Looking to buy a 2.5TD Auto estate

[Firstpeke]

Hi, new here, already posted in newbie section.....

I am looking at buying a 2000 2.5TD Auto estate with about 140K on the clock.

Any hints, tips, do's, don't do's or anything else to look out for or ask the seller before taking the plunge?

Look forward to hearing from all you folks with vast experience on this subject...... or is that all you vast folks.... well you know what I mean.... I hope.....

[GaryC2.5td]

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=108895.0
Read this

[Elite Pete]

Personally I wouldn't buy a 2.5 diesel with an auto box, it will be slow and not much more economical than a similar petrol, go for a manual if you can find one and get it chipped, it's so much better

[Firstpeke]

Hi guys and thanks so far for the advice....

Main reason for looking at an auto is that I have badly injured my left leg and will not be able to use a manual for some time.... diesel mainly for the added reliability and better economy.
Estate is pure practicality.....

With an auto I will be able to get back to work sooner rather than later....

So, what's the consensus?

[tunnie]

The 2.5TD in the Omega was detuned from factory spec, combined with gearbox of standard fit (AR25) its a poor combination. They are not that good on fuel, around town they really suffer. A 2.5 V6 Auto would be about same to run I would suspect, maybe a little more but not a lot in it!

To get most of the TD its needs to be a manual, so it can be chipped back to full power (BMW Spec) as the Autos cannot take the extra power, unless you upgrade the gearbox to the stronger AR35 fitted to 3.0/3.2

Oil change on TD is every 3k max, so reliability wise there is not much in it.

[Seth]

The 2.5TD in the Omega was detuned from factory spec, combined with gearbox of standard fit (AR25) its a poor combination. They are not that good on fuel, around town they really suffer. A 2.5 V6 Auto would be about same to run I would suspect, maybe a little more but not a lot in it!

To get most of the TD its needs to be a manual, so it can be chipped back to full power (BMW Spec) as the Autos cannot take the extra power, unless you upgrade the gearbox to the stronger AR35 fitted to 3.0/3.2

Oil change on TD is every 3k max, so reliability wise there is not much in it.

From personal experience, Tunnie's comments are absolutely spot-on.

Looking at your needs, a decent 2.5 V6-powered Estate would give you far more benefit over a 2.5 TD-powered jobbie.
I'm quite a fan of the latter .... and would avoid an auto-boxed TD - full stop!

[Kevin Wood]

Yep, if looking specifically for an automatic diesel car I wouldn't consider an Omega, I'm afraid. A 3rd party diesel lump mated to an auto box that was really designed for a petrol engine will not give you the advantages you are looking for.

If it has to be auto, and has to be diesel, look at other manufacturers who have invested a bit more into making a diesel auto work properly.

If it has to be auto, then the best Omega would be a V6 petrol model with LPG, IMHO. Possibly a 4 pot, although you won't get much better fuel consumption with an auto and the performance will be a bit leisurely.

My LPG'd 3.2 auto achieves the equivalent in fuel costs of high 30's MPG in a diesel on my commute. I doubt a 2.5 TD auto could get anywhere near that with my driving style, and a lot of performance would be sacrificed.

[TheBoy]

IME, I used to get

high 20s mpg from standard Omega 2.5TD auto
low 30s mpg from chipped TD auto (after breaking 2 gearboxes )
mid 20s from my 3.0l v6 petrol auto on petrol
20mpg from my 3.0l v6 petrol auto on LPG at 78.9p a litre

All driven as cars should be.