2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 5.7L Petrol · J31 WHY

The 612 was the last Ferrari V12 with a rubber timing belt, and Ferrari recommends replacement every four to five years regardless of mileage. The job is labour-intensive and is the single biggest deferred-maintenance risk on the model; a snapped belt causes serious internal engine damage. Verify the belt and tensioners were changed within the interval and that invoices document the work before buying.

The 612 pioneered Ferrari's electronic instrument dashboard, and the instrument-panel power supply, backlighting supply or the dash motherboard itself can malfunction. Symptoms include dead or dim gauges, warning lamps that will not clear, and intermittent loss of the display. Replacement units from Ferrari are expensive, though specialists can repair the boards at reduced cost. Switch the ignition on and check every gauge and warning lamp functions at a cold start.

Carbon-ceramic brakes were optional on the 612 and, while durable, replacement of the discs and pads is very expensive when the wear limit is reached — a bill that can run to tens of thousands at a main dealer. Track use and UK road salt accelerate disc pitting. Inspect the disc surfaces through the spokes for cracking or scoring, check pad thickness, and ask for brake-wear percentages from a diagnostic scan.