Main dealer inspection service
Discussion
Due to covid etc i have barley used the 458 and it is now due a service. I am very much against paying for a full service ( new oil, filters etc) on a car that has done less than 1,000 miles. Has anybody found a dealer that does an inspection service that checks for safety and serve campaign etc. I know these are not the most environmentally friendly cars but 10lt of oil etc each year which is barely used is mad
bluesatin said:
Due to covid etc i have barley used the 458 and it is now due a service. I am very much against paying for a full service ( new oil, filters etc) on a car that has done less than 1,000 miles. Has anybody found a dealer that does an inspection service that checks for safety and serve campaign etc. I know these are not the most environmentally friendly cars but 10lt of oil etc each year which is barely used is mad
Agree. I am in the same situation with my F430 Spider. It will go into Ferrari for an annual + MOT next week. Unlike many older Ferraris, it has a full Ferrari unbroken service history and for the sake of a 'fist full of dollars', I pay up to keep its record intact. However, most main dealers will do a winter health check in the hope that they generate some workshop trade. All that said, a vehicle does deteriorate even if not used; eg the hydraulic fluid gains moisture, condensation often occurs in the oil sump/fuel tanks, rubber ages etc, so perhaps so element of service would be a good idea; after all, a 458 is a valuable vehicle.Edited by dereksharpuk on Sunday 11th October 11:53
Edited by dereksharpuk on Sunday 11th October 11:54
rjfp1962 said:
I know my MX-5ND is no Ferrari, but to maintain it's warranty it has just had it's 2nd annual service - Wasn't needed as the car has only done 1700 miles since the last one!
The main "stealers" have got you, if not on mileage but on a time duration....!
I suspect there is a slight difference with your MX5 which is still under warranty. You invalidate it if you don't comply with the service interval. My Ferrari, and I suspect our friend's 458, are now out of warranty. The main "stealers" have got you, if not on mileage but on a time duration....!
If you skip a service, it might hurt you come re-sale time.
I know this from bitter experience. I recently got out of my 599 which was a 2010 car on 6k miles. For the first three years of its life the car had done 1,200 miles so the owner didn't have it serviced. When I tried to trade the car in, non-franchised dealers wouldn't even give me a price on the car owing to the gap in history. That was notwithstanding the fact it had a full Ferrari history since then, and actually had almost a year's Ferrari warranty (that I had put on the car). I ended up taking a pretty derisory offer from my local Ferrari dealer.
I appreciate that three years of absent servicing is not what you're talking about here, but just something to bear in mind - saving 1k today might lead to a 5k (granted entirely speculative figure) shave off your resale value.
I know this from bitter experience. I recently got out of my 599 which was a 2010 car on 6k miles. For the first three years of its life the car had done 1,200 miles so the owner didn't have it serviced. When I tried to trade the car in, non-franchised dealers wouldn't even give me a price on the car owing to the gap in history. That was notwithstanding the fact it had a full Ferrari history since then, and actually had almost a year's Ferrari warranty (that I had put on the car). I ended up taking a pretty derisory offer from my local Ferrari dealer.
I appreciate that three years of absent servicing is not what you're talking about here, but just something to bear in mind - saving 1k today might lead to a 5k (granted entirely speculative figure) shave off your resale value.
Gregor-lun1d said:
If you skip a service, it might hurt you come re-sale time.
+1If your car has a full Ferrari main dealer service history, it would probably cost you more in the long term to deviate from that. You can argue all you want about how the indie you used "knows more about Ferraris anyway" but it's not going to get those people on the phone in the first place who would discount the car out of hand due to the incomplete history.
I've been starting to have the same dilemma for the same reasons. Lowest year ever for mileage in my 355 - probably 500 or so (which is a shame given I've covered a total 22000 in the nearly 8 years I've owned it). I think though I'm just going to delay it for a couple of months until the spring (Service + MOT due January). I have a lever arch file full of history including dealer invoices and stamps in the book, plus various indy work invoices and my own spanner twirling (all receipts for parts retained). I could just MOT in January it as a one off, but for the sake of £800ish it's probably worth just paying the Ferrari tax....
I’m another one with the same dilemma. For obvious reasons I have kept my 458 and 599 SORN’d most of the time over the summer (I have just used my Portofino) and the 458 is due service and MOT in December and the 599 next March. Both have perfect main dealer service histories which I am very reluctant to spoil. I have started a discussion with my dealer about whether they could find a way to carry out the services more “economically” (ie by reducing labour rates) but so far it’s not going well!
Many will be in the same situation so I would have thought most sensible folk will attribute a lack of service this year to COVID. Of course, if the mileage dictates that you've hit a fixed service interval, then fair enough, but otherwise for the average owner an annual health check makes sense rather than a service.
The oil in mine is still golden in colour - it's utter madness to replace it.
The oil in mine is still golden in colour - it's utter madness to replace it.
I agree with you all - i have done 5,000 miles in 5 years and 10 gallons of top grade synthetic oil, filters and pollen filters. 10 gallons of oil that has a service life as synthetic oil of 7500-10000 miles- if Ferrari are wanting to become aware of the environmental impact beyond fuel they should look at how this is perceived!
bluesatin said:
I agree with you all - i have done 5,000 miles in 5 years and 10 gallons of top grade synthetic oil, filters and pollen filters. 10 gallons of oil that has a service life as synthetic oil of 7500-10000 miles- if Ferrari are wanting to become aware of the environmental impact beyond fuel they should look at how this is perceived!
Good point. I wonder why Ferrari insist on a service every year, which includes gallons of oil and even brake fluid change. Why do they not follow the example of other car manufacturers and service on mileage. OK, I accept that hydraulic oil is hydroscopic and thus will degrade with time, even if the vehicle is not driven; but a sensible compromise of mileage and time would help the planet and our wallets.I have just had my F43o services and Ferrari even changed the pollen filter; an unused one for an unused one give my total lack of miles due Covin-19
Edited by dereksharpuk on Friday 23 October 09:22
dereksharpuk said:
Good point. I wonder why Ferrari insist on a service every year, which includes gallons of oil and even brake fluid change. Why do they not follow the example of other car manufacturers and service on mileage. OK, I accept that hydraulic oil is hydroscopic and thus will degrade with time, even if the vehicle is not driven; but a sensible compromise of mileage and time would help the planet and our wallets.
It's easy money.No one should throw their money away unnecessarily but from my experience of ownership you have to go into the “relationship” accepting that supercar margins are higher and that you will be somewhat “ripped off”. If you don’t come to terms with this before purchase then every maintenance issue, every service will become a point of stress, annoyance and ruin the ownership experience.
But better still if you can find an independent who you can trust it becomes a much better experience all around, and even a “friendship” can be built over the years.
But if you are determined to stick to main dealer stamps don’t buy a supercar unless you are willing to pay a premium. You will end up hating the experience. In truth it comes down to an honest appraisal of affordability. You need to be able to genuinely afford it , and that way you won’t get so upset at the somewhat “premium” invoices.
I think saving £30 on oil would for example lessen the relationship with the dealer and be penny wise pound foolish. They are human and probably will put you in the difficult customer box. Why do that to yourself?
But better still if you can find an independent who you can trust it becomes a much better experience all around, and even a “friendship” can be built over the years.
But if you are determined to stick to main dealer stamps don’t buy a supercar unless you are willing to pay a premium. You will end up hating the experience. In truth it comes down to an honest appraisal of affordability. You need to be able to genuinely afford it , and that way you won’t get so upset at the somewhat “premium” invoices.
I think saving £30 on oil would for example lessen the relationship with the dealer and be penny wise pound foolish. They are human and probably will put you in the difficult customer box. Why do that to yourself?
mwstewart said:
dereksharpuk said:
Good point. I wonder why Ferrari insist on a service every year, which includes gallons of oil and even brake fluid change. Why do they not follow the example of other car manufacturers and service on mileage. OK, I accept that hydraulic oil is hydroscopic and thus will degrade with time, even if the vehicle is not driven; but a sensible compromise of mileage and time would help the planet and our wallets.
It's easy money.OldAndTired said:
I think saving £30 on oil would for example lessen the relationship with the dealer and be penny wise pound foolish. They are human and probably will put you in the difficult customer box. Why do that to yourself?
£30 for oil? I pay Ferrari £172 + VAT for Helix Ultra Racing. What do others pay?If you wish to use your own:
Shell Helix 5W-40 Ultra - 5Ltr x 2
Product Code: 521772211
£117.98
unit price £58.99
Subtotal:£117.98Discount
(Halloween Sale - Up to 45% Off Car Parts Online):- £47.20
Total (inc VAT):£70.78
I can't imagine anyone arguing over a few quid...it's more the question of a full service when not actually required from a mechanical perspective.
Shell Helix 5W-40 Ultra - 5Ltr x 2
Product Code: 521772211
£117.98
unit price £58.99
Subtotal:£117.98Discount
(Halloween Sale - Up to 45% Off Car Parts Online):- £47.20
Total (inc VAT):£70.78
I can't imagine anyone arguing over a few quid...it's more the question of a full service when not actually required from a mechanical perspective.
bluesatin said:
I agree with you all - i have done 5,000 miles in 5 years and 10 gallons of top grade synthetic oil, filters and pollen filters. 10 gallons of oil that has a service life as synthetic oil of 7500-10000 miles- if Ferrari are wanting to become aware of the environmental impact beyond fuel they should look at how this is perceived!
500mpg in a Ferrari..................... a great big "foxtrot oscar" to eco boxes and teslas's 
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