100,000 miles in my 360

It has taken me 11 years but yesterday afternoon I reached another milestone in the Fiat.

100,000 miles (160,000 km - roughly 100K)

You'll be pleased to hear it didn't self destruct or melt into a brick of metal.
I'm on my third clutch in all that time (manual)
If anyone wants any further specifics I'm happy to elaborate on the running of it over the period.

Excuse the rubbish Iphone pics - had to pull over rather sharply.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Awesome! Please elaborate on how the Fiat has copped with the usage : )

 

More info!!!!
Tons more info please!!!!

 

thats impressive - DD by any chance ? Well done, Enzo would be proud.

 

Excellent - I am awaiting delivery of my 2003 F1 spider with 19 000 km on the clock so far - so at least I know I can drive it as a second / third car for the next 80 years or so without any major worries...!

My grand kids will have a nicely run-in car in about 40 years time.

 

Awesome, congratulations that's a very impressive achievement.

 

glad to see there are still Ferrari drivers and not only collectors out there....

 

Congrats, did you keep the 308?

 

it would be really nice to share all the problem you ever encountered and all the service done to the car.

as a matter of fact, if everybody could share those info, we could make this site a better place.

 

Just putting it all together guys and will post full details

 

Have the heads ever been off to do a valve job?

 

I have owned my 360 since Aug 20 this year...already have put 1000 miles on it! And....I was in Cabo San Lucas all last week!!!
Drive em!!!!!!

 

These are modern cars, modern engineering etc, as long as they aren't abused horribly/ trashed and serviced per schedule - why wouldn't they be good for 100K or 200K for that matter.

You migth not have the full 400HP at that stage, but unless you plan on racing who cares...

I know of 308/ 348s with north of 130K on them with no major rebuild work....just good service and care..

Now the bodywork....well at close to 30 years old.... thats another matter

 

OK chaps, I'll try to set out what has needed doing over the years and my experiences.
Its a 1999 LHD Manual Coupe.

Usage:

- Motorway driving, great number of European trips including visit to Maranello
- City commuting consisting of 3 years of central London commuting every day come rain or shine
- Plenty of country road blasts, PH road trips, Le Mans and Vmax
- Number of track days, on average one a year


Servicing and parts:

- Annual servicing including cam belts with Hill Engineering tensioners every 3 years. I have basically stuck to the recommended service intervals etc throughout.
- Number of discs, pads and of course tyres. I have found Bridgestones to last twice as long as Pirellis.
- Ball joints: replaced twice up front and once on the rear.
- All coils replaced over time. Weak spot and they tend to go once and a while. I always carry spares.
- Several batteries
- 2 new clutches with Hill engineering uprated clutch release bearings (80,000 km and 145,000 km)
- 1 clutch slave cylinder found to be leaking
- 1 new battery alarm pack
- 1 waterpump found to be leaking at around 120,000 km
- 2 reconditioned manifolds. Another weak spot on the 360. Each side replaced around 100,000 km
- 1 drive shaft and 1 wheel assembly replaced due to an accident with a rather large hole in the road
- 1 door solenoid
- drive shaft seal replaced when it finally was worn out and leaked at around 140,000 km. Gearbox out job for a £20 seal.
- 1 Hill engineering uprated clutch release shaft found to be worn down completely at 159,000 km. Original sent to Hill engineering as we simply could not find a fault with it. They can crack but no sign of that here. Hill finally was able to measure it to find it had worn down evenly, something you cannot see with the eye hence letting out oil and not sealing round the release bearing properly. this has not been seen before but likely to be due to the extended city use and pedal movement

As you can see it is practically only wear and tear items apart from a few bits and pieces and an accident with a hole in the road.
I can honestly say hand on heart that the car has never ever let me down or stranded, abroad or in the UK (apart from a flat battery in my garage once or twice)


General upkeep:

- Always garaged
- Lots of Zymol Ital and Gliptone leather care
- Regular washes but no detailing or anything of the sort (the car is well known on PH and people that know it will confirm it still looks fresh)
- Front bumper sprayed twice for stonechips. No other paintwork has been carried out (could do with sorting stone chips again and a few other marks)
- 1 weeks worth of trying to persuade 2 black bird chicks to leave my engine compartment alone as they had taken up residence in there:

In general:

I can honestly say its been an absolute joy. You all know the stories about Ferraris being oh so fragile, breaking down all the time and costing a fortune to run and bla bla bla. Well, here you go, evidence to the contrary
I'm a firm believer that cars need to be driven and have done my best to that effect.

For potential purchasers/new owners a few tips beside the usual buyers guides (PH of course and Tim Walker from Walkersports)
Find a good independent mechanic. Someone who actually cares about your car rather than the potential £££ in the company coffers.
I use Paul Coster from Prestige Autocare who knows the car inside out. Personally I would not use anyone else and there are plenty of other PHers that use him including Bachi who is now on 96,000 miles on his 360 spider.
I'd say budget for £2000-3000 per annum max in case of belts, big service, ball joints, tyres come at once. Other than that I'd say £1000-2000 a year should do it if you've bought wisely.
Happy to elaborate further should anyone need any more info.

What a car, what a sound and what a joy to own
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No, never.

 

I was hoping you would post a pic. Your car still looks new and well taken car of.

Congratulations!

 

How did the birds get into the engine bay?

Many thanks for posting. Clearly, you truly enjoy and maintain the car, and a very proud owner.

 

Wow this is fantastic. Thank you far sharing this.

 

That's my car! Same color combo.. same seats..! Awesome that you actually drive it!

 

I'm curious as to whether you have a cold start / hot shutdown ritual.

 

slow down a little, I am catching up

Love daily driving my 360.

And Steve, I don't have a ritual, I start it, drive it, shut it down.

 

As someone on this site has already said......
....to own a Ferrari and not drive it, is like having a beautiful girlfriend and not making love to her........ You'd only be preserving her for her next boyfriend....

I've done 5000km in 8 weeks in my 360.. I see no point in locking it away..

You're dead a long time!,

 

Very heartening to read this, excellent stuff respect to you.

 

The buggers came in through the rear wheel arches. I got them out only to find them back in there the next day! They clearly loved the place (and who wouldn't)
Took me ages to get the **** off though.. LOL