Hi guys, I've been searching for a 400 for quite a long time now, even though I've tried to convince myself NOT to buy one, reasoning that my 308 GT4 really ought to do it (guess I'm not the only one here with this issue ) However, someone offered me a nice looking 400i for an obnoxiously low amount of money. Only (?) problem is that the engine is ticking. According to the seller, he traded the car in with an engine that was running properly, but since then the #8 intake valve started to make this ticking sound. According to him, either the valve or the valve seat "is not right". The car costs about half of the current market value for a 400i (automatic), which would leave some $15K available for a top overhaul of that valve train (or just that one valve?) What do you guys think? Run like hell? And if so, then toward or away from that car??? Thanks! Hans
At the right price, I would do it.* But beware the 400/412 have much higher repair costs thna a 308. A 400 with s sick engine is virtually unsellable, so it would be a buyers market. I would start at 5000 euros. * I am currenlty doing the head on my 412 with a smilar problem. It will cost me about $1500 for the repair, mainly parts, I am doing must of the labour myself, Michael
You're not telling me you might be bringing a different Ferrari to our F-chat trip to Italy next year, are you, Hans? As you know 400's have a bit of a reputation for hefty bills so I would say it's worth having the car checked out by someone. You might give Alex Jansen a call and ask him what the cause might be. But a proper PPI would be a really wise thing to do, I would say - then you know what you're getting into and can budget accordingly. In principle, I think it is quite possible that the car is sound enough to make this a genuine bargain. 400's are not that easy to sell, especially if there is a problem with it. I sold an Alfa GTV at less than half of the market value just because I needed to get rid of it quickly (worked too - it was gone the same afternoon), so it does happen. So, I would not run - I would walk slowly, but definitely towards the car, until you know more about it. Is the car a stick shift, BTW? Shouldn't need to ask, really. Of course it isn't! Hey, if things go as planned we both might have bought 2 Ferraris in 1 year.... Looks like 2008 will a great year as well! Onno
Good points Onno. Hey, I could DRIVE the car to Alex - it is also located in Oss!!! Saidly, it is indeed an automatic.... It COULD however be a perfect candidate to test my LPG project on. Italy next spring will be in the Dino, don't worry (although the 400 in question has a brand new stainless steel exhaust... TUNNELS, here we come!!!) 5000 euro, Michael? Wow, that'd be something. Indeed, I could try, I guess. For now, I've asked the seller if I could take it for a drive. Let's see how nervous he'd be about that "yeah, the engine runs, but is just ticking a bit"... Thanks, Hans
I've been thinking about this 400 too. The car was bought in Switzerland by the previous owner and registered in October 2006. Early 2007 the previous owner already advertised it for 20.500 euro, no mention of problems. Sometime later the current car dealer had it for sale for a little more than that. Sometime after that he reduced the price almost in half. I'd say why wouldn't he fix the problem himself? He would still be on top of it. Instead he's decided to take a loss* (*I suppose the trade in somewhere around 16-18.000 euro? Unless the previous owner really wanted to get rid of it and traded it for or close to the current asking price). My suggestion: have it checked at Alex. If the sellers refuses this, run away!
Hans, Get a good PPI, if the problem is limited to one hole, buy it and fix just what is wrong. If the PPI shows that this problem is the tip of the iceberg, run away. Regards, Art S.
Automatic - oh dear! In that case I would consider the car to sell at a profit and exchange for a manual. But this might not be so easy. Think about it carefully - you don't want to end up with a car that isn't quite what you wanted, even if it runs fine. Onno
My car has a "ticking" sound, which could be alot of things. If it is a valve sound, it is of course safer than a silent one. On mine when I retoruque the heads I also checked valve lash/clearence and I had two that were slightly out of speck on the loose side. So i left them alone and drive the car. Now if they were on the tight side which makes no sound I would have added more clearence. You really need to have a comptent mech. look at it before you make a choice. Good Luck, Fritz
Somewhere begin 2007 the car was for sale several times on Marktplaats. Bottem price with the previous owner then was around 15.000,=, with some minor problems , but no ticking (yet). The previous owner has had the car for sale for around 9 months in total I think, I also think the asking price now is around the price the dealer bought it from the previous owner. The darker tinted windows put me off , and the lack of any decent maintenance-history. If the rest of teh engine is OK and the ticking really is a valve I would go to around 8500,=-9000,= for this car. Have you seen the car at Beauty-Cars Driebergen? Silver with crema hide, carb-car.
That car looks nice but for that money I would definitely seek out a manual. http://www.beauty-cars.nl/ Onno
but for that money I would definitely seek out a manual.. yeah sure...find me one! with a complete historie that is, like this one. And this is only the asking-price..
And by the way, the ticking engine, are you sure it ìs a valve (then you problably only have to attend to the heads) or a piston?? (then its the whole engine you have to deal with..)
An old trick is to take a screwdriver or metal rod & stick it on the valve cover and place the other end to your ear, move the rod around till it is it's loudest and you have basically located the area where the sound is coming from.
