Marky's £300 Alfa Spider. Uh-oh.
Discussion
Just thought I'd pop a thread on here to monitor any progress or most probably lack of it, for the latest purchase.
Total impulse buy as I don't have any time to work on my decent cars let alone a banger.
3 reasons why I really shouldn't have bought it.
1) After my last Alfa (which was also my first Alfa) I swore never again.
2) It was off a bloke down the pub.
3) It has no mot and an engine management light on.
So why did I buy it?
Well the bloke down the pub is actually a regular in my village pub and the local MP and MEP. He's also a farmer and coincidentally that's the farm where I kept my GT3 during my building work.
So I know him really.
He's owned it for 3 or 4 years, paid about a grand for it and spent £600 for last mot.
He's done a few hundred miles a year pottering about on sunny days.
Lastly any working car has to worth £300 maybe double with an mot on it.
Some pics.
More to follow in a few minutes.
Total impulse buy as I don't have any time to work on my decent cars let alone a banger.
3 reasons why I really shouldn't have bought it.
1) After my last Alfa (which was also my first Alfa) I swore never again.
2) It was off a bloke down the pub.
3) It has no mot and an engine management light on.
So why did I buy it?
Well the bloke down the pub is actually a regular in my village pub and the local MP and MEP. He's also a farmer and coincidentally that's the farm where I kept my GT3 during my building work.
So I know him really.
He's owned it for 3 or 4 years, paid about a grand for it and spent £600 for last mot.
He's done a few hundred miles a year pottering about on sunny days.
Lastly any working car has to worth £300 maybe double with an mot on it.
Some pics.
More to follow in a few minutes.
So plans are to get it through a test then tidy up the cosmetics and run it for a bit.
It drives nicely actually. Only drove it 3 miles down the country lane back to my house but there are no knocks or rattles amazingly. Bit of scuttle shake and the rear end is a bit bouncy over bumps but for a sunny day cruiser it seems adequate in general.
Fuel filler flap smashed by Richard the guy I bought it off as the button on dash stopped working. There is meant to be an emergency pull chord in boot though so I'll have a look.
It's absolutely filthy inside and out but firstly it has to be roadworthy before wasting any time on making it pretty.
So anyway I'm going to spend a few hours now trying to get the central locking working as the passenger door can't be opened from inside either which is an instant mot fail.
The cooling fan has been wired in to come on with the ignition.
So I'll in do that and check fan switch works.
Has a power roof which is a bit lethargic but worked when I viewed it.
So can it restore my faith in those pretty Italian motor cars?
... I very much doubt it but hey, God loves a trier.
It drives nicely actually. Only drove it 3 miles down the country lane back to my house but there are no knocks or rattles amazingly. Bit of scuttle shake and the rear end is a bit bouncy over bumps but for a sunny day cruiser it seems adequate in general.
Fuel filler flap smashed by Richard the guy I bought it off as the button on dash stopped working. There is meant to be an emergency pull chord in boot though so I'll have a look.
It's absolutely filthy inside and out but firstly it has to be roadworthy before wasting any time on making it pretty.
So anyway I'm going to spend a few hours now trying to get the central locking working as the passenger door can't be opened from inside either which is an instant mot fail.
The cooling fan has been wired in to come on with the ignition.
So I'll in do that and check fan switch works.
Has a power roof which is a bit lethargic but worked when I viewed it.
So can it restore my faith in those pretty Italian motor cars?
... I very much doubt it but hey, God loves a trier.
Edited by marky911 on Monday 19th June 11:24
Looks a bargain, I paid £200 (delivered) for my red 1996 twin spark Spider a year ago, still not on the road but should be in about 12 months. Yours is a whole lot better and I'm genuinely surprised they are still down at rock bottom price wise especially for one in a decent colour.
Only advice is don't look too closely at the underneath or rear suspension, that's where my time (and money) has gone!!! Good luck and enjoy.
Only advice is don't look too closely at the underneath or rear suspension, that's where my time (and money) has gone!!! Good luck and enjoy.
Thanks for the comments.
Very good Usget.
I can safely say this will never be going down that route whilst in my possession.
Cheers Wal, yes I won't be poking around it too much. See what the mot guy finds. Yes the values are very low for the rougher examples.
I figure an Alfa fan could get a one like this and enjoy it as a rolling resto.
I won't get too carried away but will tackle the cosmetics a bit if it doesn't need loads of work for the mot.
Good looking getting yours finished. They are actually quite a nice design. Especially the front end.
Wayne you were spot on with the door cable. Had somehow popped out of the little stay on the door card so that's fixed.
I also found the battery and cables insecure, however the bracket and all nuts were there to sort that.
I then remembered Richard the farmer saying he always borrows the battery off it to power his clay machine when there's a shoot on.
Farmers don't do pampering.
I'll have a feel around those spring perches too. Cheers.
So after a quick poke about on Monday I sorted the passenger door and battery for mot.
I also found the back-up pull for the fuel flap in the boot so can now open that when required. Richard was sticking a spanner through the hole he smashed in the fuel filler door.
At least if I get a new fuel door I can now get access. I will look into why the electric dash switch isn't working, at a later date.
Pull chord.
And it worked. Da daah!
It's interesting and a bit sad when you find a car that is very original but at the same time pretty neglected. The boot contents were all there, ranging from the compressor and tyre treatment fluid, to the toolkit and wallet etc.
Interior is filthy
Carpets aren't too bad under the mats.
Mouse activity in the boot -
Dash just needs a clean and bar the aircon blowing warm (which is par for the course in a nigh on 20 yr old car) everything works. All the fan speeds and directional settings etc.
The seats are in great shape and will clean up well. No rips just minor creases and a bit dusty.
It is the Momo full leather with Alfa symbol embossed.
So then, other issues still to sort are the central locking.
When locking the car with remote or key in drivers door lock, the car locks and door pins drop but the passenger side motor runs on then the car unlocks and door pins pop back up.
If I lock the car using the key in passenger door lock both doors lock properly and stay locked.
Waking around to the passenger door every time you want to get in the car is no good though so for the moment I have disconnected the central locking so both doors can be locked/unlocked separately.
At least that way I can walk up to the drivers door and get in.
I have another couple of things to try but failing that the plastic gears in the actuator motor must be stripped.
Engine management light on the dash is on and the exhaust smells a bit fumey. If it fails mot on emissions I'll probably just eBay the car to get my money back.
Not getting involved in throwing parts at that.
Anyway, MOT on Monday or Tuesday so we'll see what that brings.
Very good Usget.
I can safely say this will never be going down that route whilst in my possession.
Cheers Wal, yes I won't be poking around it too much. See what the mot guy finds. Yes the values are very low for the rougher examples.
I figure an Alfa fan could get a one like this and enjoy it as a rolling resto.
I won't get too carried away but will tackle the cosmetics a bit if it doesn't need loads of work for the mot.
Good looking getting yours finished. They are actually quite a nice design. Especially the front end.
Wayne you were spot on with the door cable. Had somehow popped out of the little stay on the door card so that's fixed.
I also found the battery and cables insecure, however the bracket and all nuts were there to sort that.
I then remembered Richard the farmer saying he always borrows the battery off it to power his clay machine when there's a shoot on.
Farmers don't do pampering.
I'll have a feel around those spring perches too. Cheers.
So after a quick poke about on Monday I sorted the passenger door and battery for mot.
I also found the back-up pull for the fuel flap in the boot so can now open that when required. Richard was sticking a spanner through the hole he smashed in the fuel filler door.
At least if I get a new fuel door I can now get access. I will look into why the electric dash switch isn't working, at a later date.
Pull chord.
And it worked. Da daah!
It's interesting and a bit sad when you find a car that is very original but at the same time pretty neglected. The boot contents were all there, ranging from the compressor and tyre treatment fluid, to the toolkit and wallet etc.
Interior is filthy
Carpets aren't too bad under the mats.
Mouse activity in the boot -
Dash just needs a clean and bar the aircon blowing warm (which is par for the course in a nigh on 20 yr old car) everything works. All the fan speeds and directional settings etc.
The seats are in great shape and will clean up well. No rips just minor creases and a bit dusty.
It is the Momo full leather with Alfa symbol embossed.
So then, other issues still to sort are the central locking.
When locking the car with remote or key in drivers door lock, the car locks and door pins drop but the passenger side motor runs on then the car unlocks and door pins pop back up.
If I lock the car using the key in passenger door lock both doors lock properly and stay locked.
Waking around to the passenger door every time you want to get in the car is no good though so for the moment I have disconnected the central locking so both doors can be locked/unlocked separately.
At least that way I can walk up to the drivers door and get in.
I have another couple of things to try but failing that the plastic gears in the actuator motor must be stripped.
Engine management light on the dash is on and the exhaust smells a bit fumey. If it fails mot on emissions I'll probably just eBay the car to get my money back.
Not getting involved in throwing parts at that.
Anyway, MOT on Monday or Tuesday so we'll see what that brings.
You ain't seen nothing yet, wait until it gets freezing cold and our locks pop shut constantly, you can remove the gear wheel in the roof motor and try either rotating it a bit so it meshes or turn it round, if you can hear it trying to work then a quick tap on the lower part of the motor with a piece of wood might help, did you find the secret boot opening button ??
You can swap the boot rams for those from the bonnet from a 156 it then opens completely on the button.
Spider/GTV jacks like to collapse.
You can swap the boot rams for those from the bonnet from a 156 it then opens completely on the button.
Spider/GTV jacks like to collapse.
I have often thought about getting one of these as they do represent great VFM. IMO the TS can be one of the smarter picks too .
I had a couple of 147s and liked them quite a bit. I will say a few things though from experience :
-Try not to bodge the electrical system ; being CANBUS based it just makes the original fault worse ; the number plate light 'fix' is one example
-If the front upper arms are shot for the MOT don't waste your money on anything from ECP etc. even if it is Lemforder ; they will still die in about a year or two ; you can guess how I know. The thing to do is to either get genuine arms from Alfa or TRW items if you can find them. A longer lasting solution is to fix either PowerFlex or SuperFlex/Pro bushes to the arms ; they won't die again for a long time especially with the latter fix.
I'll have to see what you do Mark.
.I had a couple of 147s and liked them quite a bit. I will say a few things though from experience :
-Try not to bodge the electrical system ; being CANBUS based it just makes the original fault worse ; the number plate light 'fix' is one example
-If the front upper arms are shot for the MOT don't waste your money on anything from ECP etc. even if it is Lemforder ; they will still die in about a year or two ; you can guess how I know. The thing to do is to either get genuine arms from Alfa or TRW items if you can find them. A longer lasting solution is to fix either PowerFlex or SuperFlex/Pro bushes to the arms ; they won't die again for a long time especially with the latter fix.
I'll have to see what you do Mark
.Worth getting an OBD reader on it. Might be something as simple as a knackered lambda - our old 155 (same engine) had this and perked up considerably once fixed. Or the cat may be toast - also a pretty cheap fix with an aftermarket part.
The big risk for the MOT is rear suspension. I don't think these rot too badly, the plastic bits cover the metal bits reasonably well.
The big risk for the MOT is rear suspension. I don't think these rot too badly, the plastic bits cover the metal bits reasonably well.
Thanks for the comments.
Medic I agree, the front is very pretty.
It's strange actually because I think my brain automatically files cars under certain sections
and these were always filed as a bit quirky looking along with Fiat Coupes and Barchettas, hence I've always looked straight past them.
Now though I find myself walking past the Alfa and having a sneaky second glance at it.
Wayne, ha you obviously know all the quirks of this model now.
I take it you mean I can rotate the gears in the door motor, rather than the roof motor? As the roof works.
Yes I found the boot button. The one in the glovebox I take it?
It works with the same silky efficiency of the fuel flap release button. By which I mean not at all.
Hi Sebring Man, I haven't seen any updates on your M3 thread lately. Is it still with you?
Yes the TS seems a decent little engine. Oil level is crucial by all accounts.
Mine has a bit of belt/pulley whine.
My only other Alfa was a 156 estate 2.2 diesel. Quickish, torquey, smooth and sounded good for a diesel. Lots went wrong on it though so I pedalled it.
Cheers for the heads up on lower arms. Again my 156 needed them.
To be honest I'm willing to throw £100 or so at getting it through a test then a bit more on cosmetics such as my friendly dent man.
Anything more and I'll probably just list it on Ebay to recoup my costs.
I explained to Richard I wasn't buying it to sell on but at the same time I won't throw hundreds and hundreds at it as you can get a decent one for £1500 I think.
Time will tell.
Hi RXE, yes you speak complete sense. Pointless blindly presenting it for mot when I know there's a fault somewhere.
A friend of mine is bringing his reader home from work tomorrow so hopefully it may pin point the issue.
I've had a poke around and it seems very solid under neath and it had brake pipes etc last year.
The whole front end is plastic and even the rear end is rust free.
Bloomin' lacquer peel is a bugger though.
Cheers Brett, I've done sillier things in my dafter days.
To be honest "mental" is the guy who set off for Lemans in it at some time in its past.
Balls of steel that man.
Hi Harrison yes I'll keep you posted. On the one hand it has only done a few hundred miles since its last mot when Richard spent £600 on it. On the other hand it's an 18 year old Alfa that has lived in a barn for the best part of 3 years.
I'll end with a picture as they break up the text.
Another fault I found yesterday. Centre console lid ripped clean off!
How cack handed do you have to be to rip a compartment lid off. Honestly.
A previous owner must have been David Banner.
Anyway this weekends jobs are code reader, another look at passenger door lock and go through fuse box fuse by fuse, in the vain hope of stumbling across an easy fix or two.
I won't be spending long.
Then mot next week depending on what code reader brings up.
Cheers.
Medic I agree, the front is very pretty.
It's strange actually because I think my brain automatically files cars under certain sections
and these were always filed as a bit quirky looking along with Fiat Coupes and Barchettas, hence I've always looked straight past them. Now though I find myself walking past the Alfa and having a sneaky second glance at it.
Wayne, ha you obviously know all the quirks of this model now.
I take it you mean I can rotate the gears in the door motor, rather than the roof motor? As the roof works.
Yes I found the boot button. The one in the glovebox I take it?
It works with the same silky efficiency of the fuel flap release button. By which I mean not at all.
Hi Sebring Man, I haven't seen any updates on your M3 thread lately. Is it still with you?
Yes the TS seems a decent little engine. Oil level is crucial by all accounts.
Mine has a bit of belt/pulley whine.
My only other Alfa was a 156 estate 2.2 diesel. Quickish, torquey, smooth and sounded good for a diesel. Lots went wrong on it though so I pedalled it.
Cheers for the heads up on lower arms. Again my 156 needed them.
To be honest I'm willing to throw £100 or so at getting it through a test then a bit more on cosmetics such as my friendly dent man.
Anything more and I'll probably just list it on Ebay to recoup my costs.
I explained to Richard I wasn't buying it to sell on but at the same time I won't throw hundreds and hundreds at it as you can get a decent one for £1500 I think.
Time will tell.
Hi RXE, yes you speak complete sense. Pointless blindly presenting it for mot when I know there's a fault somewhere.
A friend of mine is bringing his reader home from work tomorrow so hopefully it may pin point the issue.
I've had a poke around and it seems very solid under neath and it had brake pipes etc last year.
The whole front end is plastic and even the rear end is rust free.
Bloomin' lacquer peel is a bugger though.
Cheers Brett, I've done sillier things in my dafter days.
To be honest "mental" is the guy who set off for Lemans in it at some time in its past.
Balls of steel that man.
Hi Harrison yes I'll keep you posted. On the one hand it has only done a few hundred miles since its last mot when Richard spent £600 on it. On the other hand it's an 18 year old Alfa that has lived in a barn for the best part of 3 years.
I'll end with a picture as they break up the text.
Another fault I found yesterday. Centre console lid ripped clean off!
How cack handed do you have to be to rip a compartment lid off. Honestly.
A previous owner must have been David Banner.
Anyway this weekends jobs are code reader, another look at passenger door lock and go through fuse box fuse by fuse, in the vain hope of stumbling across an easy fix or two.
I won't be spending long.
Then mot next week depending on what code reader brings up.
Cheers.
Edited by marky911 on Friday 23 June 00:48
Hi Marky,
All is well ta. The M3 is still with me. In two minds of what to do with it. I love it, and always am happy when I get out of the car etc. but God it's a pricey thing to run! I've not updated the thread as all I have done since the 'ring trip is put fuel into it and drive it. So it's no bad thing really for why the thread hasn't seen an update .
All is well ta. The M3 is still with me. In two minds of what to do with it. I love it, and always am happy when I get out of the car etc. but God it's a pricey thing to run! I've not updated the thread as all I have done since the 'ring trip is put fuel into it and drive it
. So it's no bad thing really for why the thread hasn't seen an update .rxe said:
Worth getting an OBD reader on it. Might be something as simple as a knackered lambda - our old 155 (same engine) had this and perked up considerably once fixed. Or the cat may be toast - also a pretty cheap fix with an aftermarket part.
The big risk for the MOT is rear suspension. I don't think these rot too badly, the plastic bits cover the metal bits reasonably well.
The cheapo OBD readers are useless on this. They certainly were on my 147 where they claimed all was fine yet the dash claimed something else (my BMW also did the same thing until I put that onto INPA). You can buy better readers though but it's knowing what to buy. The best bet is probably the Fiat based lead which I almost bought.The big risk for the MOT is rear suspension. I don't think these rot too badly, the plastic bits cover the metal bits reasonably well.
Sebring man, glad it's still going strong. Lovely car but I agree don't do an update saying "everything's fine" as you know you'll jinx it.
They're at that age (the age I usually buy) where there's no way of avoiding constant costs if you want to keep it tip top. That's why I avoid nice cars as daily drivers. No time of funds to keep one mint.
I'll see what code reader my mate has. We'll try it anyway and see if it does anything.
They're at that age (the age I usually buy) where there's no way of avoiding constant costs if you want to keep it tip top. That's why I avoid nice cars as daily drivers. No time of funds to keep one mint.
I'll see what code reader my mate has. We'll try it anyway and see if it does anything.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff