K when done.

 

Why? To remove the engine, Change the belts and water pump, set the cams back to where they should be and replace the tensioner bearings and reinstall the engine and all fluids is about 30 hours work max. Anyone taking longer is ------g the dog. This along with parts should not run over $5,000. Remember that Hill Engineering bearings are $800 cheaper than OEM and will last for 2 30k services but most change them every time because it makes them feel better. While the engine is out you can also have the injectors cleaned and replace the o-rings on them. Grab new plug wires (kingsbourne make a 7mm wire and they come in different colors for about $270. You can also install the Dave Helms gold connectors kit as it will make a world of difference. While in there its only 1 more hour to change the clutch disk of a 6 speed and replace the throwout bearing and seal with a Hill Engineering one. The disk and bearing are less than $1000. The cam covers should be repainted with rinkle paint and clear coated if they need to be(add another hour but a good shop will throw it in for free).
If you still have the old power steering resevoir, change it out to the updated version for $120 or so from recambi(30 minutes work while the engine is out). Also check the rubber lines and hoses especially the little water line running from the back of the water resevoir as they tend to collapse inside without showing it on the outside. Your main hoses if bad should be replaced with samco silicon hoses, again recambi. Check the CV boots and engine/tranny mounts. Check for oil leaking between the trany and axle CV boot area. Sometimes the O-ring behind the nut that is visible once removing the axle(s) leaks. Remember to have your headers scoped while the cats are off. Check the tensioner bearing for the water pump/alt belt as they will eventually go but before they go they make needless noise for years($50 bearing and 15 minutes work) Take a good look at the gas tank fill hose while every thing is out of the way and make sure its not leaking and all the clamps are snug. Look for leaks in the rads as they are easily accessible now. Check the power steering lines running under the middle of the car from back to the steering rack in the front for leaks. Take a good look at the throttle bodies especially the bottom of them where they mount. There is a little paper gasket there. They somtimes leak. if they leak you will see some black smoke like stains at the bottom. They can cause your idle to jump around and a check engine light to pop up now and then. Also clean the idle regulators on each side with throttle body cleaner making sure they rattle and then reinstall them.
There are few other things but my mind is a bit foggy right now.
Enjoy your car and drive it the way Enzo wanted it to be driven and as I posted the other day, there are a few things you can do to make these cars run at their maximum and gain you around 50 bhp.

 

Well its a very well know company and the company's stock isn't bad to have. It helps if you are handy and guess you have a good base on how things work since you are a engineer.