Been watching this channel for a while now, very informative and complete. I own an Alfa 159 1.9jtdm 8v 4door/sedan version from december 2005 I believe (previously owned by my father who bought it new. 'grigio titanio' color, red leather interior). I am driving it since 2009, owning it myself since 2012. Still my 'weekly driver' (I mostly use my road bike or motorcycle for daily transportation). To give every one an honest input, main problems that did occur: 1) power steering reservoir (failing filter?) and fluid changed under warranty I believe, in 2009. Not really a big deal, however a design flaw of the inner filter, certainly a problem in colder climates; 2) had to replace the condensor twice (pretty expensive). Apparantly it gets easily punctured by 'road stones' as the air intake in front bumper is pretty low. I did install dark metal gratings onto the air intakes at front bumper after second replacement, (third ... ) condensor has been fine ever since. But this is not an Alfa specific problem, however design of air intake on front bumper does speed up this problem occuring; 3) the steering lock mechanism has failed twice. Car refuses to go in start mode if that happens. Dashboard doesnt even light up. This happened once in 2019 which I then had replaced by a refurbished unit. A second time a couple of months ago, after which I disassembled the steering lock, removed the mechanism altogether (nylon gear and pin) and had a latching relais soldered as replacement of the mechanism ... . Has been fine ever since. A lot of information can be found on alfaowner.com - how to fix/bodge steering wheel mechanism; 4) Rear left window mechanism was changed as it failed last year. These are the only four ''abnormal'' problems I/my father had with this car since it was new. Otherwise only normal maintenance was performed. Currently have around 250.000kms on the clock. The engine is ''chiptuned'' also (squadra-tuning.nl - medio tuning), EGR disabled, ever since 2013/2014. I am considering to go for the massimo tuning, just for the fun of it. This is a pretty reliable vehicle, with a very reliable engine. I only use this car for longer distances, and then let it warm up to ideal operating temperature before really driving it in higher rpm's/more ''sporty'', for which even a modern diesel is best used for (general rule: it takes twice the time of the coolant coming to temperature). I am a pretty defensive driver, I try to be a ''gentleman'' in traffic. However, I do test the car in corners at higher speeds, just for the fun of it, and do try to pull-up to higher rpm's from time to time. Even after all those years, I still want to keep it and happily drive it every time. Even the red leather interior is in pretty good condition (I clean and condition it at least once yearly, with premium products). This is a very comfortable car in my opinion, with a sporty feel, and pretty reliable. Like every other car: check the service history before buying it, or at least buy it from someone 'reliable''. Every year it passes the obligatory vehicle inspection test in Belgium without any remarks (not that they are really strict in their testing, but still). Even the current car mechanic who does the maintenance since a couple of years has no remarks: he advises to keep on driving it. No noticeable oil consumption, gearbox and clutch still original and working. No bizarre noises or anything. There is wear and tear that you feel while driving (certainly since we have driven it since new, you can feel the difference), mostly in the suspension part. But nothing serious and certainly nothing to change/worry about. If you take proper care of his car, it will take proper care of you. If you can buy one used and in certain good condition: do not hesitate. Hope that this is informative for anyone. Otherwise free publicity ;) . I anyone has further questions: I'll try to keep an eye on this comment in the next few months.
Honest review of your car ,I have the 159 tbi 1.75cc mapped up to 240bhp from 200.Overal a good car with the best 159 engine in my humble opinion.Problems so far broken headlight adjuster switch which caught me out as it is now a MOT failure since 2016 (never even used it as I'm a solo driver ).The coolant bottle is brittle on these cars and i needed a new one.The gearbox are not the best Gm m32 a bit knotty and Known to go on high mileage.Also the glass in the wing mirror nesting corrodes on the 159 and the Brera .Stone chips are a bugger as itsa large bonnet area I have given up touching them up! And my petrol sensor has recently been replaced as the reading was all over the place,apparently this does happen on the 159s.Apart from that I love the drive and the look of the car .
For those interested, to give an update: meantime still only 250.000 kms ... . 'Problems' in the meantime: several wishbone bushes are starting to 'fail'. Still within margin, but steering isnt as 'sharp' anymore, as well as you can 'feel'' and hear noticeable 'smacking'of suspension/wishbones around the car when going over speed bumps etcetera. Not a real problem, but am considering to have the bushes replaced. Another thing to note: the weather seals inside all the doors have failed, resulting into rain water getting into the car/cabine (certainly during longer heavy rain). This is visible through a 'raintrail'going over door trim into footwell, as well as wet carping ... . I followed clear instructions on youtube to replace the deteriorated seal by an all weather silicone kit (did it yesterday to all 4 doors), and after one night of heavy rain: no more leakage inside the cabine. All in all still very pleased with this car.
Last Sunday I accompanied my fourteen year old son (159 employee 😁) to the "Quantum of Solace" rally on Lake Garda: 1 Aston Martin on the run and a pack of 70 Alfa 159s in tow, along the tunnels between Salò and Riva, bringing the scene of the life of the film oo7. 😂 funny. (Aston from Great Britain, 159 from Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Romania, mostly black).
I ran my 3.2 Q4 QTronic as my daily driver for 3 years, even towed my 7.31 meter Caravan with no issues. Yes one broken coil prompted me to swap all of them for the eibach coils all round and I can vouch for handling and drive it’s a true Alfa in every way. Reliable no trouble at all pipercross air filters kept things fresh. You buy an Alfa to drive something different and the drivers make the drive. If you don’t like the drive buy something else 😎
Just wanted to leave a comment of appreciation Neil, have been the proud owner of a 159 TBI Ti saloon in appropriate Alfa Rosso for the last 9 months. It's my first car, and this guide was really useful for figuring out what one to go for and check the common issues. Thanks from Adelaide, Australia!
159 is now my longest relationship i had with a car. We count in km`s, so purchased out of lease with 179 000 km, now 340 000 km ( 210 000 miles ) Heavy front ( 2.4 first; sersies ) but best autobahn car i drove. some mayor issu`s with F40 transmission, subframe and steering rack but after replacing now a verry happy owner. Thanks for your nice Vid`s !! Erik from Assen Netherlands.
The 159 is actually built on a big floor pan, ment for a bigger car, the next segment up, but for some reason ( maybe the joint venture with GM, minds were changed). Also a German oversaw the development of the car, and it has thicker glass to eliminate wind noise.
Interesting comment on the JTS. I had a 3.2 v6 for 8 yrs, ran it to 140k mile, with no problems, not even cam chain change...but it was meticulously serviced by Vito - Vito’s Motors, in London UK - who flushed the engine with every service.
One of the best, if not the best looking car ever seen! I just love it, the only thing I don't like, and it is an stupid one, is that the boot opening is to small
I had a (facelift) 156 with 1.9 JTD (115HP?) for 3 years as a company car (fleet manager was an alfista 😁). Apart from the noticible turbo gap it was a real pleasure to drive, very nimble. The steering was incredibly direct with lots of feedback and in corners the car stuck to the road like chewing gum.
Great job with the buyers guide, but I do have to say that you missed one of the bigger problems, the problematic M32 gearbox. Still as I said, very nice overview of the things to look at when buying one of these.
@@blingking5011.9/2.0jtdm had m32, i own 2.4jtdm with f40 trans and as far as i know, the m32 trans has the so called chocolate bearing witch causes the 6th gear to squeak
@@blingking501changing the transmission oil and overfilling it a bit (0,5l i think) helps a lot, and also if possible dont accelarate heavy in 6th gear
Sometimes you can get little things going wrong easily fixed.. i have an 08 JTDm amazing car. Handles like a dream and fast. A really fun car to drive. Actually in italy where I live the prices are going up.
Thanks for the video. Had my 159 for 7 years and very few problems. Now at 199455 miles. Had bonnet catch and ERG problems. Always get the tracking checked when tyres get changed. Battery has been replaced 3 times - need to buy heavy duty one. This years MOT ball joint so new lower wishbone. Want to get to 200k. Going to look at your video for some tips.
i literally had every common problem with my 159, was not expensive to fix, i had the dpf pipe broken like you mentioned, fixed it with fuel line pipes lol. my car has 200k kms and is a dream to drive on the highway, silky smooth engine no road or windnoise at all, i love my car. its not sporty but it does have a stiff chassis and i dont feel like i want to shoot myself when driving it ( im looking at you renault, honestly how do you make such boring cars?)
Hehe, so it is a Renault thing? My Kadjar (to be replaced with the Toenai...I mean Tonale PHEV mid-Summer) is a decent car but the controls and console are...minimalist.
i love your videos neil. i'm glad i found your channel. i have a '99 1.6 t-spark 146 so i'd like to see more videos on t-spark engines and 145/146, thank you.
Very beautiful looking car but I'd rather have my 147 Sport TS , the old T Spark engine only has 120bhp but it has a head turning sound and soul and the handling is unmatched.
having just switched from a 147 2.0 TS to a 159 1750 TBi, I can honestly say the 159 is simply in another league. I understand they're different market segments, but you simply cannot compare the two, the 159 is better in pretty much every department. and yes, the old TS likes to drink oil in a way it puts the Audi TFSI engine to shame
Regarding 1.9, 2.0, 2.4 JTD Engines You forgot about few things, this problems appear usually after car hits 10 years -Thermostat (check if its keeping 90’C when engine is wormed up) -Ask if vortex flaps are removed ? (they usually fall into the engine causing its damage) -hand brake rots (check if its working) -Models with navigation have antenna plate problem, it rots causing GPS and radio failure
Imagine if you could put the 159 v6 into the plain 156 body, non GTA so lighter, that would theoretically be quicker than the GTA? Why did they make them so heavy? My 05 156(facelift) Q system 2.5v6 version is a good compromise of power, economy and sound\looks. I parked it next to a later model Mercedes and it held it's own. I remember one specialist mechanic say to me, if you love your Alfa Romeo it loves you back. True!
@@ItaliaAutos interesting response. I think I'll stick to my 156. Actually you gave me a clue on the rear parking sensors, mine don't work but there's evidence of a rear end collision repair so thanks man!
Hopefully buying a 159 soon to replace my much loved Panda 100HP, looking at a 1750 Tbi Ti, did consider the Diesel but most of my driving is short journeys and do low annual miles so petrol will suit me better.
@@ItaliaAutos Got it yesterday : ), love it to bits already, front frame is good, backend needs scrubbed and cleaned, gearbox is fine, drives superb, new cambelt this year, full specialist service history, 98K on the clock, paid £5600. Got it from Tebay it's now up in Scotland.
Excellent video Neil although I don't share your opinion about the JTS engine. I have a perfect 2.2 liter 159! 👍 I did have to replace the subframe though because of rust. After replacement I said goodbye to the protection plate below the engine to give the new subframe air to prevent rust again.
I’m seriously considering the 1800 mpi to replace my old Corolla I’m 19 so insurance will b fun especially seeing as I clock up 20k a year on it for work probably going to burn, literally every family member (especially grandpa) has warned me off them due to reliability despite the fact that he himself had Vauxhalls… enough said, I drove one and it’s was so nice and when I drove the Toyota avensis estate I couldn’t believe the difference the avensis felt so wooden to drive, no feeling at all, I don’t go mad… whiter than white I have to b because for some reason all us young drivers are exactly the same apparently… 😂
A quick question why didn’t the sport wagons come with roof rails as standard? The 159 is a really well built car good quality paint leather and upholstery. Mine has done 168000 and no squeaks or rattles unlike my 09 merc c220 cdi.
Hey man, I am loving your content, I have a small problem with my 159 1.9 jtd SW, when cruising at 90km/h I have a continuous noise coming from the front, sounds like a helicopter from far away, the further I am from 90kms the lesser the sounds, par example at 100 or 80 there is no noise, also there is like sound of jet engine coming from behind the dash when I first start the car, I think it's brakes related because when I press the brake pedal it goes away, sometimes comes back when I'm driving... IDK the car is either actually alive or haunted, she makes a lot of stuff but does it occasionally, sometimes she is perfect for a week, then trows an engine code, then is fine for another month...
It's always interesting to see what you have in your yard was that the phase 3 gtv l saw. Be interesting to see the spares supply side of your business
@@ItaliaAutos yes there seems to be a lot of people doing them, how much duo you charge for your painting services , seen a few pics of your work and your good
Really interesting how UK Alfas get rusty subframe, never saw anything similar on my Alfas. I suppose it is due to British weather, but really very strange.
its weather mate, i used to own one of these back in the day my friend in Turkey bough one at the same time, mine rusted his didn't because where i am netherlands and uk has loads of rain and moisty weather that significantly speeds up the rusty process by years even compared to dry climates.
The car is amazing. At 240 kph it handles great sure it will have its quirks but si does bmw Marc's etc illtake my 08 2.4 jtdm over any of those any day. What a car
@@stevenjr6582 not just a map hybrid turbo too and custom exhaust
6 месяцев назад+1
In my country not even in 20 years will a car look this rusty. I understand that many of the reliability problems that are blamed on cars in Britain have more to do with the weather and the salt than with the cars themselves.
Avoid the JTS petrol engine? Bullshit, mine is 2.2 and it's been as reliable as an axe, 208,000kms and counting. Also, we don't salt the roads in Australia so none of the rust that this car has.
hello, do you have any advice for a 159 q4? specifically speaking of the q-tronic box and the differential and cardan. Buy one and I'm worried about those details, and if you have any other comments to ask me. I subscribed to your channel, I congratulate you for the good material, greetings from Argentina.
Italia Autos Thank you very much, I also have a 159 2.2 selespeed and I am preparing a 155 q4 to run trackday. I will upload videos of it and I will tell you if you are interested, again congratulations and greetings from Argentina.
Hey buddy, loved your videos, I've had my 159ti 2.0 jtdm for over 6 years, now I just got a tbi ti, however the gear stick is a bit stiff,, any ideia of what it could be?
Hi Neil, like your content! I was an Alfa mechanic for 8 years here in Belgium but that was 10 years ago. Now i have a 159 1750 ti sw and i’m changing the cambelt. I have the special tools for crank and cam but i can’t find the torque settings for the VVT camshaft sprockets. Do you have any idea, please? Ciao, Koen
Love your videos. I am planning to buy a 159 and I was thinking about a 2.4 diesel. Could you possibly have a review of the cracking cylinder head issue? I could not find any explanation why it is happening, it would be really nice to have your opinion on it. Cheers!
Andrius M thank you. I was considering the 159 2,4 as a replacement for my 156 2.0 TS (it just has too many issues to be used as a daily) and i know it may sound as blasphemy for Alfisti, but I am now looking as some Lexus GS-es as an alternative.
@@Gabriell0684 a few days ago Ijust sold my 2005 1.9 16V JTD 150 HP. New owner bought because his Toyota Avensis engine died and he was looking for a not expensive car. I'm also looking at 159. For me it doesn't matter fuel type, good condition is priority.
Very very surprised you didn’t mention the M32 gearbox and neither the problem it quite often has with water in/under the floor in the front foot wells
You should do a film about the gearbox alone, seeing it's so widely used. Also, what I mentioned on water in the foot wells is a very common problem, and I have seen it in most 159s I've checked on. (I too live in a VW ("Very Wet", Clarkson) country)
Thank for the great riview. 2.4 or 2.0JTM would be my first choice, BUT, our government is making owning an 'older' diesel impossible. I'm therefore looking at a 2.0JTS with selespeed (yes, a lot of red flags), but are those engines and boxes really that bad? Thanks
I have a 2.2JTS - I know many (like Neil here) don't like it but I find the engine a gem - smooth, refined, very flexible, pulls from 1500rpm in 6th, uses no oil and gives 35+mpg on motorway. Plus you can hang on to a gear and have the Alfa-esque 6750rpm rev limit for a bit of mood music - try that in a diesel!
@@roverchap Likewise i have the 2.2 JTS, the weak spot is the cam chain as they used a single link chain, i have had to have mine replaced once which was pretty pricey. My local independent alfa specialist said to make sure i have the oil changed every 6 months to try and avoid the cam chain stretch. other than that the wheel alignment on the front normally needs new tyres every year (under 5000 miles per year) and that was with the alignment being done every three months. I did find that using cheaper tyres, (I normally had goodyear efficient grip) helped with the last set (blackcircles no name)of cheaper tyres lasting 2 years. I bought it 5 years ago for £5k and has cost me around the same again in maintenance. I do still love Alfa's though.
Such a shame about the 159, in Ti trim and in black it looks utterly stunning. And has even more presence when you see one on the road. None of the engine options stand out to me other than maybe the 2.4 Diesel. V6 looks meh, both petrol options don't seem all that exciting and the other diesels don't do it for me. Then again I'm still knocking around in my 18 year old Busso powered 156... The 159 is way better looking than the Giulietta but sadly when the time comes for the Busso to go I'll have to go for the newer hatchback...
1750 TBi is the best viewed petrol offering by the community at least. It does need a bit of taking care of and suffers from fuel dilution, but it is said to be leagues better than the GM based lumps.
My lovely 10 plate white ti saloon has developed an issue with the rear sensors only working intermittently like you point out here, when it's not working it comes up with a 'parking help unavailable' message on the dash, any ideas what the issue will be? I'm thinking maybe a failed sensor or some dodgy wiring.. Love your videos by the way 😊
Wanted one of these for YEARS!! Now living in the Netherlands, diesels are crazy expensive to tax, so realistically need a petrol so naturally im gutted to hear the petrols are not that great, been wyeing up a 2.2jts.
This car never gets old, incredible
With 300 pounds chip and 50 more horses it's spot on, that's for 2.4 jtdm
Been watching this channel for a while now, very informative and complete.
I own an Alfa 159 1.9jtdm 8v 4door/sedan version from december 2005 I believe (previously owned by my father who bought it new. 'grigio titanio' color, red leather interior). I am driving it since 2009, owning it myself since 2012. Still my 'weekly driver' (I mostly use my road bike or motorcycle for daily transportation).
To give every one an honest input, main problems that did occur:
1) power steering reservoir (failing filter?) and fluid changed under warranty I believe, in 2009. Not really a big deal, however a design flaw of the inner filter, certainly a problem in colder climates;
2) had to replace the condensor twice (pretty expensive). Apparantly it gets easily punctured by 'road stones' as the air intake in front bumper is pretty low. I did install dark metal gratings onto the air intakes at front bumper after second replacement, (third ... ) condensor has been fine ever since. But this is not an Alfa specific problem, however design of air intake on front bumper does speed up this problem occuring;
3) the steering lock mechanism has failed twice. Car refuses to go in start mode if that happens. Dashboard doesnt even light up. This happened once in 2019 which I then had replaced by a refurbished unit. A second time a couple of months ago, after which I disassembled the steering lock, removed the mechanism altogether (nylon gear and pin) and had a latching relais soldered as replacement of the mechanism ... . Has been fine ever since. A lot of information can be found on alfaowner.com - how to fix/bodge steering wheel mechanism;
4) Rear left window mechanism was changed as it failed last year.
These are the only four ''abnormal'' problems I/my father had with this car since it was new. Otherwise only normal maintenance was performed. Currently have around 250.000kms on the clock.
The engine is ''chiptuned'' also (squadra-tuning.nl - medio tuning), EGR disabled, ever since 2013/2014. I am considering to go for the massimo tuning, just for the fun of it.
This is a pretty reliable vehicle, with a very reliable engine. I only use this car for longer distances, and then let it warm up to ideal operating temperature before really driving it in higher rpm's/more ''sporty'', for which even a modern diesel is best used for (general rule: it takes twice the time of the coolant coming to temperature).
I am a pretty defensive driver, I try to be a ''gentleman'' in traffic. However, I do test the car in corners at higher speeds, just for the fun of it, and do try to pull-up to higher rpm's from time to time.
Even after all those years, I still want to keep it and happily drive it every time. Even the red leather interior is in pretty good condition (I clean and condition it at least once yearly, with premium products).
This is a very comfortable car in my opinion, with a sporty feel, and pretty reliable. Like every other car: check the service history before buying it, or at least buy it from someone 'reliable''.
Every year it passes the obligatory vehicle inspection test in Belgium without any remarks (not that they are really strict in their testing, but still). Even the current car mechanic who does the maintenance since a couple of years has no remarks: he advises to keep on driving it. No noticeable oil consumption, gearbox and clutch still original and working. No bizarre noises or anything. There is wear and tear that you feel while driving (certainly since we have driven it since new, you can feel the difference), mostly in the suspension part. But nothing serious and certainly nothing to change/worry about.
If you take proper care of his car, it will take proper care of you.
If you can buy one used and in certain good condition: do not hesitate.
Hope that this is informative for anyone. Otherwise free publicity ;) .
I anyone has further questions: I'll try to keep an eye on this comment in the next few months.
Mileage?
@@voidgamingtcwz2105 Currently 245.000 km (as such around 152.000 miles?)
Honest review of your car ,I have the 159 tbi 1.75cc mapped up to 240bhp from 200.Overal a good car with the best 159 engine in my humble opinion.Problems so far broken headlight adjuster switch which caught me out as it is now a MOT failure since 2016 (never even used it as I'm a solo driver ).The coolant bottle is brittle on these cars and i needed a new one.The gearbox are not the best Gm m32 a bit knotty and Known to go on high mileage.Also the glass in the wing mirror nesting corrodes on the 159 and the Brera .Stone chips are a bugger as itsa large bonnet area I have given up touching them up! And my petrol sensor has recently been replaced as the reading was all over the place,apparently this does happen on the 159s.Apart from that I love the drive and the look of the car .
For those interested, to give an update: meantime still only 250.000 kms ... . 'Problems' in the meantime: several wishbone bushes are starting to 'fail'. Still within margin, but steering isnt as 'sharp' anymore, as well as you can 'feel'' and hear noticeable 'smacking'of suspension/wishbones around the car when going over speed bumps etcetera. Not a real problem, but am considering to have the bushes replaced. Another thing to note: the weather seals inside all the doors have failed, resulting into rain water getting into the car/cabine (certainly during longer heavy rain). This is visible through a 'raintrail'going over door trim into footwell, as well as wet carping ... . I followed clear instructions on youtube to replace the deteriorated seal by an all weather silicone kit (did it yesterday to all 4 doors), and after one night of heavy rain: no more leakage inside the cabine. All in all still very pleased with this car.
Excellent additional information on the 159 from your and the previous owners' long experience. I enjoyed reading this, thank you.
Last Sunday I accompanied my fourteen year old son (159 employee 😁) to the "Quantum of Solace" rally on Lake Garda: 1 Aston Martin on the run and a pack of 70 Alfa 159s in tow, along the tunnels between Salò and Riva, bringing the scene of the life of the film oo7.
😂 funny.
(Aston from Great Britain, 159 from Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Romania, mostly black).
Sounds like an amazing journey
Oh and this garage is amazing, he knows so much about these.
I ran my 3.2 Q4 QTronic as my daily driver for 3 years, even towed my 7.31 meter Caravan with no issues. Yes one broken coil prompted me to swap all of them for the eibach coils all round and I can vouch for handling and drive it’s a true Alfa in every way. Reliable no trouble at all pipercross air filters kept things fresh. You buy an Alfa to drive something different and the drivers make the drive. If you don’t like the drive buy something else 😎
Just wanted to leave a comment of appreciation Neil, have been the proud owner of a 159 TBI Ti saloon in appropriate Alfa Rosso for the last 9 months.
It's my first car, and this guide was really useful for figuring out what one to go for and check the common issues. Thanks from Adelaide, Australia!
Awesome thanks 👍
2.4d is the boss engine. If 5 cylinder noise is agricultural, make me a farmer
İ am a proud owner of a 159 2.4 jtdm Sportswagon.
Amazing car in every way.
I like the sound of the 5 cylinder diesel jtdm
@@malcolmhardwick4258 yeah great sound for a diesel
159 is now my longest relationship i had with a car. We count in km`s, so purchased out of lease with 179 000 km, now 340 000 km ( 210 000 miles ) Heavy front ( 2.4 first; sersies ) but best autobahn car i drove. some mayor issu`s with F40 transmission, subframe and steering rack but after replacing now a verry happy owner.
Thanks for your nice Vid`s !! Erik from Assen Netherlands.
doing well.
That's odd. usually people are complaining about Vauxhall M32 transmission on 1.9. What is the F40 issue?
What is your opinion on this 2.4 engine? Any problems with turbo?
@@ItaliaAutos Great video mate! So TI is a trim level, regardless of the engine? I mean can you have TI with a V6 3.2 engine? thanks
2.4 JTDm is the best you can get. The sound of that 5 cylinders is amazing.
I prefere the 1.9/2.0 JtdM
Best Alfa Mehcanic I’ve ever seen good man love your videos keep up the good work
thank you.
My old next door neighbour was a great alfa mechanic Ade worked at WAD in Wolverhampton but lost touch when we moved etc.. must be a midland thing 🤔
the only car buyers guide anyone would need is just buy a 159. have mine 5 months now and love it
The 159 is actually built on a big floor pan, ment for a bigger car, the next segment up, but for some reason ( maybe the joint venture with GM, minds were changed).
Also a German oversaw the development of the car, and it has thicker glass to eliminate wind noise.
It was planed to be RWD so it was strengthened in the rear axle hence the increased weight
Racist
@@maraneloservice2828 I wish the 159 was rear wheel drive. Imagine those things drifting
Interesting comment on the JTS. I had a 3.2 v6 for 8 yrs, ran it to 140k mile, with no problems, not even cam chain change...but it was meticulously serviced by Vito - Vito’s Motors, in London UK - who flushed the engine with every service.
they need servicing lots sooner than alfa recommends thats why most of them are suffering chain failure.
I've had it 5 years and no probs as well . 3.2 Q4
@@rolandsoittu8244 your servicing must be good then.
@@rolandsoittu8244 @McKengineer What about fuel consumption?
I think it's the best handling car I have ever driven....P.S. I have 156 fl
Its a good motorway cruiser.
@@ItaliaAutos I agree
One of the best, if not the best looking car ever seen! I just love it, the only thing I don't like, and it is an stupid one, is that the boot opening is to small
i had exactly same car but with roof racks, sold it and kept 156 which is more fun to drive
Does the 156 feel a lot lighter?
I had a (facelift) 156 with 1.9 JTD (115HP?) for 3 years as a company car (fleet manager was an alfista 😁). Apart from the noticible turbo gap it was a real pleasure to drive, very nimble. The steering was incredibly direct with lots of feedback and in corners the car stuck to the road like chewing gum.
I want this Alfa love the 159 sportswagon especially in black
this was a nice one.
@@ItaliaAutos looked at a few but nearly brought one but the fact it wasn't black put me off lol
Very informative, very comprehensive. Thanks.
Great job with the buyers guide, but I do have to say that you missed one of the bigger problems, the problematic M32 gearbox. Still as I said, very nice overview of the things to look at when buying one of these.
I've got a insignia with the m32 gearbox and my heart has sank. Which 159s had the gearbox?
@@blingking5011.9/2.0jtdm had m32, i own 2.4jtdm with f40 trans and as far as i know, the m32 trans has the so called chocolate bearing witch causes the 6th gear to squeak
@@blingking501changing the transmission oil and overfilling it a bit (0,5l i think) helps a lot, and also if possible dont accelarate heavy in 6th gear
@@blingking501and also better gearing sets for m32 trans can be bought
in Italy we do not have all these problems are good cars that we easily do 300,000-400,000 kilometers
A 2.4 JTDm Q4 SW would be my pick for an all round family car. But a 1.9 JTDm SW would be ok, but probably could do with a 190 bhp ECU reprogramming.
Just watched this with baited breath AFTER buying a 2.4. No drama though and 'agricultural' is usually a good thing for longevity 👍
Hi. Do you have instagram?
@@dorintony lmao
@@dorintony relax Tony ya big creep
Im about to buy the 2.0 jtdm TI 159 in red 👌🤞
Awesome 👌
Terrific video Neil,finally moving away from the Mk4 Golf collection to get hold of a 159,keep up the great work
Good stuff. Thanks for watching
I have had two, the wagon and the sedan, and they are beautiful cars.
nice.
Sometimes you can get little things going wrong easily fixed.. i have an 08 JTDm amazing car. Handles like a dream and fast. A really fun car to drive. Actually in italy where I live the prices are going up.
Awesome. Thanks for the comment
But... the V6 sound man... It's very tempting.
I owned the 159 1750 TBI in ti trim. Beatiful car, awesome ride, terrible reliability.
I wish we had cars like this in the states
I’d happily swap it for a Dodge Challenger.
I wish we had yankee cars in EU
Thanks for the video.
Had my 159 for 7 years and very few problems.
Now at 199455 miles.
Had bonnet catch and ERG problems. Always get the tracking checked when tyres get changed. Battery has been replaced 3 times - need to buy heavy duty one.
This years MOT ball joint so new lower wishbone. Want to get to 200k.
Going to look at your video for some tips.
i literally had every common problem with my 159, was not expensive to fix, i had the dpf pipe broken like you mentioned, fixed it with fuel line pipes lol. my car has 200k kms and is a dream to drive on the highway, silky smooth engine no road or windnoise at all, i love my car. its not sporty but it does have a stiff chassis and i dont feel like i want to shoot myself when driving it ( im looking at you renault, honestly how do you make such boring cars?)
yeah stop looking at french cars. lol
Hehe, so it is a Renault thing? My Kadjar (to be replaced with the Toenai...I mean Tonale PHEV mid-Summer) is a decent car but the controls and console are...minimalist.
great video.. to sumerise no major faults to worry about on the diesel engines
Apart from the gearbox on the 1.9
the 159 SW is still an amazingly beautiful car
I was thinking about getting one but a bentley arnage sounds more reliable with less problems.
facelift giulietta is more reliable
i love your videos neil. i'm glad i found your channel. i have a '99 1.6 t-spark 146 so i'd like to see more videos on t-spark engines and 145/146, thank you.
Thanks. Episode update on my 145 will be up in the next few weeks.
@@ItaliaAutos can't wait for that!
Thank you for that very very useful report. I have an opportunity to buy one and so could fulfill a childhood dream of finally getting into an Alfa.
@@churchofgod4016 Did you buy it?
Excellent guide Neil.
thanks.
I realy love this car😎i can watch it whole day.👌
Very beautiful looking car but I'd rather have my 147 Sport TS , the old T Spark engine only has 120bhp but it has a head turning sound and soul and the handling is unmatched.
I owned a 147 and i now have a 159, boy did that 147 drink oil
@@hetspook666 i still own a 147. Its just nuts how much oil it needs. Im now at 1l - 1200km
having just switched from a 147 2.0 TS to a 159 1750 TBi, I can honestly say the 159 is simply in another league. I understand they're different market segments, but you simply cannot compare the two, the 159 is better in pretty much every department. and yes, the old TS likes to drink oil in a way it puts the Audi TFSI engine to shame
Just got my 2.4 TI Q-Tronic, love it!
Hom many km ?
Those door handles are the best looking in the world
Regarding 1.9, 2.0, 2.4 JTD Engines
You forgot about few things, this problems appear usually after car hits 10 years
-Thermostat (check if its keeping 90’C when engine is wormed up)
-Ask if vortex flaps are removed ? (they usually fall into the engine causing its damage)
-hand brake rots (check if its working)
-Models with navigation have antenna plate problem, it rots causing GPS and radio failure
What are these vortex flaps?
I wish I had your level of knowledge
its only taken 15 years plus years. crikey i could of been a doctor lol
I had a 1.9 jtdm, now years later still miss it. Now looking for a Tbi
Great video! Going to look at one of these tomorrow
Imagine if you could put the 159 v6 into the plain 156 body, non GTA so lighter, that would theoretically be quicker than the GTA? Why did they make them so heavy? My 05 156(facelift) Q system 2.5v6 version is a good compromise of power, economy and sound\looks. I parked it next to a later model Mercedes and it held it's own.
I remember one specialist mechanic say to me, if you love your Alfa Romeo it loves you back. True!
id rather make a gta rear wheel drive.
@@ItaliaAutos interesting response. I think I'll stick to my 156. Actually you gave me a clue on the rear parking sensors, mine don't work but there's evidence of a rear end collision repair so thanks man!
Hopefully buying a 159 soon to replace my much loved Panda 100HP, looking at a 1750 Tbi Ti, did consider the Diesel but most of my driving is short journeys and do low annual miles so petrol will suit me better.
Sounds good.
@@ItaliaAutos Got it yesterday : ), love it to bits already, front frame is good, backend needs scrubbed and cleaned, gearbox is fine, drives superb, new cambelt this year, full specialist service history, 98K on the clock, paid £5600. Got it from Tebay it's now up in Scotland.
Nice car! My dad owns a stationwagon with a rail on the roof he bought it with navigation and we have it for a few months or so great video by the way
Cheers thanks for watching
Excellent video Neil although I don't share your opinion about the JTS engine. I have a perfect 2.2 liter 159! 👍
I did have to replace the subframe though because of rust. After replacement I said goodbye to the protection plate below the engine to give the new subframe air to prevent rust again.
Thanks each to there own on the engines. 👍
True 😎
Besides, in Holland, where I am from, nowadays it's almost impossible to drive diesel because of taxes
@@Tuulster70 I hear cars are really expensive to.
That's for sure! To our governement car enthusiasts are a milkcow for taxes. But that won't stop me from driving my 159 and GTV 😎😎
Common problem is MAF....check turbocharger indicator to figure out if MAF is faulty
Excellent guide. Please more videos about the GT ❤️❤️❤️
next one is a GT video.
❤️❤️
I am selling my Ford Mondeo 2011reg 2.2tdci Titanium X, just so that I could by an Alfa Romeo 159 2.4jtd. Beautiful car with a very good engine.
That is beautiful, I think I just had a gentleman trouser incident
Great video, very tempted for a ti estate they look wonderful. But think I’ll miss my focus st
Mines italian built what a car.
my quick guide= See It,Love It,Buy it
Lovely Jubbly, an honest review I think.
A good detailed review , cheers
Thanks for watching 👀
Forever young,cuore sportivo
many thanks for your review. i hope to find the one that you recommended. cheers
I’m seriously considering the 1800 mpi to replace my old Corolla I’m 19 so insurance will b fun especially seeing as I clock up 20k a year on it for work probably going to burn, literally every family member (especially grandpa) has warned me off them due to reliability despite the fact that he himself had Vauxhalls… enough said, I drove one and it’s was so nice and when I drove the Toyota avensis estate I couldn’t believe the difference the avensis felt so wooden to drive, no feeling at all, I don’t go mad… whiter than white I have to b because for some reason all us young drivers are exactly the same apparently… 😂
Thanks again Neil;
your welcome.
Always fancied one of those, nice looking car
I notice a small detail that occurs on my 156, namely the windscreen lower rubber seal on the passenger side is dislodged! Exactly the same!
A quick question why didn’t the sport wagons come with roof rails as standard? The 159 is a really well built car good quality paint leather and upholstery. Mine has done 168000 and no squeaks or rattles unlike my 09 merc c220 cdi.
always an option for the roof bars.
@@ItaliaAutos saw loads of nice ones but no roof rails .... now I know why 👍
Can it be done after market ????
@@paulyoung5073 they can be added but its not an easy task.
Cool! Let's take video the same with alfa romeo 156!
When I've fixed up the grey one in the video.
@@ItaliaAutos Sorry, I mean "Buyers guide for alfa romeo 156":)
@@VladAleksandrovich that's what I mean. The 156 will be in one once finished
Hey man, I am loving your content, I have a small problem with my 159 1.9 jtd SW, when cruising at 90km/h I have a continuous noise coming from the front, sounds like a helicopter from far away, the further I am from 90kms the lesser the sounds, par example at 100 or 80 there is no noise, also there is like sound of jet engine coming from behind the dash when I first start the car, I think it's brakes related because when I press the brake pedal it goes away, sometimes comes back when I'm driving... IDK the car is either actually alive or haunted, she makes a lot of stuff but does it occasionally, sometimes she is perfect for a week, then trows an engine code, then is fine for another month...
It's always interesting to see what you have in your yard was that the phase 3 gtv l saw. Be interesting to see the spares supply side of your business
Sylvia Murley yep. I don’t do as many spares as I used to as to many people have jumped on the bandwagon.
@@ItaliaAutos yes there seems to be a lot of people doing them, how much duo you charge for your painting services , seen a few pics of your work and your good
Sylvia Murley let me know what you need doing.
best cheap used car
i do NOT recommend getting this car used, because it can have a lot of hidden flaws. If are are going to buy it, make sure it's from a trusted seller.
@@IStoleYourSandwich You are VERY right here! I have 2006 159 2.2 Jts and bad experience that. But I repair my car and trip going on....
Really interesting how UK Alfas get rusty subframe, never saw anything similar on my Alfas. I suppose it is due to British weather, but really very strange.
its weather mate, i used to own one of these back in the day my friend in Turkey bough one at the same time, mine rusted his didn't because where i am netherlands and uk has loads of rain and moisty weather that significantly speeds up the rusty process by years even compared to dry climates.
@@mazakantc5532 The UK also uses salt on the roads in icy weather. More ice the further north you go.
Poland as well .. due to Salt on the roads
Love your work 👍
Thanks for watching
The car is amazing. At 240 kph it handles great sure it will have its quirks but si does bmw Marc's etc illtake my 08 2.4 jtdm over any of those any day. What a car
I so want to get an Italian car as my daily car but I am terrified
Very informative thanks
you're welcome.
One day you'll show the 155 in the background.
Its on my list to be restored. Just needs some mot work and a respray.
@@ItaliaAutos most do unfortunately. I would love to bring mine back to life but it's just become too much for me.
The puprple 166 in the back is much more attractive to me though it is almost wrecked and dead ;)
yeah thats the donor car for my gtv resto.
Nice car.
Best regarts
Really useful, thanks!
Thanks for the video!
la alfa 159 è una delle mie preferite
Would it be a good idea to prevent rust on sub frames and suspension arms? Using paint or under seal so it doesn't happen again.
sure would.
I'd take one with either 1750 or V6
Ive got a v6...the only problem i had was the oil sensor and water in the back light....and the chrome on the grill if thats even a problem
Why not a 300hp mapped 2.4 5pot derv??
@@lukecowell7516 where do you map this engine at 300bhp?
@@stevenjr6582 not just a map hybrid turbo too and custom exhaust
In my country not even in 20 years will a car look this rusty. I understand that many of the reliability problems that are blamed on cars in Britain have more to do with the weather and the salt than with the cars themselves.
Avoid the JTS petrol engine? Bullshit, mine is 2.2 and it's been as reliable as an axe, 208,000kms and counting. Also, we don't salt the roads in Australia so none of the rust that this car has.
Hello, thanks for the review. But is there any concern when buying an automatic version? Thanks in advance
The boxes are pretty good but make sure the selector housing is OK
No mention of 2.4 heads cracking or oil pump failing or the steering lock ECU playing up??
maybe cause is talking about the 1.9? in any case the 2.4 is a hell of a engine. done 300.000 km in one of these.
hello, do you have any advice for a 159 q4? specifically speaking of the q-tronic box and the differential and cardan. Buy one and I'm worried about those details, and if you have any other comments to ask me. I subscribed to your channel, I congratulate you for the good material, greetings from Argentina.
The q tonic box isn't somthing I've messed with much I'm afraid. Not her popular in the UK But from the ones I've driven there a good gearbox.
Italia Autos Thank you very much, I also have a 159 2.2 selespeed and I am preparing a 155 q4 to run trackday. I will upload videos of it and I will tell you if you are interested, again congratulations and greetings from Argentina.
Qtronic is an aisin gearbox japanese made,they tend to be neglected , so change the oil with a recommended oem specification.
Hey buddy, loved your videos, I've had my 159ti 2.0 jtdm for over 6 years, now I just got a tbi ti, however the gear stick is a bit stiff,, any ideia of what it could be?
hi thanks for watching. sticking cables possibly
Beautiful car unfortunately unavailable here in the States
@Christ in Shades use the glasses
Hi Neil, like your content! I was an Alfa mechanic for 8 years here in Belgium but that was 10 years ago. Now i have a 159 1750 ti sw and i’m changing the cambelt. I have the special tools for crank and cam but i can’t find the torque settings for the VVT camshaft sprockets. Do you have any idea, please? Ciao, Koen
im sure they will be on google. i dont have them
Nope, googled a lot already. Too bad, thanks anyway.
Love your videos. I am planning to buy a 159 and I was thinking about a 2.4 diesel. Could you possibly have a review of the cracking cylinder head issue? I could not find any explanation why it is happening, it would be really nice to have your opinion on it. Cheers!
As I know it happens when you push cold engine to the limit.
Andrius M thank you. I was considering the 159 2,4 as a replacement for my 156 2.0 TS (it just has too many issues to be used as a daily) and i know it may sound as blasphemy for Alfisti, but I am now looking as some Lexus GS-es as an alternative.
@@Gabriell0684 a few days ago Ijust sold my 2005 1.9 16V JTD 150 HP. New owner bought because his Toyota Avensis engine died and he was looking for a not expensive car. I'm also looking at 159. For me it doesn't matter fuel type, good condition is priority.
Very very surprised you didn’t mention the M32 gearbox and neither the problem it quite often has with water in/under the floor in the front foot wells
Gearbox is one thing I forgot.
You should do a film about the gearbox alone, seeing it's so widely used.
Also, what I mentioned on water in the foot wells is a very common problem, and I have seen it in most 159s I've checked on. (I too live in a VW ("Very Wet", Clarkson) country)
Thank for the great riview. 2.4 or 2.0JTM would be my first choice, BUT, our government is making owning an 'older' diesel impossible. I'm therefore looking at a 2.0JTS with selespeed (yes, a lot of red flags), but are those engines and boxes really that bad? Thanks
I have a 2.2JTS - I know many (like Neil here) don't like it but I find the engine a gem - smooth, refined, very flexible, pulls from 1500rpm in 6th, uses no oil and gives 35+mpg on motorway. Plus you can hang on to a gear and have the Alfa-esque 6750rpm rev limit for a bit of mood music - try that in a diesel!
@@roverchap Likewise i have the 2.2 JTS, the weak spot is the cam chain as they used a single link chain, i have had to have mine replaced once which was pretty pricey. My local independent alfa specialist said to make sure i have the oil changed every 6 months to try and avoid the cam chain stretch. other than that the wheel alignment on the front normally needs new tyres every year (under 5000 miles per year) and that was with the alignment being done every three months. I did find that using cheaper tyres, (I normally had goodyear efficient grip) helped with the last set (blackcircles no name)of cheaper tyres lasting 2 years. I bought it 5 years ago for £5k and has cost me around the same again in maintenance. I do still love Alfa's though.
one more important thing: You must watch this video ONLY after buying AR159 =))
I watch😄😄😄👍
Such a shame about the 159, in Ti trim and in black it looks utterly stunning. And has even more presence when you see one on the road. None of the engine options stand out to me other than maybe the 2.4 Diesel. V6 looks meh, both petrol options don't seem all that exciting and the other diesels don't do it for me. Then again I'm still knocking around in my 18 year old Busso powered 156... The 159 is way better looking than the Giulietta but sadly when the time comes for the Busso to go I'll have to go for the newer hatchback...
2.4 or 1.9 are my choices.
1750 TBi is the best viewed petrol offering by the community at least. It does need a bit of taking care of and suffers from fuel dilution, but it is said to be leagues better than the GM based lumps.
Im just taking mine to mechanic to get an oil change... It will be soo happy after... ➕🐍
good stuff
Perfect job thank you
Thank you too!
Love this guide,what is the filter you refer to at 15.34?
Power steering
My lovely 10 plate white ti saloon has developed an issue with the rear sensors only working intermittently like you point out here, when it's not working it comes up with a 'parking help unavailable' message on the dash, any ideas what the issue will be? I'm thinking maybe a failed sensor or some dodgy wiring.. Love your videos by the way 😊
Wanted one of these for YEARS!! Now living in the Netherlands, diesels are crazy expensive to tax, so realistically need a petrol so naturally im gutted to hear the petrols are not that great, been wyeing up a 2.2jts.
Tbi is an option but not many in the uk
@@ItaliaAutos not many in the Netherlands either, I've been looking 😔