Still looking for a 348!

Search high and low mate, im sure you will find a beauty at the end of the day. Dont lose hope(As ive already mentioned once before.)
My 348 does not have any rattles ect......but then some of the others in the brotherhood do. I dont think its all too common on Ferrari's, well, I would like to think its not. But then everyone talks about the poor interior quality of the 355 ect.....so who knows?

 

Tip: Find a 348 that NEEDS the 30K service and buy it heavily discounted. That way, you know it was done right and that there were no corners cut.

Many, many so-called 30K services out there were done by an owner getting the car ready to sell; thus, a few cost-saving shortcuts were done. Not replacing the rollers, tensioner bearings, water pump, oil pump update kit, etc. - items that could cost YOU a new engine later on.

If you have it done yourself, you can sleep better at night.

 

The more I think about it, the more I believe that is the best way to go if I buy another Ferrari.

 

I agree with "huskerNtexas". If and when I sell my car (348), I will reach an agreement with the buyer as to the car's real worth, and then will discount the price by $5-6K to adjust for the major, if needed. I think it is the fairest and "safest" way to sell one of these cars.

 

I just bought a 348

great cars to drive.

 

Where you at in Indiana?

 

Clutch has 10k + miles left on it

 

Yes, there is definitely some "stuff" missing. Another example of a half-baked 30K service that could cost the new owner a new engine somewhere along the way. At a bare minimum, the rollers, tensioner bearings, and water pump should have been replaced. But these are expensive parts, so someone doing a 30K service on the cheap will conveniently forget about them. Honestly, the belt itself should be the least of your concerns when doing the 30K. Then again, it's a cheap part.

If you're going to do a 30K service, why not just do it right? The new owner of this car is just going to have to turn around and do it all again - this time correctly.

Do a search for the "Details of my 30K service" to view a comprehensive 30K service.

 

For a few extra bucks, why not look at a 95 Spider.

PM me if interested.

 

A reputable shop will do all that is required. Remember that since the interval of these services is (relatively) short, everything does not need to be done every time. If it were so we would have all 348's running around on their 5th or 6th water pumps, and clutches. I would say it is a summary list of major things done. A water pump replacement is a nice idea if it has never been done, but if it was done 5 years earlier, and the car was driven regularly I don't think it would need to be changed, unless there was some play in the bearing / roller. The fact that they list putting a new clutch is great, you should easily get many years of use out of it (unless it has been abused or you do a lot of hard starts in it). Sounds like a nice car, looking for one with every conceivable service done will provide you with plenty of cars to look at, and none to very few to actually consider buying. These are cars, and buying a 11-16 year old sports car is always something of a crap shoot. Ernie seems to have gotten a dud, others (Nodoubt) have had virtually no problems. In the end, any car can be fixed, and any car can break. You are just hedging your bets with a car that has had regular, and extensive service. Good luck, and have fun picking a car that you feel is the right deal for you.

BT

 

It is a shame they did not replace the water pump and tensioner bearings on the "30K". That makes this a seriously hard call. I would not pass if this was the only issue you have. Still, popular opinion is a 30k without the water pump and tensioner bearings is not a 30k. That said, take the car's value you think it is worth if perfectly serviced and knock off whatever percentage of $6k you think is appropriate.

 

FYI - if you have a local mechanic in mind to service your soon-to-be baby it would likely serve you well to go by and meet them. While there I am sure they can explain the 30k inside out. Give them a call 1st and ask if it is OK to come by...dropping in (without a Ferrari) is probably not the best idea but not always an issue.

 

find a car color combo you like...try to get as much history as possible... there is NO way to be 100% positive that your decision will be right. Go with your gut...if your gut is not That good...MAKE your decsion right....there is no guarentees in life...its still a Ferrari....it will always be worth something....

 

The issues are pure SPECULATION!

Call the company that did the major. They will tell you if there is anything to worry about.

 

I have been considering a move up to a 512TR and have a 348 that sounds like another possibility for you. If your working with someone on here already I don't want to step on any toes....

It is a 1991 348TS red/tan with the challange paint upgrades. It just turned 12k all books, records etc. New Tubi, new hyperflow cats, new wheels/tires, porterfield brakes, Optima battery, oil and fluid changes and all original equipment included. The car has been lowered and chamfered with 18" fronts and 19" rears with a pretty aggressive stance. This car does not chine or walk at speed. No rain, strong sun, smoke or track ever.

The interior is original and perfect with exception of some very minor scuffing on the drivers side seat (which I am having fixed). The exterior is perfect with exception of one stone chip on the front grill which is easily fixed.

It will need a service in the next year. This car is true and correct and comes with cover, tools etc. Looks new and smells new. If interested I can send hi-res pics. I live in Cincy and plan to use Brian in Indy for the service so that's close to both of us.

Again, if your working with somebody on this site please see if you can consumate that deal as I don't want to step on any toes.

 

No, more like $5-6K. The labor to remove the engine alone will run anywhere from $2500 to $3500, depending on the shop and their labor rates. The parts will be that amount again.

I agree with BT that if the car has had a fairly recent COMPREHENSIVE major, changing the water pump isn't absolutely essential (although I would). However, I believe that any 30K without new rollers and tensioner bearings is incomplete. By the looks of your maintenance log, it looks like, at least from the prices, the last COMPLETE 30K service was 11 years ago. That's a long time for the same water pump, tensioner bearings, and rollers.

In this case, you are buying a car with basically a half-baked 30K service. In all likelihood, it will tide you over until the next service is due, when you can do things right. But not changing out rollers, tensioner bearings, water pump, (and oil pump kit? what year is the car?), you're taking more of a chance of major engine problems.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check to see if this car was recommended an updated oil pump kit by Ferrari. If it was, and it hasn't been done, the car is definitely on borrowed time. You will need to give a Ferrari shop the car's VIN number to find out for sure.

I myself would pass on this car, as you are paying a premium for a car with a half-done 30K, which to me is like no 30K at all. Find one that has had a comprehensive service, or find one that NEEDS a comprehensive service that you can buy heavily discounted.

 

I think you can pretty easily change out the water pump and tensioner bearing by removing the gas tank to do the work. The timing belt would stay in place and the parts would be removed / replaced without moving the timing belt at all. the frame member that is in the way for changning the timing belt is the main reason for removing the engine / subframe while doing the 30k service. I don't know if there is a problem with checking the timing aligment marks with just removing the gas tank, but you can discuss it with your mechanic. Removing and replacing the gas tank should be about 4-6 hours total (maybe $600-$800)??? I favor changing the tensioner bearings as part of a standard 30k service but the water pump is an individual call. Not a big expense to do (about $500 in parts) while everything is apart. I will say PeterS is pretty picky so the car is probably in very good cosmetic shape.

BT

 

I have had my 348 for 16 years and have done 2 out of the 3 majors myself. I have had to do tensioner bearings everytime, but the water pump was fine until the last major. These are strong, durable cars...and with some TLC they last and last. You can do your due dillegence, but don't have to be neurotic about it.

I told this guy about my car that I might sell and I never heard back.

 

Husker: Are you smoking high-grade crack? I have questioned Bobileff about not doing this repair during the last major service. He stated the car DID NOT need these items and could EASILY go another 15-30K miles without them.

Unlike MANY mechanics that want to replace as many parts as they can because they know the mindset of the average Ferrari owner is they will pay whatever the mechanic tells them they need, Bobileff is an honest guy that WILL NOT oversell on his jobs.

You should get the facts straight before making such blanket comments. It shows a high degree of ingnorance on your part for a car you have yet to even look at!

 

Thank you and very well stated. I did NOT mean for this thread to become a war over maintenance issues on my 348. I posted it earmarked for the people that want a real example of typical costs to keep these cars on the road..That's it!

PS: Yes, my car is for sale. If it sells, great. If not, I really don't care. It's in a safe place in my garage and what I do know is the fact that with my foot injury and crappy weather coming soon, I won't be driving it until the Spring of '07. At that time, I'll probably pull the triger on a 360 Spider and trade in the 348.

 

Those do not HAVE to be replaced. Personally, if it was an extremely well known mechanic I would not sweat it too bad. If the fchatter owner is somewhat well known, is not a troll, and you speak to the mechanic that did the work and come out feeling warm and fuzzy drop the cash the drop the hammer on that beast. The car IS well documented. That is a huge plus. If your PM is what he is asking and he went down 1k since then I'd have to day BUY THAT THING!!!! If you want - PM me the link to the car so I can see the rest of the pics.

You must do a PPI...I do not care who he is. He may not even know of a problem that has risen.