Wooohooo finally :)
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TheLemming

Original Poster:

4,319 posts

286 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
Courtesty of a last minute tip-off from a mate at work and the local car auctions, tomorrow morning I will be the proud owner of a 156.

Immaculate black paintwork, unmarked cloth interior, full service history, brand shiney new MOT and a bit of a bargain. 90,000 mile Y reg 2001.

I've spent the last 3 weeks borrowing a mate's 156 and totally fallen in love with it, so my own had to be coming soon.

So whats next? What do I need to look out for and take special care over? Any tips?

51mes

1,531 posts

221 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
Cambelts!! and tensioners.

Need to be done every 36K or 3 years - find out and get them done if your outside this or not sure. also check to see wether the waterpump impeller should be done these were plastic originally and prone to disintegrating.

Front suspension drop links are a common weak point, the leads to a clunking when going over bumps in the road.

The electrics in the car can be sensitive (computer reporting spurious faults) to a weak battery...

Get yourself over to www.alfaowner.com - for the full lowdown.

Enjoy I had 2 156's and loved them to bits especially my GTA.

Simes.


wrinx

680 posts

261 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
51mes said:
Cambelts!! and tensioners.

Need to be done every 36K or 3 years - find out and get them done if your outside this or not sure. also check to see wether the water pump impeller should be done these were plastic originally and prone to disintegrating.
Are you confusing two engines there? 2.5 V6s have the chocolate water pumps but the Twinsparks are fine. Whereas the Twinsparks have chocolate belts and tensioners compared to the (relatively!) safe 24v V6.

Either way....check the belts and tensioners have been done as it's showing 90k!

wrinx

TheLemming

Original Poster:

4,319 posts

286 months

Friday 1st August 2008
quotequote all
wrinx said:
51mes said:
Cambelts!! and tensioners.

Need to be done every 36K or 3 years - find out and get them done if your outside this or not sure. also check to see wether the water pump impeller should be done these were plastic originally and prone to disintegrating.
Are you confusing two engines there? 2.5 V6s have the chocolate water pumps but the Twinsparks are fine. Whereas the Twinsparks have chocolate belts and tensioners compared to the (relatively!) safe 24v V6.

Either way....check the belts and tensioners have been done as it's showing 90k!

wrinx
Two threads and everyone's mentioned the belts. First thing to check Sunday then - AFAIK it's been serviced exclusivley by the same main dealer so shouldnt be TOO hard to find out.

JR

13,995 posts

279 months

Saturday 2nd August 2008
quotequote all
TheLemming said:
everyone's mentioned the belts. First thing to check Sunday
No need to check - just change the belt and tensioner.

Alfahorn

7,815 posts

229 months

Saturday 2nd August 2008
quotequote all
JR said:
TheLemming said:
everyone's mentioned the belts. First thing to check Sunday
No need to check - just change the belt and tensioner.
Agreed, i would just do it.

Where in the UK are you? I'm sure we could recommend a suitable specialist who could do it for much cheapness!

Congrats on bagging such a bargain.

Alfahorn

7,815 posts

229 months

Saturday 2nd August 2008
quotequote all
Alfahorn said:
JR said:
TheLemming said:
everyone's mentioned the belts. First thing to check Sunday
No need to check - just change the belt and tensioner.
Agreed, i would just do it.

Where in the UK are you? I'm sure we could recommend a suitable specialist who could do it for much cheapness!

Congrats on bagging such a bargain.
I should have just read your profile.

Here you go...

http://www.daysmk.com/Default.asp

TheLemming

Original Poster:

4,319 posts

286 months

Saturday 2nd August 2008
quotequote all
Alfahorn said:
Alfahorn said:
JR said:
TheLemming said:
everyone's mentioned the belts. First thing to check Sunday
No need to check - just change the belt and tensioner.
Agreed, i would just do it.

Where in the UK are you? I'm sure we could recommend a suitable specialist who could do it for much cheapness!

Congrats on bagging such a bargain.
I should have just read your profile.

Here you go...

http://www.daysmk.com/Default.asp
Sweet thankyou smile

I will be in touch with them next month when those nice people I work for give me some more money...

Just picked her up, she's lovely smile

The only quibble is the boot doesnt seem to open... The remote makes a clunking noise but no feedback from the manual release. Not an immediate issue but I suppose I really should get it sorted smile Oh and needs new wiper blades.. Even has half a tank of petrol in it, fully valeted and shiney as shiney can be.

Oh and the obligatory *some idiot tried to wipe out my new car* moment.

A delapidated 80's jap shed pulled out in front of me on a large roundabout, with me cruising 40-50? and I had to brake to near stop to avoid rear ending the idiot. Close thing... about half a sodding mile away from picking the car up as well...

My housemate's just nicked the keys. He's been gone for a while. Starting to get slightly paranoid!

With two alfas in the house now we should be far more regular visitors in here.

(Oh PS any recommendations for a reasonably priced source for Alfa Wheeltrims? Alloys will be on there for Christmas but till then, the current one's arent impressive.)

funwithrevs

594 posts

216 months

Sunday 3rd August 2008
quotequote all
I normally get stuff like wiper blades from here:

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/

TheLemming

Original Poster:

4,319 posts

286 months

Sunday 3rd August 2008
quotequote all
funwithrevs said:
I normally get stuff like wiper blades from here:

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/
They were far enough gone that they needed pretty much instantly replacing so Halfrauds obliged.

Finally got into the boot, didnt realise the boot badge concealed a keyhole - which worked fine (neither did my housemate who's had his for six months...).

Washed her, waxed her, polished her and got ready to take pics... at which point the clouds opened...

I swear waxing a car is like performing a rain dance...

philoldsmobile

524 posts

228 months

Friday 8th August 2008
quotequote all
TheLemming said:
Alfahorn said:
Alfahorn said:
JR said:
TheLemming said:
everyone's mentioned the belts. First thing to check Sunday
No need to check - just change the belt and tensioner.
Agreed, i would just do it.

Where in the UK are you? I'm sure we could recommend a suitable specialist who could do it for much cheapness!

Congrats on bagging such a bargain.
I should have just read your profile.

Here you go...

http://www.daysmk.com/Default.asp
Sweet thankyou smile

I will be in touch with them next month when those nice people I work for give me some more money...

Just picked her up, she's lovely smile

The only quibble is the boot doesnt seem to open... The remote makes a clunking noise but no feedback from the manual release. Not an immediate issue but I suppose I really should get it sorted smile Oh and needs new wiper blades.. Even has half a tank of petrol in it, fully valeted and shiney as shiney can be.

Oh and the obligatory *some idiot tried to wipe out my new car* moment.

A delapidated 80's jap shed pulled out in front of me on a large roundabout, with me cruising 40-50? and I had to brake to near stop to avoid rear ending the idiot. Close thing... about half a sodding mile away from picking the car up as well...

My housemate's just nicked the keys. He's been gone for a while. Starting to get slightly paranoid!

With two alfas in the house now we should be far more regular visitors in here.

(Oh PS any recommendations for a reasonably priced source for Alfa Wheeltrims? Alloys will be on there for Christmas but till then, the current one's arent impressive.)
i'll second Days MK, they are absolutely excellent, and their service shames every main dealer i have ever seen. needless to say, when offered the chance to buy David Days own 166, i jumped at the chance. true to form its been a fantastic car!

oh what the hell, cant resist posting a pic!



Edited by philoldsmobile on Friday 8th August 19:59

TheLemming

Original Poster:

4,319 posts

286 months

Saturday 9th August 2008
quotequote all
mmm nice smile

Was about to post the obligatory pics before I realised I need to host them somewhere first... up later then lol

Alfahorn

7,815 posts

229 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
Nice looking 166 Phil.smile