Brera buying advice
Discussion
Firstly if this has been asked a million times before please accept my apologies !
I am considering pressing the button on a 2008 Brera 1 JTS V6 with just shy of 90k miles . This vehicle has been serviced annually by the local Alfa agent and has just passed its MOT with no advisories , so all good so far . Its for sale via a specialist and the condition looks to be excellent both inside and out .
However and here is the issue , whilst I have extensive knowledge on certain makes , I know very little about these vehicles , so I would like to appeal to you experts to guide me on anything that I should be considering or asking about during the process , weak points , things that are known to go wrong , and at that mileage are there any impending disasters waiting to happen .
I just want to go in with my eyes open so any advice you can throw my way would be invaluable and much appreciated .
I am considering pressing the button on a 2008 Brera 1 JTS V6 with just shy of 90k miles . This vehicle has been serviced annually by the local Alfa agent and has just passed its MOT with no advisories , so all good so far . Its for sale via a specialist and the condition looks to be excellent both inside and out .
However and here is the issue , whilst I have extensive knowledge on certain makes , I know very little about these vehicles , so I would like to appeal to you experts to guide me on anything that I should be considering or asking about during the process , weak points , things that are known to go wrong , and at that mileage are there any impending disasters waiting to happen .
I just want to go in with my eyes open so any advice you can throw my way would be invaluable and much appreciated .
LMV600 said:
Firstly if this has been asked a million times before please accept my apologies !
I am considering pressing the button on a 2008 Brera 1 JTS V6 with just shy of 90k miles . This vehicle has been serviced annually by the local Alfa agent and has just passed its MOT with no advisories , so all good so far . Its for sale via a specialist and the condition looks to be excellent both inside and out .
However and here is the issue , whilst I have extensive knowledge on certain makes , I know very little about these vehicles , so I would like to appeal to you experts to guide me on anything that I should be considering or asking about during the process , weak points , things that are known to go wrong , and at that mileage are there any impending disasters waiting to happen .
I just want to go in with my eyes open so any advice you can throw my way would be invaluable and much appreciated .
I'm by no means an expert on the Brera/159/Spider series, but I have been contemplating one of these myself, so have done a bit of digging. Plenty of info on AlfaOwner, but to distill the main points as I understand them:I am considering pressing the button on a 2008 Brera 1 JTS V6 with just shy of 90k miles . This vehicle has been serviced annually by the local Alfa agent and has just passed its MOT with no advisories , so all good so far . Its for sale via a specialist and the condition looks to be excellent both inside and out .
However and here is the issue , whilst I have extensive knowledge on certain makes , I know very little about these vehicles , so I would like to appeal to you experts to guide me on anything that I should be considering or asking about during the process , weak points , things that are known to go wrong , and at that mileage are there any impending disasters waiting to happen .
I just want to go in with my eyes open so any advice you can throw my way would be invaluable and much appreciated .
Basically soundly engineered cars - a bit heavy , so possibly not so rewarding to drive as the 147/156 series .
Both 2.2 & 3.2 engines were based on under-engineered GM blocks with basic cam chains, rather than duplex. Combined with 18K service intervals, this is a recipe for stretched chains. Not a huge issue with the 2.2 costwise, but for the 4WD 3.2 models, you are probably looking at £2K minimum and £3K quite possible for a new cam-chain.
If you can find a 3.2 that has been serviced on the button every year with < 10K per year, the cam chains could still be fine. They are meant to be lifetime components, but depend on oil jets for lubrication, so are killed by claggy oil. I'm not going to buy one until I find one with a "perfect" documented service history. Even then, you have to be mindful of the possibility of cam chain issues.
Bodywork is normally pretty good rustwise, but front subframes rust where they contact the undertray. This makes the issue hard to see without getting the car on a ramp . I think there can be suspension component wear , and rear springs sometimes crack.
I'm sure someone will be along shortly with some actual knowledge of the vehicles, but I'd say points to watch are cam chains, cam chains, cam chains, subframes & cam chains.
Cant add to much to the helpful advice above, generally finding an alfa specialist nearby is worth its weight. Its worth traveling for the knowledge on these cars but is with most marques i guess. Some parts are expensive and better to diagnose early and replace.
159/Brera from my experience are hard on suspension. if they've been tweaked with polybushes or upgraded springs then that's a plus, one thing less to worry about.
Front sub frame as mentioned.
Use genuine parts, most copies are weak and have heard of lots of issues.
Check tires for even wear, may look ok but check inside edges.
If its a Q4 like mine then they have their nuances which makes parts a pain sometimes. Lots are unique and need to be shipped from Italy directly.
Prodrive fettle'd models are more desirable
Exhaust upgrade recommended!
Great motor and the 3.2s the one to get. I can see them holding and increasing value in the future. A top spec Brera looks great on the road.
Cant add much...
159/Brera from my experience are hard on suspension. if they've been tweaked with polybushes or upgraded springs then that's a plus, one thing less to worry about.
Front sub frame as mentioned.
Use genuine parts, most copies are weak and have heard of lots of issues.
Check tires for even wear, may look ok but check inside edges.
If its a Q4 like mine then they have their nuances which makes parts a pain sometimes. Lots are unique and need to be shipped from Italy directly.
Prodrive fettle'd models are more desirable
Exhaust upgrade recommended!
Great motor and the 3.2s the one to get. I can see them holding and increasing value in the future. A top spec Brera looks great on the road.
Cant add much...
Edited by SmudgeQ4 on Friday 11th January 13:27
The only thing I'd add is to be very careful of the Q4 elements of these, a work colleague who's owned his from newly new and never skimped on servicing got landed with a 5K bill to get the transfer box renewed. This was with an Alfa main dealer (took them a couple of goes to get it right as well) but looking on Alfa Owner it isn't an uncommon issue, that said his chains are perfect so advice on oil is well founded.
I ran a 159 SW TBi up to 92K and this era of Alfa is very reliable although the paint is shockingly bad in metallic black (worst of any car I've owned) with red not far behind.
If you can find one of the 60 or so TBi Brera they sold I'd personally buy one of those instead of a 3.2 Q4.
I ran a 159 SW TBi up to 92K and this era of Alfa is very reliable although the paint is shockingly bad in metallic black (worst of any car I've owned) with red not far behind.
If you can find one of the 60 or so TBi Brera they sold I'd personally buy one of those instead of a 3.2 Q4.
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