Why are 308 ignition wires so expensive?

Not sure what wires you are after Dennis, but maybe this will help.

http://www.superformance.co.uk/a-308/ignition.htm

 

Dennis,

Here are some great wires: www.magnecor.com

Last I checked, a set for a 2Vi was only $149 USD, and they are very high quality, not gimmicky.

Cheers,

Tony

 

Go to the search function , there should be a lot of posts on this topic. Should be able to get a good set for $50 to $100. Good luck.

 

go with these

plenty of posts on how to make them look OEM with modern performance.
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Some Ferrari dealers sell Cavis (OEM) wires in bulk. You cut to length and install the red sheath and connectors yourself. You'll save oodles of dollars!

 

Dennis is obviously talking about original cavis plug wires. They're expensive, but they're also very good too. A new set of cavis wires and oem extenders will clear up any arcing/grounding problems between the distributor and plugs.

 

The oodles you save might cost later in intermittent connections.
Wire preparation and connector fastening comes in various flavors, some are very difficult for a novice to get reliable and to the exact lengths. If you have never done it before, it is wise to get extras for practice.

 

Same as the reason lots of Ferrari parts are so expensive.....



DDT



(Dancing Donkey Tax)

 

Because the sum total of the parts has to exceed the cost of the vehicle

 

For a 308, all you need is about $30.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39303&highlight=spark+plug+wires+dummies

(Note: Not sure if this will work for a QV)

 

Dave Helms...Dave Helms, Get the wires from Dave Helms

 

The Accel wires and the original Cavis wires have a super thin inner element that makes it tough to get a positive connection at the cap end, even when bending the wire over. What i liked about the Taylor spirocore is that the center core is really meaty and hard not to get a positive connection at the cap, esp when bending the wire back.

Not quite OEM, but you can get a close look

- carefully trim end of Taylor wires off with sharp exacto
- slip old boot (from your cavis wires) on the end of the new wire
- for the dizzy end of the wire, trim a little of the red sheath off, and fold inner wire back (8mm wires are a tight fit vs the 7mm OEM)
- use brakecleaner to remove white lettering on wire.
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I went through this last winter, when I serviced my QV and wanted to change the wires. My wires at the time were the original set. A replacement OEM set seemed like a lot in the $400 range. I could have had new wires made from one of the other brands for about $225, or make them up myself for about $125-$150.

I don't track the car or have any other special needs except enjoying it, and the stock/OEM wires would install without having the deal with building and crimping ends and having non standard looking boots or caps.

At $400-$450 for a new set of OEM wires, that averaged to only about $15-$17 per year for the life of the car. The wires don't get changed often. So in the scope of the cost of all the other belts/tensioners/seals/gaskets I needed for the service, the cost didn't seem like something to loose sleep over.

Every time I open the engine cover, I LOVE the fact that I bought new OEM wires. They look great, perform great, and doing business with Daniel is always a pleasure.

Phil

 

Yep, QV wires are 295.00 GBP, which, at current exchange rates is about $457.25 USD.

It amazes me how expensive these wire sets are. When I had my Mondial QV, I bought a set of Magnacor wires for the car that ended up costing around $250. They were great, 8mm, and fit perfectly. The only problem with them was that the caps for the spark plug holes fit too perfectly, so they sealed completely. When the engine got hot, some of them would pop off, causing the wire to disconnect from the spark plug extension. I had to punch a tiny hole in each cap to allow them to "breath" to keep them from popping out of the holes. Otherwise, they were outstanding performance.

 

Taylor Spirocore wires are $60 from summit racing.

 

I've never had a problem making my own wire sets.

Ditto though, practice before you leap!

 

Every time I open the engine cover, I LOVE the fact that I bought new OEM wires. They look great, perform great, and doing business with Daniel is always a pleasure.

Phil[/QUOTE]

So does Daniel.

 

"When the engine got hot, some of them would pop off,"

Are you sure there isn't some combustion leakage past the spark plugs? Can't imagine that the air in the tunnel/heat involved could actually generate sufficient pressure to pop off a spark plug wire.

 

+1 for Taylor wires. They are fantastic, but indeed are a pain to trim and fit.

 

Everyone here lives in a world where perceived normalcy doesn't apply. From belt change intervals and parts availability and prices on the one side, to the other side where we are associated with an exclusive brand where you won't pass another car like it on the road for miles and that the drive makes you grin ear to ear.

People put money into the things that are important to them, you've done it, so have I and so has everyone else here.

And we all love it, and we all stay, and we all report back here after doing this and that to express how much fun the drive was.

The alternatives are far less endearing than the cost of a set of wires every 20 years.

Phil

 

Nice job Geno.

 

+1

Whenever somebody begins to lament the cost of Ferrari parts, I remind them....There is ferrari, and then there is everything else. Unfortunately, there is a price to be paid for the privilege of owning such a rare bird.


If it makes the OP feel better, after watching enough episodes of "Intervention", owning an old Ferrari is probably no more expensive than a nice solid Crystal Meth Addiction. However, it is just as intoxicating, your teeth won't fall out, you get to keep your family,you PROBABLY won't blow up the house working on it in the garage, and people actually wave when you drive by.

This is what I tell my wife when the big bills come









..........it seldom works.

 

I just find it challenging to seek out the right parts at a competitive price. I don't object to Ferrari parts I only don't agree on the parts. Being retired I have time to source parts on different web sites . An example would be me procuring a OEM clutch/PP and throw out bearing for $200. Or getting a set of OEM 2V wires for $50. It's just the thrill of the hunt I guess. I guess the plus side is you're helping to support the economy.