F355 Major service how often please?

As per TSB #1003 dated 10-02 and TSB #1215 dated 5-04 all Ferrari engines with rubber timing belts should have those timing belts changed every 3 years or 30k miles, whichever comes first.

 

I always thought it was 5 years or 30K miles?

 

every 5 years, atleast thats what wide world of cars has advised me to follow...

 

Those TSB's are not a figment of my imagination. They are from Ferrari North America and have been distributed to every dealer in North America. If your dealer is advising you differently I suggest you get it in writing so when you have a belt failure you can have him fix it for free.

 

3-years or 30,000 miles for an F355. The belts stretch and you could lose an engine. Don't take that chance.

- Bill

 

There is a car I'm looking at in CA, '99 355B with 4k miles. The belts have NEVER been changed. I think the car may be a time bomb waiting to go off. 7 years and no belt change, scary.

 

Yes, that car will need a service right away. It's going to need all new hoses, belts, timing belts, possibly CV boots, tires (if they are original), and on and on.

- Bill

 

Was 5 years - changed to 3 years... as stated above.

 

3 years regardless of mileage and what I've been told the tensioners need to be done as well. THe two power steering hoses seem to be an issue as well.

 

thats hysterical....how can they go from 3 to 5 after the 95s have been on the road for 11 years...sounds like a way for them to bring in more revenue...im going to call wide world tomorrow and see what they say.

 

Ask them to give you a photocopy of TSB 1215 dated May 2004.

It has to do with feedback from experiences in the field. A manufacturer as small as Ferrari requires more time to develop a meaningful data base. They are constantly updating their service and repair recomendations based on that ever widening data base.

 

Is that the car in Malibu the guy says is perfect?

 

i hear u, but i had my major done last year, and when i picked the car up, they literally said "see in in 2010"...

ill see what they say.

 

Yes it is. Have you seen it? I'm concerned that it hasn't been maintained just because it has 4000 miles doesn't mean you shouldn't keep it up to date with the maintenance. Please PM me if you have anything else I ought to know.

Thank You

 

I haven't seen the car but the guy sounds like a typical Ferrari owner that tells you the cars in perfect shape when in actuality the car has never been serviced. I have run into a few guys like this that are asking full dealer retail for a car with no service or service records. Personally I would stay away from low mileage cars without the proper services being done.

 

I received a call from another guy with a '98 triple black spider, again no records with 8800 miles. He wasn't sure if he was the 2nd or 3rd owner. Also, the belts had NEVER been replaced in that one either. I think my visit to CA will be more fun by visiting Disneyland than it will be trying to buy a car....

 

2 weeks ago I looked at a 5500 mile 1996 355 spider. The car was absolutely beautiful. When I asked the guy about service records the guy practically laughed in my face. He said what kind of service records would you expect from a 5500 mile car. When I explained to him that the 30k service was due and also the valve guides might need to be addressed because of issues in early model 355. He said to me is that your're way of negotiating a better price on the car.
I told him that those services would need to be done before I ever drove the car. (10 years on original belts) He said what would you want to deduct off the price of the car. I told him I didn't know at this time. But I would be interested in getting a PPI and seeing exactly what it needs. He told me he would be willing to do that if I gave him a non-refunable deposit of 25k. Well I
told him that was ridiculous and I was going to pass on the car. He told me that if I was a serious buyer I would do that.

I don't know why but this is the 3rd time something like this has happened to me. I have bought and sold 6 Porsches over the last 15 years and never had these kind of problems. In fact the Porsches I bought the owners insisted I have the cars checked out first for my piece of mind. I hate to say this but some F-car owners are very arrogant.

 

This seller won't even let you look at his GTS unless you agree on a price first!?!? Not even a test ride! He has changed his Ad a few times to adjust that attitude but I bet he will be one of the arrogant ones.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/192708582.html

 

i called wwocars...they said given the 2000 miles a year i drive the car i should stick to the 5 year intervals.