Wanted a place to put simple projects or any DIY maintenance on your 599 or 612 that doesn’t require a long thread. Today I replaced the front right gravel guard for the R.H. front wheelhouse on my 599 HGTE. It was chipped and cracked, easy replacement, took 20 minutes, no need to remove front tire. Part # 68575800 Here’s a pic of the old one, new part seems much stiffer, better quality. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Just crossed 50,000 km with my 612 OTO, which in another context is 22,000 km in the 7 months I have owned her. She has been the perfect GT with 6 trips from Paris to the French Riviera and a wondeful trip to Biarritz, the Pyrenees, and Northern Spain. So today deserved some "spa" time with a single stage polish and some UHD wax from Autoglym (which is my preferred wax for white vehicles). Took me 6 hrs excluding the wash and clay bar. Also gave the engine bay a wipedown. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I made the mistake of ordering the "Spare Tire" option when I ordered my 599 HGTE from Ferrari. The strength of the trunk/boot floor of the 599 WITH the spare tire option is compromised as 1/3 of the floor is basically hinged to accommodate the spare. The result, if you use the 599 for trips as you should, is that the weight of the luggage causes this piece to become deformed near the tire, things fall into the well, luggage doesn't fit properly, looks horrible, etc... I set out to replace the broken floor with the full version that does NOT have the spare tire option. I called a couple of parts distributors looking for part # 68570900: New list price approximately $700, used in marginal condition on eBay for about $400. After close inspection of my original one from Ferrari, it's made from 1/4" plywood sprayed with adhesive and carpeted. So I decided to make one myself, here is the list of materials: 2 x 4 x 1/4" Birch Plywood (Home Depot) $21.00 1 Can Insta-Bond Spray Adhesive (yourautotrim.com) $11.45 1 Yard 80" wide Ozite Black 2001 Superflex Automotive Carpet (yourautotrim.com) $22.00 1 Arrow T50 Staple Gun (amazon) comes with staples $50 1 Halero 78"x59" Black Underfelt Carpet (amazon) $28 Total Materials $ 132.45 Total Time 4 hours Note: I've never done anything like this before I took lots of measurements and allowed 1/4" of space all around to allow for carpet thickness There is a trunk latch hook plate assembly that required a curve to be cut in the piece I used a jigsaw to cut the birch, sanded the edges I spray painted the birch with flat black paint the night before The carpet adhesive sprays out like cotton candy, let sit one minute and then put it down I clamped the carpet and worked in sections, easy and no stress I used 1/4" staples for the edges and 3/8" staples for the corners - carpet overlap was thicker here The underfelt was the last step and is exactly what Ferrari used to cover bottom side I'm really pleased with the result, the carpet is an exact match and the boot floor is much sturdier than before. The birch wood is a higher quality and stronger than the 1/4" plywood from Ferrari. Very satisfying and I saved $600 bucks! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Final fitting and installation Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks great. Put the Assembly Number on it and everyone will think it is OEM. The date may confuse that a bit.
Changed the oil and air filters in the 599 today. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I am going to change my oil soon also. I have purchased the Liqui Moly also. I have never used it before, how do you like it? How many oil changes have you done with this oil?
This is the first time I've changed my own oil in the 599, Shell 10W60 unavailable at the moment, but LiquiMoly meets all the same standards. I'll keep you posted, this is first I've used the oil.
Terry, After some discussion with the engineers at Archoil, I've stopped using the Tutela FVI Booster oil and switched to the Archoil 9100 product. Tutela FVI Oil Booster is, as we all know, a type of slightly thicker STP. In fact the only difference from STP is a slight change in viscosity at 100 Degrees Celsius. My average 599 operating oil temp is 82 Degrees C. Archoil is used in heavy applications as well as racing. I can say this and I'm only on a few days of driving with since the oil change: After getting the car back from dealer with Shell + Tutela, there is a still a tapity, tap, tap with the lifters at startup, it doesn't go away. Since I've changed the oil with LiquiMoly + Archoil, the engine is as quiet as a Lexus, not a peep from the lifters. Anecdotal? We shall see. I also sent out previous sample (Shell + Tutela) out to Blackstone Labs for Analysis. More to follow https://www.archoil.com/products/ar9100-oil-additive
Chad- 575s are so noisy (plus Fabio's headers) that I cannot hear any difference, but glad it worked for your 599. Some indications the FVI additive was for the cam variators, some indications for the lifters, but will have to remember the Archoil 9100 in case anybody asks. I still use Petronas Tutela CS Speed in my F1 system, but that is hydraulic/ glorified ATF fluid for Selespeed systems and not related to the FVI additive at all.
I heard that some dealers are using the following additive: Liqui Moly Viscoplus for Oil. is this a good replacement for the original additive ?
This additive seems to have same/similar properties to the Tutela FVI Booster Oil. https://pim.liqui-moly.de/pdf/en_GB/liqui/19/P000006
The grille on my’05 612 is missing a number of the shiny vertical trim bits. I found an NOS mesh grille from the OTO options list on eBay. Today I took a crack at swapping it in. This requires removing the bumper, which requires removing the front belly pan, and two of the three components comprising each inner fender. The third component, the top of the inner fender, seems to be impossible to remove, but you must rotate it to free up the trailing lip of the bumper or the bumper won’t come off. I also learned that there are six large threaded studs securing the bumper to the chassis, each with a 17 mm nut. The shop manual calls out only four. With two floor jacks and a tire you can do the reinstallation solo.
Couldn’t you have just replaced the chrome trim bits that were missing? I have a single one missing from my grill. Can I buy one from you? Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
I wanted something different. No offense, but I like the looks of the mesh grille better than the egg crates. The 499 GTO designers agree. Here is the finished product, at the marina in San Leandro, CA, Image Unavailable, Please Login my home town:
I should keep the grille with the car. At some point I will replace the missing bits with tube stock as described in other threads on this forum.
Today is Leatherique Day. I took the car out for a run, got it nice and hot, slathered the rejuvenating oil over all the leather with the car parked in the sun. 2 hours later, Pristine Clean to get it all off. It usually takes a couple of days for the leather to absorb all the product and feel soft and supple.
Anyone who has ever done the two step Leatherique process knows that it's kind of a PIA, but results are worth it. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I loved all the disassembled pictures and details., and the fact that you were brave enough to tackle it at home! Thinking it might look nice on my OTO too.Do you have an EBay link for these OTO parts? I can’t find a damn thing on EBay but led light bulbs and 1000 car covers that fit anything apparently. Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat