159, Brera & new Spider Experiences

Am now on my second 159. Previously a May 06 2.4, now an October (should have been September, but hey ho ) 07 2.4 ti

Have always loved the car. Frustrated as hell by the problems I had, and the time and hassle to sort it out. However I now have a brand new car.

Makes me smile and I love driving it.

Originally Posted by rg76

Am now on my second 159. Previously a May 06 2.4, now an October (should have been September, but hey ho ) 07 2.4 ti

Have always loved the car. Frustrated as hell by the problems I had, and the time and hassle to sort it out. However I now have a brand new car.

Makes me smile and I love driving it.

The new one should be a lot better - enjoy

Originally Posted by alfaredthegreat

This is a fault with filling, not the gauge. There is a design fault which means that under certain conditions (not yet identified precisely) the pump nozzles mis-detect a full tank and cut out.

Both my Breras have had this fault. It only seems to occur in cooler weather.... but not always.

Yesterday it cut out after I'd put in 25litres. By dribbling it in I managed to get a further 15litres in - but the pump timed out before I managed to fill it up. I had to settle for 7/8 of a tank. A bit irritating really - but hardly a major gripe!

Cheers forthe advice ATG. Will keep an eye on it and you posted

Mine has the windscreen rattle and a media played that autoplays no matter what you do to it (even if the pen drive isn't in). Setting the phone volume is also a mystery. If I set the external volume to 8, the phone volume is fine but when the media player kicks in it reminds me a Manumission. The fuel gauge almost shows full most of the time too.

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

a media played that autoplays no matter what you do to it (even if the pen drive isn't in).

Press voice and say "stop".

Media player still nuts, no matter what I do.

Screen rattle seems to have stopped after liberal applications of lube.

Oil level indicator gone nuts again

Loving it though

You have to compare owning an Alfa to an Xbox 360. When it works you are happy and enjoy every minute but there are times when it's broke that you feel pretty hacked off. The shame of this is that Alfa try and price their brand in the top 4-5 and it clearly does not stack up. I know a lot of you think that German cars are washing machines (I learnt more about cars owning my GTV Cup for 12 months than the previous 15 years driving) but there has to be a middle ground surely if the italian breed wants to break into the realms of £30k+ motoring.

Luckilyfor me this is my first Alfa and my 3.2 petrol has had no problems whatsoever. Of course its a trifle thirsty around town but I knew that when I bought it

Have a 2.4JTDM Brera with 25,000 miles, and I like it!
It's been back to my local dealer (SGT in Maidenhead) for:
-Alarm; goes off intermittently and still seems to
-New inlet manifold; apparently the swirl mod does not fix all of them and the inlet vanes can stick. Cleared by turning off and on a few times, but cuts power drastically.
-Repacement hood over hatch/ rear light; the other caught on the roof.
-Squeaky drivers seat; still a bit squeaky, will look for mice
-No windscreen washer refil light; they are all like that Sir!
Overall happy with it and SGT have been very good.
MPG is about 30 something (35 on a long trip), front tyres last 16k, rears 25k. Had a diesel J*g**r that went thro' fronts at a similar rate.
Goes well and looks nice, but no room in the back (doesn't bother me!).
Stereo could be better, and seems limited by the rear speakers. Had a 159 while mine was in the garage and that seemed to benefit from the decent rear speakers.
Byee

Had my 159 SW Ti for 1 month. It's going in the garage next week for the following faults:
1) Leaks like Niagra Falls!... Water in car is sloshing around above the level of the carpet behind the driver's seat.
2) Condensation in two rear lights (probably due to above though)
3) Rear electric window problem goes down and stays down for about 1 minute when you try to make it rise.
4) Sqweaking suspension at rear
5) Poor carpet trim fit in driver's footwell
6) Erratic rain sensor behaviour when using wipers
Not impressed - especially as I had been reassured that Alfa had their quality issues well in order now. Sadly, despite the above niggles, the looks of this car are just SO beautiful, I tend to forgive too quickly. But we'll see what I'm saying AFTER the service.

Ouch Buzbox What dealer have you been using?

I think I've finally cured the Autoplay issue (fingers crossed). I am going to get the full tank issue looked at as try as I might, I can get the needle to full 2 in 10 times I'm hoping this is having an effect on the low mpg I'm getting

Slow speed drivability is not that good but you learn to cope.

Can't hit MPH in 2nd gear and 3rd can be a bit crunchy at times.

Otherwise, I'm loving it - big time and will treat it to some stainless steel sill guards from the accessories catalogue real soon.

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

I am going to get the full tank issue looked at as try as I might, I can get the needle to full 2 in 10 times

I don't think there's a cure. At least that's what the garages and ARUK have told me, and both my Breras have had the same fault - it's a feature of the tank design apparently.

If you are lucky you don't experience it much, if at all. It depends also on the characteristics of the pump at which you fill it. (Also, I suspect, the type of fuel and the weather conditions).

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

Ouch Buzbox What dealer have you been using?

I think I've finally cured the Autoplay issue (fingers crossed). I am going to get the full tank issue looked at as try as I might, I can get the needle to full 2 in 10 times I'm hoping this is having an effect on the low mpg I'm getting

Slow speed drivability is not that good but you learn to cope.

Can't hit MPH in 2nd gear and 3rd can be a bit crunchy at times.

Otherwise, I'm loving it - big time and will treat it to some stainless steel sill guards from the accessories catalogue real soon.

SR love to hear if you've been successful with the autoplay issue and how you've set it up, and as with my header unit, the phone volume is a complete mystery.
Not had the filling issue with either of my Breras or the wife's 159. Admittedly they sometimes don't fill right to the top but near as dammit.

[quote=Squadrone Rosso;1507939]Ouch Buzbox What dealer have you been using?

I bought it from Thames Garage in Tunbridge Wells, which is also where it goes for service. But the faults so far are not really their fault. Bad repairs would be a different matter.

I said I'd give an update when it was sorted out - and in all fairness it seems to be. Thames found that the water was getting into the car from the front wheel arch, travelling down the sill which has some exit to the rear passenger footwell. The fault was a failure in manufacture to put sealant between some overlapping body panels. They had to replace the entire carpet which is not a quick job as so much stuff has to come out the car. But you cannot tell. Looks perfect.

They sorted the rear electric window which proved to have a faulty sensor.

They sorted the rain sensor which also was faulty.

And as for the rear lights... well, the fogging was probably due to the water in the car but they discovered that the wrong ones had been fitted. I had European rear lights not UK ones. I'm told the UK lights have the fog and reversing light on the opposite side to RHDs. So that's in for exchange next week.

Hassle. But nearly sorted.

So now my only complaint is the woeful MPG.

Having had a big smile and been very positive in the early weeks I'm now a bit more circumspect in my views !

Car went in on Monday after 7 months and 6K miles. Came back last night having had the following things done:

1 - New power steering pump

2- New seat runners for both front seats as neither seat locked into place on occasion.

3 - New alarm unit

4 - Replacement drivers side door membrane owing to soaking wet interior !

5 - New rear wash wipe assembly

Things that supposedly cannot be fixed at present are twofold:

1 - Still squeaking and rocking drivers seat unless on lowest level with no tilt

2 - The fuel filling issue. Apparently unique to 3.2s as the tank is a different shape to accomodate the 4X4 system. Alfa have it as a know fault and are in touch with the supplier for a remed I'm told.

Both these two issues are very annoying and starting to impair my enjoyment of the car significantly.

I have to say I think these kind of QC issues on a new car are unacceptable. Am considering beginning proceedings to cancel my lease contract if the outstanding problems continue to remain unresolved.

RSK

After 2 years, no major issues to report.

Rocking seat was only fully fixed a few months ago.

I'm also waiting for a new alarm unit.
(This has been the longest running issue.)


Also waiting on a new passenger window. (Mine's
been scored by something inside the door skin)


Nowhere near as many issues as I had with the 147.
(Multiply replacement of brake disks and suspension parts.)

Now on 14,000 miles and 9 months with my 159 1.9D SW.
Nothing major to report, just the following:

Windscreen "crackle" that they all seem to have.
Slight buzzing/resonance from drivers door speaker occasionally
The rear hatch latch came loose - tightened this up myself.
There are 2 lines not working on the heated rear window - clearly a manufacturing fault.
Fuel consumption is not as good as I was expecting, but OK.

Pete

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

The fuel gauge almost shows full most of the time too.

Try starting the engine.

Originally Posted by ptcoll

Now on 14,000 miles and 9 months with my 159 1.9D SW.
Nothing major to report, just the following:

Windscreen "crackle" that they all seem to have.

Strange that, maybe the bonding compound they use is too stiff.

Originally Posted by ptcoll

Slight buzzing/resonance from drivers door speaker occasionally

Take it in and get a new speaker,it's the small wires on the back of the cone at fault there. Manufacturing defect.

Originally Posted by ptcoll

The rear hatch latch came loose - tightened this up myself.

purely a quality control issue there

Originally Posted by ptcoll

There are 2 lines not working on the heated rear window - clearly a manufacturing fault.

Now I'd be going in for a window for that one, especially if I received the car like it.

Originally Posted by ptcoll

Fuel consumption is not as good as I was expecting, but OK.

It's an Alfa, if you want economy then go for the 2.4 diesel, like mine.

BTW, I've only had the wiper motor die on mine, the second day I had it, now that can be annoying when you live in Scotland, they were good thoguh and had one in stock (yep, I was surprised too) and fitted it on the spot. The rest of the car has been a dream, apart from the fuel guage being in the center, that is my only gripe.