20 replies to this topic

[Black.Ghost]

I have been to look at a new car today, an Alfa 147 that is really nice and I think I will probably buy it. But I also found a beautiful MG ZT, which I think I would rather have. There is one big problem - the servicing!

 

The car is advertised as having done 208500 miles. I asked him last night when it was last serviced and he said at 176000 - 32500 miles ago!

 

Its the 135 hp BMW diesel engine version. It is in my preferred colour, has the right look to it, has a lovely interior, sat nav (which I'm not too fussed about), cruise control etc. However, the mileage stated in the ad is 208500. When I asked the guy when it was last serviced, he said 176k - 32500 ago if his figures are correct! My first thought was walk away, and it still is really. If a service hasn't been done for that long, what else has been neglected?

 

However, if the rest of the car was spot on, would you touch it? I would obviously do a full service immediately on it - plugs, filters, oil, probably brake pads etc. My thoughts were that oil probably isn't too much better than water, but how bomb proof are these engines?

 

Any thoughts much appreciated. If I can't find a good ZT close by soon, I think I'll be buying the 147 that I went to see this morning.

 

 

[Bubblebobble]

Did you look at the airfilter and oil ? If they were manky i wouldnt bother , you will find another one , otherwise you might always have that nasty feeling of never trusting it . If it really hasnt been touched it would suggest to me that the chap was going to run it into the ground . 

[cal844]

Thats sheer stupidity! After all oil is cheaper than engines

[Black.Ghost]

I haven't been to look at it, its a couple of hours away and I asked some questions before going there. 

 

I agree it is completely stupid. If its retrievable, it might not be too bad. I know pics can be deceiving, but from them the rest of the car looks to be spot on. 

[Bubblebobble]

Is it worth the risk ? Everything always looks good after a jetwash and polish .

[firstforward]

I sold a brand new Ford Orion 1.6 to a customer back in the late 80's, he brought it back 2 years later and 38K on the clock to trade it in for another new car. I asked him why he never used us for his servicing, he said he never has used a garage for servicing ever in his life and went on to say, why should I pay for somebody else to get the benefit. We took it in as part exchange and the oil was OK strangely a tan brown rust colour . That car went on for many miles after that with no problems.

[sledgehammer]

as above it was being run into the ground - the oil can break down into a watery mush

 

but the main problems are the acids that build up

 

you may find bearings worn / scored even if oil pressure is good

 

oil strainer may have some gunk drawn up from the bottom of the sump

 

but at 208,000 miles even a well serviced engine can go pop

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk...facturing-fault

 

probably not the same engine - but the reason I stay away from bmw now

 

I've known of bmw engines failing at 20,000 miles

Edited by sledgehammer, 30 November 2014 - 03:11 PM.

[Carlos W]

My brother in law didn't service his Fiesta for a long period of time, the oil filter rotted, it spat all the oil out and it seized.

 

It's not going to be good for main bearings etc

[Chance]

Non of my family service their cars

I would do it but they wouldn't pay me for the price of oil etc...so I just leave them to it

No reliability problems though... Mine will get an annual oil and filter change.. Roughly every 5000 miles..

Surely if it has a BMW engine it has to be bomb proof and the best in the world?

Edited by Chance, 30 November 2014 - 03:28 PM.

[Black.Ghost]

I think it probably all just comes down to luck of each individual engine. There are many cars with poor servicing that keep going and others that fail quickly.

My first thought was walk away and I think I'm going to stick to that. Shame, it really was a beautiful car.

[mab01uk]

If it is a BMW diesel with a turbo then the turbo bearings are known to fail due to extended service intervals. I have a 2006 E90 BMW 320D with full service history and the turbo failed at 60,000 miles costing £900 for a reconditioned Turbo to be fitted. Many blame the long service intervals of modern cars and advise careful non-company car owners out of warranty to have an oil change mid-way between the manufacturers interval on turbo diesels.

[Tommyboy12]

Theoretically an engine can survive a pretty severe lack of servicing. All manufacturers put their engines under the worst conditions imaginable to test engine durability (sand in the bores, water in the oil, etc.) and then build in tolerances and preventions in to the maintenance schedule. Engines can be pretty tough though, I had a friend who put waste veg oil in his Honda CG125 instead of engine oil, it ran fine for over 40,000 miles. Thats not to say it doesnt raise warning flags. Diesels are fairly tough but they can only take so much.

[Tamworthbay]

Those ZTs don't fetch good money anyway, a high miler should be peanuts surely? Where I work I often get people coming to me with their car problems, a couple of years ago a new member of staff came to me because there was a weird light on all the time. It was a 306 diesel and it was the oil pressure light. I checked the dip only to find nothing at all. I asked when it had last been serviced and was told 'when I bought it' I asked when that was, it was before she started Uni! The car had gone four years and 60000 miles. The only oil I had was the super cheap 20/50 that I mix 50/50 with paraffin and use as cutting oil on the lathe. I topped it up with that and told her to get it changed ASAP and preferably that day. Two years on, she still hasn't changed the oil and it's still running. I just don't understand some people.

[Black.Ghost]

Define peanuts! Some of them are still being advertised at 2,3,4 K which is a bit much really. This particular one the reserve is at 825. There are quite a few currently for sale though so not sure what they are actually going for. The more expensive ones tend to be the later models. Also, the ZT 260 (the ZT version of the Zr160 and ZS180) are being advertised around the 7-8k mark. 
 
I'd consider taking a risk at 5-600, if the engine was making any noises or other major issues but I don't think he would come down that low. Plus I really like this Alfa I went to see. There is something not quite right about that though - the name on the log book is from a guy in Macclesfield and these guys are selling it. It is a Italian Car 'specialist' - a couple of guys in Bedford out of a unit. I've asked for the number for the guy selling it so I can confirm it is him at least (as well as a vehicle check to make sure it isn't stolen).

As for the girl you mention above, that is crazy! It must go bang on her soon!

Edited by Black.Ghost, 30 November 2014 - 06:26 PM.

[Tamworthbay]

I think 5-600 is sensible. The ones at a few k are on something. There are tons about and loads for less than a grand. What's the 147 like. They are great cars, and of course they are an alfa! What's not to like? (And shock horror, reasonable reliability!)