[Witor]

Hi guys, first post here.

I'm pretty close to laying down a deposit for a 156 GTA, Data of Manufacture is Feb 2003. Car has run 69,000km (approx 43k miles), and was last serviced at 45,000km (28k miles) at an official Alfa dealer here in Gibraltar. Inbetween that I know there's been an oil change, 4 new tyres and brake pads at an independant.

Having a bit of trouble locating the service schedule for these cars, what service would be due up next, and at what mileage?

Selling (well sold!) my Seat Leon 1.8T FR for this car, arranged price with dealer (8k, knocked down £1.3k), car was...incredible. Spotless interior and exterior, drove fantastically well. No Q2 as far as im aware (is there an easy way to check?)

Thanks for any help you's may offer

 

[n13roy]

Good Morning.......and Welcome to the A.O. Forum, I'm sure you will enjoy it here........:thumbs:

 

[bazza]

On mileage the next service is 3000 miles overdue (should be every 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

On age, the service due is the 7 year, 84,000 mile service - which is a lovely cheap one with no unusual stuff. BUT has it had the belts changed? Has it had the spark plugs changed? they should have been done at 6 years and 5 years respectively (according to schedule anyway, belts should be done more frequently really).

If you have no evidence of those two things having been done - get them done now.

 

[jwq]

Having a bit of trouble locating the service schedule for these cars, what service would be due up next, and at what mileage?

You can find the manual here:
http://aftersales.fiat.com/elum/mai...&modelID=2000000&valID=2000000&prodID=2000000

Service/maintenance page 214 onwards....

Important is to make sure timing belt is done every 60k, or 3 years, as they are known to break if you go over this, causing expensive damage....

 

[Witor]

Good Morning.......and Welcome to the A.O. Forum, I'm sure you will enjoy it here........

Thanks for the welcome mate

BUT has it had the belts changed?

Belts changed on September 2008 - Which i'm happy with. Dealer said they change the belts every 4 years, so going off that, September 2012 should be the next belt change (£400 sound about right?)

You can find the manual here:
http://aftersales.fiat.com/elum/main...prodID=2000000

Dealer confirmed the service schedule and current milage, recommended doing a service (approx £250 I was told)

Think it would be a good idea to try and knock off this amount from the asking price?

 

[jwq]

Belts changed on September 2008 - Which i'm happy with. Dealer said they change the belts every 4 years, so going off that, September 2012 should be the next belt change (£400 sound about right?)

Recommendation (with low mileage) from Alfa is actually 3 years intervall for the timingbelt, and there have been a few cases where they actaully broke between 3 and 4 years....
So depending on your mileage, I'd stick to 3 years....

 

[alexgee]

I always thought the timing belt issues were in relation to the TS engines rather than the V6.
Not that the V6 belts were to be over looked just there was not the failure rate.

 

[alfabeat]

I always thought the timing belt issues were in relation to the TS engines rather than the V6.
Not that the V6 belts were to be over looked just there was not the failure rate.

My V6 belt failed at 50,000 miles (3 years old), as have many, many, many, many others....... probably the most important maintenance thing to keep looking at with the V6 engine on the GTA's....

 

[Ecurie Ecosse]

My V6 belt failed at 50,000 miles (3 years old), as have many, many, many, many others....... probably the most important maintenance thing to keep looking at with the V6 engine on the GTA's....

As did mine. Get it changes ASAP if it hasn't been done - they perish with age, so it is very important to bear in mind the age as well as the mileage.

3 years and 36k miles are the recommended intervals, rather than than the 5 years 72k miles set out in the manual.

Get a Q2 fitted too whilst the car is in. It'll change your life

 

[Witor]

Get a Q2 fitted too whilst the car is in. It'll change your life

Yep Will probably get it fitted near the end of this year. Previously had an EP3 Type-R with JDM spec LSD fitted after purchasing, which really really helped traction out of corners. Im aware the Q2 has these benefits plus whats seems to be extra reliability too. Whats the approx price of a Q2 installation plus labour these days?

I know it sounds petty, but a lot is depending on a service the car was due in December '09 (yearly one), pending some sort of arrangement whereby dealer will discount price off that, it will get purchased. I know it's only £250, but i'd rather be as confident as possible that the car is in a fully checked over state before buying it.

(Christ, im getting nervous at the prospect of owning a GTA... )

 

[GTA Jimbo]

Welcome Witor,

My family live out in Gib!!!! i actually took my 147 GTA on a road trip from UK to Gib and back last summer!!!!!!!

I remember seeing a Red 156 GTA parked up on Linewall Rd by the play park!!!!!

 

[alfabeat]

Yep Will probably get it fitted near the end of this year. Previously had an EP3 Type-R with JDM spec LSD fitted after purchasing, which really really helped traction out of corners. Im aware the Q2 has these benefits plus whats seems to be extra reliability too. Whats the approx price of a Q2 installation plus labour these days?

I know it sounds petty, but a lot is depending on a service the car was due in December '09 (yearly one), pending some sort of arrangement whereby dealer will discount price off that, it will get purchased. I know it's only £250, but i'd rather be as confident as possible that the car is in a fully checked over state before buying it.

(Christ, im getting nervous at the prospect of owning a GTA... )

Don't be nervous! Just be prepared! Keep it well maintained, as soon as anything looks like it needs replacing get it done, and it will serve you well!

If I ever had a service that just cost £250, I would be over the moon....! There is usually always something that needs doing. I would certainly try and get another £500 off the asking price to cover that service, or possibly get dealer to service it before selling (but then you are not sure if he is scrimping on anything, and if they are not an Alfa specialist, they will not see all that needs doing more likely!)

 

[Witor]

My family live out in Gib!!!! i actually took my 147 GTA on a road trip from UK to Gib and back last summer!!!!!!!

I remember seeing a Red 156 GTA parked up on Linewall Rd by the play park!!!!!

Aye, there's only two 156 GTA's in Gib, the only 2 GTA's of any description actually

If I ever had a service that just cost £250, I would be over the moon....!

Thankfully stuff like servicing and petrol (especially) are much cheaper over here. Car is not being sold at the offical Alfa dealer, but that's what the Alfa dealer quoted and "guaranteed"...(obviously excepting if there is something beyond the norm that needs replacing) Still not heard anything back, so i'll continue to play the waiting game

 

[Witor]

so....off the phone with the dealer selling the car. Long story short, he's spoken to the previous owner...and...he's agreed to pay the full service cost + any extra which may turn up, and car is booked in for said service next week.

My heart is beating at 120bpm....need a cig! Pity I gave up a year ago

 

[jwq]

so....off the phone with the dealer selling the car. Long story short, he's spoken to the previous owner...and...he's agreed to pay the full service cost + any extra which may turn up, and car is booked in for said service next week.

My heart is beating at 120bpm....need a cig! Pity I gave up a year ago

Congrats :thumbs: I'm sure you'll enjoy your new car..

 

[alfabeat]

Nice one! You have the longest weekend ahead of you...........

Enjoy

 

[Millsey69]

Congrats agreeing the deal....you'll love it!:thumbs:

Well worth investing in the Q2 when you can. 'Makes a world of difference and may save your gearbox too.

 

[Witor]

Pick the Alfa up in a couple of hours. Can't wait that long!