Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio... reliability

[smarty156]

FocusRS3 said:

Interesting .
So do ALFA not offer a similar system ?

Also are these upgrades not recorded within the ECU somewhere ?

I only ask as I know JZM Porsche can always detect a cars history

No, they don't.
It's not an ECU upgrade, it's a plug and play add on that, I believe, sits between the cars normal solenoid plug and the solenoid. It just intercepts the signal from the ecu and overrides it depending on the setting you choose (or not if you want it to work as per factory). So the car sends a signal and as far as it knows the valves open or close accordingly but the AHM box may actually be getting the valves to do something different. The car just doesn't realise.

[FocusRS3]

firethorne said:

Well someone needs to try it and let us know.......#notme

So many of these companies around doing engine upgrades seemingly that come with warranty too and can be mapped back to standard without trace.

[firethorne]

FocusRS3 said:

firethorne said:

Yes that’s the beauty of it. The remote gives you access to all the noise in all the modes and you can turn off and on. It also has memory so it reverts to the last setting. In the off mode. The car works in the normal manner as factory. So if the remotes are removed from the car it would be difficult for AR to know it is even fitted. !!

Interesting .
So do ALFA not offer a similar system ?

Also are these upgrades not recorded within the ECU somewhere ?

I only ask as I know JZM Porsche can always detect a cars history

The exhaust mod I had, does not touch the ecu. It’s a physical box that goes in line. (No wires cut , plug and play) by pressing the remote it sends a single to open the exhaust. In the same way as it does when going to race mode.

As for the increase in power this is a ecu mod/ upgrade , and can be put back to standard by them. Not sure if it’s traceable, as not having it I did go in to the detail I did with the exhaust mod .

[urquattroGus]

It'c completely separate system.

The flaps are vacuum operated and this box just actuates them at will, connected to the battery by 2-3 wires.

No software involved.

[Active75]

While looking to clean out the undertray, I noticed this plug. Anyone know what it's for?



I posted this on the Alfa Forum, so lets see who comes back first.

[Ares]

firethorne said:

Ares said:

firethorne said:

As regards the "All off", It feels great on dry road with warm tyres, I track day a Caterham so used to that all off feel. But I am conscious of 510bhp to rear wheels and don't wish to be "that guy" that kerbed or worse his brand new car. I pushed it to break out and it does feel very controllable, but would like to do a drift day or get it off the public roads to explore this. I don't want to do a full on track day, so may be need to find an empty car park and have some fun. its just so capable that your 20-40 mph faster than everything else on the roads. without being anywhere near the limits.

My Jag XEs was 325BHP and could get 38mpg on a good run, and the QV recons 34 combined, I would like to know if anyone is actually getting that. I have some very long motor ways on Tuesday so will get a better Idea after that.

Feel free to PM me and can discuss monies

Mine took well over 1000 to get the best economy. Not sure if cylinder deactivation is variable, but the consumption on a long run is getting better and better (but on shorter runs, worse and worse - that might just be my right foot/comfortableness with the car though )


I got 37 on a run down to Bedfordshire last week (from Cheshire) - not hanging about, but in Eco on the Motorway. I also averaged around 30mpg during a 3 weeks, 3500mile road trip around Europe last summer, 3-up with a lot of luggage, and some spirited driving.

....that said, my usual consumption, mostly around town and short cross-country trips, struggles to break 20mpg!

Have a 250mile Round trip yesterday and got 31mpg. I now wonder if it runs less efficient for the first 1000 miles . Not sure but nice to know I can get that if I need / want to.

[generationx]

smarty156 said:

FocusRS3 said:

I know of a car having the ECU remapped to 580 Lb Ft

That's 786Nm. The ZF8HP auto gearbox in the Giulia Quadrifoglio is rated to 750Nm so it's a bit risky (albeit I expect ZF build in a bit of extra leeway).

I have recently been working with ZF Motorsport in relation to the 8HP, there are two versions: the 8HP52 and the 8HP76. The latter is what we have in the Quadrifoglio. In the case of the former, this is the ‘box fitted in the new Supra, rated to 520Nm, and ZF cannot guarantee it will even cope with 600. The limiting factors are the internal clutches and oil system, as well as one of the gear sets. They generally haven’t tested overloaded gearboxes for high mileages and are very conservative about reliability. For example BMW recommend changing their GT4 gearbox every 15,000km due to high wear.

I would be very wary going much over 760Nm with the Alfa ‘box.

[MattyB_]

So am I correct in saying the early QF's are no coming to the end of their 3 year warranty (5 year was only on the 2018 models?)

How risky is it running one outside of the warranty period? Are any of you planning to extend, or going balls-out and running it without?

[norchi]

I bought mine 1st sept. '17 and paid for the extended 4th and 5th yr Mopar warranty as it does concern me that out of warranty issues with this magnificent engine and transmission could be quite costly....

The car has been fine although I have only recorded 6000 miles since purchase. I have had the known early issues with possible water leaks through the scuttle onto the ECU, over sensitive alarm and leaky door seal attended to as a precaution by Glyn Hopkin in St.Albans who also carried out the first service; they have been excellent in all respects. But they are, as are all dealers, let down by the lack of parts held in stock by FCA here in the UK, and have to wait about a week to get delivery of anything other than routine service parts and consumables even if your car is VOR. Glyn Hopkin have courtesy cars available for that period, subject to notice and a small admin fee, you may have to set your dignity aside for the week and drive about in a pink Fiat 500 though.

My advice, if you are considering an early one, is at the very least, to attend to the problems I have mentioned before the basic warranty expires if the earlier owner has not done so. That 4th/5th year/75,000 mile cover cost me £1399 and is transferable.

I also paid £1599 for a 5 year 45,000 mile service plan..... the 5yr 100,000 mile would have cost me £3599

If you are not already signed up I would suggest to keep up on related stuff at https://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/..... busy place.

Don.

Edited by norchi on Friday 14th June 17:46

[ecain63]

I've extended mine to 5 years. My car has given me no trouble but I was happy to pay for the peace of mind.

[urquattroGus]

Guys, sorry if asked before, but how do I extend??

I'm at about 2.5 years since delivery....

[norchi]

Any dealer.... but you have to have paid up before the end of the initial three years, but best check just in case I am wrong.....

Don.

[Dezbo]

Is there any way to contact Alfa/MOPAR directly? My local dealer (Mangos) only seem to offer a 3rd party warranty.

[norchi]

I maybe did not look far enough ahead in respect of the extra cost of extending the fixed cost of service between 45,000 and 100,000 miles, but it is an extra £2000 .....

Might be well worth checking what serious stuff is scheduled in that time to warrant that and whether, if allowed, it is worth divying up for. Taking into account inflation and being on an isolated and impoverished island adrift off mainland Europe.

Don.

Edited by norchi on Friday 14th June 21:02

[norchi]

Dezbo said:

Is there any way to contact Alfa/MOPAR directly? My local dealer (Mangos) only seem to offer a 3rd party warranty.

It can be bought from any dealer. Probably 'mango' are greedy sts who want the extra profit from a non FCA warranty and will lie to that end.

Don.

[firethorne]

Been meaning to write an update for a few weeks and this last round of warrantee questions is my prompt.

I’m now nearly 5000 miles in and the car has hardly missed a beat! Had service front splitter warning light on 2 occasions, a few week ago but obviously reset and apart from that, and sometimes the turbo not kicking when I expect it to (think that’s my driving style and not an issue) it’s just fun fun fun.

Exhaust flaps are open 99% of the time, ( definitely urge you to do this upgrade) . I have had a great response from drivers on the road and in petrol stations. ( can’t imagine an M3/4 driver would have a van driver winding down the windows and saying how beautiful your car is, and telling you to boot it so he can hear the exhaust )

All my mates I have taken out and allowed to drive it, are blown away by it and absolutely love it. These a real petrol heads with porkers, RS4/6 , C63 etc. They all say the qv is the best and (feel ) fastest car they have driven. It’s the rawness that does it.

My advice to anyone considering the quadrifoglio...... just do it, you won’t regret it!!

Personally I love the corsa tyre but will be putting on winters as it’s my daily.

[ShahGQV]

firethorne said:

Been meaning to write an update for a few weeks and this last round of warrantee questions is my prompt.

I’m now nearly 5000 miles in and the car has hardly missed a beat! Had service front splitter warning light on 2 occasions, a few week ago but obviously reset and apart from that, and sometimes the turbo not kicking when I expect it to (think that’s my driving style and not an issue) it’s just fun fun fun.

Exhaust flaps are open 99% of the time, ( definitely urge you to do this upgrade) . I have had a great response from drivers on the road and in petrol stations. ( can’t imagine an M3/4 driver would have a van driver winding down the windows and saying how beautiful your car is, and telling you to boot it so he can hear the exhaust )

All my mates I have taken out and allowed to drive it, are blown away by it and absolutely love it. These a real petrol heads with porkers, RS4/6 , C63 etc. They all say the qv is the best and (feel ) fastest car they have driven. It’s the rawness that does it.

My advice to anyone considering the quadrifoglio...... just do it, you won’t regret it!!

Personally I love the corsa tyre but will be putting on winters as it’s my daily.

Totally agree amazing car and buy it if you can.

We have a few weeks of hot weather so I'll keep my Corsas on and then will switch to Goodyear SuperSport, which I hope will be okay in low temps and won't need to get full winter shoes.

[firethorne]

ShahGQV said:

firethorne said:

Been meaning to write an update for a few weeks and this last round of warrantee questions is my prompt.

I’m now nearly 5000 miles in and the car has hardly missed a beat! Had service front splitter warning light on 2 occasions, a few week ago but obviously reset and apart from that, and sometimes the turbo not kicking when I expect it to (think that’s my driving style and not an issue) it’s just fun fun fun.

Exhaust flaps are open 99% of the time, ( definitely urge you to do this upgrade) . I have had a great response from drivers on the road and in petrol stations. ( can’t imagine an M3/4 driver would have a van driver winding down the windows and saying how beautiful your car is, and telling you to boot it so he can hear the exhaust )

All my mates I have taken out and allowed to drive it, are blown away by it and absolutely love it. These a real petrol heads with porkers, RS4/6 , C63 etc. They all say the qv is the best and (feel ) fastest car they have driven. It’s the rawness that does it.

My advice to anyone considering the quadrifoglio...... just do it, you won’t regret it!!

Personally I love the corsa tyre but will be putting on winters as it’s my daily.

Totally agree amazing car and buy it if you can.

We have a few weeks of hot weather so I'll keep my Corsas on and then will switch to Goodyear SuperSport, which I hope will be okay in low temps and won't need to get full winter shoes.

I also hear a lot of positivity around mps4,. So was wondering about them for the winter instead. Just can’t make up my mind. Any input of owners having run one through the winter would be much appreciated

[virtualm]

firethorne said:

I also hear a lot of positivity around mps4,. So was wondering about them for the winter instead. Just can’t make up my mind. Any input of owners having run one through the winter would be much appreciated

I did this, they are not great tbh. Although we didnt have much snow last year I had the back out 3 times on an icy road where I lived, and twice on the M6 in slow traffic. It was the same time of the year as when I had the Corsa's on last year, never had this issue with the corsa's but I was driving on different roads then. It's a difficult one to answer, winters the only sure option but I took the risk.

[ecain63]

MPS4S (not MPS4) would work fine in all but the worst of our winter weathers, far better than the Corsas. Certainly had no issues with the Michelins myself.