RE: Shed(s) of the Week: Alfa 166/BMW 5 Series
Discussion
AC43 said:
2.0 Busso wins it.
If the Bimmer were a 2.8 it would be harder but it's not.
I own a 523i ( that looks identical to this weeks Shed, but will be for sale next week at a far more competitive price) with the 2.5L 175hp engine hooked up to a manual gearbox and it is perfectly adequate and significantly quicker than a 2.0, whilst not a lot slower than the 528i , the 525i with the 2.5m52 192hp is also well worth considering ahead of a ropey 528iIf the Bimmer were a 2.8 it would be harder but it's not.
Jiebo said:
You have to be insane to buy either of these because they will both be money pits.
Here is a game, two insane people each buy an old BMW 5 Vs old Alfa 166. Lets see who goes broke the first.
I'm insane then, I bought a 1997 BMW 523 18 months ago and it's been absolutely great! One AA call out due to a failed crank position sensor and one flat battery due to leaving the boot open for hours are the only dramas I've had. Here is a game, two insane people each buy an old BMW 5 Vs old Alfa 166. Lets see who goes broke the first.
e said:just agreeing with several others...
The front on the 166 is really bad
The doctor thing. I had a doctor neighbour when I was a youngster. I can still hear that Volvo 240 getting thrashed from cold every time he had a call out during the night. Never taken care of, usually had a big dog in the back.
The front on the 166 is really bad
The doctor thing. I had a doctor neighbour when I was a youngster. I can still hear that Volvo 240 getting thrashed from cold every time he had a call out during the night. Never taken care of, usually had a big dog in the back.
Alfa for me too. but I had a facelift 3.2 manual a few years back . Having said that not too biased because I had a few BMW's too.
Anyway, I agree with a previous poster that the interior is not plasticky at all, it's lovely, all soft leather everywhere, door cards and even down on the sides of the transmission tunnel. Great looking interior too.
Also they are a very solid car, probably alfa's best built ever, I don't think any Alfa since is as solid build wise.
Both these cars have potential for big bills as sheds though to keep them running well, shedding would be better served at this price point by a 2.4 accord, but that's another story.
The difference with these 2 is that you wouldn't mind spending money on the Alfa, as they really are quite a special, rare and stylish car in comparison to the 520i, especially a busso manual.
With the 520i (not that its a bad car) you'll wish you bought that accord.
Anyway, I agree with a previous poster that the interior is not plasticky at all, it's lovely, all soft leather everywhere, door cards and even down on the sides of the transmission tunnel. Great looking interior too.
Also they are a very solid car, probably alfa's best built ever, I don't think any Alfa since is as solid build wise.
Both these cars have potential for big bills as sheds though to keep them running well, shedding would be better served at this price point by a 2.4 accord, but that's another story.
The difference with these 2 is that you wouldn't mind spending money on the Alfa, as they really are quite a special, rare and stylish car in comparison to the 520i, especially a busso manual.
With the 520i (not that its a bad car) you'll wish you bought that accord.
ITP said:
The difference with these 2 is that you wouldn't mind spending money on the Alfa, as they really are quite a special, rare and stylish car in comparison to the 520i, especially a busso manual.
With the 520i (not that its a bad car) you'll wish you bought that accord.
That's a very good point.With the 520i (not that its a bad car) you'll wish you bought that accord.
Still, no interiour pics worry me. And I'll chuck a vote at the 159 for being a very solid car as well.
waynedear said:
PoopahScoopah said:
Cambs_Stuart said:
The alpha. Great engine and interior. And I'll accept the fact it may need more tlc than the bmw.
Oh dear 
Time to grab your coat and hand in your PH membership at the door 
The amount of times I see Alphas for sale, I always wonder how anyone can get something to so well known and so simple wrong.
PoopahScoopah said:
waynedear said:
PoopahScoopah said:
Cambs_Stuart said:
The alpha. Great engine and interior. And I'll accept the fact it may need more tlc than the bmw.
Oh dear Time to grab your coat and hand in your PH membership at the door The amount of times I see Alphas for sale, I always wonder how anyone can get something to so well known and so simple wrong.
Both of you go stand in the corner.....
Oh wait ,there's 3 of you in that quote but still 2 guilty parties.
Neither for me, despite being a huge e39 fan (I'm on my fourth!), the lowest powered petrol engine coupled to an auto box and a cloth interior, not to mention it's about three times overpriced, I'm out!
And the Alfa, I would have to park it facing inwards everytime I parked it so I didn't have to look at the front end, this could become annoying, so I'm also out!
And the Alfa, I would have to park it facing inwards everytime I parked it so I didn't have to look at the front end, this could become annoying, so I'm also out!
The Alfa for me - in 3.0 manual it's a sports exec, the 520 could never be that - 530 maybe. Although my 166 has cost quite a bit over the last few years, it's just a lovely car - wafts gently, comfy, quiet etc but hoof it and there's a fabulous roar and plenty of speed - passing stuff is great fun! (mine's a 3.0 manual too)
And the front end splits opinion - I prefer the old one, it's just more "Alfa" to say "this looks good, we're italian, we know best"
No cup holders, because no self respecting italian would drink coffee in the car (it would be downright dangerous, the way they drive)
I have an E36 which is WAY more reliable - but a sample of 2 is not statistically significant! - and this one has had all the bad stuff done. (Cruise is usually the pedal switch, it's feather touch to disable even when it's adjusted right)
If you head onto alfaowner.com, the guy selling it, and someone who owned it for 5 years in the 2000s are both members, I think there are more pictures, lots of provenance.
And the front end splits opinion - I prefer the old one, it's just more "Alfa" to say "this looks good, we're italian, we know best"
No cup holders, because no self respecting italian would drink coffee in the car (it would be downright dangerous, the way they drive)
I have an E36 which is WAY more reliable - but a sample of 2 is not statistically significant! - and this one has had all the bad stuff done. (Cruise is usually the pedal switch, it's feather touch to disable even when it's adjusted right)
If you head onto alfaowner.com, the guy selling it, and someone who owned it for 5 years in the 2000s are both members, I think there are more pictures, lots of provenance.
lucido grigio said:
PoopahScoopah said:
waynedear said:
PoopahScoopah said:
Cambs_Stuart said:
The alpha. Great engine and interior. And I'll accept the fact it may need more tlc than the bmw.
Oh dear Time to grab your coat and hand in your PH membership at the door The amount of times I see Alphas for sale, I always wonder how anyone can get something to so well known and so simple wrong.
Both of you go stand in the corner.....
Oh wait ,there's 3 of you in that quote but still 2 guilty parties.
Now I'm off to browse the classifieds for a decent Fjord Fucus. Back laterz.
aka_kerrly said:
I own a 523i ( that looks identical to this weeks Shed, but will be for sale next week at a far more competitive price) with the 2.5L 175hp engine hooked up to a manual gearbox and it is perfectly adequate and significantly quicker than a 2.0, whilst not a lot slower than the 528i , the 525i with the 2.5m52 192hp is also well worth considering ahead of a ropey 528i
What you getting next aka? Or focussing on your VWs for a bit?aka_kerrly said:
I own a 523i ( that looks identical to this weeks Shed, but will be for sale next week at a far more competitive price) with the 2.5L 175hp engine hooked up to a manual gearbox and it is perfectly adequate and significantly quicker than a 2.0, whilst not a lot slower than the 528i , the 525i with the 2.5m52 192hp is also well worth considering ahead of a ropey 528i
A 2.5 M52 with 192hp does not exist. The lineage of the M.... straight sixes goes M50, M50tu, M52, M52tu, M54. (I'm not going into the M Power ones and older 12v valve ones or newer ones, there was an M56 low emission US special too)There was a 2.5 M54 with around 192hp, this could be the one you're thinking of. This is a handy guide (haven't read it all but seems quite accurate):
http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/m50.html
helix402 said:
aka_kerrly said:
I own a 523i ( that looks identical to this weeks Shed, but will be for sale next week at a far more competitive price) with the 2.5L 175hp engine hooked up to a manual gearbox and it is perfectly adequate and significantly quicker than a 2.0, whilst not a lot slower than the 528i , the 525i with the 2.5m52 192hp is also well worth considering ahead of a ropey 528i
A 2.5 M52 with 192hp does not exist. The lineage of the M.... straight sixes goes M50, M50tu, M52, M52tu, M54. (I'm not going into the M Power ones and older 12v valve ones or newer ones, there was an M56 low emission US special too)There was a 2.5 M54 with around 192hp, this could be the one you're thinking of. This is a handy guide (haven't read it all but seems quite accurate):
http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/m50.html
Quite a 'revvy' character like the M54 2.5 with a few horses less (189 ) and different in nature to the M52 2.5 which had a more torquey feel (and was badged a 2.3 in 3 and 5 installs )
Clearly the Alfa, but then I'm biased, I have several. Never had a 166 though.
I doubt the Alfa is a money pit - it will be a time pit though if you want to get it spot on. The engines are solid. Change the oil and belts on time and they will do 250k. If it has been owned by an enthusiast, it will be OK.
The electrical niggles will be where the time goes. I've just fixed everything (literally everything) on my slightly older 155 V6 - took about 8 hours of fiddling and 45 quid in parts (a s/h window ECU). The stuck back windows will be the mechanisms - they corrode through lack of use - about 60 a side.
The only nightmare on these is anything that requires the front subframe off - big job. Clutches, ARBs, that sort of thing.
One day I will get a 3.2 166.
I doubt the Alfa is a money pit - it will be a time pit though if you want to get it spot on. The engines are solid. Change the oil and belts on time and they will do 250k. If it has been owned by an enthusiast, it will be OK.
The electrical niggles will be where the time goes. I've just fixed everything (literally everything) on my slightly older 155 V6 - took about 8 hours of fiddling and 45 quid in parts (a s/h window ECU). The stuck back windows will be the mechanisms - they corrode through lack of use - about 60 a side.
The only nightmare on these is anything that requires the front subframe off - big job. Clutches, ARBs, that sort of thing.
One day I will get a 3.2 166.
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