So I bought a 156 1.9JTD Veloce

[Willeh85]

I've just bought myself an 04 plate 156 1.9JTD Veloce Estate, that's the 'Own an Alfa Romeo' box ticked of things to do in life.

I was originally looking to swap my current 2.0 Ford focus for a 1.6 diesel Focus estate as a cost cutting (fuel and tax) and practicality exercise, test drove a couple and was bored to death drive wise and visually inside the cabin. I also couldn't find anything in budget that wasn't about to die.

I found this 156 purely by chance while browsing through a Ford dealer stock list, it looked great in the photos and on paper 3 owners, FSH, belts done not long ago and just serviced and MOT'd by the dealer, so arranged a test drive.

I gave it a drive and it felt great engine was good in all gears, and gave the whole thing a going over. This is where the it 'looked good in the photos' but.. part comes in.

The engine was superb but cosmetically it needs some loving:

• Leather was a bit dirty but nothing a good clean and some leather products wont fix
• Side skirts are loose in a couple of places where the sealent has come away
• Front chrome grill the laqour is pealing and the badge is all nasty looks like water and sunlight damage
• Rear badge has similar damage
• Rear break light cover on the inside is missing
• Front fog light housing is damaged and needs replacing
• Alloy wheel paint was blistered on all but one wheels in more than a few places

There are a couple more things that also need doing but I cant remember what they are. So with all those things in mind I decided that those were all minor things that I could fix my self (apart from an alloy wheel refurb) over a weekend of TLC and left a deposit.

I spent the days in between looking for and pricing up the replacement parts I need, and picked her up yesterday. I haven't got time for a few weeks now to fix her up but I've ordered a lot of the parts already and awaiting delivery.

For now enjoy the pictures showing what condition shes currently in and the things that need work, and I'll post a new album showing the fixes when they're done http://flic.kr/s/aHsjAVkxsu

[FLGirl]

Very nice! The facelift model looks fantastic and with the red leather that is a great colour combination.

Like you, I recently bought one as my first Alfa, as every other estate offering bored me to tears (though mine is a 51 plate and the 2.4). I love it and wrote a long ramble about in my 'obsession' thread!

I also plan to update that with all the work we'll do to it, I have a feeling it'll be a long thread! Look forward to seeing your progress too.

[Willeh85]

FLGirl said:

Very nice! The facelift model looks fantastic and with the red leather that is a great colour combination.

Like you, I recently bought one as my first Alfa, as every other estate offering bored me to tears (though mine is a 51 plate and the 2.4). I love it and wrote a long ramble about in my 'obsession' thread!

I also plan to update that with all the work we'll do to it, I have a feeling it'll be a long thread! Look forward to seeing your progress too.

I agree with you FLGirl the facelift one is lovely, I think I'd like mine even more if it was more of a graphite/grey colour but as you said the colour combo is still nice.

I hope you're enjoying your Alfa, I love just being in the car its such an aesthetically pleasing place to be. Have you got a link to your thread so I can follow your progress too?

[Willeh85]

Actually, I did a bit of clicking and found I can find your post by looking at your profile, classic speak before engaging brain. Anyways I'm going to give that a good read and subscribe to it.

[Alfahorn]

Willeh85 said:

I've just bought myself an 04 plate 156 1.9JTD Veloce Estate, that's the 'Own an Alfa Romeo' box ticked of things to do in life.

I was originally looking to swap my current 2.0 Ford focus for a 1.6 diesel Focus estate as a cost cutting (fuel and tax) and practicality exercise, test drove a couple and was bored to death drive wise and visually inside the cabin. I also couldn't find anything in budget that wasn't about to die.

I found this 156 purely by chance while browsing through a Ford dealer stock list, it looked great in the photos and on paper 3 owners, FSH, belts done not long ago and just serviced and MOT'd by the dealer, so arranged a test drive.

I gave it a drive and it felt great engine was good in all gears, and gave the whole thing a going over. This is where the it 'looked good in the photos' but.. part comes in.

The engine was superb but cosmetically it needs some loving:

• Leather was a bit dirty but nothing a good clean and some leather products wont fix
• Side skirts are loose in a couple of places where the sealent has come away
• Front chrome grill the laqour is pealing and the badge is all nasty looks like water and sunlight damage
• Rear badge has similar damage
• Rear break light cover on the inside is missing
• Front fog light housing is damaged and needs replacing
• Alloy wheel paint was blistered on all but one wheels in more than a few places

There are a couple more things that also need doing but I cant remember what they are. So with all those things in mind I decided that those were all minor things that I could fix my self (apart from an alloy wheel refurb) over a weekend of TLC and left a deposit.

I spent the days in between looking for and pricing up the replacement parts I need, and picked her up yesterday. I haven't got time for a few weeks now to fix her up but I've ordered a lot of the parts already and awaiting delivery.

For now enjoy the pictures showing what condition shes currently in and the things that need work, and I'll post a new album showing the fixes when they're done http://flic.kr/s/aHsjAVkxsu

Nice one.

I've owned my 2004 156 SW JTDM for 2 years now. I bought it on just 23,000 miles and this week it clock on to 48,000. I've loved every minute of owning it so far, apart from when some drove in to the front of it earlier this year.

I reckon the 156 JTDM is a totally under rated car, it's a fantastic all rounder. I consistently get 45 mpg, often I'm able to top 50 on my commute to work. The 156 SW facelift is the best looking of the more recent modern Alfas.

I can see me owning mine for quite some time to come. There is a picture in my profile.

[Willeh85]

Alfahorn said:

Nice one.

I've owned my 2004 156 SW JTDM for 2 years now. I bought it on just 23,000 miles and this week it clock on to 48,000. I've loved every minute of owning it so far, apart from when some drove in to the front of it earlier this year.

I reckon the 156 JTDM is a totally under rated car, it's a fantastic all rounder. I consistently get 45 mpg, often I'm able to top 50 on my commute to work. The 156 SW facelift is the best looking of the more recent modern Alfas.

I can see me owning mine for quite some time to come. There is a picture in my profile.

Eurgh it really annoys me when you look after your car and then someone bashes it, happened to my last car unfortunately and would have cost nearly half its value to fix so I never bothered.

I think its under rated too, especially as its seemingly quite rare. I do like your 156 though very nice, I think if I had a choice I'd have a black one but it was more a case of cease a bargain. I though like you intend to keep this for a good length of time.

I have today with a friend fitted some red LED lights in all four footwells that turn on when the sidelights are turned on. I'll post a picture later this week as my stereo isn't currently fitted as I'm waiting for a wiring harness in the post to connect my after market head unit.

[Willeh85]

Thought I'd update you with some photos, only took a few as I forgot to take my camera with me yesterday and while we were actually fitting the LED's it got dark so you couldn't see much.

Today I took off the model and spec badges from the rear.

I've decided to make a set on Flickr showing all the changes so It'll be easier to follow what I've done. Basically it'll be a before, during, and tadaaaaar kinda of thing.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/willeh85/sets/7215763...

[S10GTA]

Autolusso are very useful for 2nd hand parts

[Willeh85]

S10GTA said:

Autolusso are very useful for 2nd hand parts

Thanks I'll take a look and see if I can pick up what I need.

[Willeh85]

For those that are following my progress, I'm steadily getting things done and making a list and price of the changes and repairs along the way.

The Aircon was recharged two weeks ago and is blowing cold again.

The Alfa is with a detailer today being machine polished, before going to my local paint chip/scratch repair guy. So when I get her back at 6pm I'll take some pics of the results.

The new head unit is now in place, with a silver facia. The radio reception is absolute s**te, but doesnt bother me as I listen to mp3's and CD's mostly.

I'm awaiting delivery of a few bits that should come by Friday, and they are front wind deflectors, custom fit mats, and two pairs of JBL speaker to replace the standard crap that rolled out the factory. Again I'll take photos and post them up when fitted.

[StescoG66]

Looking good. Love the 156SW - classy, classic styling. Is that Stromboli Grey VR651? If so I have a ChipEx kit for that colour if you are interested, along with a spray can and touch up stick.

[Willeh85]

StescoG66 said:

Looking good. Love the 156SW - classy, classic styling. Is that Stromboli Grey VR651? If so I have a ChipEx kit for that colour if you are interested, along with a spray can and touch up stick.

I think so too, I've got a window on my staircase that looks directly out onto the road where my car is, and I cant help but spend 5-10seconds looking at it each time I use the stairs.

I would love to be able to tell you the colour but I'm unsure. Some of the paint scuffs are right down to the plastic bodywork would those cover it? The guy at the body shop said he'd have to repaint each body panel to make the work seamlessly blend in.

Also since my earlier posting this morning my mats turned up.

Edited by Willeh85 on Wednesday 15th August 14:25

[StescoG66]

Paint code should be on a sticker on the inside edge of the tailgate. If it's Stromboli the code you seek is VR651. Chip-Ex should work on stone chipping and light scratching. A lot of the guys over on alfaowner use it with great success. I never quite got round to doing the chips on my GT properly, but what I did do worked well

[Alfahorn]

Willeh85 said:

StescoG66 said:

Looking good. Love the 156SW - classy, classic styling. Is that Stromboli Grey VR651? If so I have a ChipEx kit for that colour if you are interested, along with a spray can and touch up stick.

I think so too, I've got a window on my staircase that looks directly out onto the road where my car is, and I cant help but spend 5-10seconds looking at it each time I use the stairs.

I love looking at my SW in a similar way. I also love the fact that when my car is parked directly outside my office I can see lots of people walking past and admiring it.

BTW - Your car is definitely stromboli.

[StescoG66]

Alfahorn said:

I love looking at my SW in a similar way. I also love the fact that when my car is parked directly outside my office I can see lots of people walking past and admiring it.

BTW - Your car is definitely stromboli.

I thought so when I saw it. Is that not ultra-rare on an SW? Seen it on saloons but only on limited edition Sport and Ti models

[Alfahorn]

StescoG66 said:

Alfahorn said:

I love looking at my SW in a similar way. I also love the fact that when my car is parked directly outside my office I can see lots of people walking past and admiring it.

BTW - Your car is definitely stromboli.

I thought so when I saw it. Is that not ultra-rare on an SW? Seen it on saloons but only on limited edition Sport and Ti models

I would say so, stromboli was only available on the 156 from 2004 to 2005, it was a new colour brought out to coincide with the launch of the GT.

[StescoG66]

Ideal candidate for the spare ChipEx kit then . . . . . . . . . £25 posted with the rattle can plus touch up stick if the OP is interested.

[Willeh85]

StescoG66 said:

Ideal candidate for the spare ChipEx kit then . . . . . . . . . £25 posted with the rattle can plus touch up stick if the OP is interested.

This picture is the sort of paintwork that I'm contending with so would the ChipEx kit be ok for this, bear in mind that there are scuffs similar to this on the rear, worse on both skirts, and the area around the front chrome grill.

Or shall I go with my original plan of a local bodyshop doing the paint work that needs doing, as you can see in the pictures some of those are down to the plastic bumper.

[Alfahorn]

Willeh85 said:

StescoG66 said:

Ideal candidate for the spare ChipEx kit then . . . . . . . . . £25 posted with the rattle can plus touch up stick if the OP is interested.

This picture is the sort of paintwork that I'm contending with so would the ChipEx kit be ok for this, bear in mind that there are scuffs similar to this on the rear, worse on both skirts, and the area around the front chrome grill.

Or shall I go with my original plan of a local bodyshop doing the paint work that needs doing, as you can see in the pictures some of those are down to the plastic bumper.

You need a body shop for that.

[DamienB]

Silver speed tape. 373,321 Mondeo owners can't be wrong.