How Reliable Was/Is Your 166?

Ali Tait · #1 (**Post Link**) 09-03-12

Just wondered. I used to have a 166 Twinnie Lusso. Bought it at 4 years old with 70k on it. Got rid four years later with 220k on it. Never let me down once. Only thing I changed was the oil, filters,cambelt, plugs and the tyres. Had to have the back box welded once as it was blowing. Was still on the original exhaust till it went. Was I just very lucky?

ScottT1974 · #2 (**Post Link**) 09-03-12

Yes.

Please send me your lottery numbers for this Saturdays draw.

stottt · #3 (**Post Link**) 09-03-12

No.

Had mine 8 years, taken it from 19K to 144K and it's had nothing more than routine servicing and the odd cambelt service (apart from one immobiliser failure). Fantastically reliable car.

niallmoran · #4 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

well getting the 156 recently has made me realise how well screwed together the 166 is....the suspension bits seem to be service items and it's already cost more than i ever spent on the 166

chrisf_v6 · #5 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

Originally Posted by Ali Tait

Just wondered. I used to have a 166 Twinnie Lusso. Bought it at 4 years old with 70k on it. Got rid four years later with 220k on it. Never let me down once. Only thing I changed was the oil, filters,cambelt, plugs and the tyres. Had to have the back box welded once as it was blowing. Was still on the original exhaust till it went. Was I just very lucky?

You'll be claiming your cruise control still works next

Mine only let me down twice between 50 and 110k (both time with burst power steering hoses) but I've had _lots_ of work done on it. Two clutches, an alternator and numerous suspension bushes/arms spring to mind.

Then again, this is a good thing because most of my car is brand new!

michaelb · #6 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

I've said it before on here: I had mine for seven years and nothing went wrong with it except one sidelight bulb - which the nice MoT tester replaced FOC for me.

I bet there aren't many Autobahnstormers can claim that.

Ali Tait · #7 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

Originally Posted by fryercjn

You'll be claiming your cruise control still works next

Mine only let me down twice between 50 and 110k (both time with burst power steering hoses) but I've had _lots_ of work done on it. Two clutches, an alternator and numerous suspension bushes/arms spring to mind.

Then again, this is a good thing because most of my car is brand new!

No cruise control on mine!

ultraviola · #8 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

Only had mine for 9 months (52 plate) and has been great overall. Previous 2 owners were meticulous with history/receipts so nothing other than consumables and cambelt were needed in that time.

I did have it in for a new driveshaft a few weeks back as she was making knocking noises (early signs of wear) but good as new now

puntodan · #9 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

As long as you get one that has been looked after and had proper service intervals then they will go on for ages. I haven't had this one long but all I have done is change the oil and filter, top up the screen wash, replace a bulb and put air in the tyres. Oh and fill it with fuel!

Dan

Paul S · #10 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

Agree with puntodan, put the services in, don't cut corners and it will keep on running.

I've had mine 5 years or so and have done I don't know how many 000s of miles. Only standard serviceable parts needed like a new stat or other normal worn-through-use items like suspension bits. The Busso 3l is especially understressed.

Pomeo · #11 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

Mon troi ur tres bon

OooLa LA

Pomeo

A-team · #12 (**Post Link**) 10-03-12

Hasn't let me down. I have had it for about a year an a half, but I don't drive many km.

The 11 year old exhaust rusted, so I changed it. Changed the rear brake pads and cleaned the rear calipers a bit.

I need to replace the Bosch MAF sensor with a new one. But again, the MAF sensor isn't supposed to last forever is it?

Chris Cousins · #13 (**Post Link**) 11-03-12

Four years and no problems with ours, routine servicing only. We haven't even replaced the MAF yet.... And the cruise still works.

Aryan · #14 (**Post Link**) 11-03-12

Have mine for more than 3 years,been very happy with it apart from hating its central locking-everything else works finger crossed

TS Eddie · #15 (**Post Link**) 11-03-12

I bought my TS with 60k on the clock. Apart from replacing suspension arms, a steering rack at 140k due to dreadful Irish roads, clutch at 170k and a crankshaft sensor at 200, it has been incredibly reliable. I have 242000 miles on her now and still sounds sweet as new. Replaced the back box also.

niallmoran · #16 (**Post Link**) 11-03-12

242k miles is pretty impressive! Does show that if well looked after they can handle the miles....

colinc · #17 (**Post Link**) 12-03-12

Had the car for 7 years, needed to replace the handbrake cable oh and yes my power steering hose let go a few years back, the phone doesn't appear to work anymore and I had a gearbox problem that was soved by doing an oil change (thought they were sealed for life!! what a dance that led me).
Having said all that it has proven to be a great car - MOT due in a couple of weeks so its bound to fail now!!
But, its unique, still looks good against cars 10 years newer, guess I will just run it until any repair costs more than the value of the car (11 year old ALFA - WOTS that worth, does 25 to the gallon if I'm lucky, anyone give me 500 quid? - oops not sure if you lads heading for succession from the United Kingdom can understand London slang....................

Pigfarmer · #18 (**Post Link**) 12-03-12

Mine were fine, (apart from the one that caught fire!)

Variator · #19 (**Post Link**) 12-03-12

My 01 2.0 TS 166 hasn't missed a beat since I got her in 2003. Now with 103,000 miles on the clock we're 4 months past a suspension overhaul (bushes on the rear crossmember went after a very cold last winter), new clutch and brake disks.

The only noticable problems ... the healight control unit failed causing the headlights to flash left/right (useful on the motorways!), intermittant Aircon fault, tracked down to a broken wire at the connection block in the engine bay, one or two loose electrical connections (drivers windows, wipers) easially fixed by tweaking the connectors, a handbrake cable and the niggle du jour ... the engine warning light flashed at me over the weekend.

My '95 1.8 TS 155 (8 valve) that I've had since 97 until I got the 166 is still going too, now being driven by my dad. That gave me no problems either and even survived being smashed into by a golf while parked at the side of the road. Mind you it did require an engine change a couple of years back, but as they say along the riverbank, that's a whole other story.

V.

ChrisS · #20 (**Post Link**) 13-03-12

About 4 years so far.

Thermostat, drivers door lock, battery, exhaust. Other than those, just routine servicing and consumables as needed. Arguably, the exhaust and battery are consumables although personally I don't think manufacturers should be allowed to make mild steel exhausts.

I think that's it.....not bad for a hugely unreliable brand of car is it.

Yes it's had some work done in the past, but not much.

mick164 · #21 (**Post Link**) 13-03-12

3 years..

Failures:

1 droplink, split power steering hose, thermostat.. and a radiator ( well, that's just happened so i haven't got it sorted yet

)

Consumables:

MAF, oil and filters, exhaust (mid section), brake pads, few bulbs, timing belt job, front top arms, and new springs and shocks.. (the springs and shocks weren't necessary i suppose but worth the effort all the same. ) oh, and tyres..!

not bad, though i could have done without the radiator giving up just now..

Variator · #22 (**Post Link**) 13-03-12

Oh yeah,

forgot about the thermostat and the clutch slave cylinder and the MAF.

V.

alfaaddicted · #23 (**Post Link**) 15-03-12

Hello
in ten years of 166 ownership spread over four 166,s obviously the older the more problems the worst was this year in my last 166 that the head gasket went and needed the associated repairs and indeed it was the radiator that caused that , other than that my last one apart from usual servicing need only towards the end of my ownership handbrake cables ,a lambda sensor , an intake rubber trunking , and it had a bout of engine obd light with high revs that was traced to poor electrical connections in the end.
Prior to that my first166 was a V6 3.0 bought with 20000 miles two years old in 2002 ,I sold it two years later with 85000 miles and in that time only a radiator and tyres and regular service was needed ,didnt even replace a light bulb.
My second 166 a 2001 3.0 sportronic bought with 8000 miles and disposed of with 40000 miles had absolutely nothing go wrong in 18 months !
The third 166 a 2.0 TS Ti bought with delivery miles as a year old pre registered car in 2005 did 24000 miles with me with once again no faults .
When these cars were current i believe that the unreliable tag applied just wasnt justified and even now as these cars are getting older they still stand up pretty well.

disgusted · #24 (**Post Link**) 15-03-12

In olden times, reliability meant "did the car fail to proceed?".

Well, mine hasn't.

It's cost a blooming fortune to keep it that way though.

shinymetalass · #25 (**Post Link**) 15-03-12

cambelt tensioner failure resulting in 24 bent valves but that happens on the 156/147,repairing at the moment.My previous 166 i had no issues apart from an air con pump.

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