Every day tips for living with a 599

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

idealstandard said:

I've got a surplus F1 switch and all the brackets if you want it from when I converted the car, its in the glovebox. PM me happy to send it

That is fantastic and very generous. PM sent

Thanks to IdealStandard an F1 switch arrived so I thought I'd clean the car and change out the bracket.

There's just a single screw holding the cigarette lighter trim in place. A little plastic piece needs to be pulled out to expose it


Once out from the underside with just a little finger pressure the F1 switch trim can be popped out






Then it's easy enough to swap the short section of loom. I was hoping just change the bracket but it's moulded to the switch.

I have always had difficulty getting reverse first press and today realised that a short firm press is not a good as a gentle lingering press.

[cake eater]

I always consider cleaning to be essential maintenance, you see and feel and find little things that might otherwise be missed.

The stitching on the handbrake cover needs touched up


And the leather on the drivers seat is starting to dry and crack in one particular crease


The front wheels are a little corroded and will refurbished. The PPF is already worn and will need changed.

Otherwise she's looking good considering the 8500 miles she's covered and in particular the trip to Germany.


Interior looks quite red in this picture but it's really more subtle

[cake eater]

TR4man said:

That looks like Thorncliffe - a stunning backdrop that I’ve used a few times myself to take photos of my own cars over the years (nothing as exhilarating as a 599 though!).

I’m really enjoying reading your experiences of living with a 599 - thanks for sharing your ownership journey.

It could be Thorncliffe, there is a memorial bench and trig point there. I thought it was the roaches in the background? I had never even been to the Peak District till I moved at the beginning of Jan so my geography is probably off. But I am loving being here. Almost as much as I am loving the 599. She really is something special.

[cake eater]

TR4man said:

Yes, those are the Roaches and if you were to look slightly to the left then you’d see Tittesworth reservoir.

Thorncliffe is the village you drove through shortly before reaching that vantage point and a little further on is the Mermaid Inn.

It's a lovely road. A bit narrow and bumpy but great views. Saxony in Germany had great roads like this but wide and smooth.

[cake eater]

idealstandard said:

Cake,

I'm on a euro jaunt as you know, Have just posted an update in case you're interested (last post)

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Alex

Thank you for sharing, following Just wish I was following in my 599

[cake eater]

willy wombat said:

Hi Cake Eater, just wondered whether you are doing the FOC Pista Day at Goodwood on 28 May? I am not doing it but live nearby and will probably nip along for a look see.

I am thinking of doing it but not sure yet because of work, I will only be able to book last minute

[cake eater]

willy wombat said:

Let us know if you are going once you decide.

Will do

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

willy wombat said:

Let us know if you are going once you decide.

Will do

Just checked with FOC, the noise limit is 105 static and I know I'm 108 from when I was last tested at Bedford.

I might just come down anyway as I like Goodwood.

[cake eater]

Every morning I'm greeted by this.



Makes me smile every day.

Been on the cteck for a few days so no 'electrical system failure' message but the oil light did flicker for the first time while waiting at a traffic light on a steepish hill.

Today a trip to https://www.invisifilm.co.uk/ to get the PPF snagged.

Also been in touch with https://www.nouvalari.com/index.php for cat bypass pipes and will hopefully see them on Friday after GreyPaul.

[cake eater]

willy wombat said:

If your 599 has a standard exhaust you would probably be fine at Goodwood. The officials there tend to be more “relaxed” than at some other venues.

Okay, thank you. It's a standard exhaust.

[cake eater]

sparta6 said:

That's all nicely colour co-ordinated

Thanks

Just luck it turned out that way

[cake eater]

idealstandard said:

Hi Cake

thanks for that bottle of rum, anyone else want any parts in return for rum?

Alex

I hope it's good and you enjoy it

[cake eater]

ShampooEfficient said:

Absolutely stunning machine and I love seeing it used as it should be. Pretty sceptical of the dealer saying that driving doesn't charge the battery like other cars, mind...

In GreyPaul Nottingham this morning for a diagnostic and change out of the power steering fluid.

One of the service technicians kindly explained a little more about the charging system, though I'm not sure that it applies to the 599 and definitely not older cars which work conventionally.

Basically it works like an intelligent charger to reduce load, help fuel efficiency, reduce emissions etc and only charges the battery on overrun.
The tech recommended that the car is always on a charger when not in use.
He also stated that short runs will not charge the battery sufficiently as it only charges on overrun.
He also stated that if the battery is low, the car will prioritise starting so certain functions and ECUs will not see electrical power, hence the warning messages.
He also said that if all the ECUs don't talk to eachother on startup this will cause more warning messages and why it's important to wait for the car to complete ignition on checks before startup.

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

On another note, Mark from MDL specialist cars gave me a follow up call to see if everything with the car was fine.

Only one thing of note is that despite the high miles being driven everyday, I'm starting to see the occasional "electrical system failure" on start up.

I'll need to test the battery when things are a little less hectic.

So a little more on the "electrical system failure" troubleshooting. Diagnostic shows everything okay. Dean at GreyPaul also advised the change to an AGM battery, so on this side all okay.

Dean said that this message is common on early 599s and often related to the battery earth. Apparently the earth is riveted to the chassis behind the back bumper. The solution is to have it welded in and this was done on later cars from factory.

Turns out mine has already had this done.

Next thing he advised checking was all the earthing points and clean them up.
Another common problem is the engine earth lead as this degrades and may need replaced.
After that is the alternator +ve lead. He said if the outer encapsulation is melted this will also need changed.
If all this is done and I still get the warning messages then the alternator will need replaced.

[cake eater]

575MF1 said:

Don't know what handbook you are referring to. Both WSM and Handbook say check level 'without turning engine off'

So to clarify about the procedure to check the oil. Dean at GreyPaul was very helpful and provided the revised procedure




Dean stressed two points:
1 - never turn the engine off (as 575MF1 said)
2 - the level should be 10mm above Min

So from now on, as the technical bulletin says, I'll follow the procedure exactly and set / maintain the level as Dean advised.

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

Checked the brakes also

The Endless MX72 pads produce loads of dust. The front disks have gone 'dark' and I'm not sure if this is due to pad material transfering to the disk or wear.

Front




Rear


It's difficult to see in the photos but the rear CCM are more shiny. Remaining pad material front and rear look good.

I'll get GreyPaul Nottingham to check on the computer.

GreyPaul carried out an SD3 diagnostic for brake and clutch wear.
Clutch - 56% worn
Brakes - 65% worn Front and Rear

Any discoloration of the front disk is due to pad transfer material.

So lots of life left in both as the advise was to replace when Clutch is at 80%, brakes at 90% (road use)

This will give me time to consider / save for replacement. There is an interesting thread on clubscuderia from Modificato and this page discusses brake options.

https://www.clubscuderia.co.uk/forum/showthread.ph...

The next page on that thread also gives recommended geometry to help dial out the 'natural' front axle understeer, something I have struggled with since buying the car.

https://www.clubscuderia.co.uk/forum/showthread.ph...

Something I'll speak to Mark at MDL about getting sorted.

[cake eater]

cake eater said:

So today I carried out a post autobahn / Nurburgring service and checks at MDL specialist cars. Lee at MDL was very busy but he made a ramp free and allowed me to work on the car under his supervision.

Power Steering fluid showed an increase in foaming and contamination. Aiden at Maranello Service was very helpful and confirmed the specification of oil used as Shell TX spirax S4 HDX and that the force feedback valve had not been changed.


When I get a chance I'll get the power steering system flushed clean and see if this helps the steering feedback consistency. If not the force feedback valve will need to be changed. Aiden said that this valve is difficult to get to and will be a big job.

Power steering fluid was changed out. Confirmed green and GreyPaul said this is the same as used by BMW and to make sure it's not accidentally topped up with red.

Did a few miles to meet a friend in Cambridge and I've not noticed the strange weighting up then lightness from before.

Again maybe placebo effect. Some more miles with proper corners might tell more

[cake eater]

After GreyPaul I drove over to Nouvalari for some secondary cat delete pipes
https://www.nouvalari.com/index.php

They didn't have in their catalogue but after sending photos they said it would be an easy job for them.

So up on their ramp.



Just one plate to remove to allow access. All bolts broke out easily with a little WD40. Evidence of how well the previous owners had kept the car





OEM pipes went on the jig and to my surprise Richard, Sam and Steve fabricated new pipes right then and there!! I thought they were just going to take measurements. Made me smile



New pipes fitted


A quick test drive
O!M!G! I felt like the naughtiest school boy! The bark at WOT!


The icing on the cake - at idle, light throttle and motorway cruise, no more noise than normal. Still a nice quiet car.

Floor it.

[cake eater]

ANOpax said:

Thank you for the club scuderia CCM info links.

Your new exhaust setup must sound awesome. How are you avoiding the dreaded CEL given that your O2 sensors must be effectively registering a cat 'failure' ?

Hi ANOpax,

It has really made a difference to the sound and obviously this means it is much faster! It has much more of an 90s F1 sound when the throttle is only half pressed and full open near the limiter it is just crazy!
I also have a set from Fiammenghi coming as he has quite a different set up.
https://www.fiammenghiitalia.com/en/prodotto/cat-b...

According to this thread on ferrarichat one person dyno'd before and after with a +/- 30 bhp gain
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/experien...

But to get the real F1 scream headers need to be changed to 6-1 as the GTO has. As Idealstandard has stated Fiammenghi headers do this and are highly rated on Ferrarichat. This will be a later project for the car.
https://www.fiammenghiitalia.com/en/product-catego...


On the 599 there are no O2 / Lambda sensors after the secondary cats, so a straight swap, no error message. Once recommendation from Ferrarichat is to do a reset of the adaptive fuel valves. I have not done this.

[cake eater]

idealstandard said:

Excellent update. The difference with exhaust tweaks can be outstanding. I replaced the headers and primary Cats on my 599 with fiammenghi headers. Phenomenal.

Long term plan this one