Is $12K for a 355 Spider belt service (before any additional problems found) within range for 2023? | Page 2 | FerrariChat

Is $12K for a 355 Spider belt service (before any additional problems found) within range for 2023?

Discussion in '348/355' started by rearviewmirror, Sep 20, 2023.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. ChoonHound

    ChoonHound Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 13, 2022
    2,267
    Saint Michaels, MD
    Full Name:
    Lucas
    Of course, that all goes with out saying. My invoice was far more than $7500 in total, but there has to be a minimum. This argument is pretty silly if you ask me. Of course you might find other things. Or you might not.
     
    cetera and SPOM13 like this.
  2. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,673
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    There was a minimum posted by the OP. It was $12.5K
     
  3. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    #28 Rifledriver, Sep 21, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2023
    I am going to disagree. Most of what you just mentioned are over and above the major service so would not ever be included in the price for a service. It is pretty commonplace in these discussions and muddies the water. A water pump is a separate line item. CV boots are a separate line item etc. People lump them together and it just isn't accurate nor would accurate invoices be written that way.

    One thing I will say is from his invoice its impossible to say what was done. There are no part numbers and a poor description. In most places that is not legal and in no place is it ethical. In my experience it is typically done to obfuscate what was done. Hardly the hallmark of a quality service facility.
     
  4. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,287
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    Brian will always have the professional perspective, doesn't like anything on the cheap or anything DIY, he's right often.

    Using DFW as an example, probably the least expensive professional is also the highest quality for Ferrari work including majors. He has the advantage of working solo without much overhead. That said he has such a waiting list that it is hard to get in.

    As the well known independents have become more and more busy, it has also been harder for them to hire good technicians. Some of the best and biggest names in the independent world have struggled lately with quality AND are charging much more for it.
     
  5. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Sorry. You are quite incorrect. I have no issue with do it yourself work as long as it is quality work. I have said here countless times I know many owners who are as capable as any professional. I have a real problem with poorly executed work no matter who does it. I just happen to see far more butchery done at the hand of home mechanics.
     
    albert328gts and rob lay like this.
  6. tres55

    tres55 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 18, 2012
    3,572
    Canada
    I think the real answer is, it depends.

    There's a lot of things that can add up "while you're in there". If the car somehow needs little to nothing else, I would imagine $6-7k would be sufficient. I would budget $10k range though for a thorough major engine out.
     
    SPOM13 likes this.
  7. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Again, those items are not part of a major service. A major service is a defined job. Items outside of it are separate repairs.
     
    tres55 likes this.
  8. ChoonHound

    ChoonHound Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 13, 2022
    2,267
    Saint Michaels, MD
    Full Name:
    Lucas
    “A defined job” lol.




    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
     
  9. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,789
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    If a steak dinner cost $15, then you're not paying for steak :D
     
  10. WillskiGT

    WillskiGT Formula Junior

    Aug 12, 2017
    444
    Mine was $6500 last year with a few extra items (CV boots, refinishing of cam covers, addressing split PS lines), but this was in Europe where Ferrari service is much more reasonably priced.

    40hr of book time @ $200/hr for belts is outrageous, quite frankly.
     
  11. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,789
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Where's the rest of this invoice? Would love to see the cost of the waterpump replacement, and what brand was used (OEM or otherwise)
     
  12. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall

    A. Your operational costs are lower.
    B. You are 100% correct. But that quote was not for a belt job.
     
  13. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Based on what we can see I doubt it will tell you anything of value.
     
  14. ChoonHound

    ChoonHound Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 13, 2022
    2,267
    Saint Michaels, MD
    Full Name:
    Lucas
    Happy to share it all privately if you’re genuinely interested in it. Mind you, this was for a 348 not a 355. I’m not interested in further negativity, speculation, and reviews from the peanut gallery and boys that didn’t get hugged enough. I was trying to be helpful, not get crapped on.
     
  15. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    Says the man who calls me angry for disagreeing. You sir are a poster boy example of a smowflake. Simply cannot handle someone who has a different opinion.
     
  16. Targatime

    Targatime Formula 3

    Feb 22, 2014
    1,461
    Los Angeles
    There's an old line about college -- "take the professor, not the class" that applies just as well to mechanics. Find the right guy, someone competent and honest who takes pride in his work, and then put your trust in him and be an agreeable, reasonable customer. I'll be doing my own majors, but if I had to take it to a shop, I would pay $12k for the right mechanic vs $8k for the wrong one every day and twice on Sunday.
     
    Julia likes this.
  17. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner Social Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2000
    64,287
    Southlake, TX
    Full Name:
    Rob Lay
    Like I mentioned, in Dallas the right mechanic is the least expensive as well.
     
  18. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,856
    North Wiltshire, UK
    Wow, you guys get ripped off big time!

    Mine (355) goes into a main dealer next month. Fixed price belt and major $3k inc all taxes.

    I have a couple of extra things to do so advised bill will be $4k.
     
  19. ChoonHound

    ChoonHound Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    May 13, 2022
    2,267
    Saint Michaels, MD
    Full Name:
    Lucas
    Everything is inflated here versus the UK, to be fair. Especially in Texas. Salaries, egos (ah hem) .... I've heard shipping cars to the UK for restoration can be a real savings, but I've only heard that second hand.
     
    rob lay likes this.
  20. Johnnieblack115

    Johnnieblack115 Karting

    Nov 18, 2022
    220
    Massachusetts
    Full Name:
    Jonathan Walker
    Yeah mechanics must be salivating with people saying a service is too cheap. It really opens up the possibility of getting fleeced for work that could be done for less. To the OP, call around all the indys you can find in LA that have good reviews and get ballpark estimates. If the forum starts espousing that 10k is the market value of a major than you’re contributing to escalating the cost


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
    ChoonHound likes this.
  21. Julia

    Julia F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 22, 2014
    9,261
    Houston
    Can you point me to one? My Houston mechanic said to expect $16K next year when it's due.
     
  22. 76Steel

    76Steel Formula 3

    Sep 8, 2007
    1,482
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Mike
    No wonder people are confused. Just in this thread alone we went the garmut from 5K - 16K and no one knows what the hell is included. lol. Half j/k
     
    Julia likes this.
  23. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,856
    North Wiltshire, UK
    How do they justify this?

    Engine out and belts is 15 hrs. Add a bit of time to do oil, brakes, flush coolant. What add 4 hrs!

    They charging you $1k an hour or something?

    Either that or they are adding lots of other work, (tensioners, water pump, valve clearance, cam seals, cam covers powder coated, spark plugs, ac gas. etc etc, but even then you wouldn’t get to 16k). might be required, but does not allow a baseline comparison to be made.

    Still ridiculous prices.
     
  24. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,278
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    The first thing that is wrong here is people take there cars and say, "It needs a major". What you should do is make a list of things you want addressed,

    1) Timing belts and tensioner bearing
    2) Accessory belts
    3)Cam seals
    4)Engine oil and filter
    5)Gear box oil(unless you change it your self?)
    6)Coolant
    7)air filters(?
    8)Spark plugs(?)
    9) Refinish cam covers(?)
    10)Water pump, inspect and rebuild or replace as necessary
    11)Brake fluid
    12)AC recharge

    Ask for an estimate. Then if you go ahead with it, any other work should only be done on approval.
     
    76Steel and GatedF355GTB like this.
  25. Julia

    Julia F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 22, 2014
    9,261
    Houston
    What's a fair price?
    Idk. Maybe they're trying to prepare me in case the car needs a lot more?
     

Share This Page