Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 v6
Discussion
Integroo said:
carinaman said:
It's also a four cylinder!There was a 2.5 v6 sportswagon at anglia auctions this weekend i believe. Wonder if it sold.
No, it's a V6. It's a CF3, you can tell by the ECU hanging off the back of the plenum by the 'V6 24V' casting. That means it also has cats in the exhaust manifolds.
Your V6 is an earlier one without the cats in the exhaust manifolds to generate loads of heat just below the ECU.
Integroo said:
I presume that the earlier one without the cats in the exhaust manifolds is a good thing 
Aren't the autoboxes on these pretty bad / unreliable?
Having an earlier one without cats in the exhaust manifolds front and back is a good thing. Aren't the autoboxes on these pretty bad / unreliable?
I've wanted a V6 Alfa for ages, but I don't have the cojones, so I am only commenting as you've bought one. There was a white 12V Cloverleaf 164 with some interesting filler on the bonnet touted on PH that someone else bought to then find out the big ends had gone, and I was in the running for a 156 V6 that had been converted to a 3 litre, the car some say Alfa should have built, that ended up going to Ireland with the new owner who then had a change of plans and the car was bought back to Britain for the floorpan to be rotten that I think a well regarded specialist managed to source a new floorpan pressing for.
The 4 cylinder Twin Sparks have a robotised Manual called Selespeed which it seems at least one Alfa guru in the UK could diagnose and repair, but I don't know if they're still working on Alfas. The Auto in the V6 is a proper Auto. As far as I know they're OK though the ECU for the Auto is vulnerable from the heater matrix leaking on them in the 166 so they need 'bagging' to protect them.
I'll be watching your thread with interest and I've learnt from your purchase of this 156.
clutch said:
Miniman64
What a car! And a rare one..did I see yours in the paddock at a Castle Combe autumn classic a year or so back?
My dream to find a V6 Sportwagon
Thank you!What a car! And a rare one..did I see yours in the paddock at a Castle Combe autumn classic a year or so back?
My dream to find a V6 Sportwagon
Fraid it wasn’t me, I’m based down in Plymouth. Picked this one up quite by accident when I didn’t fancy a train-replacement bus back from London one weekend.
It’s a great car but it’s had it’s fair share of problems in its (only just clicked over) 100k miles. Clutch and cambelt we’re done soon after purchase, all the front suspension joints have been done and most of the rear ones, the boot needed £200 of welding last MOT, we’ve had some ECU issues, electrical issues (had to replace a rev counter to stop lights staying on and draining the battery??!) both rear struts collapsed on me last year and needed replacing, there’s a small but persistent oil leak we can’t pin down, a few bits and pieces that have failed (rear wiper, rear windows, air con) and I’ve noticed in the last few weeks there’s a lot of travel in the clutch pedal too. The body work bears some scars too.
All that said? It goes like stink and makes a glorious sound, sometimes i take the long way home from work just to stretch its legs and lungs. Even with all the wear on the outside it still looks stunning, can’t think of a better looking estate car. The interior is a glorious place to be, lovely leather and good design. I absolutely love it.
My fear is that our family will out grow it (it’s supposed to be the ‘family’ car) or that something major will fail and end its life. For now I hope it goes on forever!
Integroo said:
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Just a case of clipping bumper off and bolting in?
Yeah thats them, my memory isnt 100% but think you can swap them just by removing the arch liner, 2 or 3 13mm bolts on the chassis then 1 or 2 bolts to the wing and a little bit of wiggling and they are off. On the drivers side the washer tank may be in the way though.Just a case of clipping bumper off and bolting in?
carinaman said:
The Auto in the V6 is a proper Auto. As far as I know they're OK though the ECU for the Auto is vulnerable from the heater matrix leaking on them in the 166 so they need 'bagging' to protect them.
The main issue is the auto in the V6 is only a four speed. I can't imagine it suits the revvy low torque nature of the 2.5 - but I have never driven one so it maybe an unfair assumption!Of all the cars I would have expected you to end up with, I'm surprised you went with an Alfa, brave man!
Lovely looking and sounding things but the wallet drainage potential has always put me off, my boss has had two and they both had terminal failures resulting in bits of engine being peppered across the A414.
They look so pretty though! As far as the bits of bodywork trim that need sticking down, Tiger seal will do the job, it's quite messy to apply but will pretty much stick anything to anything.
Best of luck with it, proper petrolhead car.
Lovely looking and sounding things but the wallet drainage potential has always put me off, my boss has had two and they both had terminal failures resulting in bits of engine being peppered across the A414.
They look so pretty though! As far as the bits of bodywork trim that need sticking down, Tiger seal will do the job, it's quite messy to apply but will pretty much stick anything to anything.
Best of luck with it, proper petrolhead car.
carinaman said:
Integroo said:
I presume that the earlier one without the cats in the exhaust manifolds is a good thing
Having an earlier one without cats in the exhaust manifolds front and back is a good thing. The only time that my 156 left me stranded was when the ECU failed. This was caused by the excessive heat from the rear manifold cat cooking the ECU.
It is evidently a relatively common (and expensive) failing with CF3 engine 156 V6s and is not a problem with the earlier cars.
I think that 5 years or 50,0000 miles is a prudent interval for belt and pump on an Alfa V6.
You just don't hear the same horror stories with the V6 that you do with the TS.
An engine service is just a basic DIY job, though in typical Alfa fashion access can be a bit awkward.
There are a couple of types of oil filter available. The short one is easy to fit. The longer filter can be a bit of a sod.
And make sure the air filter gets changed. The standard filter can't be improved upon, but is difficult to get at, so often gets ignored.
Any sort of cone type replacement may make more noise, but will certainly not produce more power. And K&N type oil soaked filters risk damage to the MAF, which is not cheap for a proper one.
Clonky or creaky suspension is probably the most common and most irritating issue with a 156.
You just don't hear the same horror stories with the V6 that you do with the TS.
An engine service is just a basic DIY job, though in typical Alfa fashion access can be a bit awkward.
There are a couple of types of oil filter available. The short one is easy to fit. The longer filter can be a bit of a sod.
And make sure the air filter gets changed. The standard filter can't be improved upon, but is difficult to get at, so often gets ignored.
Any sort of cone type replacement may make more noise, but will certainly not produce more power. And K&N type oil soaked filters risk damage to the MAF, which is not cheap for a proper one.
Clonky or creaky suspension is probably the most common and most irritating issue with a 156.
My memory isn't what it should be, but I think that creaking is usually worn top arms and clonking is usually the bottom arms.
A lighter knocking which feels like it's coming through the bottom of the steering column is likely to be anti roll bar bushes.
Worn drop links can demonstrate a lighter knock. Start with the drop links, as they are cheap and simple to replace.
Then move on to the suspension arms.
If it turns out to be the anti roll bar bushes, then it's a big job that requires the exhaust to be partially dismantled and the cross member dropped.
If you wind up having to disturb the ARB, then take the opportunity to replace it with a new GTA anti roll bar, which brings obvious benefits.
A lighter knocking which feels like it's coming through the bottom of the steering column is likely to be anti roll bar bushes.
Worn drop links can demonstrate a lighter knock. Start with the drop links, as they are cheap and simple to replace.
Then move on to the suspension arms.
If it turns out to be the anti roll bar bushes, then it's a big job that requires the exhaust to be partially dismantled and the cross member dropped.
If you wind up having to disturb the ARB, then take the opportunity to replace it with a new GTA anti roll bar, which brings obvious benefits.
Integroo said:
Pat H said:
My memory isn't what it should be, but I think that creaking is usually worn top arms and clonking is usually the bottom arms.
A lighter knocking which feels like it's coming through the bottom of the steering column is likely to be anti roll bar bushes.
Worn drop links can demonstrate a lighter knock. Start with the drop links, as they are cheap and simple to replace.
Then move on to the suspension arms.
If it turns out to be the anti roll bar bushes, then it's a big job that requires the exhaust to be partially dismantled and the cross member dropped.
If you wind up having to disturb the ARB, then take the opportunity to replace it with a new GTA anti roll bar, which brings obvious benefits.
Thank you, very helpful. I can't hear any untoward noises when driving, drives very smooth, though if I press down on the rear corners I get a creaking, which I don't get at the front. A lighter knocking which feels like it's coming through the bottom of the steering column is likely to be anti roll bar bushes.
Worn drop links can demonstrate a lighter knock. Start with the drop links, as they are cheap and simple to replace.
Then move on to the suspension arms.
If it turns out to be the anti roll bar bushes, then it's a big job that requires the exhaust to be partially dismantled and the cross member dropped.
If you wind up having to disturb the ARB, then take the opportunity to replace it with a new GTA anti roll bar, which brings obvious benefits.
Welcome to the club! I got one recently in Veloce spec...Wizard exhaust should be top of your shopping list [https://www.facebook.com/jon.j.nowell/videos/pcb.2592088480802834/10157498621343410/?type=3&theater&ifg=1] to fully release that Busso sound! These engines will go forever with the correct service and maintenance...It's everything else around it that needs holding together...The 156 and Busso V6 Farcebook groups are great resources for info.
I wouldn't ordinarily be a fan of Silver but it works great on those 156 SW lines!
I wouldn't ordinarily be a fan of Silver but it works great on those 156 SW lines!
These have a wire base rather than the plastic that breaks on every single 156...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FITS-ALFA-ROMEO-156-GEA...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FITS-ALFA-ROMEO-156-GEA...
Miniman64 - gutted to hear about your woes. Finances are always important but "hang tough", the clutch going will mean bills but (from my experience) if it is a difficult month ahead, do it, if you can. I left Alfa ownership 4 years ago and look back with regret. If it means family needs are paramount of course you must do it.
Otherwise,and if you can ..change clutch and gearbox oil seal.
I moved to Ford and Volvo...zzzzzzzzzz.. comfortable seats and cup holders do not make up for it. Fingers crossed.
Also thanks to OP for highlighting a flawed but brilliant FWD good car
Otherwise,and if you can ..change clutch and gearbox oil seal.
I moved to Ford and Volvo...zzzzzzzzzz.. comfortable seats and cup holders do not make up for it. Fingers crossed.
Also thanks to OP for highlighting a flawed but brilliant FWD good car
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