Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Servicing Costs - 512TR

[Dennis Liu (bigheaddennis]

Broadly speaking, Larry, it's supply and demand.

The "supply" of qualified Ferrari mechanics is small - because while margins
can be decently healthy in the service business, particularly as you move up
the food chain, the VOLUME still isn't enough to support many
Ferrari-exclusive shops.  This is complicated by the fact that the downside
to screwing up a Ferrari job is monumental, as you yourself discovered.  So,
bottom line, there aren't that many Ferrari shops around.

Applying the laws of supply and demand, therefore, the PRICES that the
Ferrari shops can charge is relatively high.  They need that (much) higher
margin to cover the fact that volume is low.  Not so different from, say,
selling expensive watches.  You'll never sell as many as if you'd carry TAGs
or Omegas or Timexes, but you make it up in margin.

So how to you best manage this situation, if your goal is to minimize your
costs?

The analogy I use is to compare it to a high-deductible health insurance
policy.

Pay the simple stuff out of pocket, or treat yourself (e.g., get flu shots,
pay cash for check-ups, etc.) and rely on the insurance to cover
catastrophic situations.

In the Ferrari world, that translates into doing the simple stuff yourself,
but pay to have an experienced Ferrari mechanic do the more complicated (and
riskier) jobs.

$451.50 **plus parts???** for an oil change and fluid flush?  My god.
That's insane.  Even for a dry-sump system, it is simply a matter of jacking
up the car, (removing any underpanels if you have them), opening up a couple
of bolts and draining the oil.  The filter is easily accessible.  Pour in
the right quantity of new Mobil 1, and you're done.  For the brakes, again,
just pop off the wheels, attach a power bleeder to the reservoir, and bleed
each caliper.  And crawl underneath and bleed the clutch too.  Even you,
Larry, should be able to take care of both jobs in less than three hours
your first time, maybe less than 1.5 hours your second.  Or take it to a
local corner shop - it's not rocket science, and a 512TR is no different
than other cars in this regard.

OTOH, $3100 (plus, what, $1k in parts?) for the 5-year major service sounds
fairly reasonable, especially if it's an engine-out service on your car.

Bottom line, Larry, take that $106-$145/hr shop rate, and figure out what
you can do yourself and what you need an experienced tech to run.

My $0.02.

vty,

--Dennis


-----Original Message-----
From: Larry B [mailto:larrybard [at] hotmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:24 AM
To: Dennis Liu
Cc: The FerrariList
Subject: [Ferrari] Servicing Costs - 512TR

After previously being badly "burned" by an independent mechanic who
performed major service on my car in a seriously negligent manner (though
with hindsight I was admittedly quite stupid to have used him), I now prefer
to use an authorized dealer even though I am aware of some established
independent Ferrari specialists in my area with excellent reputations, who
probably could perform any work somewhat less expensively.
 
Could any of you tell me whether the proposed dealer charges below are
clearly excessive (e.g., at least 50% more than what is likely to be charged
for the same work by an excellent independent mechanic)?
 
One year service: Change engine oil & filter, lubrication, flush
brake/clutch hydraulic systems. $451.50 plus parts 
Two year service: above services plus - change coolant, change transaxle
oil. $645.00 plus parts
Five year service: replace timing belts and accessory belts. $3096.00 plus
parts 
 
It has been more than two years since I had the two year servicing last
performed, and more than six years since the five year servicing, so both
are recommended.  I have probably averaged 3,000 to 4,000 miles annually
during those periods.
 
Thoughts (other than I should learn to do at least some of the work myself)?
 
Thanks,
Larry
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