Owning a supercar isn’t just about speed and luxury. With many aspects of supercar maintenance attached to eyewatering costs, it also requires thoughtful care and maintenance to keep the vehicle in peak condition.
Some tasks are best left to specialists while more hands-on owners may enjoy getting some grease on their fingers, whether for convenience, passion, or curiosity. Let’s explore what tasks supercar owners can take on themselves and which ones are better suited for professionals, with a few exceptions for those with expertise.
DIY Tasks for the Passionate Owner
It’s can be surprising how often supercar owners drop the ball on maintenance—either skipping essential tasks or cutting corners. Investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a high-performance machine only to neglect its upkeep is a mistake you don’t want to make.
Every aspect of the maintenance schedule—from valve adjustments to fluid changes—is carefully calculated to match the materials and tolerances of the components.
While this isn’t exclusive to just supercars (you should really maintain any vehicle that you own), there are several straightforward tasks that enthusiasts can manage, ensuring the car stays in excellent shape between professional service visits.
Monitoring Fluid Levels and Tire Pressure
Fluid checks, which includes oil, coolant, and brake fluid, are staples in routine maintenance and servicing. They’re easy enough to check and modern systems also alert you to when something dips below threshold. They’re essential for maintaining performance and because supercars often operate at higher temperatures, this makes it even more critical to keep fluid levels in check.
You can also keep tabs on your tire pressure from the comfort of your garage. Many owners use portable digital gauges to ensure their tires are inflated to the optimal pressure for driving conditions. Regular monitoring also allows owners to spot small issues, like leaks, early on. As far as DIY tasks, this one’s pretty obvious if you are a conscientious owner.
Battery Maintenance and Replacement
The battery powers the electrical heart of your supercar. Without it, nothing turns on. It’s one of those components that savvy DIYers can also handle even though replacement can sometimes be complicated by cramped engine bays or hidden compartments, especially on supercars.
However, crawling online Ferrari forums reveals that it’s very doable, such as this user who replaced a battery on their Ferrari F430 Spider F1.
Owners with basic tools and mechanical knowledge can replace a battery themselves, saving both time and the cost of professional service.
Diagnostic Scanning and Troubleshooting
With modern supercars loaded with electronics, access to a high-quality diagnostic tool is invaluable. Tools such as the Ancel V6 Pro+ HD Scanner provide real-time data, helping owners detect potential engine or sensor issues before they escalate.
If you run into a CEL, it can also clear minor error codes, avoiding unnecessary trips to the service center. This tool is perfect for those rare occasions when owners want to get hands-on and understand what’s going on under the hood without waiting for an appointment at the dealership.
These diagnostic tools are usually compatible with over 200 vehicle makes from passenger cars to trucks to commercial vehicles. From the perspective of a supercar, you might find that it’s not compatible with your Lamborghini Gallardo because it uses a proprietary LDAS system.
If you happen to own another high-performance vehicle in your fleet like a BMW M4, these scanners are commonly compatible with European brands such as VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, but also a variety of American brands including Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, and more.
Paint Correction and Detailing
A clean car is a happy car. This goes double for supercars as part of their allure is their aesthetic and mystique.
It’s also one of those DIY tasks that owners actually delight in doing themselves. Detailing a car isn’t just maintenance, it’s a passion and pride in ownership. However, detailing supercars requires caution, as the paint quality and finishes are often unique. There’s way more at stake if you make a mistake but with the right tools such as pro-grade orbital polishes, owners can restore a car’s shine back to glory.
Videos and tutorials from professional detailers have made this process more accessible, making it a popular hobby among owners with a keen eye for perfection.
What to Leave to the Experts—Or Do Yourself if You’re Skilled
While there are tasks that even casual enthusiasts can tackle, certain jobs demand the expertise of trained professionals due to the complexity of the components. That said, owners with advanced knowledge and experience can opt to take on these challenges themselves.
Bodywork Repairs
Supercars often feature carbon fiber panels, aluminum alloys, or other lightweight materials that require specialized tools for repairs. Misjudging a repair can compromise the car’s aerodynamics and value, which is why bodywork is generally best left to experts.
However, skilled restorers like Mat Armstrong and Tavarish, have become adept at repairing and modifying exotic cars. These restorers not only rebuild damaged vehicles but also inspire other enthusiasts through their hands-on approach and creative solutions.
Supercars frequently utilize special fasteners but occasionally also use common parts that are just rebranded (and marked up accordingly). If you’re going to take on bodywork and start removing parts, just know that it requires a decent amount of know-how and innovation in order to make everything fit.
Engine Tuning and Calibration
Engines in supercars are designed to operate with precision, and tuning them correctly ensures optimal performance. Professional tuners use dynometers and specialized software to calibrate air-fuel ratios, timing, and other settings.
While some owners with technical knowledge might undertake minor tweaks—such as adjusting throttle response—major tuning should be entrusted to professionals to avoid costly mistakes that could damage the engine.
Transmission Service
Supercar transmissions, especially dual-clutch systems, are highly complex and require advanced diagnostic equipment for proper servicing. Small errors during repair can lead to significant performance issues or even catastrophic failures. This is one area where even knowledgeable owners tend to defer to specialists, as the risk of damaging the drivetrain is too high without the proper tools and experience.
The last thing you want is to cause irreparable damage to your exotic and foot an even bigger bill.
Striking the Right Balance
Owning a supercar involves understanding when it’s worth getting involved with maintenance and when to leave things to the experts. Even though supercar care is often handled by specialists, having the right tools can empower owners to stay connected to their vehicles. Diagnostic tools make it easier for owners to monitor their car’s health and address minor issues on their own, offering peace of mind between service visits.
For those passionate about detailing, tasks like paint correction provide a way to bond with the car, while expert restorers show that even complex bodywork can become a DIY endeavor with enough skill and dedication. For most owners, major repairs and tuning remain the domain of specialists, ensuring the car performs at its best and retains its value.
By striking the right balance between personal involvement and professional service, supercar owners can enjoy the best of both worlds—feeling connected to their cars while ensuring they receive the expert care they need to stay at peak performance.
