Spring Tune Up Begins

I”M SO JEALOUS!! I almost grabbed these. I figured you did it. . They are going to sound amazing!

 

George- If nothing else you will have the prettiest 599 mufflers. You just need one of those rolling mirrors on a stick they use for bomb checks under cars to show them off. My buddies in the RAF in Germany used them all the time when the IRA was active. Luckily not an issue now.

 

Unfortunately, CA (CARB) state regulators have issued a new law that will fail any automobile with non-OEM mods to emissions-related equipment, e.g. exhaust systems, upgraded ECU, etc. All cars need to undergo a biannual
third-party DMV emissions inspection to renew license registration. Apparently, these inspections will now be able to compare the OEM emissions system equipment against and detect any unauthorized changes, additions, deletions by the owner.

So CA owners will now only be limited to "cosmetic" upgrades, nothing else, unless the car will be declared for off road / track use only or for display.

On the "cosmetic" front, my 2011 HGTE finally had its GTO grill installed and most of the sticky buttons replaced. I think the mesh grill fully integrates the 599's front fascia design closer to its "supercar" intent and away from its "Grand Touring" luxurious look.


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Thanks George.

My car looks so much better with the GTO mesh grill. I did see it offered on the 599 Options Book (2010, I think) along with the OEM longer CF Challenge gearshift lever (originally designed for the 458, but fits the 599) which I immediately had installed soon as I picked up the car. Allows me to switch gears during turns without moving my hands off its position on the steering wheel during exuberant driving.

Cost to refurbish the sticky buttons was reasonable to my surprise, although F-SB used their own source in SoCal for expediency and better quality, at least according to the Service Manager. All in all with (FCA member) discounted prices for the grill, installation, r/r the sticky buttons, and labor came to about $2800.

 

Jose,

Did you use paddles from Ferrari or another source? I want to do the same.

 

Mine has extended CF paddles from Carbonio, as well. Have had them about 10 years and not sure I could go back to standard paddles since they work so much better.

 

Are 599 and F430 paddles (aftermarket) essentially the same or different?

 

Steve,

As Taz and George both noted, I also both mine from Carbonio about 4 years ago and it cost about $950 then.

According to the Carbonio literature, they're essentially designed for the 458 Challenge cars but fit perfectly on the 599 with relatively easy installation using angled allen wrenches and a certain technique to slant the steering wheel for access to the paddle screws on the right side of the steering column.

I'm certain they're available from Ferrari because I saw them on the 2010 599 Options Book, but the price may be (or are) much higher. I can't tell the difference in design and construction.

FWIW if you're quite meticulous with minute details, I did notice that the CF matrix orientation was about 90-degrees offset from the matrix orientation of my 599 HGTE's CF steering wheel. Regardless, while sitting on the seat I couldn't detect that difference in patterns, plus I'm not sure if the Ferrari 458 CF paddle version has its orientation matched to the steering wheel to begin with. It doesn't matter functionally.

 

George- Those are standard length.

 

My HGTE came with the standard CF paddles, same as the GTO's. The bottom section was truncated unlike the 458 Challenge paddles.

I did keep the original HGTE CF paddles, as well as its original Alcantara floor mats (a bit used up) and original special front grill.

If I did decide to run my car through the FCA Concours Competition, I wonder if it might get a hefty deduction from judges. That is, unless I can convince them the Challenge paddles were available as an OEM aftermarket option via the Ferrari 599 Options Catalogue published in 2010.

 

Yep, my HGTE has CF paddles.

 

George- Similar to HGTE tailipes except the dividers are slanted like a turbine. Look good.

 

Hi George

Fine that you like them.

Daniel

 

Yes, I like the HGTE exhaust. The pipes look great and those are very similar. Much nicer than stock exhaust tips.

 

Like John said, stock end tips looks not really nice.
HGTE or Tubi Propella much much better.

I never had the direct comparison with stock headers between stock mufflers and Tubis.
One time i heard HGTE mufflers, these are incredible in sound.

I think Fabio's 6-1 with cats, the special designed small silencers Fabio made for me and HGTE mufflers would be the optimum in sound and look.

High pitch and not too loud.


Daniel