I love my b to bits and like everyone else on here overlook the little 'niggles' that go with ownership. I started to think through the list of 'non-mod' related effort spent on the b and was quite suprised at how much I have had to do in the past 2 years!;

> New washer bottle (old one fell apart)
> New wiper motor
> Fix/grease wiper assembly that rusted causing the motor to fail
> New track rod ends when the old ones fell apart
> New clock when the old one burped smoke at me
> New flexi bit on the exhaust (not a huge job but getting the siezed bolts out of the manifold took 2 days)
> 3 x new driveshaft gators
> New clutch
> New driveshaft
> 2 x new sway arm bearings (ball ache of a job)
> Brake service after the rear callipers siezed up
> Numerous instances of cleaning the throttle body when it gums up
> Told by DTR that I need a new gearbox - good news on this front as I took the b to an Alfa dealer in Reading on Tuesday and they have diagnosed a wheel bearing - significantly cheaper than a gearbox. . . . .

And that is just the stuff I can remember without looking at my records and receipts!

What about the rest of you? What does your list read like?

I have only had her Lee for 18 months, The only mec problems (that I can remember)
1) new wiper relay, simple job,
2) upgraded hood dampers\lifting arms (cant remember there real name at the moment) from barchettaparts in Holland, (Solution for easy closed softop.) easy as well and well worth the money!
But I do need new rubbers around the windows and the covers for the said dampers! so a little more money to spend yet.
3) Ah forgot, variator and cambelt.

Chris

Too long to list. Worth every penny in my opinion though.

All my woes have mainly come at once. The car was more n less A1 for 2 years. Other than a replacement air filter housing. The O/E had been overtightened and the centre 'stud' repair of cable ties, let the lid go, along with the large air filter. I didn't realise it'd fell away.
Air intake rubber hose to inlet u/s (old)
Handbrake Cables (fair wear n tear) I needed these from day 1
Cam Cover gasket n repair (over tightened by A N Other 2 cnrs broken)
Throttle Cable (wear n tear) I was stranded in Spain
N/S/R wheel bearing very recently. O/s/r already renewed by prior owner
N/S/R Swing arm (from German Ebay) recently, because a Rockape probably reused the nut and totally ruined the stub axle thread, same person probably buggered the o/s/f driveshaft too. I doubt it was a owner.
Rear exhaust boxes (the metal is very thick ) only a hint of rust but the end was nigh. Twin outlet pipes were holey and a hanger almost u/s
N/S/F c/v inner gaiter renewed yesterday (old) totally shot
O/S/F c/v inner and outer gaiter, renewed today, were slightly losing grease. Yet again the old hub nut must've been reused since it was quite fornicated. The grease caps too were chiselled off roughly bending the sealing edges and not refitted with the large O ring seals. I can't see a previous owner/user EVER doing such shoddy repair.
A previous owner had sympathetically renewed many service parts ie clutch, discs, pads etc, oddly I do notice the oil filter is not the correct part number and is larger than my new replacement ? I'll change this tomorrow.

Only had mine for 6 months, so not a huge list but:

Strip, clean and rebuild door locks as they were virtually inoperable
Change thermostat and antifreeze
Fix courtesy light switch
Clean, dry and seal the rear lights
Repair the window mechanisms
Change rear discs and pads
Overhaul rear calipers - fronts to do next
Change sticky handbrake cables
Change gearbox oil, strip clean and lube gear linkages
Clean indicator relay
Remove hood struts - much easier to lift without dead ones!
Strip, clean and lube starter motor

...actually, I suppose that is quite a lot for 6 months - and there's a few bits yet to do!

Lol!

• Carpet stripped out and dried
• Hardtop re-wired after melted drivers seat and filled car with smoke
• Hardtop re-wired again cos the idiot didn't use a connector so couldn't take it off without cutting cable!
• Airbag light turned off (it came on after doing the hardtop cable!)
• Seals replaced to stop leaks
• Coolant leak repaired
• Rear bumper welded and painted after builders knocked a bit off
• Dent rolled out (see above)
• Front bumper welded a week later after car park incident
• New exhuast after it dropped off on way to work
• Discs and pads replaced (but still squeek!)
• 2 new tyres
• Variator and Cambelt replaced

xs

This will be quite a good thread for potential buyers to refer to when looking at barchettas to buy.

My list in four years ownership of a 2000 barchetta with 135,000 kms is:

- New exhaust
- Reset airbag light
- New brake pads and discs
- New battery
- Air-con pipe split - replaced
- New heater fan switch x 2 (old ones burnt out)
- Reset airbag light
- Fuel pump supply wire chaffed through on bulkhead
- New variator
- New clutch
- Now heater matrix leaking

Not too bad really, all things considered

Hay Lee

When I bought my B i did:-

Rear suspension arms
Bushes
Brakes
Cam belt
Water pump
Air filter
Exhaust
Internal floor plan (Inside plastic replaced)
Full service
All lights replaced as the rear ones where two badly sun damaged and cracked.

I guess we have all show the outside and not the really hard work on the inside that the B brigs us.

All fun in owning a B....

Then after she was running nice I did the body work.

Having slept on it for a night I have remembered a few other items;

> Cam belt and variator (don't mind though as they are a service item)
> New relay for the wipers
> New relay for the front fogs
> New door switch on the passenger side
> New discs and pads all round (again service item so not too bad)
> 2 x new rocker cover gaskets as they ALWAYS leak!
> Re-attached one of the roof handles after it dropped off into a passengers lap
> 6 x tyres (don't know about you guys but LRB eats front tyres - can't be anything to do with my driving style).....
> Temperature sender switch
> Exhaust shield after it fell off
> Changed a selection/variety of bushes!

In terms of mods;

> New alloy wheels
> Eibach lower/stiffer springs
> Grooved discs/fast road pads
> HID light conversion
> DTR S/S exhaust (thanks KC)
> Strut brace (thanks Doc)
> Infinity speaker conversion
> Fitted boot light
> Wind shield thingy
> GSR induction kit

I am sure that there is more but that is all I can think of for the moment......

LittleRedB said:

I love my b to bits and like everyone else on here overlook the little 'niggles' that go with ownership. I started to think through the list of 'non-mod' related effort spent on the b and was quite suprised at how much I have had to do in the past 2 years!;

> New washer bottle (old one fell apart)
> New wiper motor
> Fix/grease wiper assembly that rusted causing the motor to fail
> New track rod ends when the old ones fell apart
> New clock when the old one burped smoke at me
> New flexi bit on the exhaust (not a huge job but getting the siezed bolts out of the manifold took 2 days)
> 3 x new driveshaft gators
> New clutch
> New driveshaft
> 2 x new sway arm bearings (ball ache of a job)
> Brake service after the rear callipers siezed up
> Numerous instances of cleaning the throttle body when it gums up
> Told by DTR that I need a new gearbox - good news on this front as I took the b to an Alfa dealer in Reading on Tuesday and they have diagnosed a wheel bearing - significantly cheaper than a gearbox. . . . .

And that is just the stuff I can remember without looking at my records and receipts!

What about the rest of you? What does your list read like?

Click to expand...

Don't want to sound smug but the money and time spent on my B has been pretty much cosmetic only. I did have a rear wheel bearing replaced but I wasn't totally convinced it needed doing.

It has been my most reliable car I have owned. It will probably fall apart this weekend having said that and the list of things I have chosen to do is reasonably long.

You spent a lot then mate?

But you have to ask. Was she worth it? Women always need money spending on them...

LittleRedB said:

Having slept on it for a night I have remembered a few other items;

> Cam belt and variator (don't mind though as they are a service item)
> New relay for the wipers
> New relay for the front fogs
> New door switch on the passenger side
> New discs and pads all round (again service item so not too bad)
> 2 x new rocker cover gaskets as they ALWAYS leak!
> Re-attached one of the roof handles after it dropped off into a passengers lap
> 6 x tyres (don't know about you guys but LRB eats front tyres - can't be anything to do with my driving style).....
> Temperature sender switch
> Exhaust shield after it fell off
> Changed a selection/variety of bushes!

In terms of mods;

> New alloy wheels
> Eibach lower/stiffer springs
> Grooved discs/fast road pads
> HID light conversion
> DTR S/S exhaust (thanks KC)
> Strut brace (thanks Doc)
> Infinity speaker conversion
> Fitted boot light
> Wind shield thingy
> GSR induction kit

I am sure that there is more but that is all I can think of for the moment......

Click to expand...

Nino_1975 said:

You spent a lot then mate?

But you have to ask. Was she worth it? Women always need money spending on them...

Click to expand...

Is she worth the money, hell yeah!! :devil:

Depending on circumstances this year I may be forced to sell her (although I will do everything I can to hold on to her). If I do sell her I will buy another one in a couple of years time, probably try to find a Riviera but I don't want to think about life without a b for the time being.......

LittleRedB said:

Is she worth the money, hell yeah!! :devil:

Depending on circumstances this year I may be forced to sell her (although I will do everything I can to hold on to her). If I do sell her I will buy another one in a couple of years time, probably try to find a Riviera but I don't want to think about life without a b for the time being.......

Click to expand...

That's what I did in 2005. In 2008 I bouht another one. You can not find a more enjoyable sporty number for the £££££'s.

Why would you want to sell her? . . . . . .

I would NOT have bought my B if it hadn't been red. I do lust after a red patterned leather interior too. Idly I wonder if the seats can be re-covered. I know they could but whether the 're-skin' peeps list it as std, more expensive or harder to fit.

I too had a washer bottle leak, it's a stock fault according to DTR. I just silconed the lower mount which is the weak point, it vibrates and wears. And I oiled the window mechs to restore rapid op. And I fitted the 'remote' central locking relay to own a zapper (from Italy) well useful.

Nino_1975 said:

Why would you want to sell her? . . . . . .

Click to expand...

Work, income, savings, number of cars in the household.........would be a last resort but have to be realistic - all depends on the contract market in the next few months.

What would this site B like with no Doc or LRB? Don't do it mate, think of the rest of us, (must B me training with the Samaritans)

Chris

I am not going anywhere yet fella, only just got back!!

I feel so lucky after looking at your lists. Apart from usual service items and replacing some worn out items due to high mileage, all I've spent money on are upgrades to the original to hopefully make it a lot better. Latest has been a super sub woofer fitted in the boot!