[cribbj]

Hello everyone, I've been a lifelong Ferrari fan, after seeing my first one closeup as a 60’s teen.

I’m now approaching 60 (wow, it seems to have happened way too quickly!), and am finally in a position to acquire one of these marvelous cars. My target will be a 550 Maranello, and I would be grateful for the advise of those more experienced than I about which years are the better ones, what problems to look out for, etc.

I’ve downloaded the Ferrari Life brochure on the Maranello, so am aware of the leather shrinkage problems, and the “gummy” buttons. But any other counsel or recommendations on these cars will be gratefully received.

My background is engineering, and I spent a number of years with the large industrial engine companies. I’ve been through the British and German sports car “phases”, and have been hotrodding Toyota Supras for the last 15 years.

Frankly, I think (and hope) all this has just been a buildup for Ferrari ownership.

Looking forward to learning and participating.

John

[Boxer]

Welcome to FLife. 550's are wonderful Ferraris with immense power. However they are startign to get up in the years so I would be very careful about making sure all the maintenance is up to date and the condition of all the hoses and rubber bits. Also make sure you have a leakdown and compression check done as a few have poor compression.

[JazzyO]

Hello John,

the 550 was/is my first Ferrari and it has been wonderful in every way. Apart from Boxers good tips, here are another couple.

1. There is practically no difference between model years. There will be a slight premium over 2000/2001 models as they just seem a bit younger with the millenium change.
2. There are quite a few out there that really don't look that good. The 550 is very reliable and it can be driven for long distances without moaning, but now that the value has dropped so much a lot of people who can't afford to keep them on the button have been driving them and you need to be vigilant. For me, cosmetics are a big pointer in the right direction. People that spend money on keeping it looking like new, spend money on the mechanics too. And recent service and mileage history. I always recommend you buy a car that's been regularly driven recently.
3. Buy the very best you can find. It really is cheaper in the long run, and gives you more enjoyment. Nowadays the price difference between a good one and a bad isn't too big, but it will become bigger in the future.

Other than that, I can only say: great choice. The 550 really is a modern version of the classic Ferrari concept of the 1960's, and it has character in spades. Oh, and it's plenty fast enough too.

Good luck!


Onno

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

Hello John,

the 550 was/is my first Ferrari and it has been wonderful in every way. Apart from Boxers good tips, here are another couple.

1. There is practically no difference between model years. There will be a slight premium over 2000/2001 models as they just seem a bit younger with the millenium change.


Onno

A few of the early ones had problems with excessive oil pressure. If buying a 96/97, make sure it has been corrected.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

Welcome to FL and thank you for your nice self-intro. Looking forward to your inputs. Good luck with your search for 550. w/ smiles Jimmy

[cribbj]

Onno & Boxer, thanks for your insightful replies. Would you recommend purchasing from a Ferrari representative, or am I better off buying privately? And would you suggest using private specialists to evaluate a car?

If this were any other run of the mill car, I'd have no compunction buying it privately, and probably off of eBay, but this purchase will be for a very special car, and I'd like to get it right on the first try....

Compression & leakdown tests will definitely be on the list. Interestingly, just two days ago I finished a comprehensive leakdown test on a Lexus V8 "mule" motor that we'd built for testing/learning on an engine dyno. We were interested to see how the valve train would fare under high (>20psi) supercharger boost, and it didn't fare very well at all. After 10 full power pulls at 18 to 22 psi boost, the compression in all cylinders was down 40 psi, and all cylinders but one showed 75% leakage. Looks like we'll definitely need to beef up the valve train on this motor before running serious boost through it again.

Onno those are good points you made about the cosmetics of a car, and I agree they're very valid. When a car looks like it hasn't been cleaned in ages, and the interior is filthy, the owner has probably neglected everything else as well.

Do Ferrari offer something like the BMW TIS, for learning more about the car & engine? In particular I'd like to learn more about the engine, and its type of injection, ignition & EMS.

Lastly, thanks very much Jimmy, Onno and Boxer for your warm welcome.

[JazzyO]

Hi John,

personally I bought my car from a specialist (independent Ferrari garage, not a main dealer) and I could not have made a better choice, he is still my go-to guy for everything. But I was lucky. I have since had more experience with other specialists and there are a lot of not-so-nice people out there even in the Ferrari world (or perhaps especially...). My experience with dealers (2nd hand experience, to be fair) is that they are good enough on modern cars but hopeless on older Ferraris (I mean what does it tell you that the maintenance of the cars of the local Ferrari importer was never done by his own shop????). Principally, they seem to be car sellers, not car maintainers.

I think you have to accept that there is no such thing as warranty with a car like this. If I were you, I would be patient and get to know a group of local enthousiasts through forums such as these. Ask them if they know of a good 550 that may be for sale. If you can get a car that is known by other people, that is the best way to ensure you're getting a good one. They can also point you to specialists that have the right reputation. Personally, I spent about 6 months on forums and went to a couple of meetings to get to know people before I found and bought my car. It was them that referred me to the specialist Forza Service.

If you were in Holland, I'd send you to him. He's got the black/cuoio 550 of a mate for sale, very nice car with a very special colour combination. But you're in the US, so there.

For learning more about the engine, you can use the PDF version of the manual, and there is also a workshop manual. I can e-mail them to you but only when I get back to Holland, limited bandwidth here in West Africa.


Onno

[cribbj]

Onno thanks for those recommendations, and yes, I'll take your advise and sit tight for a bit, and chat with people on the forums, and look for "the right one" to come along.

Thanks also for the offer of the manuals; I've PM'd you my email address.

West Africa? You must be in the same line of work as I am in North Africa. I know only two types of expats that work in these places and drive Ferrari's; oilfield related, and mercenaries ;-)

[Granucci]

Welcome and GOOD PICK. Get a good one, and you'll probably never be sorry. There can be issues, but pick the best in terms of mechanics, and then model issue, build date.

I am not 100% certain, but thinking the valve guide issue was taken care of in that model as the hoses. Shock issues could be a problem and the motor mounts IIRC were upgraded: The 456 helped sort those things.

as above, compression and leakdown will give better peace of mind. A GOOD PPI would let you know the better one, or what to expect.

CHECK the radiator for any blockage and/or leaks [may include the interior heater core]. I would, unless done by a rep. mechanic very recently just take it in for a re-do on the major but, hey that's me. I like to start the clock ticking when I buy it, that way I know. All fluids and belts and timing etc. is not that expensive: many will argue, so again I defer to saying 'that is me'.

as a PS: IF anyone hasn't experienced these more modern V-12 Ferraris then they are missing a great great car. ESPECIALLY at today's [I believe] very discounted prices such as the 550 and 575 and [I prefer the GT] 456 M series. It is a LOT of car for that money and the looks never grow old IMO.

[Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS]

One broker that I can steer you to is Michael Sheehan (Southern California). Altho I have never bought one from him, I met him once last year. He knows his trade and is someone you can trust. I do not think you would be disappointed. As a matter of fact, I believe he has one 550 right now, but it is already a sales pending. Price was like under 70 k. Personally, I would go thru someone like Mike instead of dealing with private sales. Good luck again, John. w/ smiles Jimmy

[wetpet]

don't be shy about looking all over the country for your car. it's a buyers market and you don't have to settle for less. would investigate a shop in your area. i would also demand a thorough PPI before purchase. Make sure you use the best wherever the car is. great car. enjoy.

Interesting side note. you picked the right forum. everyone that has responded to your post so far is a current ferrari owner and dedicated tifosi. all much heavier hitters than me. real advice, not internet knowledge.

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by cribbj

West Africa? You must be in the same line of work as I am in North Africa. I know only two types of expats that work in these places and drive Ferrari's; oilfield related, and mercenaries ;-)

I mine real gold, not that sticky black stuff...


Onno

[cribbj]

Thanks everyone for your input; it's always tough getting started when you're the new guy (whether it's work, a relocation, a new club, etc.), but FL has a very warm and open environment, and it's been a super experience so far getting acquainted with some of you.

I did find some of the specs that I was looking for on the engine, and quite by accident. I discovered the engine uses a pair of Bosch Motronic 5.2 DME's, which I know a little about from some prior hotrodding with BMW V12's, so this was a welcome surprise, as I thought Ferrari probably used only Magneti Marelli EMS's. Shows how little I know about these cars already

If these DME 5.2's are setup similarly to the BMW, then each one runs a bank of cylinders, so the motor is setup to run as two inline sixes? And if either DME decides to go AWOL, the other one will run half the engine in limp mode?

It probably also has fully sequential (not batch or bank fired) injection, and a waste spark ignition with a coilpack for each bank of cylinders?

[colonel1961]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Chen Shiba DDS

One broker that I can steer you to is Michael Sheehan (Southern California). Altho I have never bought one from him, I met him once last year. He knows his trade and is someone you can trust. I do not think you would be disappointed. As a matter of fact, I believe he has one 550 right now, but it is already a sales pending. Price was like under 70 k. Personally, I would go thru someone like Mike instead of dealing with private sales. Good luck again, John. w/ smiles Jimmy

I agree with Jimmy, re: Sheehan. And welcome to FLife! Best of luck with your acquisition...

[cribbj]

In doing some Internet research, I've noticed that Ferrari changed the firing order of their V12's sometime in the last 10 years?

I'm understanding that the 550 engine has the "old" firing order of 1-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9? And this would be with the cylinders numbered from front to rear, 1-6 on the right bank, and 7-12 on the left (when facing the flywheel)?

Whereas the data I've found for the 456 indicates it has the "new" firing order of 1-7-5-11-3-9-6-12-2-8-4-10 (presumably with the same cylinder numbering scheme as the 550?)

It seems odd, that the newer model 550 would have the "older" firing order, when the two engines are basically the same? I'm sure I've confused something here, else the data I've found is not correct. Can someone enlighten me?

[wetpet]

Originally Posted by cribbj

If these DME 5.2's are setup similarly to the BMW, then each one runs a bank of cylinders, so the motor is setup to run as two inline sixes? And if either DME decides to go AWOL, the other one will run half the engine in limp mode?

this is correct. my diablo was the same. ask me how i know. .

[Dermot]

Totally recommend the 550, I have the handling package and carbon fiber racing seats on my black 550m - Great options if u can get them but will add to the asking price!

I've owned 5 ferrari's and the 550 pulls like a train, there's nothing quite like a v12 and the 550 has the v12 from heaven - especially as I have straight pipes so the sound is earth shattering :-)

Go for it, just buy the best u can afford, be prepared to pay more for a great service history, look and feel... Its worth the extra $$ as the downside for deferred maintenance could be huge ( a major service with a few extras thrown in will cost u 10k) so be warned!

[cribbj]

Thanks Dermot, Wetpet & Colonel, it's encouraging to read all these reinforcements for my choice.

Just a tech question, or perhaps I should pose this somewhere else, if so, please let me know, as I'm still fumbling around on this forum a bit:

When you're facing the front of the engine, with the hood open what numbers are the two front cylinders? I'm assuming the front one on the left is #1, and the front one on the right is #7?

Or is the front one on the right #12?

[enz898]

John,

From my personal experience, I too would also reconmend you to buy a 550.

as someone mentioned before: 12 cyclinders or walk!

First off, It is surprisingly reliable IF you pick the correct car, it is essential to get all the checks done (save you hassle and giref). I like the fact that it is the last ferrari model to be manual only. It bridges the gap where the front engined v12 gt ferrari's left off. It continues the heritage. And not to mention the power of the v12, mind blowing.

As mentioned before, Get the best you can afford.

[Dermot]

A couple of pics of my 550