Ferrari 458 very biazzre issue - excessive noise please help

[nbot]

Hi everyone,
Hopefully someone will be able to give me some advice on what I think is a very bizarre issue that I have never heard or come across. I have owned by 458 since October 18 – I have put around 4000 miles on it since then, doing a number of European and UK road trips this year, this is no garage queen, so its fair to say I have gotten used to the characteristics of the car.

Over the last 3 weeks or so, I have noticed what seems like an excessive increase in road noise from the read of the car, its hard to describe, but there is just a lot more noise in the cabin, I have just had the car MOT’d the tyres are fine, almost brand new actually. I have even run a number of tests while driving – I’m pretty certain its not an engine noise, as I have dropped the car into neutral at 70MPH and the noise is clearly still there while the engine idles at 1000 RPM – it sounds like excessive road noise, but it has a tone to it – again hard to explain but I know it’s there and it’s so much louder in the cabin when you go over 65mph than what I am used to.

My thoughts at the moment are – could something be blocked which is causing the air when channelled through the car to make this noise? Something to do with the exhaust? Rear shocks? Although the ride is fine and smooth… some debris caught somewhere and rubbing…?
I am at a complete loss, so before I approach a specialist or main dealer, I wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on this.

Any views would be greatly appreciated. I know I am not going crazy with this!

[mwstewart]

Given you just had the tyres changed I would look at them or in the area. What tyres are they? Are they a different manufacturer or type?

Also, Jack up the car and check the wheel bearings.

[nbot]

hi there,
so the tyres are Michelins - Ferrari spec tyre, I put them on fresh when I bought the car, so they have only done 4000 miles, also I had the MOT over the weekend and the I mentioned it to the tester, he said there is nothing from an MOT perspective wrong with the tyres at all, the car passed.

Wheel bearings is an interesting one - what can cause these to fail ./ need replacing?

Cheers

[nbot]

I have just been reading up on this, I think you may have hit the nail on the head - I remember on the motorway, when going round a tight semi hair pin, a 45 degree left turn when coming off the M25 to join the M11, the noise was much less, which is actually one of the tests you can do the check the wheel bearings!

[mwstewart]

Because of the low-deflection suspension joints used on a Ferrari together with less sound insulation, the noise of a worn bearing is actually far louder in the cabin than it is in a ' normal' car.

[nbot]

fascinating, really appreciate your help. So in your view, do you think they just need a lubrication or replacing altogether? Also, would you be able to recommend a good specialist in the south east, I have a feeling Ferrari main dealer would charge an arm and leg for anything like this? Also, what are the kinds of costs for replacing vs just a simple lubrication - I doubt any of this would fall under warranty which is shame.

[mwstewart]

No problem. If it is indeed the bearing then it is a case of replacement rather than of lubrication.

http://www.avengineeringltd.com can diagnose and advise you further.

[JW82]

I think the previous posts might have diagnosed the issue correctly but I had something similar earlier in the year. The noise was specifically from the rear of the car but only on the passenger side. It went away though after the annual service which was a comfort but I doubt they would have changed bearings without flagging it.

There is still a whirring noise (last 6 months) when building up from low revs also which still happens when the car is cold, again only behind the passenger seat. It isn't annoying but just only noticed it this year.

[nbot]

the noise i am getting is very pronounced from the rear, i cant pin point it to either passenger or driver side and happens irrespective of car being warm or cold - i am going to run a couple more tests on it myself, but i am 95% certain the bearings is the issue after these discussions and reading up further on the issue. i doubt Ferrari would change bearings without telling you and for no cost at all, maybe they just lubricated them....?

[JW82]

You are right, they are definitely not in the business of carrying out repairs for free.

They flagged a pretty long list of "recommended" work when the car went in for it's annual service a few months ago despite it passing the MOT at the same time with nothing advisory so I doubt the bearings would have been done FOC!

[nbot]

so by way of update - the fault was indeed diagnosed by Ferrari and the guys at AV Engineering as a rear driver side wheel bear fault. So luckily the warranty are going to pick up the tab for this one. I cant wait to get this fixed, its a horrible experience listening to this noise in the car!!

[davek_964]

Impressed that a wheel bearing is covered by warranty. I'd have expected that to be a consumable.

[nbot]

davek_964 said:

Impressed that a wheel bearing is covered by warranty. I'd have expected that to be a consumable.

yup - its in the policy wording in black and white as a covered item - which is great, also, the senior technician told me these should never fail and that he had seen it happen only twice before on any V8 Ferrari. So sudden failure of this component should never happen - i guess a different story if your car has covered 80k miles maybe...