00 156 Selespeed - Inspection Report - Feedback appreciated!

[Apha25]

Hi team

Firstly, thanks to all for the previous posts. I've learnt a f-load. I'll try not to ask any questions that have already been addressed.

As mentioned in a previous post, I went to check out a '00 156 Selespeed with 120k's. The pre-purchase report (from a reputable alfa workshop) came back with the following:

* slight oil leak from engine rear suspect pump (fix cost?)
* very slight oil leak from rear of gearbox
* slight oil leak on selespeed actuator ($1700 to replace the seal, or $3.5g's to replace the actuator!)
* suspect thermostat not operating ($250-$350)
* cam variator noisy when first starting up (any ideas?)
* runs well. no outstanding issues
(other various issues, but they're the main ones)

Sellers notes:
* no service log books prior to 70 000k's
* cam belt done at 113 000k's (not sure if it's the first or second cam belt change

Have tentatively agreed on 9g's, which is cheap for Perth.

For the Alfa experts : Am I in for a world of pain? Are those issues too much to ignore, even when taking into account a relatively cheap price?

Any help hugely appreciated.

[dehne]

you better cut ur right arm off now to start paying for the repairs

[spieret]

I'd walk away, never be in a rush when buying a car. There will always be another one and it's probably in better condition. An extra 1 or 2k on the purchase price could save 5k on repairs later.

[Sam]

I'd get a quote from another workshop - try someone like Bruno at Marinello Motors, get his thoughts

[Simon Aarons]

The car is in WA.

[1750GT]

Mate, I agree with the above sentiments (except bringing your car to Melbourne to have Bruno look at it!). But if your part of AROCA in WA you should be able to access good contacts to get a second opinion.

But! I wouldn't bother either. It's not as if this is a rare beast. With the current climate the current market is flush with cars and at the right price, take your time and find a "lovely", one thats got the books and been properly maintained. The challenge with these cars is if they haven't been properly maintained, the costs just mount, and with these problems theres probably others that you haven't discovered yet, because the car may not have been maintained properly.

If you've already bought it because you couldn't wait, best of luck, if you haven't take a deep breath and keep looking, there will be a gooden around the corner, it's amazing at the moment as to whats cheap.

1750GT

[John Hanslow]

With the noisy cam variator, that's because the engine has been starved of oil and the oil level not regularly checked.  Always use good oil. 

Despite a recent local mechanical opinion, I quote a recent twin spart review from Auto Italia  " if the oil warning light comes on, then the damage has been done".. so topping it up will not solve the issue.

Suggest you get a manual car and use the money from selespeed repairs to get the best 156 around;  plenty around and you can negotiate.   But, better to pay a bit more for a car with service history though.

Good luck.

[John Hanslow]

A club sponsor - The Italian job - advised me today that there have been some constant and well reported issues with the selepseed in the 932 series cars.  This robotic arm in the gearbox is the part that does a lot of work.

Basically, its a $4k job for actuator and the pump to be replaced as they just wear out after about 80,000kms.

REgards.

[Sam]

I guess this is why so many people are put off Alfas!

$4000.00 for a part that wears out after 80k?

So where does all the cost go?   (Yeah I know fitting , labour etc but the part must be expensive too yeah?)

Can this part be manufactured locally?

Does anyone know or have in-depth knowledge on this part ? pictures ? service book details etc ?

I'm curious to see what it looks like and why it's sooooo expensive.

I just find it hard to believe that some crappy little part in a gearbox costs $4000.00 to fix

(BTW, my niece has a 156 Sele with 150K  but hasn't had any trouble like this yet)

[Evan Bottcher]

I believe it's the pump that goes with regularity - it can be replaced separately to the actuator.  I think there's huge variation in the service life of the actuator - I've heard of really high mileage seles that have had no issues, others that have failed very early.

[alfaboy156]

HI
I MITE BE TOO LATE OR UVE CHANGED YOUR MIND BUT IM IN PERTH  I HAVE A SERIES 2  (JULY 2000 BUILD DATE)   156 SELE  FOR SALE ITS NOT ADVERTISED ANYWHERE BECOZ I HAVENT FOUND A REPLACEMENT  ALFA -YET - DETAILS BELOW

RED ( BODY PERFECT)
WINDOW TINT
16" FACTORY ALLOYS
GREY CLOTH IMMAC INTERIOR
4 NEAR NEW TYRES
163000 KM  ON CLOCK
FULL SERVICE HISTORY FROM NEW AT ALFA DEALERS - I HAVE ALL MY PAPERS FROM CILEBERTI'S
AM ABOUT TO DO 170 000 SERVICE - THE 160 000 LOG BOOK WAS DONE AND VARIOUS FILTERS REPLACED AS SCHED STATES (RCPT AVAIL)
SELESPEED ACTUATOR REPALCED AT 145 000KM ( RCPT AVAIL)
SELESPEED OIL PUMP REPLACED DECEMBER 08 (RCPT AVAIL)
3MONTHS REGO
TIMING BELT/WATER PUMP REPALCED AT 146 000KM HAD MAJOR SERVICE AND COOLANT FLUSH ASWELL  (RCPT AVAIL)
THE CAR IS PERFECT MECHANICALLY AND DRIVES LIKE NEW
EVERYTHING WORKS AS IT SHOULD
MY NAME IS RODNEY - 0424 934 997
THANX

[Apha25]

Thanks for the offer alfaboy, but I'll have to pass.

Cheers to all else for the feedback. Main two lessons I've gleaned from reading countless posts and reviews are:

Go the manual & make sure you love alfas like you do women because you'll have to potentially put up with a lot of sh*t.

Either way, I'm still happy chasing both.

[Doug Gould]

In my opinion Alfa's don't tolerate bad workmanship. More than other marques, I think that service history is important. Also, I think that the JTS engine is a quantum leap better than the twinspark, I'd be looking for that. Personally, I prefer manuals (my 156 was manual, my 159 is manual and my wife's Brera is manual). However, the guys that like selespeed like selespeed. I wouldn't discount it. One of the reasons I sold my 156 was that it had an oil leak from the balance shaft from the diff. Its about a days labout to replace a $5 seal. The leak wasn't bad enough to demand fixing, I just didn't like it. If you think you can live with the leak, then try some of the seal conditioner and deal with it. If not. I'd be getting a quote from an independant Alfa specialist rather than a dealer.

Most cars at this age will have issues that may be individually expensive. Its not an Alfa thing. I've just paid $1k to have the radiator fans replaced on my daughters Peugeot 406. Its a common Peugeot thing but unheard of for an Alfa.

Doug