[Fady]

Our one and only Alfa Romeo dealership in Egypt is below standard. They also don't accept Alfa 156/147 unless in mint condition. Oils such as tutela don't get sold unless u do the service inside. Most mechanics have no Alfa training and learn as they go. The call centre is useless. I'm going to import a 159 3.2 v6 from germany and they refuse to tell me if they will service it or not. I know they don't have 159 parts as we have non in Egypt we missed out on alfa's from 2003/4 to 2015/16 but they can import then for me apon request or something...

 

[joeymannero]

Hi Fady..

The thing is even in the uk we consider main dealers to be useless most of the time..luckily we have a good network of excellent independent garages that most of us use. For regular items such as servicing,brakes,and the odd unexpected I do it myself. Between Elearn and this very forum I have yet to find a job I couldn't tackle if required.

So my suggestion is to invest in some tools and take care of it yourself if you can. Unless you get any really major issues you should be ok.

Good luck

 

[rgwm]

If you haven't had any Alfas officially imported into Egypt from 2004 - 2015, I'm not surprised the Alfa garage is below par.......

I guess you could contact Alfa Romeo headquarters - but looking on alfaromeo.com Egypt doesn't feature as a country in which they trade, so I suspect support may be weak.

 

[Fady]

Hi Fady..

The thing is even in the uk we consider main dealers to be useless most of the time..luckily we have a good network of excellent independent garages that most of us use. For regular items such as servicing,brakes,and the odd unexpected I do it myself. Between Elearn and this very forum I have yet to find a job I couldn't tackle if required.

So my suggestion is to invest in some tools and take care of it yourself if you can. Unless you get any really major issues you should be ok.

Good luck

That's what I've been doing for the past 2 years. I have a basic tool set which actually never leave the car since driving an Alfa can sometimes leave u stranded somewhere at the side of a road. I'd be a bit uncomfortable playing around with a 159 though that's why I tried contacting the dealership but they turned out useless and a bit rude

 

[Fady]

If you haven't had any Alfas officially imported into Egypt from 2004 - 2015, I'm not surprised the Alfa garage is below par.......

I guess you could contact Alfa Romeo headquarters - but looking on alfaromeo.com Egypt doesn't feature as a country in which they trade, so I suspect support may be weak.

The official fiat group dealership is Nile engineering surprised they're not listed...

 

[rxe]

I'd be very wary of using a car (especially something like a 159 V6) in a country where there is no dealer or parts support. It is a complex beast, and unless you have a good mechanic (and it sounds like you don't), then fixing it going to be very hit and miss - you'll order something, 3 weeks later you'll get it, doesn't fix the problem, another 3 weeks etc....

I can rebuild a 156 V6 at home - and even then I wouldn't drive one as a primary car in a country with no parts support. As a second car, sure.

 

[gazza82]

The official fiat group dealership is Nile engineering surprised they're not listed...

I would check with Alfa Romeo HQ .. perhaps the Fiat/Alfa signs aren't official either ..

This is also the same "dealership" that was planning to do a cut&shut on your 156?

 

[ALFADOIT]

I think there is no quick fire answer. With no proper dealer or direct parts import network, never mind specialists i absolutely would not be owning an Alfa. I admire your passion for the brand and determination, but wouldn't it be better to buy a form of vehicle where parts and dealerships are plentiful? All the best Fady. :beer: You never know, as the Alfa brand grows and becomes more successful with the oncoming new models, more investment of the brand could branch out to parts of the world that have been neglected.

Damien.

 

[Fady]

I'd be very wary of using a car (especially something like a 159 V6) in a country where there is no dealer or parts support. It is a complex beast, and unless you have a good mechanic (and it sounds like you don't), then fixing it going to be very hit and miss - you'll order something, 3 weeks later you'll get it, doesn't fix the problem, another 3 weeks etc....

I can rebuild a 156 V6 at home - and even then I wouldn't drive one as a primary car in a country with no parts support. As a second car, sure.

I just found a garage that services rare cars like Porsche, Lamborghini, Corvettes and Mustangs. They also tune Honda's and BMW's. Talked to them and they're willing to service it... It's owned and managed by a mechanical engineer and he has experienced mechanics... Also I know a couple excellent Alfa mechanics but they have never seen a 159 before so I'm thinking of not going to them. My mechanical skills are around amateur biggest job I've ever done was taking apart a selespeed gearbox to referbish the actuator and I took apart the gears for inspection I had help though getting the box in and out. Probablem is being a med student I rarely have time for these jobs...

The reason I really want to bring a 159 to Egypt other than I don't feel comfortable driving anything but an Alfa is that it'll cost me less than a used KIA picanto here dont ask how,it just is...

I was thinking since the 159 isn't all Alfa under the bonnet that's a good thing. Audi can service the differentials, Toyota specialist for the gearbox and I'm hoping nothing happens to the engine but even if something does I know a 70 year old man who's specialized in rebuilding alfa engines all his life to the point where he just hears and feels an engines vibrations to diagnose it.

What do u think of all this, should I still go with my decision?

 

[Fady]

The official fiat group dealership is Nile engineering surprised they're not listed...

I would check with Alfa Romeo HQ .. perhaps the Fiat/Alfa signs aren't official either ..

This is also the same "dealership" that was planning to do a cut&shut on your 156?

Apparently they're official fiat group dealership don't know how they're not listed.

No the cut and shut will be done by an independent shop, they dealership can do it but they'll take more than a year, 3 times the price and bellow standard quality weld acetylene welding...

I'm currently forming a small team to fix it a mechanic, electrician, this guy that's a chassis wizard, paint and I'm still looking for a mig welder I might have to buy one or something... It'll take them a month to fix and an estimated cost price of 2000 euros max... After I fix it I'll be selling it hopefully at market price as I was assured no one will be able to tell it was fixed as they will be cutting at the factory welds. They market price would be 8500-9000 euros which will be more than enough for me to import a good 159 from Germany

 

[Fady]

I think there is no quick fire answer. With no proper dealer or direct parts import network, never mind specialists i absolutely would not be owning an Alfa. I admire your passion for the brand and determination, but wouldn't it be better to buy a form of vehicle where parts and dealerships are plentiful? All the best Fady.

You never know, as the Alfa brand grows and becomes more successful with the oncoming new models, more investment of the brand could branch out to parts of the world that have been neglected.

Damien.

Hey Damien,
Well considering a kia sportage 2016 1.6L costs 32,500 in Euros for the base model economically I think the 159 is better + I can't even compare a Korean box to a a piece of art like an Alfa.
A close friend of mine is opening an official Alfa dealership very soon so that should make things easier in the long run...

 

[Fady]

This may be a deal breaker but can a 159 3.2 run on 92 octane? 95 is 3 times the price and it would be easier to buy coke than 98 octane?

 

[rgwm]

Most modern engines can sense fuel detonation because of low octane and adapt timing etc to suit, but whether the 159 V6 can cope with 92, I don't know. There are always additives which boost octane of course.....

The 159 V6 is based on a GM bottom end, of course, with Alfa developed heads, so your old-school mechanic may not have much knowledge of it.

I wish you luck, though - a 159 versus a Kia Picanto does seem a very tempting choice

I assume you have high import duties for used cars?

 

[Fady]

We do but thankfully I know the right people... Ya that's y I'm more tempted to use the garage I found that serves rare cars passing through Egypt, usually arabs with a lot of petrol money ?
I wouldn't call it tempting, more of a no brainer
Thank u