Alfa 159 1750 tbi (208000 miles)

[Zombie]

nuttywobbler said:

I’m amazed at how much of your life you must dedicate to fixing the oily old Alfa! Fair play.

In all fairness, this one has been really good. Routine servicing, some suspension parts and one breakdown in nearly 3 years as a daily driver is not bad at all for any car let alone one that's 10 years old and has quite literally nearly been to the moon (225k miles at it's closest point).

[Zombie]

Mot is due on this at the end of the month, so it's had some attention. Which consisted of a check over, lights, tyre pressures, cleaned greased the door hinges etc, the usual stuff and an oil change;

IMG_5433 by Chris, on Flickr[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kFUHdp]

[/url] IMG_5441 by Chris, on Flickr

Now, before everyone starts point out the subframe rust, yes I am aware its a problem on 159s and Brera's (we replaced the subframe on my Mums Brera with a new one a year or so ago), no, it is not a problem, it is surface rust and yes I shall do something about it before it does become a problem.

Beyond the rust on the back of the engine is the oil filter;

IMG_5434 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_5436 by Chris, on Flickr

As you might expect, access is awkward. Which is fine, one of the other cars I own are any better.

But, as I was cleaning the bit the cartridge cap screws into, I felt a part dislodge it self and fall onto the floor;

IMG_5451 by Chris, on Flickr

I am aware of this part. I saw a thread on Alfaowner where someone nearly grenaded their engine because this part was wither missing or not fitted correctly. Which seems like a stupid piece of design to my mind as its very difficult to see it its in it's correct place.

I'd say the service manual lacks information about this part, but I don't have a service manual for it.

Using a mirror we were able to work out where it fits though;

IMG_5450 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_5453 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_5462 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_5462 by Chris, on Flickr

Which all meant that a simple oil change turned into a 2 hour long faff.

Finally and just to prove it did get decent engine oil;

IMG_5466 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_5468 by Chris, on Flickr

Also reset the service light, not that it means anything as its changed (much) more ofter than the recommended 20k.

IMG_5471 by Chris, on Flickr

Edited by Zombie on Saturday 6th March 23:29

[Zombie]

Now for sale, usual places PH classifieds, eBay, FB. £2950.

IMG_9319 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9324 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9326 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9334 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9337 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9344 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9350 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9353 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9365 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9367 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9370 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9373 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9380 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9383 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9386 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9392 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9398 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9401 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9413 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9416-2 by Chris, on Flickr

[Zombie]

IMG_9468 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9463 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9460 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9454 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9449 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9438 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9434 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9432 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9429 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9474 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9480 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9484 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9485 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9488 by Chris, on Flickr

IMG_9519 by Chris, on Flickr

[Zombie]

Sold, in 3 days, to the first person to look at it, for asking price.

I reckon I could have sold it at least 5 times over, I had 5 people wanting to view it this weekend plus more people asking about it including the Trader I bought the Maserati from.

[Zombie]

Rob-c33sg said:

I did indeed see this thread beforehand and it did help with mileage piece of mind! Lovely car - you’d never be able to guess that mileage just on condition. Cheers

[Zombie]

Rob-c33sg said:

Random milestone today while on holiday in Cornwall. Doing well - credit to the previous owner(s). Loving the engine too, torque like a diesel and non smellyness like petrol. Nice.

That's the primary reason why people rate that engine, low dow diesel like torque but it bulls well up to the red line.

Did you spot this? Makes yours look silly cheap....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384196427664

[Zombie]

Rob-c33sg said:

Spoke a bit too soon! Rear window passenger side got stuck down, I managed to slide it up and now the mechanism sounds like it’s doing something, but unlikely it’s back to normal! Will look more later when not at the lost gardens of heligan. I know the window regulators on these seem dodgy.

Sorry to hear that.

I've got a window regulator mechanism for the front drivers door but I never thought to get one for the rear as I rarely opened the rear windows.

They're well know for failing though.

[Zombie]

casesensitive said:

Hmmm, I was stalking https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14313450 on PH for a little while, trying to justify replacing my 250k km 159 with one with even more mileage, albeit the right engine. Alas, it seems to be sold, I wonder if the new keeper will post here and keep 'er lit?

It's just passed it's MOT again (29/03/23) with an advisory for windscreen stone chip and an oil leak, which'll be the PCV valve in the cam cover.

Now at 240k miles. Which means it did another 10k in the last 12 months.

Must be going well. It was a good car when I had it. Makes me happy that the work my Dad and I put into it alongside Rob means it's still going.

[Zombie]

Happy to hear that Rob. You've still got the Integra as well I see.

If it helps ease the financial pain, we went through a similar issue with my Mum's Brera last year. It might be a 2007 car but it's only done 50k miles. After we replaced the front subframe with a brand new one from Alfa, it needed a rear subframe, and rear arms which were a pita to source. My Dad ended up ordering various parts from all over the place, spain, germany and italy. Of course Brexit eased the process of getting them here...