FF Service - Discs and Lines

[CPA]

Hello All,

Long-time lurker and am now joining the forum because I need some advice for something that I have been unable to answer via search.

I am the proud owner of a FF (2014) which I have had for the last 8 years. I bought the car from an independent in London and have always taken it back there for servicing and found them very realistic, understanding and price competitive. However, 2 years ago, they were taken over by H.R.Owen and since then, things have taken a turn for the dramatic worse. In 2024 (My first service with them) it was the rear springs that needed replacing at a cost of £8K and I went with it. 2025 was a no-surprise year and the service cost me about £1.5k which I was happy with. This year however, I have had a couple of nasty quotes from their visual inspection and would be very grateful for some advice.

Let me firstly say that I went into buying this car with my eyes open and knew of the PTU issue and the aftermarket repair options. I Was also aware that the discs would be a costly repair should they fail. The car is never tracked and I use it as a daily, it has covered 32K miles. I Generally cover no more than 2000 miles per year. During the winter months (Nov-Apr) it is stored outside on my drive under a Ferrari purchased breathable cover.

Service 2026

Visual Inspection has brought up 3 things that I would like to mention.

1) Rear disc pins broken off . Require replacement with pads. - There were no warning lights prior to the car being entered into service. I Have attached the photo that highlights the problem. Quote to fix with OEM parts is almost £9K presumably plus 20% VAT. They have also suggested replacing the fronts at the same time (Of course) at a cost of £9.3k because - "Front discs at 70 % worn recommend replacing with pads as rears need doing"

My questions,

a) Has anyone had experience of the lighter Girodisc conversion for this or other Ferraris as it would be significantly cheaper for me to go down this route.
b) Is it dangerous for me to dismiss their quote and drive the car (conservatively) until I get the Girodisc conversion done.
c) Any advice on a competent supplier that can fit the Girodisc conversion in the U.K. would be great.
d) Am I being silly and should just go with their quote.

2) Rear left hard line corroded. Quote for fix is about £700 plus VAT.

Question is, does it look that bad to warrant replacement?

Any other advice is also welcome.

3) This one is a bit tounge-in-cheek. A Few months ago, the insert on the HVAC control popped out and I kept it in the glovebox with the intention of gluing it back on. I forgot to do so and hey presto -

HVAC panel control knob for fan speed. Cover is missing from it. Requires replacement. Quotation £2800 plus VAT. I Think I can work this one out for myself.

I'm hoping I can get some real-world advice soon because the car is in their workshop as we speak and I want to get driving

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide. I'm glad to be part of the community.

 

[A348W]

apologies cant answer directly, but as im guessing your london way; give autofficiana a call for a separate view.

 

[CPA]

apologies cant answer directly, but as im guessing your london way; give autofficiana a call for a separate view.

Thank you. I'm pretty close to them actually so I've dropped them a request. I've also asked Rardley who are more south.

Do you have any experience of either of them?

Based on some research I've done, I should be able to get an independent to just replace the pins. Much cheaper solution.

 

[A348W]

Thank you. I'm pretty close to them actually so I've dropped them a request. I've also asked Rardley who are more south.

Do you have any experience of either of them?

Based on some research I've done, I should be able to get an independent to just replace the pins. Much cheaper solution.

I vaguely know the owners son who is in another club; really good technical knowledge, has a variety of ferraris and is always very helpful. a few others in that club use them and are very happy. all 2nd hand info so dont shoot me!

 

[CPA]

Well the absolutely fantastic news (for anyone that finds themselves in this position) is that Autofficiana have developed and manufactured their own solution to the problem. New pins which they can install and don't suffer from the manufacturer's fault. Cheap solution, I get to keep my FF CC discs stock and will soon be booked in. Very Happy .

I Will definitely be getting my car serviced by Autofficiana from now on. I Don't think I fit the H.R.Owen customer profile anymore

 

[Nosevi]

I Don't think I fit the H.R.Owen customer profile anymore

I found the same when I recently asked my main dealer for a service quote and more importantly what was included in that. Certainly didn't seem to cover everything in the service schedule and yet was more than 2 times what I paid there albeit that was a few years ago.

 

[CPA]

I found the same when I recently asked my main dealer for a service quote and more importantly what was included in that. Certainly didn't seem to cover everything in the service schedule and yet was more than 2 times what I paid there albeit that was a few years ago.

Agreed. The things that should be included now come as 'Optional' add-ons with their visual inspection. It's clearly an option as long as your car is still under warranty or you pay the exorbitant fees to extend it. The part that bites with me is that they always take the line "Because we are an authorised dealer, we are only authorised to replace the parts as prescribed by Ferrari". This now means that manufacture defects that were never resolved (Like the pins on my discs, or the PTU) will only ever be replaced with a similarly defective unit, it's ignorant and stupid. Thank god for independents.

 

[CPA]

Just an update. Autoffincia did a fantastic job. All the retaining pins are now replaced with their solution which does not suffer from the manufacturer fault. Very reasonable and excellent service all round.

Apparently the brake fluid hadn't been changed for years because the nipples were stuck solid. Now why does that not surprise me.

 

[Nosevi]

Apparently the brake fluid hadn't been changed for years because the nipples were stuck solid. Now why does that not surprise me.

That's obvious not good as brake fluid is highly hygroscopic and so over time will absorb moisture and the system will corrode from the inside. Without naming names (unless you particularly want to) where was the car previously serviced? Would I be quite close to the mark if I guessed it was a main dealer?

BTW I know not all main dealers are poor but I have had a few issues of things I would have expected to be done (and which are in the service schedule) not being at a main dealer.

 

[mon the fish]

Just an update. Autoffincia did a fantastic job. All the retaining pins are now replaced with their solution which does not suffer from the manufacturer fault. Very reasonable and excellent service all round.

Apparently the brake fluid hadn't been changed for years because the nipples were stuck solid. Now why does that not surprise me.

Doesn't surprise me, would be worth checking the history to see when the brake fluid was last claimed to have been changed.

I had similar at my local Porsche dealer - they were the last people to allegedly change the fluid, and two years later claimed they couldn't do it as the nipples were rounded off. So either they damaged them, or didn't replace the fluid two years before as they were already damaged!

 

[CPA]

That's obvious not good as brake fluid is highly hygroscopic and so over time will absorb moisture and the system will corrode from the inside. Without naming names (unless you particularly want to) where was the car previously serviced? Would I be quite close to the mark if I guessed it was a main dealer?

BTW I know not all main dealers are poor but I have had a few issues of things I would have expected to be done (and which are in the service schedule) not being at a main dealer.

Indeed, that's probably why one of my brake lines corroded (thankfully remedied by Autoficcina who made up a bespoke line again at a very reasonable cost compared to what I was previously quoted).

I Bought the car about 8 years ago from Joe Macari who had a great service department and always looked it very well. About three years ago, the servicing arm was bought out by H.R.Owen who did the last 3-4 services and my experience with them has never great to say the least. During the last service I asked for a quote for a full set of Michelin 4S' and pointed out that I had already had a very competitive quote from an online supplier. The service department came back with a reasonable figure (about £200 more than online, but I figured let's go with it). Then the following day, I was contacted by another member of the same team who was apparently a from home worker with another quote which was £900 dearer. Then there was the debacle of them quoting me £3500+ to completely replace the HVAC controls. The reason? - Because a small plastic insert had dropped off one of the rotary controls (which unbeknownst to them was something I had kept in the glovebox and simply glued back on).

It was after these two things happened on top of their inability to repair the retaining pins on the discs which I outlined in the OP that I decided I would look for alternatives and thankfully found Autoficcina.

I'm just clearly no longer in the H.R.Owen target customer bubble, which is fine by me.

 

[CPA]

Doesn't surprise me, would be worth checking the history to see when the brake fluid was last claimed to have been changed.

I had similar at my local Porsche dealer - they were the last people to allegedly change the fluid, and two years later claimed they couldn't do it as the nipples were rounded off. So either they damaged them, or didn't replace the fluid two years before as they were already damaged!

Indeed, I had serious problems when I had a 2 year old 993 a long time ago with a major dealer network.

Let's be blunt, main dealers have a habit of taking the piss out of owners of high calibre cars simply because 90% of their customers will be writing the costs off in their tax return, or the car is leased or an employee perk. Once these gems are depreciated and aged and now in the hands of private customers, the model no longer makes financial sense.

I've got the history, but to be honest I'm done with them and moved on now and cannot be bothered with the hassle of trying to get them to admit any liability, which I doubt very much they will without taking up a lot of my time.

Besides, I'm far too busy enjoying my FF which is running as good as new thanks to me realising the benefits of using an independent.

 

[Silver360]

The brake caliper nipple thingy …..Macan FPSH taken it back every yr for the last 10 . It’s got brake fluid changes stamped in the book ( and shown on invoices )

Went to do it myself to find the inner fronts and rear s movable , but the front outers ceased . Tried heat , various freeing agents no luck . They looked proper “ welded “ by corrosion.
Snapped them off , fortunately no leaks as they didn’t budge . Thought about drilling , re tapping etc etc but it’s steel into alloy and there’s a taper lock / seal .

In the end fitted new calipers @£400 each .

But the nipples shouldn’t have been ceased in the first place if they were regularly moved ! Argh !

 

[Silver360]

Just to add both my Ferraris , the 348 and 208GT 4 have easily movable nipples .
Indeed the 348 was maintained by Autoficcina previously several stamps and all 8 nipples moved .


Another shout out to Autoficcina .

 

[CPA]

Now if only I could learn to spell their name properly.....Autofficina

 

[Silver360]

Yeh it’s 2 F s and 1 c .

I copied you
Zoom in on the plate .
Languages not my forte .

 

[CPA]

Yeh it’s 2 F s and 1 c .

I copied you View attachment 160700
Zoom in on the plate .
Languages not my forte .

Lovely car