An italian affair - a weekend trip to italy for a 159 meet
Discussion
Hi Piston headers.
TL:DR I am in love with the 159 and drove from Denmark to "Lago de Garda" to the Alfa 159 meeting celebrating the "James Bond Quantum of solace" intro. (Please do go search your favorite video supplyer)
From the "beginning"
I have for loong been in love with my first Alfa 159 2.4 SW, and having been doing Spa and Nürburgring a few times as well. Enjoying the wonderfully competent car as one should.
(yes, it is a FWD Diesel, but 33000 Nm rigidity, dual wishbones up front with 4 piston Brembo monoblock and multilink rear. It does handle quite good.)
But unfortunately, it died on a Nürburgring trip a few years later and resulted in a change for my 2nd 159 2.4 2.4 SW.
Which unfortunately was a bit of a lemon with a cracked head.
All five cylinders looked like this.
The head was sent to Veicomer for a fix and a porting.
They made really nice work welding up the cracks. I finally got the car on the road and I drove it to Nice on a holiday trip in 2017 and I had a nice drive through the Vosges down there, and over the Alps on the way back. (The guy inviting me to Nice ended up Buying a 159 3.2 SW Q4 after spending time around mine for a week.)
Including the highest paved mountain pass in europe.
This is from the Vosges where we also visited the Bugatti museeum.
But with my luck, the head had suffered deeper and went bad again. So I needed a better fix for the cylinderhead.
After a bit of search. I was lucky to source a "175" HP engine and use the cylinderhead from there.
During the many months of fixing the car. I enjoyed a Panda 100HP, but the cash drain of a car ment low level in the travel piggy bank. So I was dreaming my self away.
I especially wanted to go the big Alfa Romeo 159 meeting near Lago de Garda /the Carrara quarry every year. Where a lot of other Alfa 159 owners met up, went for a few hours of drive, and then finished off with some nice food and drinks.
Now that was a proper destination for a drive for when the car was up and running again.
Then, unfortunately.
Covid happened, and during those years, the lemon became more and more crispy in the sills, even though the car became faster and faster, and when I pulled the plates. It made 297 HP/580Nm with a 5100 rpm redline.
In other words. Too good of an engine to throw out. Epsecially after all the hard work in fixing it.
But Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 doing 2.4 things. it might be possible to sell the engine to one with a broken head. :-D
And for most people. Having owned such a lemon. The most sensible thing to do was to drop Alfa Romeo and the powerfull, but at times fragile 5 cylinder 2.4.
So I did the sensible thing and bought my third Alfa Romeo 159 2.4.
This time knowing it had a broken engine
But it was really well specced, and in good nick. Had the best seats (8 way electric, and pre facelift rear), the best stereo (Bose 10 speaker W/O original navi), Sunroof, front and rear parking sensors. And TI cabin plus some other goodies
It took a long winter and spring to fix the car. Transplant the engine, throw out the red car. Update the gearbox to quaife and stuff like that, 300 BHP FWD needs a diff to put the power down.
I was in good time, and finished the car 2 weeks before my trip to the Alfa Romeo 159 meeting in Italy. But with my luck, the little plastic venting block on the clutch line was leaking. GREAT!
I chose to out source the job this time since I didn't have time to fix it. I was in a hurry now. And the car didn't even have plates on it...
Then Finally! The friday in the week where the meeting was on the Sunday. Car was ready to pickup. I went to get plates for it. Get it ensured. And went home to pack for my trip.
Things where good. It pulled good - then died on me....
The good thing about the Alfa Romeo 159 is, that even when broken down. It is a nice car to look at. I got a ride home and plugged it in to the computer. It turned out that the plug for the rew counter wasn't clicked in properly phew, a bit of luck for once.
Saturday came. I got the AC recharced and left for Italy. But with my luck the pollution sensor wirering was defect, so no AC for me, at least it wasn't that hot...
I had some looooong hours in the car. But the seats are so comfy, and the car just flows effortlesly through Germany with around 160-200 km/h
Saturday arrived. And I was in the area!
I had a few hours of sleep at a service station with some really nice coffee and baked goods, and pasta, and wine, and what have you.
A short drive and a car wash later. I meet up with the others
a few swiss cars, my Danish and the rest of the 49 cars was "local" from as far as Rome.
From the meeting point, we drove up along the lake and passing the places where they filmed the Quantum of Solace intro. (Do go see it, that video made me drive this trip form Aarhus in Denmark)
It was a really nice cruise, and at the northern end of the lake. we enjoyed a 4 course meal with nice wine, coffee and Spumante.
After the nice long lunch. I was gifted for the longest drive, and other participants received gifts as well.
Now I just needed to go home So I was ready for work tuesday.
The trip home went over Tonale, Gavia, Stelvio and some other nice passes where Gavia was the most "thrilling" It is narrow, and badly paved, and just plain scary at times. I was happy to get down again before dark! But it sure was pretty as well.
Gavia pass
Valfurva
Stelvio
But, then I was hit with my luck onw more time...
At a sleeping stop in Germany. The starter gave up on me. I couldn't start. And I was almost out of spare time before I could arrive home for work tuesday.
I got a push, and could go home.
After I got home, I changed the starter (from the spare, but broken engine) and also found out the the workshop I had used hadn't tightened my gearbox properly after fixing the clutch. WOW, that could have been a lot worse than it acctually went.
I got the car fixed one more time. (I know my way around the car after all these years)
I have had the car remapped for non smoking purposes and I have been to the Alps and Nürburgring one more time this year, as well as a trip to Paris.
This car just loves to be driven. For long distances, and at high speeds!
And that five cylinder just growls and sings like no other diesel. It acctually sounds good, especially past 4.000 rpm under load with 2.3 bars of boost.
That is why I am on my 3rd Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDm
TL:DR I am in love with the 159 and drove from Denmark to "Lago de Garda" to the Alfa 159 meeting celebrating the "James Bond Quantum of solace" intro. (Please do go search your favorite video supplyer)
From the "beginning"
I have for loong been in love with my first Alfa 159 2.4 SW, and having been doing Spa and Nürburgring a few times as well. Enjoying the wonderfully competent car as one should.
(yes, it is a FWD Diesel, but 33000 Nm rigidity, dual wishbones up front with 4 piston Brembo monoblock and multilink rear. It does handle quite good.)
But unfortunately, it died on a Nürburgring trip a few years later and resulted in a change for my 2nd 159 2.4 2.4 SW.
Which unfortunately was a bit of a lemon with a cracked head.
All five cylinders looked like this.
The head was sent to Veicomer for a fix and a porting.
They made really nice work welding up the cracks. I finally got the car on the road and I drove it to Nice on a holiday trip in 2017 and I had a nice drive through the Vosges down there, and over the Alps on the way back. (The guy inviting me to Nice ended up Buying a 159 3.2 SW Q4 after spending time around mine for a week.)
Including the highest paved mountain pass in europe.
This is from the Vosges where we also visited the Bugatti museeum.
But with my luck, the head had suffered deeper and went bad again. So I needed a better fix for the cylinderhead.
After a bit of search. I was lucky to source a "175" HP engine and use the cylinderhead from there.
During the many months of fixing the car. I enjoyed a Panda 100HP, but the cash drain of a car ment low level in the travel piggy bank. So I was dreaming my self away.
I especially wanted to go the big Alfa Romeo 159 meeting near Lago de Garda /the Carrara quarry every year. Where a lot of other Alfa 159 owners met up, went for a few hours of drive, and then finished off with some nice food and drinks.
Now that was a proper destination for a drive for when the car was up and running again.
Then, unfortunately.
Covid happened, and during those years, the lemon became more and more crispy in the sills, even though the car became faster and faster, and when I pulled the plates. It made 297 HP/580Nm with a 5100 rpm redline.
In other words. Too good of an engine to throw out. Epsecially after all the hard work in fixing it.
But Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 doing 2.4 things. it might be possible to sell the engine to one with a broken head. :-D
And for most people. Having owned such a lemon. The most sensible thing to do was to drop Alfa Romeo and the powerfull, but at times fragile 5 cylinder 2.4.
So I did the sensible thing and bought my third Alfa Romeo 159 2.4.
This time knowing it had a broken engine
But it was really well specced, and in good nick. Had the best seats (8 way electric, and pre facelift rear), the best stereo (Bose 10 speaker W/O original navi), Sunroof, front and rear parking sensors. And TI cabin plus some other goodiesIt took a long winter and spring to fix the car. Transplant the engine, throw out the red car. Update the gearbox to quaife and stuff like that, 300 BHP FWD needs a diff to put the power down.
I was in good time, and finished the car 2 weeks before my trip to the Alfa Romeo 159 meeting in Italy. But with my luck, the little plastic venting block on the clutch line was leaking. GREAT!
I chose to out source the job this time since I didn't have time to fix it. I was in a hurry now. And the car didn't even have plates on it...
Then Finally! The friday in the week where the meeting was on the Sunday. Car was ready to pickup. I went to get plates for it. Get it ensured. And went home to pack for my trip.
Things where good. It pulled good - then died on me....
The good thing about the Alfa Romeo 159 is, that even when broken down. It is a nice car to look at. I got a ride home and plugged it in to the computer. It turned out that the plug for the rew counter wasn't clicked in properly phew, a bit of luck for once.
Saturday came. I got the AC recharced and left for Italy. But with my luck the pollution sensor wirering was defect, so no AC for me, at least it wasn't that hot...
I had some looooong hours in the car. But the seats are so comfy, and the car just flows effortlesly through Germany with around 160-200 km/h
Saturday arrived. And I was in the area!
I had a few hours of sleep at a service station with some really nice coffee and baked goods, and pasta, and wine, and what have you.
A short drive and a car wash later. I meet up with the others
a few swiss cars, my Danish and the rest of the 49 cars was "local" from as far as Rome.
From the meeting point, we drove up along the lake and passing the places where they filmed the Quantum of Solace intro. (Do go see it, that video made me drive this trip form Aarhus in Denmark)
It was a really nice cruise, and at the northern end of the lake. we enjoyed a 4 course meal with nice wine, coffee and Spumante.
After the nice long lunch. I was gifted for the longest drive, and other participants received gifts as well.
Now I just needed to go home So I was ready for work tuesday.
The trip home went over Tonale, Gavia, Stelvio and some other nice passes where Gavia was the most "thrilling" It is narrow, and badly paved, and just plain scary at times. I was happy to get down again before dark! But it sure was pretty as well.
Gavia pass
Valfurva
Stelvio
But, then I was hit with my luck onw more time...
At a sleeping stop in Germany. The starter gave up on me. I couldn't start. And I was almost out of spare time before I could arrive home for work tuesday.
I got a push, and could go home.
After I got home, I changed the starter (from the spare, but broken engine) and also found out the the workshop I had used hadn't tightened my gearbox properly after fixing the clutch. WOW, that could have been a lot worse than it acctually went.
I got the car fixed one more time. (I know my way around the car after all these years)
I have had the car remapped for non smoking purposes and I have been to the Alps and Nürburgring one more time this year, as well as a trip to Paris.
This car just loves to be driven. For long distances, and at high speeds!
And that five cylinder just growls and sings like no other diesel. It acctually sounds good, especially past 4.000 rpm under load with 2.3 bars of boost.
That is why I am on my 3rd Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDm
Edited by DkVelo on Tuesday 21st March 02:42
Congratulations, particularly for your perseverance - the 159 is a handsome beast and I can understand your passion.
Alfa’s we’re my first love and I really must get another at some point. I ran them as dailies for a good few years and, other than my GTV locking me in one night, never had any problems!
Alfa’s we’re my first love and I really must get another at some point. I ran them as dailies for a good few years and, other than my GTV locking me in one night, never had any problems!
Thanks.
Every time I try something else. I just become so disappointed.
Ither by the quality of the interior, the way it drives or the price of the car.
The 159 is a top quality job. But unfortunately not without its issues. But at the moment, I am on top of them. And have a really competent car. And I look forward to do NC500 in it, and drive it to the north cape. That is how much I trust this car now, even after 230.000 km.
Fun fact. The engine has been in three cars, and the head has been in three cars. But not the same three cars :-)
Every time I try something else. I just become so disappointed.
Ither by the quality of the interior, the way it drives or the price of the car.
The 159 is a top quality job. But unfortunately not without its issues. But at the moment, I am on top of them. And have a really competent car. And I look forward to do NC500 in it, and drive it to the north cape. That is how much I trust this car now, even after 230.000 km.
Fun fact. The engine has been in three cars, and the head has been in three cars. But not the same three cars :-)
ettore said:
Congratulations, particularly for your perseverance - the 159 is a handsome beast and I can understand your passion.
Alfa’s we’re my first love and I really must get another at some point. I ran them as dailies for a good few years and, other than my GTV locking me in one night, never had any problems!
There is just something about them. Just like old BMW M cars. I hope you find a good car one dayAlfa’s we’re my first love and I really must get another at some point. I ran them as dailies for a good few years and, other than my GTV locking me in one night, never had any problems!
jrock78 said:
Wow - Thanks for sharing. I really miss my 159s they are such a nice place to be and that drive sounds epic. I have a Stelvio now and often think about taking it on a long european trip. One for the bucket list
Understandable. The 159 has a nice cabin. And yes. That drive was good. I topped it later with a trip to Swizerland for the Bernina Hill Climb and the https://i-s-a-w.com/ and a drive past some classic spots on the way back.Showing my 10 year old son some proper cars and places. Incl. the Belvedere hotel where I stayed a night in 2001
MikeGTi said:
Awesome post OP 
Seems Alfas require a bit of perseverance
ThanksSeems Alfas require a bit of perseverance
Well yeah
My first Alfa was really really good. So I knew what it could offer.
My 2nd was quite s
t. but became really good, but was just old. (400.000+ km)So I knew it could something.
And my current car is quite sweet. Even though it still needs some attention in order to be perfect.
But when you compare it to what else is on the road. You forgive quite a lot of its flaws just for how it looks.
And when you drive it. You forgive the rest!
Gray sedan vs. Gray sedan. Same same - ish
Also, here is a shot of #2 compared with some modern family cars.
It almost looks small next to them.
Edited by DkVelo on Tuesday 21st March 02:27
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