[Mymatemarmite]

As per title, I'll be rolling up my sleeves and getting my spanners out on Sunday. I need to pay a visit to my local Alfa parts store tomorrow as some cheeky so and so whipped one of my pollen filter elements, so I paid for a whole part but only received half. The girl at the desk is very cool for a parts employee though, so that should be easily sorted. I'm changing the air filter again this year, even though Alfa only recommend a 2 yearly change. At about £12, it'll hardly break the bank. I'll also make sure I give special attention to the oil filter too, as I don't want it working loose like it did earlier this year
Oil of choice.....Castrol Edge Sport 10 W 60, I'm hoping for less consumption than I've experienced with Mobil 1.

 

[GhostyDog]

Have you thought of using somehting like a K&N Replacement Drop In Air Filter, got one on mine and had no problems.

 

[hillp]

Have you got any oil filter changing tips? They are a right bum to change. Did mine a couple of weeks ago.

 

[happybiker]

Have you got any oil filter changing tips? They are a right bum to change. Did mine a couple of weeks ago.

Yes when I was away from home on a long course and needed an oil change I went to Kwik-Fit. You pay the £40 odd flat rate, but make sure you watch them change the filter. I was amused that it took 3 of them including the manager to get it off, and they overfilled it by about a litre which I made them correct. Cheaper than most places and you keep your hands clean!

 

[Mymatemarmite]

Have you thought of using somehting like a K&N Replacement Drop In Air Filter, got one on mine and had no problems.

I hadn't really looking into it that much, as I have decided to keep everything as original as possible. I've bought one now, but maybe I could look into something different next year. To be honest though, I rarely get the chance to really get the most out of the car performance wise, as it's barely warmed up on my short drive to work, so a standard filter is good enough for now.

 

[Mymatemarmite]

Yes when I was away from home on a long course and needed an oil change I went to Kwik-Fit. You pay the £40 odd flat rate, but make sure you watch them change the filter. I was amused that it took 3 of them including the manager to get it off, and they overfilled it by about a litre which I made them correct. Cheaper than most places and you keep your hands clean!

It's for these exact reasons that I do everything that I am capable of myself...servicing, brakes, fluid changes, suspension parts etc. The plus side is that I enjoy getting the spanners out and fixing/servicing the car......and whilst I have a sturdy trolley jack and stands, at work I can use a heated workshop:thumbs:

 

[Mymatemarmite]

Have you got any oil filter changing tips? They are a right bum to change. Did mine a couple of weeks ago.

I dropped my power steering pipes out of the way by loosening the brackets, other than that, it's just a bit of a fiddle, but made easier if you have smallish hands.

 

[Arnell]

Do you think it affects resale value servicing it yourself ?

I've always enjoyed servicing/messing about with my Punto GT and it's great to learn how the car works. I was going to do the same when i brought the GTA but not having that dealer stamp has me worried.

Didn't bother me having F/S/H in the Punto as it's only a cheap car and i'm not going to sell it

 

[happybiker]

I would prefer to keep mine all stamped, especially as mine is around 40k and has excellent history from previous owners. On my 90k mile V6 I had before I did a few more things myself as it wasn't worth as much.

 

[fimbles]

does anyone know where does the pollen filter goes in a 2003 156 gta ,took mine to the local indi alfa garage for its service and when he took the black cover off by the wipers theres no box or nothing there to put it

 

[newalfisti]

Do you think it affects resale value servicing it yourself ?

I've always enjoyed servicing/messing about with my Punto GT and it's great to learn how the car works. I was going to do the same when i brought the GTA but not having that dealer stamp has me worried.

Didn't bother me having F/S/H in the Punto as it's only a cheap car and i'm not going to sell it

If you want your car to have the maximum resale value then you can argue that having servise stamps will give you it.
if you want your car maintained to the highest posible standard then it is unlikely that you will get that in the trade.

 

[Mymatemarmite]

If you want your car to have the maximum resale value then you can argue that having servise stamps will give you it.
if you want your car maintained to the highest posible standard then it is unlikely that you will get that in the trade.

:thumbs: this is very true. As I'm not intending to sell the car...I really want to keep it as long as I possibly can, then there is no issue of improved value by having dealer stamps. IMO, if there is documented evidence of the big jobs, clutch, Q2, belts etc, then it's no big deal if the basics are done at home. It gives me peace if mind because I don't trust my local franchise one bit. Each time the car had been to them there has been an issue, some big, some small. My mate took his 3.2 GTV in for a service, basically an oil change. They charged him £140.....for a poxy oil and filter change! They won't have checked anything properly, it will have been thrown on the ramp, the oil drained, a quick check underneath whilst texting on the phone, and topped up with oil again. I know it goes on, I've seen it myself at places I have worked at. They even scratched his bumper....for no extra charge. He didn't notice this on collection as it was dark, so they won't accept blame. I think some buyers, those in the know, would actually prefer to see some home maintenance. When you do it yourself, you tend to take far more care to make sure everything is done correctly.

 

[Mymatemarmite]

does anyone know where does the pollen filter goes in a 2003 156 gta ,took mine to the local indi alfa garage for its service and when he took the black cover off by the wipers theres no box or nothing there to put it

The 147's in under the glovebox, not sure about the 156 though. Isn't the guy meant to be a specialist???? This simply proves my arguement for home servicing when you know what you're doing IMO:lol:

 

[newalfisti]

:thumbs: this is very true. As I'm not intending to sell the car...I really want to keep it as long as I possibly can, then there is no issue of improved value by having dealer stamps. IMO, if there is documented evidence of the big jobs, clutch, Q2, belts etc, then it's no big deal if the basics are done at home. It gives me peace if mind because I don't trust my local franchise one bit. Each time the car had been to them there has been an issue, some big, some small. My mate took his 3.2 GTV in for a service, basically an oil change. They charged him £140.....for a poxy oil and filter change! They won't have checked anything properly, it will have been thrown on the ramp, the oil drained, a quick check underneath whilst texting on the phone, and topped up with oil again. I know it goes on, I've seen it myself at places I have worked at. They even scratched his bumper....for no extra charge. He didn't notice this on collection as it was dark, so they won't accept blame. I think some buyers, those in the know, would actually prefer to see some home maintenance. When you do it yourself, you tend to take far more care to make sure everything is done correctly.

Reminds me of when i picked up my GTA from the local alfa dealer few years back, i asked them what is the service status? The lady in the service department checked on the computer and printed out the service history for me saying, just enjoy the car sir its just been serviced. Drove it home and guess what was the first thing i did???
Yes i did a full service, the oil in the car was changed indeed, but the filter looked sorry for itself and looke dlike it was on there for at least a year!
I don't even take it to tyre places any more because they damage the sills when they lift it, i prefer to remove the wheels myself and take them to the tyre place.

 

[Mymatemarmite]

Reminds me of when i picked up my GTA from the local alfa dealer few years back, i asked them what is the service status? The lady in the service department checked on the computer and printed out the service history for me saying, just enjoy the car sir its just been serviced. Drove it home and guess what was the first thing i did???
Yes i did a full service, the oil in the car was changed indeed, but the filter looked sorry for itself and looke dlike it was on there for at least a year!
I don't even take it to tyre places any more because they damage the sills when they lift it, i prefer to remove the wheels myself and take them to the tyre place.

Good old fashioned back to basics home maintenance with plenty of TLC.....that's what I like to see:thumbs:
Just finished the service. Took 3 hours to do what a franchise would have charged 2 hrs labour for. The difference, IMO I have taken far more care in what I have done......no stripped threads, no jaming and forcing things to fit, and most importantly everything was checked and double checked. I also make a point of spinning the engine twice before a full start up after I've changed the oil. I know the pump works once the ignition is on, but it gives me peace of mind that everything gets a nice fresh coating before a complete start up.
£200 in labour has been saved also, and if recent information is correct, the Castrol Edge Sport 10w60 I've used is superior to Alfa dealerships Selenia.

 

[Oggy_GTA]

does anyone know where does the pollen filter goes in a 2003 156 gta ,took mine to the local indi alfa garage for its service and when he took the black cover off by the wipers theres no box or nothing there to put it

It's underneath the glovebox, well, the back of really.

See this post from Abyss which helped me do mine perfectly. http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gta/126061-pollen-filter.html#post1923157

 

[fimbles]

thanks ,think il take it somewhere else next time

 

[john147]

i hope to do my oil and filter on saturday done loads of other cars but after reading on here about it beeing a pain in the *** i ant looking forward to it

 

[GTA Jim]

i hope to do my oil and filter on saturday done loads of other cars but after reading on here about it beeing a pain in the *** i ant looking forward to it

Dont skimp on it, you know what happened last time

 

[john147]

with the diff yeh lesson learnt the hard way,,, I do loads on all my mates cars , restoring a 1971 beetle at the mo but for some reason ,, I get real nervous when it comes to doing anything on the gta no idea why ,,, done the plugs and rear pads last weekend took me 3.5 hours what a mare to change those dam plugs.. done now though