Parts for US cars are expensive in Europe too. A ZR1 costs 130.000 euros, same for parts.
I like to group parts into two categories for my cars: Mission critical and non-mission critical. Mission critical parts reflect a failure being big $$$ and operation of the car in a key manner. These parts I buy new and Ferrari brand if needed and no confirmed interchange part number is available. Oil filters for the 348, 355, 360.. etc. I buy new from ferrari. The spec calls for a valve in the filter, they're adjusted to the pressure and sump design. I'll pay a little extra for that compliance with spec. Some things like Brembo rotors, only made for 360.. so you have to buy OEM part from a supplier. Wear components may fit into this if non-OEM available e.g. Girodisk pads... Non-mission critical parts are not key to the functioning of the car or a key system. I argue you can even do a used part for some of these applications. Examples being trim, body panels, Window regulators, HVAC parts that don't have a wear component. How one defines the above for their car is up to them.
Don't forget to add in the Customs and Duty charges... then add in your time and trouble. Last time I did something similar, I had to go to the airport, fill in forms and pay the man. It was still a bit cheaper - but not worth the extra hassle and wait. If you want to really normalize the numbers, add in risk as well. Have a problem(?) try explaining it to the UK supplier! Then explain to the customs guys in the UK that it is actually a return and not subject to UK duties (after you've been stuck with another freight charge). Rgds, Vincenzo
There were no duties or customs charges. The parts were delivered to my door just like any domestic supplier's parts. I was not speaking hypothetically, I actually placed the order. I placed the order March 23rd, online, and received them April 10. It does take a bit longer to get them than it does from a domestic supplier, but I did save some coin.
Porsche are just as bad. It's theft. Having said that I always buy OEM, because at the end of the day it's one awesome exotic sports car, but I do shop around. If the part was up to 30% more to buy locally I would just buy it. Anymore and I hit the net.
nonsense. Mercedes parts are expensive from a normal car standard, but nothing compared to ferrari. Further, there are dozens of websites that sell MB parts at a huge discount.
come on dude, no way is that true. for example, a 993TT clutch disk is $281 dealer list, $192 online. A pressure plate is $707 dealer list, $482 online. So we are talking $935 dealer list, $674 online. For a 360 modena manual, the price at Ricambi (which I understand to be discounted) is $1,579. That is 68% more than Porsche dealer list, and a whopping 135% more than porsche dealer's online parts dept. This is only the first example i found right off the batt. In my estimation, for whatever porsche charges for a part, ferrari would charge at least 50% more for the corresponding part (clutch disk vs. clutch disk as above).
You might try Mick's Garage for some parts. Car parts & accessories online from MicksGarage.com, the UK and Ireland's car parts experts. Free delivery, top brands & low prices on over a million parts & accessories! Not as comprehensive as the Ferrari specialists but you can find some deals. I got a set of Bosch ignition coils there (for a 360) at a fraction of the stateside prices. Bosch Ignition Coil for FERRARI 360 MODENA Spider (F131) 3.6 02/2000 - 400b (1202545) Like most, I won't compromise on parts quality but am not strictly tied to OEM when there are better parts out there (like the Hill Engineering shifter bushings, cam tensioners, etc.). I do prefer to retain originality, though, for the most part.
If you want to see really obscene markups, look at the prices for Ferrari options at purchase time or Ferrari official aftermarket accessories for upgrades to your vehicle!
it comes with the package. if the parts are as cheap as chevy you will see F cars everywhere more than what they are now.
Hey, at least the gaskets on the intake manifold are a relative bargain at under $4.00 each. The only problem is the mechanic will charge you $1500 to replace it.
....yes they are cheap because they cheaply made, paper gaskets that absorb oil, collapse and get sucked in, poor design and a common problem (even on other models)...seems that either you pay!
Could you imagine a few years down the line, when carbon disks/brakes, F1 transmissions, and hybrid batteries start to go? Yikes!
Count your blessings: at least they make parts. Many parts for the relatively recent Ferrari 456 are completely unavailable and Ferrari doesn't make them anymore. They are only obligated to make replacement parts for a certain amount of time. As the 355, 360, etc get older, it will become increasingly difficult...
If you guys in the USA feel you are getting ripped off by FNA you should see what we get charged in Australia. I generally order all my parts from either Ricambi or out of the UK. I have ordered parts from Eurospares and Maranello Spares UK on Monday and had them sitting on my doorstep on Friday. It generally takes weeks for the Ferrari dealership to get the parts delivered to their spares department then I need to pick them up. I did have a problem on one occasion with some parts supplied by Maranello Spares UK and the service to correct the issue was excellent. I cannot speak more highly of them.
Guys, The collective knowedge here could be applied to save the community a considerable amount of money by creating a list of non Ferrari badged parts that are what Ferrari use and which fit the 430/ 360. There are a major amount of parts Ferrari dont make utilised on the car, we also know where they hold stock that Maserati badged parts are considerably cheaper with the same part number and which are identical to Fcar parts - just recently had experience of this on a 360 gearbox rebuild... I did a quick search didn't see a parts list, should we get one set up by a moderator as a sticky that we can contribute to colllectively...... just a thought.....
considering what I know about both cars, I don't find that to be an accurate analogy. That said, yes they do cost more. Is it worth it? well thats a personal choice.
I "overpaid" for my oem harnesses+pads but hot dang does it look sexy: http://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/478751b0a88411e2a94522000a1fbc56_7.jpg A fellow fog'er said to me earlier today, "Gotta pay to play." And that pretty much sums it all up. 3ish k for seatbelts? C'mon, most folks would look at me funny, but most folks don't drive what we drive. We are really blessed to be able to enjoy these machines and exclusivity is never cheap.
Another problem is that this additional cost also applies to third party accessories. For example, I have a BMW 535 for which I bought Mac Neil floor mats. They are laser sized and look like a tray that sits in your foot well. Amazing product that cost $180 for a set of four (2 front...2 rear). So I want to protect the carpet in my 2004 360 so I figured that I would order the same thing ($360 for a set of two). Now I understand my...they need to make a mold for their injection molding machine and, instead of selling 1,000 per year for a 535, they probably sell 5 sets per year. So the cost of the mold has to be spread out across a much smaller volume. I guess their is a cost for exclusivity.
1 euro is 1,38 USD, that makes imports more expensive. But in Europe US imports are not cheap either. A Corvete ZR1 for example comes at 150.000 USD.
A currency exchange rate has little or nothing to do with the cost of a product other than, perhaps, a small fee to actually exchange the currency; typically around two percent for small purchases. Look at it this way. If you buy a part in U.S. dollars but pay for it in pennies does that make it 100 times as expensive? Of course not. The exchange rate between pennies and dollars is one hundred to one. Another example: When we shifted from Italian lira to the Euro, the exchange was nearly 2000 to one. If you could get a cup of coffee for 2000 lira did coffee suddenly cost two thousand Euros per cup. No, coffee costs one Euro.
+100 Many times someone will find a part from another manufacturer for much cheap ,why not share. I will I know an alternative for filters. Baldwin I believe make it I just don't know number. These are cars and things should cost that much especially made by someone else
