488 GTB missed service - "quite common"?!?
Discussion
This week I contacted an official Ferrari dealership about a 488 they have for sale. I asked to see the full history on the car, and the dealer quite happily sent me the details, but it was accompanied with the following which I have directly quoted:
Is this "quite common"? This would be my first Ferrari, so I'm coming in blind to what's normal in this world. I had assumed (possibly incorrectly it would now seem), that all approved used cars would have a complete service history, and paying a bit more would give me the peace of mind.
Salesman said:
This 488 has been owned by five different people, which is below average for an 8 year old Ferrari.
I have noted the full service history from the Ferrari database – due to lack of use the previous owner decided not to service the car in 2023 even though it was free. we find this is quite common amongst owners when the cars are sat around.
I have noted the full service history from the Ferrari database – due to lack of use the previous owner decided not to service the car in 2023 even though it was free. we find this is quite common amongst owners when the cars are sat around.
Is this "quite common"? This would be my first Ferrari, so I'm coming in blind to what's normal in this world. I had assumed (possibly incorrectly it would now seem), that all approved used cars would have a complete service history, and paying a bit more would give me the peace of mind.
Trev450 said:
I wouldn't say it was common and fail to see any logic in skipping a service when its free.
That's where my mind was/is at also. However, I had a call today with the dealer to organise the viewing tomorrow, and he seemed very surprised/taken-a-back at my concern over the missed service. So much so, that after the call, he took it upon himself to email me over the MOT history, and to double-down his opinion...
Salesman said:
To help ease your mind, I've attached the car's MOT history, which provides additional evidence that it was not in use in 2023. This, in my opinion, provides useful historical context and supports my theory that the car, like many other cars we have supplied here, could not have been in use.
I really do hope this helps.
But, it's thrown up even more questions in my head, some of the dates make no sense whatsoever. Would SORN impact the date patterns?I really do hope this helps.
The tyre wear is hardly confidence inspiring either...
Date tested: 3 November 2020
PASS
Mileage: 5,380 miles
Expiry date: 2 November 2021
Date tested: 29 October 2021
PASS
Mileage: 6,447 miles
Expiry date: 2 November 2022
Date tested: 19 January 2022
PASS
Mileage: 6,508 miles
Expiry date: 18 January 2023
Date tested: 6 October 2022
PASS
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing(5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Mileage: 7,997 miles
Expiry date: 5 October 2023
Date tested: 17 April 2024
PASS
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn onedge inner third quarter, 3mm (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edgeinner third quarter, 3mm (5.2.3 (e))
Mileage: 8,247 miles
Expiry date: 16 April 2025
Date tested: 4 October 2024
PASS
Mileage: 8,646 miles
Expiry date: 3 October 2025
Date tested: 24 July 2025
PASS
Mileage: 9,325 miles
Expiry date: 23 July 2026
It's a shame, as it really is my perfect spec car. Or am I being too over-cautious!?!
Edited by kmpowell on Friday 17th October 15:20
The selling dealer will of course say it's not a problem but come selling it back to them and there will be a lot of sharp intakes of breath are they putting the 2 year warranty on it, didn't think they could with incomplete history
I suspect the unusual MOT dates is because its' changed hands and at each sale a new MOT was put on it
I suspect the unusual MOT dates is because its' changed hands and at each sale a new MOT was put on it
Edited by F355GTS on Friday 17th October 15:26
I assume the selling dealer is willing to put a factory warranty on the car for a year or two?
Assuming so come warranty renewal time they wouldn't have a leg to stand on and you could back that up with the comms you have had so far.
As and when you sell and if you were to sell back to them again it shouldn't be any issue as they sold it to you with a missing service, obviously if you were to go elsewhere it may be a different story.
I can actually see the logic, if you are in a fortunate position to have a Ferrari and probably have other vehicles to use so you SORN etc and as such don't get it serviced what harm would it do, however as it's a free service I'd be wanting the work to be completed and the history updated to reflect that.
Assuming so come warranty renewal time they wouldn't have a leg to stand on and you could back that up with the comms you have had so far.
As and when you sell and if you were to sell back to them again it shouldn't be any issue as they sold it to you with a missing service, obviously if you were to go elsewhere it may be a different story.
I can actually see the logic, if you are in a fortunate position to have a Ferrari and probably have other vehicles to use so you SORN etc and as such don't get it serviced what harm would it do, however as it's a free service I'd be wanting the work to be completed and the history updated to reflect that.
F355GTS said:
I suspect the unusual MOT dates is because its' changed hands and at each sale a new MOT was put on it
Hmmm, do you need to put a new MOT on a car at every sale? I thought itan MOT ran with the car, not the owner?Freakuk said:
I assume the selling dealer is willing to put a factory warranty on the car for a year or two?
Yup, Ferrari approved, so he said it will have the full 2yr warranty on it.But to the earlier point, once that has lapsed and/or if I choose to take it out of the Ferrari network after a few years, I'm guessing that missed service might be an issue...
Edited by kmpowell on Friday 17th October 16:30
kmpowell said:
F355GTS said:
I suspect the unusual MOT dates is because its' changed hands and at each sale a new MOT was put on it
Hmmm, do you need to put a new MOT on a car at every sale? I thought itan MOT ran with the car, not the owner?You can find the owner and plate change dates in the history froma Carzana type check to see if they match the MOTs.
Looks like whoever had it from Oct 2022 didn't bother changing the front tyres and simply stored it until they pulled it out in April 24, drove it for 6 months then put new tyres and an oil anf filter change and new MOT to sell.
Personally I'm surprised so many people would buy a Ferrari and move it on after an average of 1600 miles, substantially less looking at the last few MOT dates and mileages.
andrew said:
8 years
9000 miles allegedly
5 owners
...just run !
I agree. If an owner feels it’s too much hassle to get the car out of storage for a free service he/she is hardly treating the car with TLC. Also at least one owner didn’t bother to deal with the front tyres issue. If you’re buying a used Ferrari try and buy one that’s been loved - plenty have. 9000 miles allegedly
5 owners
...just run !
ex-devonpaul said:
You can find the owner and plate change dates in the history froma Carzana type check to see if they match the MOTs.
Looks like whoever had it from Oct 2022 didn't bother changing the front tyres and simply stored it until they pulled it out in April 24, drove it for 6 months then put new tyres and an oil anf filter change and new MOT to sell.
Thanks! I've done a plate check:Looks like whoever had it from Oct 2022 didn't bother changing the front tyres and simply stored it until they pulled it out in April 24, drove it for 6 months then put new tyres and an oil anf filter change and new MOT to sell.
- Registered on the original issued plate: Oct 2017
- Private plate put on: 18th Jul 2018
- Original issued plate put back on: 2nd Jun 2021
- Private plate put on: 3rd Oct 2024
- Original plate put back on: 29th Apr 2025
I've also done a bit of digging and found an advert (inc price) on a 'previously sold' webpage from a VERY well known independent supercar dealer. They sold it in Sept/Oct 2024. Their advert stated it had a "Full Ferrari Service History" and the milage ties in. Incidentally, they sold it for £10k less than it's being listed today at the Ferrari dealer.
Edited by kmpowell on Friday 17th October 18:56
So the car did 250 miles between services, and missed its annual service. Mechanically I’d say this is irrelevant.
If it’s your perfect spec I would push on.
One thing you could do for peace of mind it talk to a relevant dealer about effect on trade in and how it might effect value, then use that when negotiating.
If it’s your perfect spec I would push on.
One thing you could do for peace of mind it talk to a relevant dealer about effect on trade in and how it might effect value, then use that when negotiating.
“I love the car, but i must admit I m struggling a little bit with the missed service.
I appreciate your opinion and documents to give context, and i agree this will have no mechanical impact, but I m worried about having to justify this when i also eventually come to sell.
To offset that concern, how about I buy the car and you put me on a cool upcoming driving experience day and we call it quits?”
I appreciate your opinion and documents to give context, and i agree this will have no mechanical impact, but I m worried about having to justify this when i also eventually come to sell.
To offset that concern, how about I buy the car and you put me on a cool upcoming driving experience day and we call it quits?”
Completely disagree with the dealers original statement. The delivery mileage f12 I bought in 2023 (2017 car) had been serviced every single year by a Ferrari dealer.
I also know quite a few people with Ferrari's that do minimal/no mileage and they still get them serviced every year.
That much said, I also agree with some people above that a single missed service is likely to have little/no impact mechanically. The bigger concern I'd say if you care about this sort of thing is that this car basically feels like it's on the cusp of falling out of the official dealer network because of age, number of owners, service history and lack of "special" limited status. That can be a pro or a con depending on your point of view, lots of specialists who will take care of the car for less than a Ferrari dealer, but inability to get a warranty extension or sell it back to Ferrari mean you'll be paying the "I'm buying from an official source" price hit and when the time comes to move it on you'll be getting back the selling it back into unofficial dealers with a missing service price.
If you plan to keep it for a good few years that'll be less of a problem. Negotiate hard would be my advice!
I also know quite a few people with Ferrari's that do minimal/no mileage and they still get them serviced every year.
That much said, I also agree with some people above that a single missed service is likely to have little/no impact mechanically. The bigger concern I'd say if you care about this sort of thing is that this car basically feels like it's on the cusp of falling out of the official dealer network because of age, number of owners, service history and lack of "special" limited status. That can be a pro or a con depending on your point of view, lots of specialists who will take care of the car for less than a Ferrari dealer, but inability to get a warranty extension or sell it back to Ferrari mean you'll be paying the "I'm buying from an official source" price hit and when the time comes to move it on you'll be getting back the selling it back into unofficial dealers with a missing service price.
If you plan to keep it for a good few years that'll be less of a problem. Negotiate hard would be my advice!
kmpowell said:
Trev450 said:
I wouldn't say it was common and fail to see any logic in skipping a service when its free.
That's where my mind was/is at also. However, I had a call today with the dealer to organise the viewing tomorrow, and he seemed very surprised/taken-a-back at my concern over the missed service. So much so, that after the call, he took it upon himself to email me over the MOT history, and to double-down his opinion...
Salesman said:
To help ease your mind, I've attached the car's MOT history, which provides additional evidence that it was not in use in 2023. This, in my opinion, provides useful historical context and supports my theory that the car, like many other cars we have supplied here, could not have been in use.
I really do hope this helps.
Date tested: 6 October 2022I really do hope this helps.
PASS
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged cracking or perishing(5.2.3 (d) (ii))
Mileage: 7,997 miles
Expiry date: 5 October 2023
Date tested: 17 April 2024
PASS
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit worn onedge inner third quarter, 3mm (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edgeinner third quarter, 3mm (5.2.3 (e))
Mileage: 8,247 miles
Expiry date: 16 April 2025
Edited by kmpowell on Friday 17th October 15:20
488 are easy to clock without detection - I would hazard a guess that this has been the case at some point of its ownership.
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