What does a Ferrari service include?
Ferrari servicing always starts from the programme the manufacturer sets for the model and year. An F430, a 612 Scaglietti and a California have neither the same fluids, nor the same checks, nor the same scheduled operations. Many models use dry-sump lubrication: the oil level must be checked following a precise procedure, often with the engine warm and idling, otherwise the reading is wrong.
The car is first driven, then lifted and inspected. Everything found is set out in a detailed, itemised quotation, and nothing is added without your approval.
- Engine oil and filters, gearbox and differential oil, coolant, brake fluid
- F1 gearbox hydraulic fluid or dual-clutch gearbox oil, depending on the model
- Spark plugs, air and cabin filters, auxiliary belts
- Hoses, clips, engine mounts, leaks and weeps
- Brakes, wheel bearings, ball joints, bushes, alignment and tyre age
- Reading the control units and stored fault codes with a diagnostic tool
Ferrari annual service: why time matters as much as mileage
Many Ferraris cover very few miles. That is no reason to stretch their service: the manufacturer’s programme sets deadlines by time as well as by mileage, and whichever comes first applies. Oil takes up moisture and acids even when the car stands still, brake fluid absorbs water, seals dry out and tyres harden while the tread still looks perfect.
A Ferrari laid up for a long time also needs attention to its battery, which the control units of recent models keep drawing on even with the ignition off, and to its fuel system. If the car spends the winter under cover, seasonal preparation and storage avoids a cold restart after months without precautions. On belt-driven models this logic of time matters even more, as explained on the page about the Ferrari cambelt service.
F1 and dual-clutch gearboxes: what the diagnostic tool reads
On Ferraris with the automated F1 gearbox, from the F355 F1 to the F430, by way of the 360, 575M and 612, the clutch is operated by a hydraulic circuit. The diagnostic tool reads values relating to clutch wear and the engagement point, checks the pump, pressure accumulator and actuators, then resets the self-learning. These values are interpreted with care and cross-checked on a road test: a gearbox that slips, judders or hesitates when pulling away says just as much.
Dual-clutch gearboxes, from the California and 458 Italia to current models, wear differently and are checked differently: their oil and filtration follow the manufacturer’s programme. Clutch replacement, F1 or manual, is described on the page dedicated to the Ferrari clutch, and reading the control units on the electronic diagnostics page.
Exhaust manifolds, cooling, air conditioning: the known points
Some Ferrari V8s, notably the 360 Modena and the F430, are known for cracked exhaust manifolds. A leak noise when cold, a smell of hot exhaust gas in the engine bay or soot near a flange calls for a careful inspection, with the manifolds removed if necessary.
On mid-engined V8s such as the 360 or the F430, the radiators sit at the front and long pipes run the length of the car to the engine. The radiators collect leaves and debris, which impair cooling and encourage corrosion: they are cleaned and checked at every service. The air-conditioning circuit, its leaks and its performance are checked during the same visit.
Carbon-ceramic brakes, wheel bearings and running gear
Ferraris fitted with carbon-ceramic brakes are inspected according to the manufacturer’s method: condition of the friction surfaces and edges, prescribed wear measurement, specific pads. These discs last a long time on the road, but a knock while fitting a wheel is enough to damage them. Cast-iron discs are measured for wear and run-out in the usual way.
Wheel bearings, ball joints, bushes and dampers are checked at every visit, as is the front-axle lift system on models that have one. A bearing noise, steering that pulls or uneven tyre wear is dealt with before it becomes a breakdown.
Maintenance programme, warranty and service history
European law allows a car to be serviced outside the manufacturer’s network without losing the warranty, provided the maintenance programme is followed with parts of equivalent quality. Recent Ferraris may also benefit from a maintenance programme offered by the manufacturer: before any work, we look with you at what it covers for your car.
With a Ferrari, the service history counts towards its value. The invoice details every operation and every part, with its origin, and serves as a service record. For a classic, servicing a Ferrari 308 or 328 follows other habits, set out on their page. The workshop’s general approach is described on the servicing and maintenance page.
