NOVITEC N-TRONIC ECU UPGRADE FOR FERRARI 488 GTB, SPIDER 2015-2019

OT: What kind of bumper and sideskirts do you have?

 

Cons of a ECU tune ;zero zilch Ferrari warranty...no matter what a dealer or tuner will tell you...the warranty is with Ferrari USA and they will void your warranty or you will not be able to get Ferrari extended warranty.
Pros of a ECU tune; more power

Just do you research on tried and true ECU tunes...to really take notice of a tune you will need to do downpipes, 200 cell or no cats and have it done by someone that can tune for these mods that has proof of power and reliability.

Your blue looks electric!

 

I have a 488 that is under warranty and was concerned about this. Thus I decided on the Novitec vs a ECU tune due to the fact that the Novitec is a piggyback system which leaves no fingerprint on the ECU and can be easily removed in 2 hours, so remove it before taking the car in for warranty work and you are good.

FYI, the car is a beast with the tune activated. It is a big difference in how the car performs

 

1. Even more power than you are going to ever use on the street, but can you ever really have too much?
2. a. Warranty extension is 110% worth it New Power Warranty is 75% worth it
the addition will make it so that items covered under said warranty could be null / void, the added hassle forcing the shop to prove they may already know, only to have the owner have to pay for said diagnosis is a PITA for all parties involved.
b. If / When FNA were to find out about the flash, they would flag your VIN, forcing teh repair shop to jump through all sorts of hoops, even if it doesn't relate.

FWIW, and this is my personal experience only.

1. Even if you remove said piggy back system, the stored codes / faults may ( will ) indicate performance outside of factory parameters. This is a dead giveaway of aftermarket bits being in place or had been in place.
2. For pretty much my entire career, I have asked owners, club members, friends, to be honest with me up front. To tell me what's on the car, so that I don't waste a bunch of time ( Your , the technicians, mine ) finding out. That way I can be fair with you and it makes it easier for all involved. If you don't and I find out, I am going to charge you double.

Its not fair to try and F over the manufacturer anymore than it is for them to do it to you ( assuming its not caused by the add on you installed ) I have fought the manufacturer more times than I can remember, for the client, and won!
Not to derail this thread, but I had a client who TOLD me he missed a shift and over revved the engine causing the rod knock. The manufacture came in and immediately said it was because the ECU has been flashed, warranty repair denied. The client took it to court to force them to prove the ECU was the cause, which it wasn't, and they lost... bough the car back, paid legal fees, plus plus plus... all because they blamed something that wasn't the cause and were too proud to ASK what happened. The regional rep STILL doesn't like me...

Back on topic...

Turbos may become a weak point on the 488 ... oil leaks already are... so be careful and if you can, add the warranty extension for the 4th and or 5th year whenever possible... you will thank me when the oil leak is a covered repair vs out of your pocket.

Steve

 

Well, if some is good and more is better, way too much is just enough

Sent from my SM-G930F using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

.

Back on topic...

Turbos may become a weak point on the 488 ... oil leaks already are... so be careful and if you can, add the warranty extension for the 4th and or 5th year whenever possible... you will thank me when the oil leak is a covered repair vs out of your pocket.

Steve[/QUOTE]

Steve, you sound like you are a dealer, or own a repair shop, thus have great experience with 488's? What exactly is the oil leak you mention and when does it typically show up? Is it all years 488's?

Thanks!

 

My suggestion would be to have any TTV8 engine inspected for oil leaks. ( back cover, head gaskets, valve cover gaskets, etc ) before the initial 3 year factory warranty has expired. THEN, given the opportunity, then again in the 4th or 5th year warranty extension period. Do ALL cars have oil leaks, no. I can say that I have at least one vehicle in the shop at any given time having an engine out oil leak being addressed. I have seen them on 300 mile 1 year old engines as well as 9,000 mile 3 year old engines. No rhyme or reason , but they are leaking, and anyone who pays attention will see the leak early enough to have it addressed under factory warranty. Its not a repair you want to pay for out of warranty.

Owners have the option of purchasing 4th and/or 5th year warranty EXTENSION , I suggest they do it for the oil leak alone.
New Power Warranty should cover head gasket leaks only ( not valve cover or rear covers ) You cannot purchase the warranty from Ferrari after the leak is found, so be proactive whenever possible....

Steve

 

Safe4Now, when I got my 2019 488 part of the current special was it was certified and came with a Ferrari e tended 2yr warranty....so my cars in service date of October 2018 would mean my factory warranty ends October 2021 then 2 more years on top of that.

This is the way I understood this but there is only 1 piece of paper I got from the Ferrari dealer about the extended Ferrari warranty with little info on it about coverage. So I’m lost on this...

 

Do you still have the installation instructions Im going t be installing on a friend would like to see the them.

 

Thanks for this post. I'll be using this as part of my buying process.

The novitec piggy back would you recommend? I plan on doing the tune, exhaust, novitec springs, and after market wheels. I'd like to have an amicable relationship with my dealer. Would any of these be an issue?


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

This would be a question for the Service Manager where you would be working with.

The its a piggy back system that when removed is a farce, I can state first hand that the Dealership as well as Ferrari FNA / SpA know. If they chose not to look is up to them.

Once you get caught trying to lie / pull one over on them, the car and owner may be forever flagged… resulting in increased scrutiny from here on out.

There is nothing wrong with making your Ferrari you own, just be up front about it. Clients of mine, tell me, and if something were to come up, we discuss it together, coming up with a mutually beneficial solution.


Steve

 

Sounds good. I'll be sure to have a chat with the service Mgr before I even buy the car.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat