Hi chaps, I'm about to buy a 550 - and was wondering if anyone out there can give me some pointers on important things to look for - and (model specific) questions I should be asking. Any pointers / advice appreciated.... Many thanks, Joel.
There are many really good threads about this on the archive; do a search using 550 and you'll be amazed at how much info there is. There have been a number of recalls on the car and you need to make sure that all have been done. The person or dealer selling the car should have that info and records. If not, run, don't walk to the nearest dealer with the VIN and they can do a check. Wheels have been switched out and some internal hosing has been modified. A PPI on these cars is a must (and not done by the seller or at the dealer if that's who you're buying it from). Good routine maintenance is also a must. Complete service records are always a good thing to insist upon. In addition to the recalls, there have been a few problems that have cropped up and been the subject of TSA's (technical service bulletins). These include failing engine mounts that have occurred on some cars (not mine, knock on wood). Doody (you can do a search by name) has some great threads on other problems, until he sold his and went over to the dark side of 8 cylinders If you take a little time to research this board's resources, you'll find almost everything you need to be sure your purchase will give you great satisfaction.
I've done a search and there's not a lot on here. PLEASE - can anyone shed any light on what to look for?
I only look after 6 550's, but I've done quite a bit, including a full engine rebuild. The reason for the rebuild is a good spot to look at...the front overhang is very long and they hit the ground easily. Have a good look at the radiator and oil cooler, anti roll bar mounts, air injection lines, AC lines etc etc. Remove the front floor for this. Engine mounts go soft. If you cant get your fingers between the anti roll bar and the oil pressure sender, your mounts have sagged...and you could be looking at oil leaks if you don't fix the mounts. I've just ordered some. 3 weeks wait, need new bolts and washers too as they're all different. AUD$700 plus fitting. Brake discs and pads are fast wearers. Tyres...rears don't last long, and you MUST NOT mismatch Rosso's and Giallo's if using Pirelli. Use either all round but dont split them. Clutch. The pedal is very light when new, quite firm when older. You can see it from underneath. Trim....the seat will be scratched where the handbrake rubs it. (Handbrake often gets left on and killed.) Switches and trim are quite soft, and jeans and jewellry will kill the interior. Torque tube heat shields come loose and rattle. Poorly fitted exhausts will knock the body at the rear. Fully adjustable though. Check the tail pipe valves are working. Very common but totally unnecessary to lock wide open. Noise from oil pump chain. No tensioner used, just a guide, and a stretched chain will rattle. Inlet manifold air leaks....detonation when over 90 deg c coolant (traffic). Flat spots too. Hard to pick though. Check engine light...O2 sensors and themocouples usually. Alarm LED on dash. Should go out when running. Often stays on when alarm unit batteries are dead or more likelt corroded from water ingress. Can be fixed without new unit.
FerrariFixer- I am new to F-Cars in general. Being a mechanic, what exactly is done at the first service interval for the 550 and when is it at ? 3000? Thanks.
I would add to the list: ECUs can be tempermental; the big one for the engine filtched in my '97 shortly after i bought in in '99, as did the one controlling the driver's seat; rear window delaminations; coolant hoses; the one in the midst of the plenum is hard to get to, and seems to go; the hose is not expensive, but it's a pain; the modular wheels on some of the 550's leaked; the later 550's with the carbon fibre inlay look better than the earlier cars with that spongey rubber stuff; not sure, but would assume the cf would hold up better; make sure the car has a complete big service with belts; put a fresh set of P-Zero's on it; make sure you own a Valentine V-1, and ENJOY!
NO WAY. 550 is the best thing since sliced bread. The list for a 360 would be 10 times as long as this..... Many of the things listed will not happen to many cars. This is a huge pool of info on this board, not to be taken as a prediction of what every car will do. I've just done 500km in a 550 this weekend, and it was a blast. Although I have to say, it's not twice the fun of a BB that is only worth half the amount.........and are about 20 times rarer
