Looking at used Lamborghini Gallardos and have a question about service. How much of the service can be done in my own garage?

A little backround - I currently have a Mazda RX-8 and have done all of the service for the last 3 year but there have not been any major problems. I have changed all the fluids - engine, trans and diff oil, radiator fluid, did a full brake job (although a friend helped bleed the line), changed ignition coils, spark plugs and leads. Did the shocks/struts on my previous car too. So pretty much all the basic stuff.

So how much could I do myself vs taking to the dealer? Is there any additional stuff I would need to perform on the car that I could not do myself. I have never worked on the inside of an engine. Does this car require internal work like valve adjustment? I have read that the clutch is a biggie but I could do that one myself assuming that there is nothing special about it.

Also, I would go with a traditional 6 speed, won't consider the Flappy paddles. I have seen that that helps with the service. I would plan to put a decent amount of miles on it maybe 5,000 a year.

Thanks for the advice.

 

I will let a more experienced person chime in with a direct answer.

However let me get this straight, you are upgrading from an RX-8 to a Gallardo? That is quite the jump in my opinion.

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*A dream is fictional, a goal is possible*

I do all my own wrenching but have had Carlo at Fiat of Tacoma adjust the intake. I think the Diablo is much easier to work on than the newer cars but then again I have never looked into it. Good luck and keep us posted on the purchase.

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95 Diablo VT

lots of computers even if u go stick on the minus side....on the plus, the maintenance is very low for an exotic....by 06 the "bugs" seemed to have gotten out. post pics when u purchase.

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when you're dead, you're dead for a LONG time

The computers are no different than on any other modern car IMHO. egear is where you really need a computer and can lead to expensive failures. Lamboweb.com has good info on the basic service stuff. I plan on servicing my own clutch on my 04 Gallardo. Haven't seen anyone DIY it yet, but based on the service manual it looks straight forward and the fact that the tranny is hanging out the back of the car makes it much more accessible for those of us without a lift. Car has hydraulic lifters so no adjustments needed. No timing belts to worry about either.

I'd say the Gallardo is much easier to work on than say a modern 3 series if that helps for reference. Most things are surprisingly simple to access, and most of the consumables can be found for quite cheap if you know where to look.

> How much of the service can be done in my own garage?

Judging from your description you should be able to perform
more or less the same tasks on a Gallardo. (You could get a
workshop manual to begin with, to get a better idea.)

For scheduled maintenance the Gallardo isn't really worse or
better than other modern cars. It has a few kinks (stuff you
need to do the exact right way, or it gets hard), and there is
of course the occasional big problem/breakdown/etc.

You still want to have a good relationship with a Lambo shop
for those times when you need advise, or "big help" -- some
of them are easy-going; others are not. It varies.

Ask yourself a few questions though. Will you save money on
parts? What's the price of Lambo shop hours vs your time? Is
a future buyer of your car gonna care about who did it?

> I have read that the clutch is a biggie but I could do that
> one myself assuming that there is nothing special about it.

You can change a clutch yourself.

However, if it's an Egear clutch, then you will need the Lambo
diagnostics laptop in process. And no, not just the cheaper

http://www.lambostuff.com/xq/asp/qx/LDASFunctions.asp

but the more expensive

http://www.lambostuff.com/xq/asp/qx/...-Functions.asp

> Also, I would go with a traditional 6 speed, won't consider
> the Flappy paddles.

To each his own.

> I have seen that that helps with the service.

Clutch life is highly dependent on how you drive it, regardless
of whether its manual or Egear. (I have seen "high" and "low"
cases for both of them.)

> I would plan to put a decent amount of miles on it maybe
> 5,000 a year.

Hehe, that would last me less than 6 months... :-)

> However let me get this straight, you are upgrading from an RX-8 to a
> Gallardo? That is quite the jump in my opinion.

Hehe, I went the same route -- RX-8 to G SL. (I still have the RX-8, btw.)

The RX-8 feels lighter and a tad more nimble, but also less planted on the
road and yes, even more underpowered than ever before. No surprise, of
course. I still like driving it; in fact, I enjoy comparing the experiences on
the same roads.

I bought the RX-8 over a 350Z, S2000, G35, etc. for various reasons. And,
back then, said to myself that some day I'd like to have ~2x the power --
which the G eventually provided me with. I didn't feel a need for a step in
between the two.

In short: IMO the RX-8 to G route is fine. :-)

Interesting, I guess I stand corrected. Kudos to both of you for making the jump to a Gallardo without having to waste money in between!

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*A dream is fictional, a goal is possible*

I still have my RX-7 except that with being stripped out and having 550WHP it's definitely not underpowered, to the point that I want to sell it but no one wants to buy it, even at 1/3rd what I put into it...

Anybody wants a track monster?

My Gallardo is pretty easy to work on as long as you have the manual, changing plugs was a pain though, on the left bank as you have to remove the engine support, but if you are mechanically inclined, not to bad...I wouldnt be afraid of doing your own work.