Would love a 550M what to look for

[RGambo]

I'm thinking that a 550Marenello would be a great car to own. I have enough to get one, but as is always the case, what they like to run. Would anybody have any approx cost per year for one of these? I am well aware of the old ferrari way of needing to service them regularly and cam belt changes etc. So anything to look for if buying?
all advice greatly recieved as this is a big step in the car buying for me, I'm used to german stuff, but not Italian.

[johnnyreggae]

Usual story - start with the buying guide then look at all the recent threads

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=2659...

[belleair302]

I would price them alongside a BMW M5 latest version....the F10. Beyond tyres, fuel and road tax, somewhere around £3- 3.5 K per annum would not be silly money if driving 4 thousand per annum.

[550M]

I guess it depends on your annual mileage. My ownership of 7/8 years standing and 14000 miles has cost me somewhat less than £1k per year for servicing, maintenance, tyres, belts etc... Insurance and road tax a bit under a grand. And I wasn't going to do this bit, but have all the same. The fuel is another grand for 2-2500 miles per annum.

[RGambo]

550M said:

. And I wasn't going to do this bit, but have all the same. The fuel is another grand for 2-2500 miles per annum.

Whoah!! that's worse than my old RS6 :0

but hey you only live once!

[RGambo]

so what's the thing with cam belts then?? http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

25K miles and on it's third set of cambelts! Are they made of cheese?? just looking at the history, cambelts at 20K in 2012, cambelts at 25K in 2014, that seems bonkers to me.

More to the point what's the penalty for not doing them? does it massively affect value?

[johnnyreggae]

You're thinking of blowing fifty grand on a car and you hadn't realised that even at 20 mpg thats almost a grand a year in fuel.....insurance same again

Make your mind up - in your original post you said you knew about cambelt changes & servicing - cambelts are 3-5 years - you misread the list in the ad - and here is not the place for yet another cambelt discussion - its not the belts that go its the bearings

Seems like you need to do some more reading and thinking !!

Edited by johnnyreggae on Tuesday 1st July 14:19

[RGambo]

johnnyreggae said:

You're thinking of blowing fifty grand on a car and you hadn't realised that even at 20 mpg thats almost a grand a year in fuel.....

Cambelts are 3-5 years - you misread the list - and here is not the place for yet another cambelt discussion - its not the belts that go its the bearings

Seems like you need to do some more reading and thinking !!

Thanks for the Sage advice used to the low MPG club ta Yes you are very obviously correct, I will do a little bit more reading, and thinking.

[Mario149]

RGambo said:

I'm thinking that a 550Marenello would be a great car to own. I have enough to get one, but as is always the case, what they like to run. Would anybody have any approx cost per year for one of these? I am well aware of the old ferrari way of needing to service them regularly and cam belt changes etc. So anything to look for if buying?
all advice greatly recieved as this is a big step in the car buying for me, I'm used to german stuff, but not Italian.

FWIW, in my experience they're cheaper to run than a 355. I would say that to keep in tip top condition doing decent miles (say 4k miles per year) you're looking at an average of say £2.5k per year or so over a multi year period

[RGambo]

Thanks. That Gives me something to go on.

[Cerbieherts]

I'm currently doing a belt service on one that hasn't had them replaced since 2002. They don't look bad at all but one of the tensioner bearings has a little wear. He averages 2000 miles a year in it. I've seen others with lower miles and the bearings have been shot. It's luck of the draw and not worth skrimping on. Early cars had gearbox issues which have mostly long since been resolved. Engine mounts wear with regularity, fitting 575 units makes them last longer. Clutches are very very strong and last years, usually the cover springs wear resulting in an extremely stiff clutch pedal. Leaking cam seals on the right hand bank causes failure of a/c compressor clutches (£1500) or damaged alternators. You can't check without removing the undertray. Absolutely fabulous cars, just get an inspection on any car you are considering...

[Bluebottle911]

RGambo said:

so what's the thing with cam belts then??

550 cambelts need replacing every 3 years irrespective of mileage.

RGambo said:

More to the point what's the penalty for not doing them?

£20K for an engine rebuild when one of them snaps under load.