I am in the market for a 355. I was told that the major service (engine out) has to be done every 3-5 years regardless of the miles that are put on the car during that time. Please provide your feedback. Thanks
Try using the search function and you will find a wealth of information on the subject. One thing you'll find is the timing interval between belt services is a hot topic of controversy. The factory says 3 years (but originally 5) and many people (myself included) subscribe to the 5 year plan. Since FChat has been around for awhile many of the topics you'll probably want to understand are already well covered but here's some things you'll likely want to know about a 355: - F1 versus manual - 355 headers - sticky interiors I'm sure the guys will jump in with other suggestions but this should get you started.
This is a good idea, you will find hours of reading. You will soon find out that there is a debate on whether it should be done every three years or five years (or whatever the number). Good luck in your search.
if the car becomes a garage queen then expect high maint' costs and a shorter time period between '50k KM services'. Cars just don't like being stood around doin' nuffing' you won't really know what has been done on the cheap/neglected/delayed/alternative parts used, make sure you have a wedge of cash available after purchase for the inevitable jobs that will crop up. enjoy the whole experience...
This is true. Your first engine out will be 'more' major just fixing and replacing everything the previous owner blew off. After that it's smooth sailing. I have 47K on mine and will be doing my second major this winter 4 years and 18K miles later. -Billy
I'll give you some really good feedback based on my engine out services. Basically, I believe if you are just looking at cam belt change then you could easily go past 5 years without doing it and there should be no issues. I prefer to do an engine out service every 3 years if not every 2-3 years because you can find other things that maybe failing that has nothing to do with cam belts. I have currently taken my engine out as we speak and the cam belts are perfect after 3 years but we found a few other things that we would never have found just by taking the engine out. Some of these items we found could have had catastrophic consequences and such I am happy I have taken the engine out. So I think instead of calling it a cam belt change call it a preventative maintenance program.
This is my philosophy too. My water pump started leaking, coming up on 3 years. Rather than frap around with it, I am having the engine out and hitting everything possible. I know the last major was done well but not with the same enthusiasm; I have a very small oil pan leak that was present before the last major and was simply let go. It will be dealt with now. I am actually pretty excited, weird as that may sound... It will be nice to know it's all good.
one final comment, not only will you find other 'jobs' that need doing but also 'jobs' that had been done before and not done or boddged, depends if the previous servicing guys would like to own up to the not done and charged or just boddged! One of the keys is to find a reliable good honest servicing spanner man.
