[spookone]

I am looking at a 2008 2.2 Brera with 27k on the clock.

The price is good at £10,000 but it only has one stamp in the book (I think at 18k).

It also has the engine management light on but the garage said it is going on Monday to be sorted.

My question is, is the fact that it only has had one service something to be worried about?

Cheers guys and gals

 

[thebassman]

Not necessarily. The service interval is every 18k, so technically it's not due its next service until 36k.

 

[GhostyDog]

Odd that it only has 1 stamp though, mine is a June 2008 and has 3 at 16,500 miles, veloces who I bought it from did the 18k/3 year service the day before I picked it up and it has stamps for pre delivery service and then 1st service at 11,600 2 years later.

Book says that on 159 and Brera low mileage service interval kicks in for mileages less than 9k a year so that's a a major service every 2 years and an interim low mileage service every year.

I suppose it's up to the owner of the vehicle to ensure any paperwork pertaining to interim services is kept as they wouldn't be stamped up in the book.

Hope this helps

 

[Guest]

Make sure they explain exactly what the engine management light
was on for.

If it was a cam sensor it could be signs of the 2.2 stretchy chain issue.

Ask them to change the cam chain before buying it if so.

 

[spookone]

Thanks guys - very useful

 

[Quadrofoglio]

Every 21k (rather than 18k) or 2 years for 2008 *MODEL YEAR* onwards 159/Brera.

The low manual annual service malarky (scam?) was just for pre-2008 model cars and then only in the UK. (How remiss of you not to mention that Nev:lol

It probably only really matters if your SH is bang on the button if there is some Alfa warranty left that you might want to claim on.

 

[Guest]

(How remiss of you not to mention that Nev:lol

I'm blue-in-the-face about that one.

 

[spookone]

As Nev suggested it was the 2.2 stretchy chain issue.

Can someone let me know just what this issue is?

Any how it was taken to Mangoletsi for diagnosis - apparently they are going to charge around £650 for this with a 2 year warranty on it - does that sound about right price wise?

Is this in fact a cam belt change or am I wrong and is there anything which should also be changed at the same time?

Thanks in advance - depending on replies I will soon be a Brera owner

 

[Guest]

Dodgy chain stretches slightly enough to trigger
an engine error but not enough to destroy the engine.

Changing it means you should get better performance and
fuel economy and peace of mind.

It shouldn't happen again once fixed although
some have had it twice in a row.

Should be fixed for free under warranty. There is no
change normally in the service schedule as it's a chain, not a belt.


Have you bought the car?

 

[spookone]

Hi Nev - no I havent bought he car yet.

Does this mean it will still need a cam (belt) change or are you saying it doesnt have a cam belt? and when would that be due?

Should anything like the water pump be changed at the same time?

As you can see I know a lot about cars but not the mechanics

 

[Guest]

It doesn't have a cam belt, it has a cam/timing chain instead.
This shouldn't need replacing but some have stretched due to
bad manufacture or something.


Once fixed you shouldn't have to touch it or anything else.

Make sure they fix it before you buy it, if you are buying it.

It shouldn't cost you anything. It's up to them to fix before you
buy it.

 

[spookone]

Thanks for your knowledge on this Nev - he has said he will have to put £240 on the cost but will also give me a full 12 months parts and labour warranty instead of 3 - so I may go for that at £10500 with everything sorted it sounds a decent cost unless some one tells me otherwise???

It will be my 6th (actually 5.5 - first one was a cherry Europe with the Alfa engine etc.) Alfa over the years and many many cars - I have a TT at the moment (soulless) but there is something about an Alfa that keeps me coming back

 

[GhostyDog]

As far as I know there is mo cam belt it's a chain instead

 

[Guest]

The car will be in limp mode without the fix.

They can't really sell it in that state so I wouldn't pay a penny more.

it should be still under warranty anyway.

 

[GhostyDog]

The car will be in limp mode without the fix.

They can't really sell it in that state so I wouldn't pay a penny more.

it should be still under warranty anyway.

Do all 2.2 breras have tis problem?

 

[Guest]

No.

 

[GhostyDog]

No.

Good,

 

[Marzy]

Took my Brera S 2.2 into Meridians in 2010 at 14 months old and 12k on the clock, they serviced it and said it was due anyway. Went to book it in last week for what I thought would be its second annual and they said that after its first service and oil change it did not need servicing again until it had done 30k. Oil level has not moved but, I gather thats normal with the 2.2 engine.