So an update to the 599 thread and ownership experience.
As many of you know my life was interrupted by a serious health 'holiday' that meant that my Ferrari's didn't get their regular exercise for a while.
Even though the 599 (taxed year round) is used more than the F430 its airconditioning compressor has just failed at 33,000 miles.
The car has been used for a lot of foreign trips and hence its Air Con has been worked hard - still the compressor failure is more likely (in part) due to its fairly recent lay-up.
Having said that the 599 A/C design and parts were always on the limit in hotter climes due to: the intense heat a big V12 generates, the rake of the windscreen and also my car being black adds to the load.
Of note is there is a new part number now [OLD parts 227531 and 241559] have both been superseded by 263176 which is the GTO fitment and is an upgraded and later Delphi unit.
The even better news is that the RRP of this newer part is significantly less (via eurospares) at £500 instead of £900. Of course re-furbishment of the failed item is another no doubt cheaper option but I don't want my old standard part to be on the car when an upgrade is possible - refurbed or not.
[Bang goes that classiche status eh?]
I am planning to take off to Italy as soon as we are 'allowed' - even though my employment status allows me to travel freely and not be asked where I am going - my other half has to wait.
Hence the car is in stratstone now waiting for the new compressor.
Of note when it comes to cabin temperature and load on the A/C system there is now also a new windscreen option with better thermal reflection [part number 81716600] so if you are running a 599 and the screen goes this newer part should be the preferred replacement. It will lighten the overall load for the aircon in hotter places. Adds £300 to the bill but whether insurance covers it or not I would personally insist on the upgrade.
Will let you all know how it goes when I get it back and on the road to the sun.
Last edited by Modificato; 13-05-2021 at 12:59 PM.
Interesting. I also have a leaking compressor on my 355 that will get fixed later this year and have the same "issue" on price. That's a lot of money for an Italian to take a compressor out of one box and into a another that is yellow with little black horses on it.
If you can find the manufacturers code, I'm sure you can get it for even less at euocarparts or somewhere similar.![]()
Yeah understand 100% and sought to do that but the visible part number is exclusive to Maserati and Ferrari only.
It is even more expensive in a blue box.
Unless we can fine a helpful Delphi employee at short notice its a bit of a cul-de-sac I am in.
Remember also the price Ferrari pays for its spares is what they can negotiate amortised over the volume of their cars - which is not very much at all.
So when the maker puts it into a yellow box they are charging significantly more to make it worth their while to even supply Ferrari...
Some strategic partners are happy to sell parts to Ferrari at a loss for the halo effect - many are not.
Auto aircon parts have supplied me with two compressors in the past.
One for my 430 cost £270.95 inc vat and postage. ( out right cost no exchange )
They have 355 listed on their site.
Last edited by phillg; 14-05-2021 at 10:40 AM.
Spider,or coupe? Just get one of each.
Yes the F430 part is a Denso part so quite a bit cheaper
So car is back now just in time for summer - aircon system now has a better efficiency with the new compressor but the U.K. weather won’t test that much. Hoping for some epic trips now as we haven’t been to Italy since last summer and need to get to the farm to see how things are.
Watch this space
That's looking well Mod, Traffic Centre to boot! That's brave (shopping) in any carDespite living barely 15-20 minutes from the Trafford centre I do not remember when I last went.
That looks great.