Let's see your favourite 456/550/575 Photo...

I just feel so stupid. Since its been there over a year (May 2nd) as a gag i almost feel like I should tell him to change the oil again. 8-(

 

That's still my favorite concours picture, Mirek.

 

Time sure does fly, 10 years ago with a couple of mates

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Covers the vanilla Maranello spectrum, early 575M, later 575M, and 550, all in the same color.

 

Glorious drive in the Santa Cruz Mountains over the Memorial Day weekend… thank you to all who served!

Photo credits: BayMotoPhoto


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Great color and sexy shoes!

 

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Merlin’s Beard!
Cheese & Rice!
Thor’s Hammer!
And on and on…..

I’ve said I’ll never sell this car but…..
this never ending game of whack-a-mole is out of control.

When I first picked it up today the drivers window button was broke and the CEL area showed “FCS” (quick search maybe Freon pressure) anyway they change the passenger and driver switch out so I can roll down the window and then when he goes around the block the FCS goes away.

it’s comical because I get almost home and the friggen CEL goes on again…..parked it and will pull the OBD # and see what’s next.

#ArtisPain?
#AreYouSeriousClark?
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This is absolutely insane Eric! One common link here is the mechanic...

Before you sell the car, I think one more attempt elsewhere to really untie the knots may get to resolution. I'd expand the thinking and consider the best of the best in the country (ship the car to @Rifledriver, for example) and let them have a crack at it. Transport is a small inconvenience at this point. And at the end of day, these cars are made up a finite number of systems that can impact a particular error; and experts who can put the time in and leverage their vast experience can be more effective and will know where to look versus an overwhelmed - and from what I'm gathering - an uninvested-in-the-outcome specialist. Maybe your tech will fund some of this since he's taken a year of use and who knows how much money to get you nowhere.

Or you can sell it, buy that FHP 575 that was just listed in the classifieds, and convert it...

 

One bummer here in the Bay Area is as @Rifledriver has noted John Heim is a legend (at Patrick Otis’ shop) & I called them yesterday to touch base as they had worked on the car in the past and….if I understood Patrick Otis…when we spoke he said Heim has kinda retired (providing limited help when necessary).

I will say as a group of human beings I like my mechanic and his team and this….what now 4th or 5th back and forth I hope is just dumb luck….surely if it was the shop they wouldn’t have so many cars awaiting work.

@Qksilver my wife asked if I was pissed and I said no just exhausted…my other problem is I’ve ALWAYS lusted after the 550 so I wouldn’t sell it….if it continued to be a PITA I’d just store it and move on to a 612 or FF….

 

John is your best choice in the area. I keep hearing and seeing reasons that make me think he's the only choice for cars of that period. The number of good shops and people keeps getting smaller. We are seeing a replay of the demise of the buggy whip industry.

 

That really stinks, and I can empathize with you. My 575 went back to the shop at least 4-5 times for the same cel over 2 years, but finally got it sorted. Essentially every evap system component was replaced in the end. At the same time my 430 was in the shop for over 12 months

finally have both cars back and working great and the pain quickly forgotten. I guess kind of like childbirth…

 

great Photos Greg

 

That must be just driving you mad and I sympathize. I have been there (pretty close).

These period of cars are tough. Each assembly can be different in the details (radiators, water pump impeller, fuel cooling systems, it goes on and on….especially for the later 2002-4 cars). FCS is fuel cooling system. This happens on occasion to me upon start up. Do not sweat it. Think of it like the suspension lamp that comes on after so many starts and no movement of the car.

Humble suggestion: Get AAA and subsidize towing it down to Bobileff and/or FastCars. This was my nuclear option months back. One shop got my car pretty damn close to perfect but threw the flag on a vacuum leak & emissions, so I had it towed directly from there to the other shop and between the two my car got fixed after about 8 months. It is still not “perfect”.

I have no idea how people without such resources daily these.

 

I was telling my wife, the exact same thing… In the Bay Area there are several choices but if you don’t have one close by and have to rely on trailering, let’s say from Des Moines Iowa to Chicago… What an horrible experience that would be.

Other than historically NiftyFiveFifty …. I’m not sure If any of us on here are putting that many miles on a 550? Anyone doing more than 2k miles a year?

Maybe @fatbillybob?

Jeff I think our problem is we are “one Ferrari” households and guys that have multiples have figured it out for sure.

Seems like if I had a better garage situation I’d have more fun if the 550 was supplemented with a 456GTA!

 

FBB only has his race 550 remaining. Doubt if he is putting substantial miles on her.