MajorCommonTransmission

Ferrari F355: F1 paddle-shift — the first of its kind, and a clutch that can be finished in 2,500 km

F1 paddle-shift — the first of its kind, and a clutch that can be finished in 2,500 km is a common transmission fault on the Ferrari F355 on the 1997–1999 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $5,000 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 6 documented faults on the Ferrari F355.

Vehicle: Ferrari F355
Years: 1997–1999
Fuel: petrol
System: Transmission

This page covers the Ferrari F355 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ferrari F355 faults6 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The F355 F1 of 1997 was the first road car with Ferrari's paddle-shift automated manual, and the system is fragile by later standards: the clutch can be wiped out in 2,500 km of paddle-shift abuse, the hydraulic actuator fails and costs a great deal from Ferrari, and the F1 pump is a known weak point that specialists rebuild or upgrade. Most 355s are manuals and the gated shift is part of why people want one; an F1 car is rarer and needs its hydraulics and clutch treated as consumables. The gearbox itself, manual or F1, can also rattle from the clutch housing on switch-off, which is the flywheel wanting attention.

What you would notice

Jerky take-off or a pause before the clutch engages
F1 pump running on or cycling constantly at idle
Gearbox warning or F1 fault light
Rattle from the clutch housing area when the engine is switched off
No record of F1 pump or actuator work

How to check it

Where to look. Clutch and flywheel between engine and gearbox; F1 pump and actuator on the gearbox at the rear

On an F1 car, sit at idle with the stereo off and listen behind you for the pump running on or cycling every few seconds. Pull away from rest a dozen times feeling for judder or delay, and shift through every gear once hot. Ask whether the clutch, actuator or pump have been replaced or rebuilt and for the invoices, and whether a clutch wear reading was taken at the last service. On any 355, listen when the engine is switched off for a rattle from the clutch housing.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$5,000 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the F1 pump, actuator or clutch been replaced or rebuilt?”
“Is there a clutch wear reading from the last service?”
“Does anything rattle when the engine is switched off?”

Now check the Ferrari F355 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Classic & Sports Car — 'Ferrari F355 buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look for'
Jalopnik — 'Here's Why You Should Never Buy A Ferrari F355'
Collecting Cars — Ferrari F355 Buyers Guide

Ferrari F355 buyer questions

Is f1 paddle-shift — the first of its kind, and a clutch that can be finished in 2,500 km serious on a Ferrari F355?

We rate it major and common on the Ferrari F355. The F355 F1 of 1997 was the first road car with Ferrari's paddle-shift automated manual, and the system is fragile by later standards: the clutch can be wiped out in 2,500 km of paddle-shift abuse, the hydraulic actuator fails and costs a great deal from Ferrari, and the F1 pump is a known weak point that specialists rebuild or upgrade. Most 355s are manuals and the gated shift is part of why people want one; an F1 car is rarer and needs its hydraulics and clutch treated as consumables. The gearbox itself, manual or F1, can also rattle from the clutch housing on switch-off, which is the flywheel wanting attention.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari F355?

$5,000 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ferrari F355 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1997–1999 Ferrari F355. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.