The Ferrari 296 Challenge is a race car, so its maintenance involves far more than a routine oil change. At approximately 9,000 km, my car required a major service, oil leak repairs, brake maintenance, replacement of the belts and tensioner, brake cooling components, wheel nuts, and several body parts.

The combined total of the two estimates came to AED 122,273.21 including VAT. Here is a detailed breakdown of where that money went.

Where I Service My Ferrari 296 Challenge

I have the car serviced at DEIZ AUTO GENERAL REPAIRING CO in Dubai.

Address: Showroom 2, Al Roumi Building, Port Saeed, Dubai, UAE Service advisor and estimator: Artem Yatskevich Telephone: +971 4 608 6808 Email: [email protected]

The repair order was opened in June 2026. The work was divided into two estimates: the main mechanical service and repair order, and a separate estimate covering bodywork, wheel refinishing, and windscreen installation.

Main Estimate: AED 118,493.21

The main estimate includes:

• labor — AED 19,845;
• parts and consumables — AED 93,005.68;
• subtotal before VAT — AED 112,850.68;
• 5% VAT — AED 5,642.53;
• total — AED 118,493.21.

The labor rate for most of the mechanical work was AED 490 per hour.

Major Service

The major service included replacing the engine oil, filters, brake fluid, and spark plugs. On this car, replacing the spark plugs requires removing components of the exhaust system and replacing the exhaust manifold gaskets.

The major service took seven labor hours and cost AED 3,430 in labor.

The main parts and consumables were:

• oil filter — AED 621.08;
• two five-liter containers of ROWE Hightec Racing Motor Oil SAE 5W-40 — AED 1,411.20;
• upgraded air filter kit — AED 2,250;
• six spark plugs — AED 1,200;
• four 0.5-liter bottles of PAGID Racing Brake Fluid RBF — AED 804.32;
• two exhaust manifold gaskets — AED 643.20;
• 12 exhaust system nuts — AED 307.20.

A substantial selection of plugs, washers, screws, seals, and gaskets was also required:

• one plug — AED 22;
• two plugs — AED 195;
• two washers — AED 44.10;
• two screws — AED 44;
• six O-rings — AED 270;
• four O-ring gaskets — AED 88;
• four O-rings — AED 64;
• eight sealing rings — AED 281.60;
• four gaskets — AED 186;
• two gaskets — AED 377.60;
• another two gaskets — AED 618;
• two ring seals — AED 1,305;
• four screws — AED 72.

Together with the oil, filters, spark plugs, brake fluid, and associated seals, the parts for this section came to AED 10,804.30.

Including labor, the major service totaled AED 14,234.30 before VAT.

Brakes: AED 28,515.98 Including Installation

Both the front and rear brake discs and pads were replaced. The estimate specifies a conversion to Girodisc iron brake rotors and GP40 Sprint Race brake pads.

Parts:

• Girodisc Ferrari 296 Challenge Front Iron Rotor Conversion — AED 9,494.94;
• Girodisc Ferrari 296/488 Challenge Evo Rear Iron Rotor Conversion — AED 9,070.70;
• GP40 Sprint Race front brake pads — AED 2,383.84;
• GP40 Sprint Race rear brake pads — AED 1,979.80;
• delivery of the brake components — AED 3,626.70.

The parts and delivery totaled AED 26,555.98.

Labor:

• replacement of the front brake discs and pads — AED 980;
• replacement of the rear brake discs and pads — AED 980.

The complete brake package therefore cost AED 28,515.98 before VAT.

Repairing the Engine Oil Leaks

The inspection revealed leaks from the engine oil tank and the engine oil pump.

Labor:

• repair of the engine oil tank leak, 2.75 hours — AED 1,347.50;
• repair of the engine oil pump leak, including removal and installation of the engine, 10 hours — AED 4,900.

The labor alone for repairing these two leaks came to AED 6,247.50.

Once the car had been dismantled, additional parts and consumables were required:

• two gaskets — AED 16;
• one O-ring — AED 126.40;
• sump filter — AED 132.80;
• 11 wavy washers — AED 88;
• one plug — AED 22;
• one washer — AED 9;
• one gasket — AED 36.80;
• two O-rings — AED 28;
• four O-ring gaskets — AED 72;
• one O-ring — AED 103.50;
• oil recovery filter — AED 286.50;
• two bolts — AED 44;
• two washers — AED 22;
• check valve — AED 576;
• two individual O-rings at AED 19.20 each — AED 38.40;
• two washers — AED 30.

The additional parts for this section cost AED 1,631.40. They are marked in the document as supplementary items added during the work.

The oil system repairs, including labor, totaled AED 7,878.90 before VAT.

Belts, Pulleys, and Tensioner

The next major expense was the replacement of all belts, pulleys, and the tensioner.

The job took 3.25 labor hours and cost AED 1,592.50.

Parts:

• first belt — AED 718.50;
• second belt — AED 847.50;
• tensioner — AED 16,113;
• two idler pulleys — AED 528;
• two screws — AED 44.

The parts for this section came to AED 18,251, bringing the total including installation to AED 19,843.50 before VAT.

The tensioner alone cost more than AED 16,000. Components like this are a major part of the cost of maintaining a race-spec Ferrari.

Wheel Nuts: AED 13,302 for Parts Alone

All four wheel nuts were replaced:

• two right-hand wheel nuts at AED 3,325.50 each — AED 6,651;
• two left-hand wheel nuts at AED 3,325.50 each — AED 6,651.

The total cost of the four wheel nuts was AED 13,302.

The estimate lists the labor for replacing them at zero additional cost.

Rear Brake Cooling Hoses

The flexible hoses for the rear brake cooling system were also replaced. The repair order lists six types of hose, with two of each required:

• two hoses at AED 960 each — AED 1,920;
• another two hoses at AED 960 each — AED 1,920;
• two hoses at AED 480 each — AED 960;
• two hoses at AED 640 each — AED 1,280;
• two hoses at AED 1,440 each — AED 2,880;
• two hoses at AED 1,280 each — AED 2,560.

The parts totaled AED 11,520.

The replacement took two labor hours and cost AED 980.

The complete cost of this section was AED 12,500 before VAT.

Four Rear Fender Cover Sections

Four rear fender cover sections were replaced:

• front section of the right rear fender cover — AED 2,346;
• front section of the left rear fender cover — AED 2,346;
• rear section of the right rear fender cover — AED 2,020.50;
• rear section of the left rear fender cover — AED 2,020.50.

The four main sections cost AED 8,733.

The following fasteners were also required:

• six male clips — AED 105.60;
• six female clips — AED 86.40;
• four screws with captive washers — AED 44.80;
• 22 rivets — AED 1,408;
• two clips — AED 25.60;
• 24 screws — AED 537.60.

The complete set of panels and fasteners cost AED 10,941.

Replacing the four sections took two labor hours and cost AED 980.

The total for this section was AED 11,921 before VAT.

Wheel Alignment, Tires, and Inspection

The repair order also included:

• wheel alignment, 2.5 hours — AED 1,225;
• complete mechanical inspection, four hours — AED 1,960;
• tire replacement and balancing, two hours — AED 980;
• replacement of the air-conditioning pipe seals, one hour — AED 490.

Wheel removal and installation for the bodywork were listed at no additional cost. Preparation of the front body section for alignment was also included without a separate charge.

The condition of eight scratched wheel rims was inspected as well, with no additional charge listed for this operation.

Windscreen Installation and Wheel Refinishing: Another AED 3,780

A separate estimate was prepared for the bodywork and glass-related services:

• wheel rim repair and refinishing — AED 2,400;
• windscreen installation by a subcontractor — AED 1,200;
• paint materials — AED 0;
• the windscreen replacement operation itself was listed at AED 0.

The subtotal before tax was AED 3,600. The 5% VAT was AED 180. The total was AED 3,780.

The document does not list a separate price for the windscreen itself. This estimate only includes its installation at a cost of AED 1,200.

Total Cost of the Service and Repairs

Combining both estimates gives the following total:

• parts and consumables — AED 93,005.68;
• main mechanical labor — AED 19,845;
• wheel rim repair and refinishing — AED 2,400;
• windscreen installation by a subcontractor — AED 1,200;
• total before VAT — AED 116,450.68;
• total VAT — AED 5,822.53;
• final total — AED 122,273.21.

That is the cost of servicing and repairing a Ferrari 296 Challenge at approximately 9,000 km.

The Most Expensive Items

The largest expenses were:

1. Brakes, including delivery and installation — AED 28,515.98.
2. Belts, pulleys, and tensioner with installation — AED 19,843.50.
3. Major service, including the main consumables and labor — AED 14,234.30.
4. Four wheel nuts — AED 13,302.
5. Rear brake cooling hoses with installation — AED 12,500.
6. Rear fender cover sections, fasteners, and installation — AED 11,921.
7. Oil system leak repairs — AED 7,878.90.
8. Wheel refinishing and windscreen installation — AED 3,780 including VAT.

Conclusion

The Ferrari 296 Challenge is a car whose running costs must be measured by race car standards rather than those of a conventional road car. It is not only the brake rotors or engine removal that make it expensive. A tensioner can cost AED 16,000, four wheel nuts more than AED 13,000, a set of brake cooling hoses AED 11,500, and 22 rivets AED 1,408.

A substantial part of the total is not labor but the parts themselves. In the main estimate, parts and consumables accounted for AED 93,005.68 out of AED 112,850.68 before VAT, which is more than 82% of the total.

The final cost of the service and repairs at 9,000 km was AED 122,273.21. If this amount is divided by the car’s total mileage, it works out to approximately AED 13.59 per kilometer.

That is the real cost of running a modern race-spec Ferrari, broken down item by item.