I personally love the 166 - especially the pre-facelift version. The front seats are incredible. Lovely dashboard too - possibly even nicer than in the 156. Why this car isn’t a revered modern classic is beyond me.
One of the most underrated cars. I've owned several and love them. I'm very sorry to have parted with mine. In general very reliable,stunning style and always makes you smile
166 has really good build quality and rustproofing. That joint between rear quarter panel and sill is typical and it usually is not something major. Never had to weld any rust on 166. Sometime sills are rotten, but that is always from previous damage and that car as a whole is so far gone, that it does not make any sense fixing it, while there is plenty of good ones. Paint difference in panels is common thing for silver 166. Don't know why, but they just look like 50 shades of grey. ICS is fairy reliable. Obtaining code for 1st generation ICS is not that hard - can be calculated from serial number (Becker BE2569). 2nd generation (cars 2001+, Becker BE2580) is a bit harder. Usually ICS gets damaged when heater core starts leaking - sits right above and it is common problem for 164 and 166. Navigation unit is located in boot and it is useless piece of junk. Many people just pull the plug from behind, because otherwise you have to enter code for ICS and for Navigation and also you can't adjust time manually and GPS provides time only after you enter code and put in right CD with maps. Other than that - rear suspension is a bit nightmare, when it is working than 166 is pleasure to drive, but usually it is really shot and it is labour intensive to rebuild it and do a proper wheel alignment. Front suspension is basically same as 156 so nothing special there.
I'm a big fan of 166. I had 5 before; V6 and JTD. Now I have two - prefacelift 2.0 TS, and facelifted 2.4 JTD with automatic transmission. Funfact is, that the facelifted car looks like prefacelift, because someone changed the front :D Twin Spark is a low mileage car, but JTD have almost 500000 km and runs strong. This is very reliable car, i love it
Great vid again, Neil. Glad you are starting to like the 166! I have the 3.2 here in Switzerland. I emailed you about it last summer as I brought it back to the Uk for some work, but no reply. I spent over £4k on bits at another UK Alfa specialist - I wanted you to do it!
Nice 166, i'm getting a V6 turbo Zender back in shape right now. Full options, bought 400 € (i'm french ^^) with dead engine 😬 Still lots of work ahead but its obviously worth it !
Great looking 166. I’d love one with the V6. I must be tough as old boots as the Pfizer jabs never made me ill or have a sore arm. Normally A slight cold floors me😂
I just love the 166 but prefer the pre-facelift model. I nearly bought one last year but was a bit wary of the size and fuel economy for daily urban use as my only car, so I bought a 156 2.0 TS instead. I'm still tempted by to get a 166 - this video has messed with my mind!
From what I gather the heater matrix failing has become a very significant problem for the 166, and replacement of it is a pretty huge job. I've been toying/dreaming about buying a Maserati 4200, that uses the 166 matrix and it basically now seems a case of when rather than if the matrix fails and leaks. Again in the Maserati, it means taking out the whole dashboard to change it.
It is not that hard job on 166. You have to discharge AC, then start removing things from under the scuttle panel. It takes about 3 hours to do it. Much easier with engine removed, then it is 30mins job or so :) And it is wise to remove whole engine with subframe, because it is fairly easy and quick and you gain easy access to all things like belts, clutch, driveshafts... In my mind it is just worth it once in 5 years to do it, service it properly and then next 5 years just keep changing oil and nothing more.
Excellent video. I love these cars. Take care with jabs sir, local chap had his booster on a Wednesday was dead by Sunday. Sorry that's a bit blunt and shocking
I know this is off topic but can i ask you please, if you recomand ceramic pads? I know those pads better perform at high speed after they are heated from use, i want thos pads but my mechanic advice against them saying that when he had them those pads ruin his zimmerman disks. Wich i find impossible, i believe that happened in his case by really heating them up and going trough cold watter or something...
Hello Neil, i also own a Facelifted 2.0 TS 166 ( i'm in France btw ) but i'm having issues with the front of the car being way higher than the rear... i think the previous owner installed v6's front strut but it have been some years now so not sure... i replaced the rear shocks and spring ( maybe wrong size as there is 3 differents sizes ) but the issue is still there... so if you can provide me with some measurements from a flat ground to the wheel arches or something so i can see where the issue is comming from... Thanks a lot in advance ! Regards.
Is it true that a camschaft phase/advance variator is a common failure point? I've been told it is. You know of any way to get the issue persistently fixed?
I just bought Giulietta 1.4 tjet 120HP 2014 . I have a little issue with the car. It is strange noise from the exhoust while I release clutch pedal on idle - some kind of resonanse. The same sound I can hear while press gas pedal. Generally I have impression that the engine is quite loud. It is a problem with the exhoust pipes or exhoust manifold?
I live in germany, do you know any good specialists there. I have a 159 needing a timing chain. You seem to be a good specialist, but too far away. Im in rheinland pfalz.
I personally love the 166 - especially the pre-facelift version. The front seats are incredible. Lovely dashboard too - possibly even nicer than in the 156. Why this car isn’t a revered modern classic is beyond me.
Best car I ever bought, now three years ago, the 2.0 TS. Very quiet, luxurious and even the navigation of 2004 nearly always knows where I am...
good stuff.
One of the most underrated cars. I've owned several and love them. I'm very sorry to have parted with mine. In general very reliable,stunning style and always makes you smile
I LOVE THE ALFA 166! And i own 4 x Alfa 166 3,2!
Safety, comfort, powerful and durability, that's why I bought the Alfa Romeo 156 v6 busso, twenty-two years old and still enjoying it.
2.5 v6 166 here! Awesome car!!!
166 has really good build quality and rustproofing. That joint between rear quarter panel and sill is typical and it usually is not something major. Never had to weld any rust on 166. Sometime sills are rotten, but that is always from previous damage and that car as a whole is so far gone, that it does not make any sense fixing it, while there is plenty of good ones.
Paint difference in panels is common thing for silver 166. Don't know why, but they just look like 50 shades of grey.
ICS is fairy reliable. Obtaining code for 1st generation ICS is not that hard - can be calculated from serial number (Becker BE2569). 2nd generation (cars 2001+, Becker BE2580) is a bit harder. Usually ICS gets damaged when heater core starts leaking - sits right above and it is common problem for 164 and 166.
Navigation unit is located in boot and it is useless piece of junk. Many people just pull the plug from behind, because otherwise you have to enter code for ICS and for Navigation and also you can't adjust time manually and GPS provides time only after you enter code and put in right CD with maps.
Other than that - rear suspension is a bit nightmare, when it is working than 166 is pleasure to drive, but usually it is really shot and it is labour intensive to rebuild it and do a proper wheel alignment. Front suspension is basically same as 156 so nothing special there.
Great to see this 166 in these good conditions. Maybe some love to the underfloor will stop the rust and will prepare the car for the next years.
Got me coffee...Sunday morning...no work...Nelly's on....sorted.
I'm a big fan of 166. I had 5 before; V6 and JTD. Now I have two - prefacelift 2.0 TS, and facelifted 2.4 JTD with automatic transmission. Funfact is, that the facelifted car looks like prefacelift, because someone changed the front :D Twin Spark is a low mileage car, but JTD have almost 500000 km and runs strong. This is very reliable car, i love it
Great to see one in this condition. Thanks for another informative video Neil.
Thats funny, had my areas breakfast meet this morning and a member brought his 166 3.0 V6 along. Stunning underrated car :)
Good to see older Alfas still going strong. Yep dead arm with the jab😫
Nice 166 thanks for sharing 👍
I have a 166 Facelift with a 2.4 JTD 10V engine, doing 100 miles every day. Absolutely lovely car, beautiful to drive.
Lovely cars, thanks Neil. That’s shaming me into cleaning my TS’ engine bay.
This audio is a Becker unit, same as used on the Porsches of the 2000's.
Thanks again Neil for a great informative video! Love the facelift 166's. Happy New year to you.
Happy new year!
Many Happy Returns.
Great vid again, Neil. Glad you are starting to like the 166! I have the 3.2 here in Switzerland. I emailed you about it last summer as I brought it back to the Uk for some work, but no reply. I spent over £4k on bits at another UK Alfa specialist - I wanted you to do it!
Must of missed your email sorry. Give me a call and book it in next time 👍😁
Lovely condition!
Nice 166, i'm getting a V6 turbo Zender back in shape right now. Full options, bought 400 € (i'm french ^^) with dead engine 😬 Still lots of work ahead but its obviously worth it !
Lovely car ; especially in v6 form ..
Great looking 166. I’d love one with the V6.
I must be tough as old boots as the Pfizer jabs never made me ill or have a sore arm. Normally A slight cold floors me😂
Pretty decent car given how old it is. They just get better looking with time.
super little car neil
Little?
I have 2,4 @ 280hp/520nm superb car. Easy and cheap to service. And beautiful.
Btw. DONT BUY A TS. ONLY 3.0/3.2 OR 2.4JTDM
Lovely car, never liked the front end on these though it just doesn't look right.
I just love the 166 but prefer the pre-facelift model. I nearly bought one last year but was a bit wary of the size and fuel economy for daily urban use as my only car, so I bought a 156 2.0 TS instead. I'm still tempted by to get a 166 - this video has messed with my mind!
Die Schweller und Wagenheberaufnahmen rosten sehr gerne durch bei diesem Modell. Hab ich auch gehabt.
From what I gather the heater matrix failing has become a very significant problem for the 166, and replacement of it is a pretty huge job. I've been toying/dreaming about buying a Maserati 4200, that uses the 166 matrix and it basically now seems a case of when rather than if the matrix fails and leaks. Again in the Maserati, it means taking out the whole dashboard to change it.
It is not that hard job on 166. You have to discharge AC, then start removing things from under the scuttle panel. It takes about 3 hours to do it. Much easier with engine removed, then it is 30mins job or so :) And it is wise to remove whole engine with subframe, because it is fairly easy and quick and you gain easy access to all things like belts, clutch, driveshafts... In my mind it is just worth it once in 5 years to do it, service it properly and then next 5 years just keep changing oil and nothing more.
@@vojtara Ok thanks for the reply, that's good to know.
Excellent video. I love these cars. Take care with jabs sir, local chap had his booster on a Wednesday was dead by Sunday. Sorry that's a bit blunt and shocking
I'd love one of these with that engine. But it's difficult to find them...
Who’s had this for it to be this sound.
Italian embassy 😂
@@TheHumanParaquat love it !! Nice retort
I know this is off topic but can i ask you please, if you recomand ceramic pads? I know those pads better perform at high speed after they are heated from use, i want thos pads but my mechanic advice against them saying that when he had them those pads ruin his zimmerman disks. Wich i find impossible, i believe that happened in his case by really heating them up and going trough cold watter or something...
Hello Neil, i also own a Facelifted 2.0 TS 166 ( i'm in France btw ) but i'm having issues with the front of the car being way higher than the rear... i think the previous owner installed v6's front strut but it have been some years now so not sure... i replaced the rear shocks and spring ( maybe wrong size as there is 3 differents sizes ) but the issue is still there... so if you can provide me with some measurements from a flat ground to the wheel arches or something so i can see where the issue is comming from... Thanks a lot in advance ! Regards.
Is it true that a camschaft phase/advance variator is a common failure point? I've been told it is. You know of any way to get the issue persistently fixed?
Hi do you do MOTs?
Beaut
Have you any idea how to fix the bad camber on front? it is not adjustable.
Yes change the worn out or bent components
Good solid 166.
I know how you feel as on thursday just gone i had my booster jab ( Moderna) .
I just bought Giulietta 1.4 tjet 120HP 2014 . I have a little issue with the car. It is strange noise from the exhoust while I release clutch pedal on idle - some kind of resonanse. The same sound I can hear while press gas pedal. Generally I have impression that the engine is quite loud. It is a problem with the exhoust pipes or exhoust manifold?
Book it in with me and ill happily take a look for you.
@@ItaliaAutos it's a bit complicated because I live in Poland 😉
I want to buy..money no option..1500 is my tops!
I live in germany, do you know any good specialists there. I have a 159 needing a timing chain. You seem to be a good specialist, but too far away. Im in rheinland pfalz.
No I don't sorry.
Ye, arm pain after a jab is normal m8
I know that little Smirk was aimed at me when you forced the 166 out of your mouth mate lol .
Sure was loo
@@ItaliaAutos 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Is this for sale ?
nope customer car