575 (02-03) vs (04-05)

Terry will respond soon to this post I'm sure. I think the word "sucks" is very harsh. While I have only driven a 2004 with the handling package; I feel you would only see the difference if you were to track the car. Also, at some point in the production line, there was an improvement made that allowed for suspension upgrades by changing the ECUs. Anyway, Terry is really one of the experts in the area. Wait for his response. A while back there was a Ferrari published video that compared the 550 to the 575 in track times. The 575 only beat the 550 by only 2 seconds, and I think the 575 had the handling package. Not much of a difference.

 

Yeah, I can't wait to hear Terry's response...

-sbf

 

CC- The difference between 02-03 and 04-05 cars is mostly old wive's tales, but there were some detail differences. The initial reporting on roll and pitch instability came from the British press. For whatever reason, rough roads most likely, early UK 575Ms were fitted with a Shock Absorber ECU considerably softer than that fitted to Euro/US cars (183960 UK vs 201673 Eu/US). Instant complaints were heard in the UK and the interim fix was to replace the UK ECU with the rest of the world ECU, 201673.

201673 continued to be used on all ROW 575Ms, including those with FHP, until Assembly Number 52556 in November/December 2003. My Nov 2003, MY 2004, FHP 575M has 201673, so there is no problem with handling on any 2002-2004 575M fitted with this ECU, FHP or not. Old wive's tale for sure on ROW early 575Ms handling poorly.

For the UK 575Ms a permanent fix was made late in CY2002 with a new ECU, 197211, and its replacement, 201674, which may actually be a little stiffer than 201673. This ECU is marked as a Fiorano Handling Package ECU, even though it was never fitted to LHD FHP cars. I may try this one on my car and see if it offers any improvement.

As mentioned earlier, at Assembly 52556, Nov/Dec 2003, a steering position sensor was introduced. This required all new Motronic and Shock Absorber ECUs to take the steering inputs from the steering sensor and pass them to the shock absorbers for a little quicker reaction on stiffening the shocks during the initial stages of cornering. The ECU introduced for these 2004 models, 202954, was probably equivalent to 201673 in stiffness, with added provisions for the steering sensor inputs.

Interestingly, the 456 and 456M always had a steering position sensor. The 575M, however, was based on the 550's architecture, not the 456's, and did not initially have this sensor.

For the 2005 models, beginning with Assembly 55769, new front and rear shock absorbers were introduced, along with a new matching Shock Absorber ECU, 210577. At nearly the same time, an HGTC option was introduced with Shock Absorber ECU 210578, and this HGTC ECU provided much stiffer shock absorber control than previous ECUs.

The post-52556 Shock Absorber ECUs, including the HGTC version, will fit earlier cars, but because of the missing steering sensor input, will give a permanent suspension warning lamp.

I would not hesitate to buy a good 2002-2003 car, all of which provide excellent handling. If you want the one thing that will really improve feel on non-FHP cars, install the FHP Hydraulic Steering ECU, 175891. This applies to 550s and 456s, too. You will notice the difference immediately. Updating to FHP is covered in detail in other threads you can easily find.

Here is summary of the major changes for the LHD 575Ms. Need to add data for the RHD versions, too, in the near future, I guess.

Taz
Terry Phillips
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Terry -
The steering ECU is a 'plug & play' to a 550?
What difference would I feel from the std 550?
Does this really make a difference without shock absorber ECU upgrades as well?
TIA,
James

 

James- Affirmative. Plug and go. Here is the part fitted to both the 550 and 575M. The 550 and 575M use the same hydraulic steering box. You will notice the difference with less play, quicker turn-in, and better on-center feel. Works fine with no other shock, Shock ECU, or spring changes. Big improvement for ~$900, including installation, or you can do it yourself. ECU is left and below the steering column on 575Ms, assume the same for the 550.

Incidentally, for the 550, there was an FHP Shock Absorber ECU. Bit expensive, though. 575M Shock Absorber ECUs are in the $1,000-1300 range, way less than the ~$2500 for the 550 part. 550s used Bilstein shocks and 575Ms used Mannesmann-Sachs shocks, so likely no interchangeability between the two. My Shock ECU says "Sachs" on it. Yours may say "Bilstein".

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=206992

Taz
Terry Phillips