Alfa Romeo 166 Price Guide

The Alfa Romeo 166 was the last Alfa to use the Busso V6, and for that alone it deserves a place in the history of the marque. It was also a genuinely refined executive saloon that suffered from being an Alfa in a segment where buyers defaulted to BMW and Mercedes without a second thought.

The Range

Produced from 1998 to 2007, the 166 was styled by Walter de Silva at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. Engine options included the 2.0-litre Twin Spark four-cylinder, the 2.0-litre V6 Turbo (a rare and characterful engine that ceased production in 2001 due to Euro 3 emissions regulations), the 2.5 and 3.0-litre Busso V6 24-valve, and 2.4-litre five-cylinder JTD diesels. The Super trim level on V6 models added lowered suspension, electronic overboost on the turbo, and distinctive alloy wheels. A 2003 facelift brought a revised nose, updated interior, and the 2.4 JTD Multijet diesel.

The Busso in the 166

The 3.2-litre 24-valve Busso V6 in the last of the 166 facelifts was the final development of an engine family that began in 1979. It produced between 218 and 226bhp depending on specification and emissions compliance. The engine sits happily at 4,000rpm on the motorway — a sweet spot where it feels completely unstressed and sounds magnificent. The 2.0 V6 Turbo is the rarer and more interesting engine, combining forced induction with the Busso’s character, though parts are becoming scarce as the engine was dropped early in the 166’s production run.

Buying

The 166 is seriously undervalued. A well-maintained V6 offers a level of refinement, character, and driver engagement that no contemporary BMW 5 Series can match. The 3.0 V6 is the most common and the easiest to maintain. Cambelt changes are essential: the 24-valve Busso has a cambelt that covers fewer of the cam pulleys than the earlier 164 application, so condition monitoring is important. Thermostat failures cause overheating. Check for coolant leaks, particularly from the radiator, which corrodes and can lead to head gasket failure. The body is galvanised and resists rust better than earlier Alfas, but check the underside on any car that has been neglected.