[550Doc]

Hello everybody!!!!

I am a 39 yo proud owner of a great 550, 1997, from central Italy, bought last june for my really-near 40 birthday; it was a " gift" from a really great friend of mine, owner of a 456 and a 360 Challenge, because the car came in a very good shape, with 46000 km, almost perfect in eveything, and with a very very "friendly" price too, that is important too :-)
This is my first Ferrari, and I decided to take it, I was looking for a 355, for the great feeling I felt driving for the first time the 12 cilinders... Great torque, great handling, lot of horses, classic line and it's beautiful in every way you look at....
I made only a thousand of km still, but i'm planning a tour to France, or Germany, late this october....
My last car was a "wankel" car, that I liked also very, very much...
I have to fix some air-conditioning problems (condensation water came into the car !, with some electric problems, now solved), and there is a little "fog" in the right lamp.
Winter here on the mountains is quite long and cold, so i'm thinking to make oll the works and little adjustment, during it, to be ready and in shape for the next spring.
Greetings to all the members of this interesting forum, I hope I'll be here taking my next experiences and have a good Ferrari - time with all af you.
Doc.

[archiegibbs]

Welcome to FL, The 550 is a wonderful machine, and one that I hope to own one day. I look forward to hear more stories about your magnificent 550M, and see some pics soon

We've got some very technically competent and knowledgable 550 owners on here, I'm sure you will find them very helpful.

As you live in the mountains, you must be blessed with some great driving roads. Which mountain range are you in? Alps, Dolomites...?

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Welcome to FL, Doc and congrats for the acquisition of 550. Shall wait for your pics and reports. Where is Bart to lecture "12 cylinders or walk" ? w/ smiles Jimmy

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by archiegibbs

As you live in the mountains, you must be blessed with some great driving roads. Which mountain range are you in? Alps, Dolomites...?

..no, no, I live in Central-south Italy, the mountains are the Apennini, in only 20 min Im at 2000 mt, and in 35 min at seaside, so in summer I can choose...hot or fresh air, whatever you need....

Saturday I'll be to a Ferrari day (two days) by the sea, and it will be the occasion for pics and more....
Doc.

[Boxer]

Congratulations on the 550 and welcome to FLife. You should join us next time we do a run through the Swiss Alps.

[Redhead Seeker]

Originally Posted by 550Doc

Hello everybody!!!!

I am a 39 yo proud owner of a great 550, 1997, from central Italy, bought last june for my really-near 40 birthday; it was a " gift" from a really great friend of mine, owner of a 456 and a 360 Challenge, because the car came in a very good shape, with 46000 km, almost perfect in eveything, and with a very very "friendly" price too, that is important too :-)
This is my first Ferrari, and I decided to take it, I was looking for a 355, for the great feeling I felt driving for the first time the 12 cilinders... Great torque, great handling, lot of horses, classic line and it's beautiful in every way you look at....
I made only a thousand of km still, but i'm planning a tour to France, or Germany, late this october....
My last car was a "wankel" car, that I liked also very, very much...
I have to fix some air-conditioning problems (condensation water came into the car !, with some electric problems, now solved), and there is a little "fog" in the right lamp.
Winter here on the mountains is quite long and cold, so i'm thinking to make oll the works and little adjustment, during it, to be ready and in shape for the next spring.
Greetings to all the members of this interesting forum, I hope I'll be here taking my next experiences and have a good Ferrari - time with all af you.
Doc.

In regards to the condensation water entering the car. Have you checked to see if the condensation overflow tube is plugged?. Turn on your A/C to high and let run for 5 minutes, after 5 minutes you should see a small puddle of water under the car that represents the humidity from inside the car that is being removed. No puddle under the car is a good indicator that the discharge tube is plugged......Mark.

[Night Life]

Hi from another Italian, I am from Chieti Abruzzo I now live in Canada.

Would love to see pics of your 550, you sound like a proud owner.

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by Redhead Seeker

In regards to the condensation water entering the car. Have you checked to see if the condensation overflow tube is plugged?. Turn on your A/C to high and let run for 5 minutes, after 5 minutes you should see a small puddle of water under the car that represents the humidity from inside the car that is being removed. No puddle under the car is a good indicator that the discharge tube is plugged......Mark.

tnx.... I already cecked...no water (outside), only INSIDE, and since i discover it, it costed me 2300 euro to change and fix all the electronic controls panel (near the passenger's feet).... Now I have to ceck where IS the condensation tube, and solve the problem, so i'll be able to use the a/c again......

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by Night Life

Hi from another Italian, I am from Chieti Abruzzo I now live in Canada.

Would love to see pics of your 550, you sound like a proud owner.

Tnx, I Know well Chiet, i've been there a lot of times....
Very soon pics and video....
Doc.

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by Boxer

Congratulations on the 550 and welcome to FLife. You should join us next time we do a run through the Swiss Alps.

always ready for a run...

[Granucci]

Originally Posted by 550Doc

...
I have to fix some air-conditioning problems (condensation water came into the car !, with some electric problems, now solved), and there is a little "fog" in the right lamp.
....

Welcome.

Redheads clue was good. .. but you say, not so.

When you say "condensation water came INTO the car" is it truely dripping onto the floor inside?

if so, I'd still have the hose checked.
lastly, at least from my limited perspective: have you had your exhaust for HVAC checked? I'm guessing there is so much humidity, that it just can't drain fully, which it should. HAve the filter checked, both in intake micro-air filter [456's I just have blown out] and the drain holes on everything.

IF OEM hoses, I might have them replaced as might be leaking and having something else come in thru the intake.

are your windows fogging up?

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by 550Doc

always ready for a run...

We are doing FLED 2 1/2 in the UK in late October and FLED 3 will be in Germany in Spring 2010.

[esaraiva]

Welcome to the FL.
Hope you enjoy

[Chrishawk4]

Welcome to the forum! Congratulations on the 550, can't wait to see pictures

[williamtaylor]

Welcome to FerrariLife.

I have included you in the owners group now as well.

http://www.ferrarilife.com/forums/a/

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Boxer

We are doing FLED 2 1/2 in the UK in late October and FLED 3 will be in Germany in Spring 2010.

here is the link to the planning thread.

FLED 2 1/2 - Oct 30 - Nov 1

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by Granucci

Welcome.

Redheads clue was good. .. but you say, not so.

When you say "condensation water came INTO the car" is it truely dripping onto the floor inside?

if so, I'd still have the hose checked.
lastly, at least from my limited perspective: have you had your exhaust for HVAC checked? I'm guessing there is so much humidity, that it just can't drain fully, which it should. HAve the filter checked, both in intake micro-air filter [456's I just have blown out] and the drain holes on everything.

IF OEM hoses, I might have them replaced as might be leaking and having something else come in thru the intake.

are your windows fogging up?

...yes...the water (almost a liter or so), came out from the knee-level, passenger side, on the left under the airbag, in a left turn very "drifted", so i could notice that...
The car passed the exhaust and other parameters control (every two year by law in Italy), with any kind of problem, and the air filters where cleaned in the service controls.
And yes, when i had the problem there was humidity in the car and on the windows, but not after (i did'nt use the a/c), even after many km....
Thanks for your help.
Doc.

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by williamtaylor

Welcome to FerrariLife.

I have included you in the owners group now as well.

http://www.ferrarilife.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=78

tnx....

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by Boxer

here is the link to the planning thread.

FLED 2 1/2 - Oct 30 - Nov 1

let's see for spring time....

[550Doc]

Originally Posted by Chrishawk4

Welcome to the forum! Congratulations on the 550, can't wait to see pictures

I was last saturday at the annual meeting, not on the "race" in sunday, but we had a lot of fun, lot of beautiful cars (43 Ferrari and a yellow Lambo), and good fish dinner.
Pics very soon.....