E10 and F355

[Mulsanne-Speed]

I'm looking to buy an F355 GTS manual, with the car living at our home in Italy.

It's been 2 years since we were last there, though on recent trips down through France and on to Italy I've only seen regular unleaded, rather than "Super" being available.

My worry is, if I buy this car and can't get the E5 fuel, will E10 cause damage?

Does anyone know if the fuel situation in Europe has changed with regards to "Super Unleaded" / E5 availablity?

I did read that I could

" Look to replace parts with ethanol safe options as part of a long-term strategy"

Does anyone know how difficult that is likely to be on a Ferrari F355?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[blueSL]

I’ve never had a problem finding super unleaded in France or Italy but of course, out in the sticks it’s more difficult. Depending on where your Italian home is (lucky you!), you may need to go to the nearest larger town to fill up.

I don’t know if the E10 thing is UK only or also in mainland Europe.

I put E10 in my F355 and it ran perfectly well but of course the concern is what damage if it is used long term.

[ANOpax]

We were in Italy this summer and while there were plenty of places where we could only get 95ron, it was all E5.

[Mulsanne-Speed]

Sorry for being slow to respond - Thank you for your replies......

I'm absolutely gutted, called up to buy this beauty but it was sadly sold, despite showing as available.

Think I'm going to struggle to find another like that with 4k miles and one owner!!!

See below:

https://www.tfcgb.com/used-cars/13748345-ferrari-3...

[ANOpax]

No need to be gutted. You dodged a bullet for several reasons;

1) the steering wheel is on the wrong side if you plan to use it in Italy.
2) the pedal positions on LHD manual 355s are waaaay better than on the RHD ones as that’s how they were designed and the wheel well intrusion on the RHD ones is a big issue.
3) garage queens are nice to look at but they don’t usually run well if you intend to run them at all (see next observation).
4) if you intended to drive the car, the value destroyed every time you took it out would prey on your mind. Far better to buy a high miler and drive it with gay abandon. The cars can take the miles and run better for it.

A low mileage RHD GTS may have been the dream motor for your place in Italy but it could so easily turn into a nightmare. Wouldn’t a medium to high mileage LHD car be more suitable?

Edited by ANOpax on Saturday 20th November 10:22

[Mulsanne-Speed]

Do you know what ANOpax, I think you're probably right, and I thank you for taking the time to write and explain.

I think the thing with me, is I wanted a "near as new" example, as I'm someone who takes excellent care of things, so this would enable me to keep it that way.

You make some excellent points though, I had considered LHD but was concerned about being able to verify history, maybe it's just a case of holding out for the right car.

I will continue to search, and based on what you've said regarding LHD, will continue down that road - Maybe something circa 15k miles with a good, strong annual service history.

Many thanks again.

[ANOpax]

You're welcome.

The issue will be finding someone you trust to source the right car for you.
Most of the F355s out there are being cared for by the independent network with a minority still in the official dealer network.
My indy has a great reputation and I trust him completely. I bought my F355 from him and it was a trouble free car (apart from a duff spark plug) over the three years I owned it. He sources cars from all over Europe and I'd recommend him to you but he's seriously ill with covid right now so it probably isn't the right time to approach him.

The other thing to bear in mind if you like your cars to be 'just so' is that these cars are getting on for a quarter century in age. Nothing you buy will be factory fresh unless you're willing to spend money bringing the car back to that condition. Sticky plastics, leather shrinkage, buttress cracks, stone chips, corrosion, manifold cracks and valve guide wear are all issues which need to be monitored and kept on top of. It will be a rare car which is presented for sale with all of those things done recently and to a perfect standard (the buttresses in particular are more of a maintenance than repair item). As a result, you'll limit your choice dramatically. You might be better off sourcing a car in the colour and spec you want for a sensible price and then go overboard on the restoration and maintenance yourself as will know it's been done properly, recently and to your standards.

Hopefully that's a bit more food for thought.

[ANOpax]

And a pic to whet your appetite.

[Mulsanne-Speed]

Thanks ANOpax, looks stunning!!

If you could please PM me your contact's details, with his permission of course, as and when his health improves, that would be great.

Many thanks once again

[craigjm]

blueSL said:

I don’t know if the E10 thing is UK only or also in mainland Europe.

I put E10 in my F355 and it ran perfectly well but of course the concern is what damage if it is used long term.

E10 has been the standard fuel in continental Europe since 2010 which is why the legislation came into force in 2011 to mandate that all new cars in the EU had to be E10 compliant. E10 has been standard in many other countries even before that. Ferrari have stated that any car built from 2005 onwards can use E10 safely but those cars earlier should continue to use E5

[Mulsanne-Speed]

Thanks Craig

[ANOpax]

craigjm said:

E10 has been the standard fuel in continental Europe since 2010 which is why the legislation came into force in 2011 to mandate that all new cars in the EU had to be E10 compliant. E10 has been standard in many other countries even before that. Ferrari have stated that any car built from 2005 onwards can use E10 safely but those cars earlier should continue to use E5

95 ron E5 was only phased out in The Netherlands in 2019 so it didn't surprise me that it is still available in Italy in 2021. In fact, it's questionable as to whether Italian petrol has any ethanol in it at all. Here is the advice from the Dutch AA

"Euro 95 ( Senza Pb / Benzina Senza Piombo / Benzina Verde / SP ) is readily available. Senza Piombo means lead-free. Although this gasoline is labeled E5, it usually does not contain bioethanol. As far as we know, E10, unleaded petrol to which a maximum of 10% ethanol has been added, is also not or hardly available in Italy."

[Bo_apex]

ANOpax said:

95 ron E5 was only phased out in The Netherlands in 2019 so it didn't surprise me that it is still available in Italy in 2021. In fact, it's questionable as to whether Italian petrol has any ethanol in it at all. Here is the advice from the Dutch AA

"Euro 95 ( Senza Pb / Benzina Senza Piombo / Benzina Verde / SP ) is readily available. Senza Piombo means lead-free. Although this gasoline is labeled E5, it usually does not contain bioethanol. As far as we know, E10, unleaded petrol to which a maximum of 10% ethanol has been added, is also not or hardly available in Italy."

E5 is essential for an Italian Tune-Up