Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Service Time Schedule F355

[Jeff Greenfield (coyote]

I'm not saying that you can't beat the flat rate times, often you can.

However, many times there are other complications that will creep up  
that will suck up way more time then what flat rate will allow.

IMHO, there seems to be a direct correlation between the age of the  
car and the amount of time required ... The older the car, the longer  
it takes.

I've seen flat rate times on some cars that are completely absurd in  
both directions too.

Just my $0.02

Jeff

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 15, 2008, at 1:36 PM, "E M" <pokiebaron [at] gmail.com> wrote:

> I found when tinkering on porsches over the years, often I, and  
> friends can do the jobs well under the book times.  Couple of times,  
> there were three of us, ok, book is usually for one, but some jobs,  
> a second person has to be assumed will step in for a few minutes  
> here and there unless the one mechanic had a 10 foot arm span.  With  
> 3 of us, 2 working, and one making coffee, we had the engine in and  
> out of a 928 is about 1/5 the book time, and even then, that was  
> taking into account a few problems along the way.  I forget the book  
> time for a 911 oil change, but it's kind of a joke.  Take longer for  
> the oil to drain out than the rest of the change.  15 mins, it's  
> done.  I think the book says to remove the a/c compressor, if I  
> remember from years back, but I can't figure out for the life of me  
> why.  If you can't get the filter out with the compressor in place,  
> you're in the wrong line of work.
>
> Just my experience though.  I've also done the same work on cars  
> that I paid to have done previously.  Removing the price for parts,  
> and just looking at labour based on how long the same jobs took me,  
> these guys are making more per hour than my lawyer often.  I know  
> mechanics have a lot of over head, but my lawyer isn't exactly  
> working out of the back of his car either. ;-)
>
> Ed
> 911SC
>
> On 15/03/2008, Jeff Greenfield <coyote [at] acme-ltd.com> wrote:
> Can't help with the 355 times, but be careful using flat rate times if
> you can find them.
>
> They assume all sorts of things that don't always happen in the real
> world such as access to all those factory tools in the manual, and
> that everything comes apart as intended.
>
> Things such as frozen fasteners or having to take something apart in a
> fashion other than intended when something won't come apart the way
> it  is supposed to in order to avoid damaging an expensive (or
> irreplaceable) gizmo all take additional time.
>
> As an example, I had to remove an A/C compressor as it was in the way
> of replacing something else. One of the fitting on the hose was
> frozen, so I had to remove the compressor with the hose by
> disconnecting the hose at the other end. Only way to to it to avoid
> replacing a difficult to find hose and possibly the compressor.
>
> Lastly, most flat rate times assume that the job in question as been
> done multiple times by the person doing it.
>
> The flat rate times are a useful thing to know, whether you are doing
> the job yourself or having it done, but not all jobs can be done in
> the flat rate time every time.
>
> Just my perspective from someone who has been on the other side of the
> service counter for a long time.
>
> But then again, I could be completely wrong ...
>
> Jeff
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Mar 14, 2008, at 9:29 PM, "Peter Pless" <ferrarilist [at] pless.com.au>
> wrote:
>
> > Has anyone been able to find this manual online?
> >
> > Basically shows how long all the mechanical stuff on a 355 should
> > take to
> > do.
> >
> > Makes for great ammo when you're visiting your mechanic!
> >
> > Peter
> >
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