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About to buy Alfa 155 - advice?



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 20th 04, 11:03 AM
Hellraiser
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Default About to buy Alfa 155 - advice?

Just about to get a 155, and am nervous about how many of them have had
rebuilt engines - do they tend to go bang often? I know cambelts are a
weakness, but are they better or worse than other cars for shredding belts?
What's the reliability like, as I will need it to go to work and back 5 days
a week!

Cheers!

Hellraiser.........>


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  #2  
Old June 20th 04, 12:17 PM
SteveH
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Hellraiser > wrote:

> Just about to get a 155, and am nervous about how many of them have had
> rebuilt engines - do they tend to go bang often? I know cambelts are a
> weakness, but are they better or worse than other cars for shredding belts?
> What's the reliability like, as I will need it to go to work and back 5 days
> a week!


It all depends on which model you're taking about.

The earlier 4-cylinder cars came with the totally bulletproof old
chain-driven TSpark lump. Don't often hear of anything going wrong with
those. Most cars with this engine are the 'narrowbody' (ie. without
blistered wheelarches), however, this engine was available in the
'widebody' car for about 6 months - ISTR it was on a late N / early P
registration.

Later 'widebody' cars had the Fiat-based 16v TSpark lump with a cambelt.
They're not a weakness, any more than any cambelt is a weakness. Just
ensure it's changed regularly - 48k miles is, ISTR, the specified
interval, but I wouldn't risk more than 36k miles on _any_ cambelt - my
33 16v used to get them every 30k miles.

If you're looking at V6 cars, then I'd probably advise you to avoid
them. They're thirsty, tricky to maintain (as are all cars with a
transverse V6 installation), and not as well balanced as the 4-pot cars
due to the extra weight of the V6 lump.

Electrical niggles are likely to be the worst problem you encounter. Not
stuff that's likely to bring the car to a hault, but stuff like windows,
mirrors, etc tend to play up. I'd also avoid anything with climate
control, as it's overly complex for a car of that age - most 155s I've
viewed tend to have pretty expensive to fix problems with the climate
system.

Pick of the bunch, IMHO, is the widebody 8v. Super Lusso spec gets you
some extra toys including electric rear windows and climate control, so
stick to the basic spec.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300
VW Golf GL Cabrio - Alfa 75 TS - Alfa 155 TS Lusso - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
  #3  
Old June 21st 04, 10:47 PM
Anti
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Old engines are more reliable, but not bulletproof:
http://www.tac.ee/~anti/alfa/kottis.jpg




  #4  
Old August 5th 04, 01:55 PM
155fan
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Hi;
I've a 155 and the only majjor problem, (and I mean major)
is water leak into the fuse box. Seems to have come in from windscreen,
behind steering wheel, where there is some sponge stuff, which nicely
holds the water, allowing it to drip out on dry days as well as wet days.

Symptoms included, random electrical faults, engine not stopping - even
with key removed ! (had to pop the bonnet and remove battery lead). Horn
randomly going off, (again remove battery lead.)
Fixed it by getting that "foam in a can" looks like shaving foam, but
sets solid. Then filled space behind dash, by steering wheel with foam.
Problem solved. I've also been told that having the windscreen reseated
and reglued will fix it.
Also have a water leek into boot light cluster. No ammount of magic
foam has stopped that yet. But appart from getting wet when opening the
boot on a rainy day - no ill effects. Also, cant get a "legal" manual for
it.

Other than that, the car is great, sporty, great handling,
when you see another one, which is rare, you can wave at the driver and
they wave back at you :-), which is nice. Nice luxury inside. Go for the
2.0, not one of the smaller ones.



  #5  
Old August 5th 04, 07:57 PM
SteveH
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155fan > wrote:

> Hi;
> I've a 155 and the only majjor problem, (and I mean major)
> is water leak into the fuse box. Seems to have come in from windscreen,
> behind steering wheel, where there is some sponge stuff, which nicely
> holds the water, allowing it to drip out on dry days as well as wet days.


Haven't had that, but I do have the slightly leaky PAS system which
seems to affect all old Alfas.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300
VW Golf GL Cabrio - Alfa 75 TS - Alfa 155 TS Lusso - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #
 




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