Ferrari 458 - Uneven Front Hood Gap | FerrariChat

Ferrari 458 - Uneven Front Hood Gap

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by Oski1, Jul 25, 2018.

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  1. Oski1

    Oski1 Rookie

    Jul 9, 2018
    3
    Full Name:
    Tom Dorchester
    #1 Oski1, Jul 25, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2018
    Hi everyone,

    I recently purchased a 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia with 13k miles. The car was purchased from a local Ferrari dealership and has only had one owner. The dealership said they gave the car a full proctology exam, which came up clean. As part of the deal, the car was certified and given a new 12mo power warranty. No crash history reported; clean carfax, etc..

    The front bumper tow hook cover is missing, showing that it has been used. The dealer said that the prior owner (a well known personality, apparently) would have the dealership put the car on a flatbed for servicing versus driving it into the dealership himself. I certainly do not take the dealership stories at face value and viewed the missing tow hook cover as somewhat ominous (perhaps the prior owner got 'stuck' or was in a minor crash, either may have required towing). Is it typical for dealerships to tow clients' cars to the dealership, using a tow hook on a flatbed?

    All that said, I recently noticed that the front side of the front hood is not settling flush into the front bumper when closed. It slopes upward gently from one side to the other (one side is flush with the front bumper, one side is elevated above the front bumper line). I bought the car without noticing this issue, so it's not hugely obvious. Now, when I look at the front end of the car, I cannot help but notice it. Is this sort of "unevenness" common? Is it likely a symptom of something else?

    One other item to note - the prior owner installed a built-in radar detection system. It's the sort that has radar detectors installed in the front/rear bumpers. Obviously, one thought is that whoever installed this system did not do a great job of reinstalling the bumper.

    I will post pictures early next week but am traveling at the moment. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
     
  2. jamie140

    jamie140 F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 17, 2004
    3,191
    GTA/Marco Island, fl
    Full Name:
    Jamie
    I sold my 458 spider in anticipation of getting my 488 ON 1JUNE!! (but that's another story) so I can't go out to the garage and check.

    However, most frunk hoods have rubber adjustable grommets on each side that screw in and out to even the gap. Maybe it's just that. Have a look.
     
  3. docf

    docf Formula 3

    Sep 14, 2008
    1,351
    Florida
    Full Name:
    Gary
    Take the car to a Body Shop that Specializes in Ferrari Repair. There you will find answers to gaps, hidden repairs etc. that may have been done! Usually the gaps in the 458 Italia are fairly concise. Spiders are at times a little less due to adjustments that must be made for the top.
     
    Melvok likes this.
  4. legendd

    legendd Karting

    Jun 25, 2011
    187
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Moshe levy
    My dealer offered me several time to flat bed the car and send it to me if I wanted (I declined) but I don't see why they will need to use the hook if they could simply drive it up to the flat bed (although, maybe it's required to secure the car, have no idea and never done this)
    So this is a common thing.
    Secondly, I would suspect that the Gap is indeed due to the installer not putting the bumper back correctly so if this is the case it should be an easy fix.
    I don't think the dealership will lie about the car not being in a crash because if they knew and lied they will be held liable in court.
    I would just have someone look at it and not worry or simply drive to the dealer and have them fix it


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  5. iloveferrari

    iloveferrari Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2014
    1,754
    USA
    I have seen some unevenness on gaps of different cars before. I was told that because it's hand made. I do believe that no tow hook is needed for flat bed at all.
     
    Fred Daniali likes this.
  6. Ski Bum

    Ski Bum Formula 3

    Jun 19, 2012
    1,088
    My Ferrari dealer regularly picks up my cars for service by flatbed, even if the car is driveable. The tow hook is NOT used for getting it on a flatbed.
     
  7. Oski1

    Oski1 Rookie

    Jul 9, 2018
    3
    Full Name:
    Tom Dorchester
  8. AClark

    AClark Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 22, 2017
    315
    USA
    FWIW because you asked

    I’ve seen several tow trucks use the tollway to winch the car up onto the flatbed then securing the car by the wheels leaving the cable attached to the tow hook as a safety measure.

    With that said, I have also had many a front bumper removed and reinstalled as part of an escort 9500 CI install, so this also may be part of the equation.

    From the photos you provided, it should be an easy enough adjustment for the dealership to make.

    Good luck and enjoy your new Ferrari in good health !
     
  9. 338Lapua

    338Lapua Formula Junior

    Sep 5, 2015
    802
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Tony
    As Ski Bum said, when the dealer picks up my 458 for service they do not use the tow hook. When I had my 430, they did use the tow hook because the car could be put into neutral with the engine off. The gaps can be corrected without issue.
     
  10. Oski1

    Oski1 Rookie

    Jul 9, 2018
    3
    Full Name:
    Tom Dorchester
    Thanks everyone!
     
  11. Ash Patel

    Ash Patel Formula Junior

    Dec 12, 2015
    536
    Stockholm, Sweden
    The pics you provided is indeed the same issue I had with my first 458 and was told by the dealer that it's hand built and I need to accept this :)
    The did some adjustment but I was still not happy.


    View attachment 1223937
     

    Attached Files:

  12. KBR54

    KBR54 Karting
    Owner

    Sep 23, 2017
    154
    Sylvan Lake Alberta Canada
    Full Name:
    David Garratt
  13. iloveferrari

    iloveferrari Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 14, 2014
    1,754
    USA
    Too true. As long as there is no history with the car, and your dealer tries making it nicer, just forget about it and drive, because otherwise, you will soon find defect in paint as well! Lol.
     
    Tamahal likes this.
  14. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 6, 2003
    24,957
    Las Vegas, NV
    Full Name:
    Ryan Alexander
    Starting with the 360, the panels were pre-stamped in aluminum by Alcoa. There should be very little excuse for ill fitment. That said I have seen more 488s with an off fit on the nose panels than 458, especially in the center where that bridge piece comes up to the front bumper.
     
  15. Fred Daniali

    Fred Daniali Karting

    Jul 23, 2019
    123
    Chino Hills California
    Full Name:
    Fred Daniali
    This is true. When I bought my 458 Spider, my father in law was making a big deal about some panel gapping in the front not being perfect and insisted that the car was in an accident... he also made a big fat deal about the overspray on the brembo brake caliper bleed screws and I had to break his heart and tell him that they these parts are powder coated when fully assembled at which time he compared it to a california that was next to mine and found the same to be true... it is coach built and not a production car... which sometimes means that fit and finish are not production line perfect. These panels however can be adjusted if you are that anal about it. My wife's 2017 BMW 650i convertible had the same issues.
     
  16. Coincid

    Coincid F1 Rookie

    Dec 9, 2014
    3,577
    Canada
    Ferrari is not a small company in terms of market cap. It is the same size as BMW and larger than Tesla
    and Ford.
     
  17. sprinter

    sprinter Rookie

    Feb 13, 2014
    17
    Cincinnati, ohio
    Full Name:
    David J. Hall
    It's a Ferrari. What would you expect?
     
  18. Randyslovis

    Randyslovis Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2011
    897
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Randall J Slovis
    First, there is no excuse for Ferrari's poor paint work/fit-finish on their cars. We all have it or have seen it.
    When I did the factory tour, their was a 458 in the final assembly area about to be driven off. The Ferrari "quality inspector" (?) was adjusting the rear deck of a spider. He was using the time tested Italian artisan technique of literally using all his upper body strength to jump up and down on it! I believe he got it to close.
    Next, I was thrilled that my spider had even leather buttress covers when roof in down position. At my dealer prior to taking delivery of mine, there were several where one side had as much as 10 mm of air space where cover met interior trim and the other flush.
    My buddy has a Speciale and uses lift at his house for all his cars. He noticed that when the car was elevated you could see that the rocker was not flush with the bottom of the door. The door overhangs the rocker to the point that you can put your finger between them.
    Lastly, I had 360s and 430s with likely port damage that FNA fixed. Poorly I might add. Paint runs and overspray being the telltales of their work. So, it could have been fixed post manufacture but pre-delivery so no report of damage.
    Lastly, look under the frunk lid. If it has the yellow PPG paint code then likely the original part. I doubt someone would have gone to the trouble of getting a new sticker - assuming they are available - and was careless with the reassembly.
    Net: this may not be an accident, but just another case of Ferrari craftsmanship.
    Best
     
    of2worlds likes this.

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