Alfa 159 Part VIII (Any Alfa discussion also welcomed)

[Astina]

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I changed out my original HU... its now in my storeroom

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[Jiex]

Hi Saabretooth!

 

Thanks for the reply, you almost scared the hell outta me! Hahaha yeah you are right, i know what to expect the moment i decided to purchase. I know its not possible to rectify the jerkiness so am just looking for ways to better improve it. So the TMC really does work? Are you using it too? I bought the BMC for $150 bucks only from an ex Audi TT owner so its quite a steal, was using it in the bravo too and i like it so decided to change it for the Alfa also hehh.

 

Been driving it for a month now and loving it, especially with sports mode the upshift is shiokk! Do you use the neutral gear often? I kinda switch it to neutral once in awhile when approaching red light or when the car is stationary just to avoid the jerky downshift, will this damage the gearbox? Thanks for the advise! Shall drive and observe more first before i try to improve the handling and performance.

 

Hows the feedback after installing the BMC?

Also how do you use switch to neutral while coming to a stop when approaching traffic light? Wouldn't it give u the error saying inadmissible operation?

For our cars, there is no way to avoid the jerky shift totally. But i can share with you that my car was less jerky during the shifts after changing out my front lower arm. The new bushings does help to make the car firmer. You can consider replacing the bushings if its really bad in your case

[Lmeng69]

Hi Saabretooth!

 

Thanks for the reply, you almost scared the hell outta me! Hahaha yeah you are right, i know what to expect the moment i decided to purchase. I know its not possible to rectify the jerkiness so am just looking for ways to better improve it. So the TMC really does work? Are you using it too? I bought the BMC for $150 bucks only from an ex Audi TT owner so its quite a steal, was using it in the bravo too and i like it so decided to change it for the Alfa also hehh.

 

Been driving it for a month now and loving it, especially with sports mode the upshift is shiokk! Do you use the neutral gear often? I kinda switch it to neutral once in awhile when approaching red light or when the car is stationary just to avoid the jerky downshift, will this damage the gearbox? Thanks for the advise! Shall drive and observe more first before i try to improve the handling and performance.

 

Re-Calibration of the gearbox might help to smoothen the gear changes

[MitChMitChMitCh]

Hows the feedback after installing the BMC?

Also how do you use switch to neutral while coming to a stop when approaching traffic light? Wouldn't it give u the error saying inadmissible operation?

For our cars, there is no way to avoid the jerky shift totally. But i can share with you that my car was less jerky during the shifts after changing out my front lower arm. The new bushings does help to make the car firmer. You can consider replacing the bushings if its really bad in your case

 

Hi Jiex,

 

If you keep your foot on the accelerator it doesnt allow you to switch to neutral. However, if you lift your foot up and let it cruise or roll and than switch it to neutral it can be done. But i only do it when im approaching a red light when im around 3rd or 4th gear to cut the jerks. And i only do it when im sure the light wont turn green any time soon. I always do it when im sure the car will come to a complete stop. Also, you have to time it at the non gear changing moments to avoid the rev meter going vrooooommmmmm! loll 

 

No regrets with the BMC intake especially when you drive it hard, the sound its addictive. Saying so, the car is more willing to rev higher and feels more smooth during high speed runs. Oh those nights when the air is colder...

 

Understand that its impossible to remove the jerk completely but there are moments when the down shift is so smooth there's literally no jerk at all. At times like that i will be so happy. Hahahaha 

 

Thanks on the advise on the bushings. Will check them out during the next servicing! 

Re-Calibration of the gearbox might help to smoothen the gear changes

 

Hi Lmeng69,

 

I thought so too! Am making a trip down to the workshop when i got the time! I understand its the wear and tear on the clutch so we have to calibrate it during each service. Right? 

[Saabretooth]

Hows the feedback after installing the BMC?

Also how do you use switch to neutral while coming to a stop when approaching traffic light? Wouldn't it give u the error saying inadmissible operation?

For our cars, there is no way to avoid the jerky shift totally. But i can share with you that my car was less jerky during the shifts after changing out my front lower arm. The new bushings does help to make the car firmer. You can consider replacing the bushings if its really bad in your case

 

 

Don't switch to neutral to coast, once you're in third, just brake regularly, it will shift down by itself, and generally, it is smooth.

Hi Saabretooth!

 

Thanks for the reply, you almost scared the hell outta me! Hahaha yeah you are right, i know what to expect the moment i decided to purchase. I know its not possible to rectify the jerkiness so am just looking for ways to better improve it. So the TMC really does work? Are you using it too? I bought the BMC for $150 bucks only from an ex Audi TT owner so its quite a steal, was using it in the bravo too and i like it so decided to change it for the Alfa also hehh.

 

Been driving it for a month now and loving it, especially with sports mode the upshift is shiokk! Do you use the neutral gear often? I kinda switch it to neutral once in awhile when approaching red light or when the car is stationary just to avoid the jerky downshift, will this damage the gearbox? Thanks for the advise! Shall drive and observe more first before i try to improve the handling and performance.

 

I have no experience with the TMC box per se, but its a personal opinion that I I prefer direct tune to ECU stuff.

[CheeYong]

Hi alfa owners,

 

Will like to seek your opinion on a 159 wagon that i have test drove recently. Its a white wagon ( http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=556818&DL=1044 ) with 146k km on it but has a full agent serviced history. I really love the look of the wagon but im undecided if i should jump into alfa (i admit, always love the look of 159) now that i have sold my gti. The wagon during test drove was pretty nice except for the lack of my ability to control the selespeed (found it hard to move up the gears in auto mode and it seems to drag abit longer before it changes gear like a normal box). Any help will be greatly appreciated and apologies for sounding like a noob here. I have been reading online the common problems but i am hoping a local community can help me out here if possible.

 

1) the steering pump seems to have a slight whine when in cabin esp doing partial to full lock of steering. Is that common? Or is it signs of things to come? Is it an expensive exercise to change or recon the steering pump?

 

2) selespeed. at this mileage? any thing i should look out for? 

 

3) anyone has any information about this wagon?

 

4) anyone selling a wagon here? =)

[Saabretooth]

1) the steering pump seems to have a slight whine when in cabin esp doing partial to full lock of steering. Is that common? Or is it signs of things to come? Is it an expensive exercise to change or recon the steering pump?

 

Not common, cost is subjective but, it would be about the same as replacing a GTI pump.

 

 

2) selespeed. at this mileage? any thing i should look out for?

Yes, full servicing, including seals and clutch and pump.

 

3) anyone has any information about this wagon?

Nope

 

 

4) anyone selling a wagon here? =)

Not that I know.

[Theredstar]

1) the steering pump seems to have a slight whine when in cabin esp doing partial to full lock of steering. Is that common? Or is it signs of things to come? Is it an expensive exercise to change or recon the steering pump?

 

Not common, cost is subjective but, it would be about the same as replacing a GTI pump.

 

 

2) selespeed. at this mileage? any thing i should look out for?

Yes, full servicing, including seals and clutch and pump.

 

3) anyone has any information about this wagon?

Nope

 

 

4) anyone selling a wagon here? =)

Not that I know.

Got one lah

 

If the price is rt. Lol

[Count_duku]

My power steering hums and whines all the time now, after the last high pressure hose replacement . This hose is prone to leak and spray during full lock , my second replacement in 197,000kms. The pump has never been replaced and still works .

[MitChMitChMitCh]

Don't switch to neutral to coast, once you're in third, just brake regularly, it will shift down by itself, and generally, it is smooth.

 

I have no experience with the TMC box per se, but its a personal opinion that I I prefer direct tune to ECU stuff.

 

Hi Saabretooth!

 

I see! Thanks for the feedback, shall monitor it for awhile before getting one. Thanks! 

[Matt156c]

Hi alfa owners,

 

Will like to seek your opinion on a 159 wagon that i have test drove recently. Its a white wagon ( http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=556818&DL=1044 ) with 146k km on it but has a full agent serviced history. I really love the look of the wagon but im undecided if i should jump into alfa (i admit, always love the look of 159) now that i have sold my gti. The wagon during test drove was pretty nice except for the lack of my ability to control the selespeed (found it hard to move up the gears in auto mode and it seems to drag abit longer before it changes gear like a normal box). Any help will be greatly appreciated and apologies for sounding like a noob here. I have been reading online the common problems but i am hoping a local community can help me out here if possible.

 

1) the steering pump seems to have a slight whine when in cabin esp doing partial to full lock of steering. Is that common? Or is it signs of things to come? Is it an expensive exercise to change or recon the steering pump?

 

2) selespeed. at this mileage? any thing i should look out for? 

 

3) anyone has any information about this wagon?

 

4) anyone selling a wagon here? =)

 

Hi Chee Yong,

 

I don't do full lock turn in my 159 and I don't recommend it. Most of alfa have a quick steering rack and as a result, the turning radius suffer. There is a term for it but cant really remember now. I rather do 3 point turn then a full lock turn.

As for the selespeed, you need someone that is familiar to demonstrate it, up shift and down shift can be smooth if you know how to control the throttle. Especially in mcp.

 

Hope this help.

Matt

[Matt156c]

Hi Jiex,

 

If you keep your foot on the accelerator it doesnt allow you to switch to neutral. However, if you lift your foot up and let it cruise or roll and than switch it to neutral it can be done. But i only do it when im approaching a red light when im around 3rd or 4th gear to cut the jerks. And i only do it when im sure the light wont turn green any time soon. I always do it when im sure the car will come to a complete stop. Also, you have to time it at the non gear changing moments to avoid the rev meter going vrooooommmmmm! loll 

 

No regrets with the BMC intake especially when you drive it hard, the sound its addictive. Saying so, the car is more willing to rev higher and feels more smooth during high speed runs. Oh those nights when the air is colder...

 

Understand that its impossible to remove the jerk completely but there are moments when the down shift is so smooth there's literally no jerk at all. At times like that i will be so happy. Hahahaha 

 

Thanks on the advise on the bushings. Will check them out during the next servicing! 

 

Hi Lmeng69,

 

I thought so too! Am making a trip down to the workshop when i got the time! I understand its the wear and tear on the clutch so we have to calibrate it during each service. Right? 

 

I don't recommend you do such a stunt in an Alfa. Shifting to N when coming to a stop. Let the selespeed do its job. Maybe the previous owner have some habits of down shifting and now you are driving it differently. Have the selespeed recalibrated and slowly learn to drive the car. Anyway, I have being driving selespeed for almost 10 years and I still get jerky shift on a bad day. It is almost impossible to remove it.

 

Hope this help.

Matt

[Spermface]

Hi, anyone knows where I can get recon driveshaft for Alfa romeo 159? I need a drive shaft replacement, one to one....as I suspect my drive shaft is knackered. 

 

checked with Elite Driveshaft, they do not have.

 

My car vibrate left n right under normal acceleration, had changed my suspension arms but didnt solve the problem. Should be the drive shaft.

 

Thanks, let me know any drive shaft specialist that have some spare 159 shaft. I had previously changed both drive shaft 2-3 times with Alfa Sportivo (they swapped in recon shaft) and the rubber boot breaks easily. The shaft they swapped in may have dubious history. 

 

 

[Saabretooth]

Are you looking for brand new or another recon set?

 

Recon sets typically last about 1 year or so, depending on how you drive. I know of recon sets that last 6 months only as well.

 

New sets are about 1k each side.

[Jiex]

Hi, anyone knows where I can get recon driveshaft for Alfa romeo 159? I need a drive shaft replacement, one to one....as I suspect my drive shaft is knackered.

 

checked with Elite Driveshaft, they do not have.

 

My car vibrate left n right under normal acceleration, had changed my suspension arms but didnt solve the problem. Should be the drive shaft.

 

Thanks, let me know any drive shaft specialist that have some spare 159 shaft. I had previously changed both drive shaft 2-3 times with Alfa Sportivo (they swapped in recon shaft) and the rubber boot breaks easily. The shaft they swapped in may have dubious history.

Omg.. I just got my recon set from them few months back...

Are you looking for brand new or another recon set?

 

Recon sets typically last about 1 year or so, depending on how you drive. I know of recon sets that last 6 months only as well.

 

New sets are about 1k each side.

Only a year? If I needed change my drive shafts in a few months time, it's going to be a deal breaker to keep my Bella till end of its coe

[Matt156c]

You can get a cheaper OEM set at around $1k for both side. That's was a month or 2 back. Not sure if it is sold out now. Its a bloody good deal.

[Chrispie]

Omg.. I just got my recon set from them few months back...

Only a year? If I needed change my drive shafts in a few months time, it's going to be a deal breaker to keep my Bella till end of its coe

I had a recon set fixed and it lasted me almost 3 years. Sold the car recently and I think it's still working fine.

[MitChMitChMitCh]

I don't recommend you do such a stunt in an Alfa. Shifting to N when coming to a stop. Let the selespeed do its job. Maybe the previous owner have some habits of down shifting and now you are driving it differently. Have the selespeed recalibrated and slowly learn to drive the car. Anyway, I have being driving selespeed for almost 10 years and I still get jerky shift on a bad day. It is almost impossible to remove it.

 

Hope this help.

Matt

 

Hi Matt156c,

 

Thanks for your advice! Shall get the selespeed recalibrated during the next servicing. What should i be expecting during the recalibration and how does it work actually?