[Scudetto]

by jimny, that's a muddle.

my brera won't do more that 5k a year.

so. it'll get an oil and oil filter change at 1k, then every 6 months, and a service every year/12k.

i think Alfa/all these 'variable services schedules' serve only to confuse.

Cars haven't changed that much. Oil and filters need changing, checks need to be made...just apply your usual automotive common sense. I don't like these 18k service schedules, personally. They're a great attraction to the fleet buyer looking to lower his company's company car running/service costs, but to what expense long term to the private buyer not having oil changed every 18k?

g

 

[RicksAlfas]

Hi Rick,

I fear that I'm going to get lynched but it doesn't say that, it says you can have a low mileage service done if you do less than 9000 miles but it still says at the start of the service section that it is due on the cars anniversary if you do less than 18000 miles.

David

Thanks David. Strange that the car's service computer doesn't tell you that though. My old (2002) 156 one did!!


Isn't it ridiculous though? They publish a service handbook which is trying to cater for cars on both 12,000 AND 18,000 mile intervals. They have cars with service computers which (apparently) don't tell you when it needs servicing and dealers all with different ideas!!
:rant:

 

[cj romeo]

One thing to note here is that in Europe, not all 159's have computers thus can tell you about the service...

Audi, VW and Skoda have the same stupid system.

 

[banny69]

I took my 159 in for its first 12 month service at 8500 miles. I was rung by the dealer who said it didn't need a service until 18K miles, just an inspection at 12 months as the mileage was less than 18K.

I got them to change the oil and filter anyway and they stuck a service remider in my window saying next service earler of 18000 miles and April 2010.

I double checked with them and they said it wouldn't affect the warranty - even if I didn't opt for the oil change.

Just checked the reminder sticker, it actually says 26,460 miles or April 2010! That means no servicing for 2 years!

I'll still be changing the oil/filter every 6 months.

 

[banny69]

BTW the oil cost about £45 and the filter £22 and the sealing ring (?) about £6 - all plus VAT. Plus the labour!

 

[DavidWhitton]

Right guys, in an effort to put this debate 'to bed' I have spoken to our Alfa Zone Aftersales Manager to ask for clarification on the subject.

Alfa Romeo state that all cars are due a service at either 12000miles (147/GT) or 18000 miles (159/Brera/Spider) OR Every Year if that mileage is not reached before then.

159/Spider/Brera drivers have the option of a 'low mileage' service if they have not exceeded 9000 miles in the 12 month period

147/GT drivers have the same option but below 6000 miles.

There is a tolerance of 1000 miles or 30 days on each of these services.

If you are being told differently by a dealer then I'm sorry to say that they are mistaken.
Alfa will be confirming this to all the dealers in light of the confusion that this thread has highlighted.


Regards

David

 

[Squadrone Rosso]

Cheers David. You understand the confusion though??

Personally, I've already asked Darren at Variava's about an annual service for mine.

 

[GTLeigh]

Right guys, in an effort to put this debate 'to bed' I have spoken to our Alfa Zone Aftersales Manager to ask for clarification on the subject.

Alfa Romeo state that all cars are due a service at either 12000miles (147/GT) or 18000 miles (159/Brera/Spider) OR Every Year if that mileage is not reached before then.

159/Spider/Brera drivers have the option of a 'low mileage' service if they have not exceeded 9000 miles in the 12 month period

147/GT drivers have the same option but below 6000 miles.

There is a tolerance of 1000 miles or 30 days on each of these services.

If you are being told differently by a dealer then I'm sorry to say that they are mistaken.
Alfa will be confirming this to all the dealers in light of the confusion that this thread has highlighted.


Regards

David

David you appear to becoming the all knowing Alfa Dealer guru on the forum, well done ! You ought to speak to his holiness Mr Alfaowner to see if you can start the AO Dealer of the Year competition - pretty good chance you'd take all the awards !!

Keep up the good informative work

Leigh :thumbs:

 

[metalgod23]

Right guys, in an effort to put this debate 'to bed' I have spoken to our Alfa Zone Aftersales Manager to ask for clarification on the subject.

Alfa Romeo state that all cars are due a service at either 12000miles (147/GT) or 18000 miles (159/Brera/Spider) OR Every Year if that mileage is not reached before then.

159/Spider/Brera drivers have the option of a 'low mileage' service if they have not exceeded 9000 miles in the 12 month period

147/GT drivers have the same option but below 6000 miles.

There is a tolerance of 1000 miles or 30 days on each of these services.

If you are being told differently by a dealer then I'm sorry to say that they are mistaken.
Alfa will be confirming this to all the dealers in light of the confusion that this thread has highlighted.


Regards

David

Right... am going to possibly add to the confusion. I kind of started this whole thing off by asking quetions about the service interval in a previous post. So am posting back here what I found just now. Wrote an email to Alfa UK asking about service intervals and warranty. Got a call back from a chap called Sam in ALFA Romeo customer relations.
My questions were:

"Just bought the car used. It was first registered Jan 07. The service book does not appear to be stamped with
the Pre-delivery Inspection record or the First
service. Hence, I do not know which dealer supplied
the car. The service schedule states the first service
should be carried out at 18,000 miles, However if the
car is subject to low mileage (less than 9000 miles)an
annual service must be carried out. The tolerance for
the services is stated as 1 month or 1000 miles.

Given the above situation, I need to know:
1. Is the warranty still valid?
2. Would it be possible to know who supplied the car
and get the service book stamped?
3. When is the service actually due - 18,000 miles or
12 months? Current mileage is 9,200 miles."

He basically told me:
Servicing on the 159 is every 18,000 miles as displayed by the service indicator. If you do not cover 18,000 miles, they recommend an oil change at least every 24 months. The low mileage 9000 mile service is optional (and it being only little more than a visual check - no oil/filter change!).
My car being UK registered , it comes with a comprehensive 2 year Alfa Warranty and a 3rd year dealer warranty.The warranty cannot be invalidated under any circumstances, however, a claim may be refused if servicing is not carried out as per recommendations.

This was from Alfa customer relations!!

David/others, I think you should speak to Alfa as well and see what you get.
Call 00800 2532 0000 - Ask for Sam in Customer Relations.

 

[DavidWhitton]

Squadrone,

I do understand the confusion and for a moment I though maybe it was me who had got the wrong end of the stick


Cheers Leigh,

I'm always happy to help anyone who needs it. I don't profess to know everything but I will always try to find out.
Thanks for the kind words


David

 

[Quadrofoglio]

159/Spider/Brera drivers have the option of a 'low mileage' service if they have not exceeded 9000 miles in the 12 month period

So what are the other options then?

 

[DavidWhitton]

So what are the other options then?

A full 18000 mile annual service if you have done between 9000 and 18000 miles in the last 12 months.


David

 

[DavidWhitton]

Right... am going to possibly add to the confusion. I kind of started this whole thing off by asking quetions about the service interval in a previous post. So am posting back here what I found just now. Wrote an email to Alfa UK asking about service intervals and warranty. Got a call back from a chap called Sam in ALFA Romeo customer relations.
My questions were:

"Just bought the car used. It was first registered Jan 07. The service book does not appear to be stamped with
the Pre-delivery Inspection record or the First
service. Hence, I do not know which dealer supplied
the car. The service schedule states the first service
should be carried out at 18,000 miles, However if the
car is subject to low mileage (less than 9000 miles)an
annual service must be carried out. The tolerance for
the services is stated as 1 month or 1000 miles.

Given the above situation, I need to know:
1. Is the warranty still valid?
2. Would it be possible to know who supplied the car
and get the service book stamped?
3. When is the service actually due - 18,000 miles or
12 months? Current mileage is 9,200 miles."

He basically told me:
Servicing on the 159 is every 18,000 miles as displayed by the service indicator. If you do not cover 18,000 miles, they recommend an oil change at least every 24 months. The low mileage 9000 mile service is optional (and it being only little more than a visual check - no oil/filter change!).
My car being UK registered , it comes with a comprehensive 2 year Alfa Warranty and a 3rd year dealer warranty.The warranty cannot be invalidated under any circumstances, however, a claim may be refused if servicing is not carried out as per recommendations.

This was from Alfa customer relations!!

David/others, I think you should speak to Alfa as well and see what you get.
Call 00800 2532 0000 - Ask for Sam in Customer Relations.

I have spoken to Aron who is the head of customer relations who has spoken to Sam and I think there is a little bit of misinterpretation of what was said.

To Clarify

The low mileage service IS optional but only in the sense that it is an option instead of the Full Service if you have done less than 9000 miles in the last 12 months.

If you have the low mileage service carried out then you next one (in 12 months time) must be the 'Full Service' ie you cannot keep having a low mileage service every year.

The Oil Change is due when the car tells you BUT must be done every two years regardless. I.e if the light hasn't come on by the time the car is two years old it needs changing.

David

 

[Fraser]

NOW I understand. Thanks David:thumbs:

 

[raylek]

So what I have been saying that my car will have the low mileage service at 12 months and the oil and filter service at 24 months is correct?.
I think you will find all car makers will insist on a maximum of 24 months between oil services simply because the oil suppliers will only guarantee the oil for a max' of 2 years.

 

[techbod]

wow I would never leave an oil and filter change for longer than 6k and that's being generous regardless of warranty, remember if you drive it hard the oil and filter should be changed at half the interval and wont effect the warranty, the ts 2.0 was the biggest failure on this issue because of the variable cam which needs to have good oil pressure all the time and oil sludging as its called in the USA kills the variator due to blockages

 

[metalgod23]

A bit clearer but still not crystal clear David, See my comments next to yours below. Any answers?
Thanks.

I

The low mileage service IS optional but only in the sense that it is an option instead of the Full Service if you have done less than 9000 miles in the last 12 months. <== Does this mean I "have to" carry out an annual service after the first year (a 9000 mile service if the car has done less than 9000 miles)? What if the car has done more than 9000 miles but less than 18,000 miles in the first year do I still need an annual service?? (which means I have covered more than the low mileage of 9000 but less than what would bring the service indicator on i.e 18,000)

If you have the low mileage service carried out then you next one (in 12 months time) must be the 'Full Service' ie you cannot keep having a low mileage service every year.

The Oil Change is due when the car tells you BUT must be done every two years regardless. I.e if the light hasn't come on by the time the car is two years old it needs changing.

David

 

[Fraser]

wow I would never leave an oil and filter change for longer than 6k and that's being generous regardless of warranty, remember if you drive it hard the oil and filter should be changed at half the interval and wont effect the warranty, the ts 2.0 was the biggest failure on this issue because of the variable cam which needs to have good oil pressure all the time and oil sludging as its called in the USA kills the variator due to blockages

I think the Scooby WRX and the Mitsu EVO are about the only "normal" cars that require such short service intervals these days. Most modern cars have sensors that monitor the oil level and condition.

 

[DavidWhitton]

A bit clearer but still not crystal clear David, See my comments next to yours below. Any answers?
Thanks.

Yes, regardless of anything else, you will need a service at least once a year.
If you have covered over 9000 miles then it MUST be a 'Full Service'
If you have covered less than 9000 miles then it CAN be a Low Mileage Service PROVIDED THAT the last service was a Full one.

David

 

[banny69]

Yes, regardless of anything else, you will need a service at least once a year.
If you have covered over 9000 miles then it MUST be a 'Full Service'
If you have covered less than 9000 miles then it CAN be a Low Mileage Service PROVIDED THAT the last service was a Full one.

David

Mine was a 1st service 12 months old car less than 9,000 miles abd the delaer said it just needed a visual inspection, but I had the oil/filter changed at the same time.

So David I should ignore the reminder sticker in my window saying 26,000 or April 2010. I think the delaer made a mistake and it should be April 2009.

Or should it be 18,000 miles or April 2009?