How reliable is the F1 transmission?

one clutch so far but only because of a main seal leak that made it grab.

 

Post 1 para 5 of the buyers guide is your starting point - does it really seem likely that your question has not been asked and answered before ?

Try a search / advanced search / keyword 'manual' / titles only / section 360/430 and check out some of the more interesting looking threads that result - also try clutch as the keyword

 

You are unlikely to get a good answer if for no other reason than the miles between failure vary so widely. Some F-1 transmissions apparently give long and reliable service life. Remember, you never hear about them. People usually report only the failures But you never hear about reliable manual transmissions either; only the problematic ones.

On the other hand, some F1s fail with disappointing frequency according to what I read and these failures are mostly associated with the electro/hydraulic shifting system rather than the transmission itself.

In any case, I think it's fair to say that the F-1 system causes significantly more headaches than the manual version. Some say the benefits of the F1 makes it worth it; others disagree.

An additional problem is that you need VERY expensive diagnostic equipment to properly trouble shoot, service, or repair the F1 transmission. That means you must go to a dealer or an unusually well equipped Ferrari specialist, not your local mechanic no matter how talented he may be.

Clutch life is another crazy variable. Some F1 owners get well over 20000 miles and some report less than 10000 miles of clutch life. The clutch is small, the engine is powerful, and Ferrari owners usually like to drive briskly so the clutch life on the manual transmission isn't particularly long either. But I'd be surprised if it isn't at least double (perhaps triple?) that of the F1.

For example, my 360 manual clutch went 42000 miles before the original clutch was changed by the previous owner. That's not great, but not surprising either.

Those who work on them for a living may chime in with more exact data. Don't forget 58.5 percent of all statistics you see on the Internet are made up on the spot.

 

I've heard that 60% of the time, an F1 transmission works every time.

 

....and that 40% of the time they work occasionally.
Alan

 

If you get your clutch set up correctly the F1 is very reliable. There are many on here with 30-40K on an F1 clutch. If you are trying to do burnouts the F1 clutch will likely have a short life (not like a manual would fare better at the hands of a novice). If you are driving the car, even very spirited, and the clutch won't be a problem.

Yes, it take special equipment to properly service an F1 clutch. There are some who have had problems with the actuator (expensive but rare) and a few with problems with the F1 pump (somewhat more frequent but not very expensive).

The mechanics I know say they see far more manual cars with gear 2 syncro failures and other transmission problems. That's right, manuals are not immune to expensive failures.

There is probably more urban legend around this and timing belts than anything else. There are a lot of opinions but most are not based on actual hands on experience so the reality is often different.

 

The Ferrari clutch is made using real bits of Panther, so you know its good.

 

LOL! Yes!

 

Your still using the Panther clutch? I upgraded to the Elephant clutch because it is more durable and I can go 384.9 miles between clutch changes.

 

Not true. The panther clutches were replaced because they are now illegal in 9 countries.

 

Dave- I thought that was the Snow Leopard clutches.

 

Zero wear after 10000 miles of regular driving. No malfunction and clutch overheat time of zero. Did not track but live on a hill and drove on Southern California traffic regularly. So I would say very reliable and durable.

 

1. Reliable, but costly to fix if your number comes up

2. Totally dependent on who drives the car. Saw this video the other night where a valet fried a Gallardo clutch in 30 seconds

 

*If* the F1 pump/actuator goes bad on you, it used to be a very expensive, possibly prohibitively expensive replacement. But now shops are doing rebuilds and it's just a typically expensive Ferrari repair.

Another common failure point is the 360 F1 bleed block. Hill Engineering makes a replacement for the little aluminum piece. However, my dealer service department had me switch to the F430 bleed block instead of the Hill part because it came with some upgraded hose and fittings that they said would do me better in the long run. Was dumb money for a hose and a little milled aluminum piece (around $400, if I recall), but not the end of the world.

 

As for #2 the same could easily happen with a manual. Definitely not unique to an F1.

JPK, I think the bleed block is only used on the manual. Could be wrong though

 

I was a 3 pedel guy and read all the stories about the problem f1 has on this forum, but remember this forum is a way to help people with issues. Ferrari made a lot of these cars. I took the jump because I wanted to try something different and all I can say is I Love the F1 and will never go back. One other thing was it brought my wife and I closer together. She could never drive my other cars but now we go on daily drives together, take turn running this baby though the gears and have a blast.

 

The F1 has it too. Here is the Ricambi listing for the Hill part. I bought the F430 kit, which includes some upgraded parts in addition to the block. I guess it is identical to the 3 pedal manual trans, so maybe this issue is really not F1 specific.

235706 BLOCK -Valid from As : Ricambi America

 

Agreed, F! is more fun that I thought it would be....VERY easy to drive. I think it lets you concentrate on the road more than a traditional gear box. My girlfriend drove my 360 after watching me for 5 minutes and she did just fine....although the drove my 348 w/ no problems either..

 

Guys

Just caught up with this post, and as usual its loads of people who know jack **** about clutches.
The old Panther/Leopard skin clutches were phased out on the 355 models, and the replacements are actually made of a hats donated by the Pope. The hats are sanded down into fine dust by nuns and mixed up with super glue, then made into clutch plates. This is why one of the Popes was given an Enzo by the Ferrari factory.
Its a big secret but the last pope (German guy) had to resign as he stopped supplying Ferrari, and was secretly giving his hats to VW, and they were smuggling them into the Lamborghini factory to make Lambo brake pads.

Simon

 

WOW..ALOT OF ANGER THERE..LMFAO

 

So far no problems, just lots of fun.
Personally i would never buy a manual car ever again after having an F1.