Taz, you need to chime in on this tread

It appears this thread appreciates sellers 550 on many levels....yet what is NOT being addressed is at what mileage does the 550 engine tend to show its age, become needy perhaps even a rebuild ? We all know many many variables lead to engine failure....yet Miles is The Constant....so, gurus, at how many miles does one start to become concerned.?
Thx

 

There was a thread once here suggesting at least 150000 miles and there have been other cars mentioned here with members of this engine family beyond 200000

 

With more than 40 years in Ferrari on the modern cars we typically do not see engines used until they are worn out. They get broken.
Someone does something dumb and it gets broken. Not always a total loss but badly enough it gets rebuilt since it is in pieces anyway.
The nature of the cars does not lend itself to a long happy, boring life. More like Hunter S Thompson skidding into home a burned out hulk sort of thing.
I have seen many retired because of loose oil filters blowing out seals and all the oil destroying the engine but not a single case of just peacefully used until it needs an overhaul.

I will say this, a complete overhaul to a very high, factory like standard will be very expensive.

I would like to see documented cases of 6 figure mileage. Not my brothers friends cousin stories.

 

Just did another 1k miles last week.


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Good to know. Makes me wonder how many are out there.
I do know of many 8s with 6 figure plus and I had a friend with a TR with over 200,000 but the TR was a lower stressed engine.

Has yours ever had valve guides? Do not hear of that as much on the 12s.

 

Only engine "work" 5 soon to be 6 belt replacements, roller bearings associated with belt sprockets. Other stuff, A/C compressor, fuel pumps, engine/trans mounts, water pump, clutch at 100k miles, brakes, tires, etc.

 

FWIW Montgomery does not post here often @Montgomery Kersten but he has commented at times on BaT where he is jmkclassic.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-ferrari-550-maranello-22/#comment-9264535

He is a bay area guy (Marin) and is one of the longest single owners (i.e. @otoupalik also in that company) and Montgomery is the highest mile owner that I'm aware of at over 130,000 miles (he bought his 1999 550 new). He is a multiple Ferrari owner including an 812 so if I had to guess his 550 miles have gone down since he acquired some of his other Ferrari’s.

He notes in that linked comment that his 1999 didn't necessarily need a rebuild but he had his mechanic do it in conjunction with his major belt when he had "over 130,000 miles) at a cost of "just over $30k".

Hope this is helpful. I'd love to know how many USA based 550 or 575's are over 100,000 miles. It is an extremely short list.

Would love to meet him and see the car someday at a local-ish bay area meet up.

 

No one rebuilt a 550 for $30k. Will not cover parts. Its about $12000 for valves and guides alone. The other parts are expensive.

This is the problem. No one asks the people doing it. My deposit for the job would be more than $30Gs.

 

Perhaps his $30k comment was the belt and a long list of while you are in there’s?

Maybe we’ll get lucky and me tagging him will allow us to learn more specifically.

There is one more person on here that I talked with privately (and as I understand got to have at least the top end done on his 550) and if he reads this and wants to comment then that could also be helpful but I get why guys wouldn’t want to talk about it.

 

I just saw you got 100,00 on the clutch. Good for you. My friend with the TR. It was his commuter in the Bay Area. he was getting about 100,000 per clutch too.

 

As I said, big repairs are more often because something broke. People do not often like to talk about that. I get that. Privacy is a big element in this business.

I had a car here, a very noticeable Ferrari. Someone I knew was in the shop. I took a call in the office. In 2 hours the owner called me and wondered why a picture of his car in my shop was on the internet. That someone will never be allowed back in. Clients get privacy no questions asked.