Alfa 4C Coupe

[TurboLlew]

The Alfa is back from quite a large service

Changed brake fluid from RBF660 to RBF700
Changed transmission oil (Liqui Moly) & did clutch recalibration
Replaced the solenoid that controls the exhaust flaps in the various modes (was stuck open)
Removed the front lip that was a bit battered and bruised
Coolant flush & Refill with Motul + Mo Cool
New NGK Iridium spark plugs
Clean & Oil BMC filter element
Replaced PCV Gasket
Replaced Air Oil Separator diaphragm

Car feels like new, with the transmission service being particularly noticeable. Autopitstop did an extensive check of the car from front to back. Fortunately, the suspension and rubber components are in very good shape still. I will be doing a GMS (Gale Motorsports) engine mount in the coming months on this car, since this is the only component that showed some signs of wear (not requiring replacement just yet but it's the 'next' due item). I had already done an upgraded gearbox mount a few years ago which was one of the must-haves for track duty.

On a very different note, my Android head unit can no longer access the play store. This is not yet an issue, but I suspect I am an update or two away from things like my wireless carplay ceasing to work.

While I don't miss the front splitter, I will be doing the Novitec front spoiler since I think it will go nicely with the wheels and make it that bit more aggressive.

Even with all the track duty and breakfast runs, incredibly I am still on my original factory rotors and factory brake pads (probably due to change now due to age). These are some of the benefits of owning a truly light car. You are not using heft and technology to fight the laws of physics. My plan here was to switch to Vari



I had emailed them all the way back in 2021 thinking I'd 'need brakes soon' but here we are shame they probably thought I'd ghosted them They havethe specs and drawings for a 4C so when the time comes it will be a quick exercise at least. With the wheels and semis putting more heat/stress into the braking system, I think that time will come sooner rather than later. Let's see

 

[TurboLlew]

Inspired by @Lesiba 's coverage in his thread, here is the 4C one: I may have missed some items but nothing major.

2020​			30 702,13
Item	Labour	Parts	Total	Notes
Oil Service Covered by Plan				This would have cost R4492,62
Brake Fluid not due but paid	1275​		1 275,00	This was a song and dance with Alfa since it was RBF660 & I refused the OEM Mopar fluid
Wheel balancing & Alignment	924​		924,00	This is random numbers from them over the years!
Mirror Glass (Carbon Mirror swap)		564,07​	564,07
Set of locking wheel bolts		482,91​	482,91
Total Ex Vat			3 245,98
Total			3 732,88
Tyre Change to Cup 2s
Fit tyres	1700​		1 700,00
			-
Powerflex gearbox mount	425​		425,00	They were happy to do this
Fit BMC Air Filter Element	170​		170,00	Not so happy to do this. The stock paper filter element is over R1K from them
Total Ex Vat			2 295,00
Total			2 639,25
Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect		17080​	17 080,00	Kyalami Supa Quick
Carbon Mirror Caps			7 250,00	Squadra Sportiva

2021​			11 250,00
Item	Labour	Parts	Total	Notes
Sealing gasket		243,09​		I wanted this changed preventatively
Oil Service				60000km done at 9000km
Cambelt service			11 250,00	Major back and forth with dealer on missing bolts and misaligned panel. Rear quarter and bootlid is removed for this job. Was rectified. They also claimed that the cambelt service was done already before the car was sold to me. I didn't believe it. I paid out of pocket
Spark Plugs (LOL)				Spark plugs were not changed. Surprise surprise. I didn't realise til 2026 (20000km)

2022​			5 448,67
Item	Labour	Parts	Total	Notes
Oil Service	1387,5​	2887,97​	4 275,47
Wheel balancing & Alignment	462,5​		462,50
Total Ex Vat			4 737,97
Total			5 448,67

2023​			14 290,36
Battery	0​	1290​	1 290,00	Replaced by AA
Service: Oil + Chassis Torque	5087,5​	3191,72​	8 279,22	This needs to be done by time or miles on carbon tub vehicles
Clutch Adaptations done	0​	0​	-	Warranty item
Windscreen chip repair	250,44​		250,44
Fitted Novitec downpipe (supplied)	2775​		2 775,00	Song and dance here too
Total Ex Vat			11 304,66
Total			13 000,36

2024​			32 287,93	Car off plan
Item	Labour	Parts	Total	Notes
Autopitstop K Spec Software			4 347,82
Dyno time			347,83
Total Ex Vat			4 695,65
Total			5 400,00
Autopitstop
RBF660 Brake Fluid + Clutch	2086,96​	1880​	3 966,96
Intercooler Pipe Upgrade (SAMCO)	2504,35​		2 504,35
Resonator delete (Turbo Outlet)		2242​	2 242,00
GFB DV+ Supply & Fit	800​	3967,5​	4 767,50
			13 480,81
			15 502,93
Import Parts SAMCO Boost Pipes	11385​		11 385,00	Reliability Mod

2025​			45 129,95
Item	Labour	Parts	Total	Notes
Dealer Service + Chassis Torque	4750​	4 888,00	9 638,00	Lots of fun and games. Insisted on giving me the element and doing the bolt torque despite it being done already or else they couldn't stamp the book, which is literally the only reason to go here
Wheel balancing & alignment	475​		475,00	Again, lucky packet price
Total Ex Vat			10 113,00
Total			11 629,95
RE71RS fitted			13 500,00	Est
Rennzport Wheels			40 000,00	Est
Offset Selling OEM Wheels			- 20 000,00
			33 500,00

2026​			20 249,20
Item	Labour	Parts	Total	Notes
Spark Plugs
PCV Gasket
Air Oil Seperator Diaphragm
Full Fluid Flush & change incl. Transmission Oil service				Liqui Moly on Transmission, Motul on everything else
Switch to RBF700 (Flush + Fill)			20 249,20

 

[TurboLlew]

Overall costs per year average ~R23K for me (~1 month of a car payments at current values for everything except fuel).

This includes my fights with Alfa to have things done over the years, some stupidity on their part and also things like the need to change my P Zeros almost immediately due to being absolute trash.

It also includes all the mods, software, preventative work, cosmetics and the forged rims (and tyre change for that) so not exactly 'just maintenance' but its a realistic idea I guess of what it would cost to run one. The growth in value on these makes keeping one in good shape well worth it, if only to maintain its condition and value.

It may seem odd to be willing to pay for such exorbitant oil while doing such low mileage or being so fussy about preventatively changing certain items, but like every performance car out there, it is cheap and cheerful to maintain until it is not. Repair costs dwarf maintenance costs by orders of magnitude. Such is the fight on the cambelts, that those who YOLO or believe it have been saddled with R100K+ bills to rectify illicit relationships forming between valve train and pistons. I will gladly pay R10K for a cambelt service knowing I have a new water pump and I can avoid the drama.

Because of the song and dance of them not wanting to do it under plan, I was especially sure to check and double check this particular item was done properly. I found it very difficult to believe that they did a cambelt service before delivery on 'all the 4Cs' despite there being no documentation that the dealer could produce (at least for mine). Despite this I still had to take it back for a loose bootlid and misaligned panel. This is that extra TLC and attention to detail that you get going to a place like Autopitstop.