"Getting back in" | FerrariChat
Buy

"Getting back in"

Discussion in '308/328' started by ecoloqua, Mar 15, 2006.

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

  1. ecoloqua

    ecoloqua Karting

    Mar 15, 2006
    148
    #1 ecoloqua, Mar 15, 2006
    Not to sound like confessional....but well, its been 11 years since my last Ferrari. (an 90 348tb) and I am getting ready to pull the trigger again. This time its going to be a 91 348ts.
    I have been looking for 12 months and I think I have found the "right car".

    I have a question for anyone that can offer an answer.

    The belts were done on this car in 2000. Since the belts were done the previous owner put on 9,000 miles. The car now has 19,800 miles and has been very well serviced.
    I had heard that Ferrari recommends replacing the belts every 5 years or 15k miles. Considering the belt service was done 6 years ago, do I need to do the belt service again or does Ferrari over-exaggerate in thier recommendations?

    I talked to a manager at Ferrari of Atlanta today and he said that in 15 years he has only seen one belt actually break. It was on a TR with 60,000 miles and still had the original belt!!! Resulting in a $30k engine rebuilt ticket. I also have a cousin with a 91 Mondial, his car has never had the belt done. He just refuses to do it.

    Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 26, 2001
    33,177
    E ' ' '/ F
    Full Name:
    Snike Fingersmith
    #2 GrigioGuy, Mar 15, 2006
  3. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,600
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #3 Bullfighter, Mar 15, 2006
    It's past due. There are several threads on this, but Ferrari issued a tech bulletin on the V-8's recommending that the belts be replaced every 3 years. Check the thread Tillman posted. I wouldn't even run the car until the belt, bearings and water pump are done.
     
  4. ecoloqua

    ecoloqua Karting

    Mar 15, 2006
    148
    #4 ecoloqua, Mar 15, 2006
    Wow, that was an eye opener indeed! I have no way of knowing if they serviced the water pump when they did the 15k. I know that they did the belt service but I need to find out what else they did. The service was carried out at Ferrari of San Diego. Would they be able to pull up the full record of what was done on that service even though it was back in 2000? I have been searching for so long and I really want this car. Is there a way to check the belt and see if it looks good without dropping the motor?
     
  5. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,600
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #5 Bullfighter, Mar 15, 2006
    I'm sure FoSD could tell you if it was done.

    Checking the belt visually probably isn't going to settle much, although there is a thread on that as well. If the water pump seizes up or a bearing fails you'll get the same result.

    If you're in San Diego, you might call Gary Bobileff and see what he would charge for a major on a 348. I had a recent major on my 328 and paid the extra $500 (parts/labor) to get the water pump rebuilt. It wasn't leaking, but with everything else apart back there it seemed like a good idea.

    My car was due for a major when I bought it. In my case I just negotiated based on that.
     
  6. ecoloqua

    ecoloqua Karting

    Mar 15, 2006
    148
    #6 ecoloqua, Mar 15, 2006
    I negotiated the price down to 50,000 and It was accepted. I was under the impression that since the belts were done that it would not need it till maybe 30k miles. The car is a two owner car with 19k miles that has a full documented history of dealership services including first service, 7500, 15k belt service 18k service etc. I will go ahead and tell you also, that I am buying it from Symbolic which from what I gather has a good reputation.
    At this point where I am, how much do you think I should budget for this new belt service?
     
  7. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,600
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #7 Bullfighter, Mar 15, 2006
    Congrats! I've been over to Symbolic and that's a gorgeous car.

    Due to time, not mileage, I think most people here will recommend that you get a 30K service done ASAP. I'm not a 348 pricing guru, but it sounds like you came out fine - just consider the major service part of the initial price.

    I have no experience with Symbolic, but one option would be to see if they will do the work at a better price for you, seeing as you're a customer. Another option, as I mentioned, is Gary Bobileff (off Mira Mesa/Top Gun). He helped me with a window issue on my 328 and he seems to really know the cars inside/out.

    If you're willing to look beyond the local shops, Eugenio up in LA gets good reviews here and his web site is very informative: http://emelbon.tripod.com/eugeniosferrariservice.html

    Good luck!
     
  8. VTChris

    VTChris F1 World Champ

    Aug 21, 2005
    13,259
    #8 VTChris, Mar 15, 2006
    I saw that car, it is really nice.
     
  9. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
    Full Name:
    Bill Tracy
    #9 BT, Mar 16, 2006
    I would say you should budget between $4500-$6000 for a major servioce including a water pump. Sounds like you got a good car on the way!
    :)
    BT
     
  10. ecoloqua

    ecoloqua Karting

    Mar 15, 2006
    148
    #10 ecoloqua, Mar 16, 2006
    Ok. I will figure about $5-$6k for the 30k service. I will ask if we can negotiate that considering I am buying the car from them. I don't know what thier cost is on it but I am figuring that labor is a large part of it.
    When they do the service I will ask for the old belt so I can look at it. (just curious) I will post pics of it on here for reference purposes.

    I really want to say thanks to Tillman, Bullfighter, VTC4198, BT348PBG and everyone for all of the advice and welcoming me back!! My fever wont break until that car is being lowered onto my driveway! ..lol..
     
  11. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,600
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #11 Bullfighter, Mar 16, 2006
    Neither my fever nor my car have broken since delivery. ;)

    And, all this advice comes with the usual fee: we demand pics!!
     
  12. ecoloqua

    ecoloqua Karting

    Mar 15, 2006
    148
    #12 ecoloqua, Mar 16, 2006
    O.k. I talked with the guy at Symbolic today. Since I am buying the car they have agreed to do the belt service at thier cost which brings me to a new question. What do you guys think would be their cost on a full 30k belt service? I know that it is labor intensive but I cant imagine that the parts are that much on a "well serviced" car with 19k miles.
     
  13. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,600
    Gates Mills, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Jon
    #13 Bullfighter, Mar 16, 2006
    http://ricambiamerica.com/index.php?cPath=40_178_181&osCsid=f8cd79e1b8ad05d233c70bdbf4cecf74
     
  14. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
    Full Name:
    Bill Tracy
    #14 BT, Mar 16, 2006
    The 30k service uses about $1100 in parts I think if bought through Ricambi. Their shop guys must have a direct cost of about $60/hour. Figure about 30 hours or so, and it should come to about $3000 as a round number. You might ask an independant mechanic if the rebuilt water pumps that are available are good (or start a thread on Fchat), and get one off Ebay. They are about $200 and supposedly have upgraded bearings and offer a two year warranty. Changing the water pump out while the engine is out is not time consuming and you could provide the part (the factory part is like $1400). Nice negotiating!
    BT
     
  15. Kevallino

    Kevallino Formula 3

    Feb 10, 2004
    2,257
    Mid-Ohio
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    #15 Kevallino, Mar 16, 2006
    Congratulations - that is a lovely car. You scored well with the 512 TR wheels too.

    Cheers
    Kevin
     
  16. ecoloqua

    ecoloqua Karting

    Mar 15, 2006
    148
    #16 ecoloqua, Mar 16, 2006
    Yes, $3,000 is about what I was thinking. The work should be completed in a few days I'm guessing so I will post the total when I get it.
    Thanks for the info guys!
     

Share This Page