328 Maintenance Cost for Low Mileage Buy

(Disclaimer: I'm not an expert, by any means - just shopping for my first Ferrari and have got to know the 308 and 328 pretty well.)

First, 5 years is about time to have a belt service again. Some people say you can push it, especially with only 1K miles, but time also ages the belt and bearings. Kind of like tires aren't happy sitting in one place for a long time, belts lose their shape, bearings need to turn to stay good, etc. If I were you I would plan on either a 15K or (probably) 30K service to be safe. Maybe $3500-$4000.

Seals and hydraulics also don't age well with non-use. After you start driving it, some of this stuff might start leaking. Brake calipers, clutch cylinder, and so on. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these needed rebuilding or replacing.

Everyone on here's going to tell you to get a PPI (pre-purchase inspection) by a qualified independent Ferrari mechanic or dealer. It's good advice, and they can tell you any impending problems. A PPI can alert you to other obvious things that might need attention -- brake wear, clutch wear, radiator integrity...

You didn't mention price, but I'd guess you're paying a premium for the low mileage. So, spend the $300 or so and get it looked over.

My .02.

Jon

 

It already needs a major service.

 

Just to clarify, a major service was done 5 years ago, the car traveled 1000 miles, and the timing belts have just been replaced again?

If so, I would just verify what the first major included, whether the second belt change included checking the tensioners & other sundries, have a PPI to find something with which to haggle, and then just drive it.

It's hard to tell what a car MAY need. My car's been pretty reliable over the past few years, I know of other 328s in the area that have had literally 10s of thousands dumped into them in the same timeframe. All you can really do is get a second/third professional opinion and then cross your fingers

 

Just to reinforce Tillman!'s comment ... sometimes "change the belts" isn't a real service, as called for by Ferrari. A major service includes valve adjustment, replacing tensioner bearings and other items beyond a new belt - like cam cover seals. One dealer told me he had done a belt service on a 328, but said they didn't open the engine to do the valves because the seals weren't leaking. Had I bought the car I probably would have had that done to keep the services up to date. Just be sure to ask if they're doing a major service or just replacing/adjusting the belts.

Another dealer, in the NY area, wouldn't share the details of what was done on a recent "belt service" on a 328 and wasn't too keen on my asking for a specific list of what was done. I didn't feel real comfortable with this and walked away.

Jon

 

Last year, I bought a 1984 Mondial with only 19K on it. It had it belts changed and major service done a year before I bought it. But cars that sit around for a long time show problems when you start to drive them. Typically, things that look leak free now start to leak. Ask when the last time the brakes and clutch (if its hydraulic) were bled. Expect squeaks and rattles and possibly electrical problems to pop up. Cars that have sat for years dry out and connections corrode and things happen. Check ALL the electricals very carefully and turn things on and off to be sure they actually work properly. And check the DOT information on the tires -- if it is sitting on original tires, they MUST be replaced, even if they look good. You don't want a tire delaminating on you at 85 mph and old tires cannot be trusted no matter how good they may look.

One thing you should be asking of the dealer, if they are reputable, is what kind of warranty they will give you, especially on the work they have done. If you are getting none at all, be sure someone who knows these cars well goes through it and the service records carefully or you could find yourself spending a lot to fix things over the next months and years.

Remember, exotic cars can be very seductive. Buy with your head, not your heart. Look past the shiny paint and clean interior and be sure that what is underneath the hood is in good shape. That way, when you do buy it, you'll end up loving it, not regretting the decision.

 

How about this for low mileage? AutoTrader currently has two 1989 328 GTSs for $85,000 each! A lot of money? Consider that one has only 579 miles on it (!) and the other has only 180!!

Regardless of the price, I think the best thing to do with these cars is to walk the other way. A car that has only been driven 180 miles in 16 years has got to be problematic.