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[alextartu]

Hi, I am looking to buy a 1996 2.5 TDI (Opel), and have two local to me that I am going to look at over the next couple of days.

It'd be great if I could get some ideas on what to look for when testing it. I have a general idea of what problems diesels encounter, but if anyone could give me some of the issues particular to this engine/car then I will be most grateful.

P.s. I can't seem to find a owners manual for the diesel Omega, is there not one?

[HerefordElite]

no manual for the engine sorry but you can use equivilent BMW manual.

sure some more knowledgable diesel folks wil be along soon

[alextartu]

Cheers, good idea.

I'm not really in the position to pay someone else to do jobs I can just get my hands dirty with myself.

Just had a thought, where I am (Estonia) every other car seems to be a BMW 5 series, so hopefully parts should be plentiful in the local scrappies. Sorry, thought I'd share that!

I forgot to ask in the first post, does anyone know what sort of economy I should expect, It'll only be freeway driving I'll do, the towns here are too small to drive across I have seen conflicting reports from 35mpg - 50+mpg!

[Turk]

I get 42mpg with a combination 50% "A" roads (60mph), 30% urban/town (30mph) and 20% Motorway (70-80mph).
On a run from London to South Wales (about 200 miles), I set the cruise at 65mph and got 54mpg...then I got bored and the speed crept up to 75mph. If my memory serves me right, overall for that run was 51mpg.
Chipping it will increase the power and see the mpg rise significantly too (AR35 autobox needed if you don't get hold of a manual)       

[alextartu]

Thanks for the reply.

It sounds like a pretty good deal, the one I am looking at tomorrow is a manual, which I gather is easier to chip.

However, I'm going to probably stick without the chip at the moment. The insurance companies over here seem to place all their emphasis on BHP, and I am having a hell of a time transferring my No Claims over from the UK .

I am hoping to drive back to the UK with the car this summer, so good cruising economy in a comfortable/reliable(!) car is the name of the game. I'm impressed with the Omega feedback so far.

[Turk]

Approximately 30bhp increase with a chip.
Basically puts it back to the BMW specification as the Omega is de-tuned.
So it's not really tuning the engine, just putting it back to what it was designed to be.
If no cruise control on the one you get, you just need to change to a cruise control stalk. 10 minute job to fit, and it's sorted. 2.5td are already enabled, so no need for any tech2 etc. 

[alextartu]

The cruise control is something I'd definetely go for. And the chip will sway my opinion given the MPG change at some point.

How do you find it in terms of reliability? I've heard that the engine itself is pretty bomb proof, and I'm not really that heavy on the throttle.

[Turk]

Oil, oil filter and fuel filter change every 4,500 (maximum !) is the secret.
I have two Migs. One '94 Elite auto with 225,000 miles on the clock that was running sweetly when last in regular use, and a '00 manual CD with 106,000 miles with a slight injector pump issue that's been there for the last 2 years.
The pump issue should be confirmed in the diagnostic booked for 10am Wednesday.

[alextartu]

Are there any signs that I should look out for to see if necessary maintenance has been done?

It is 3000km home and, obviously, the same distance back, I was thinking of getting a thorough service in once I arrive in the UK, and then, as you suggest, another oil/filter change when I get back to Estonia. Hopefully that might be a welcome relief for the engine just in case the previous owner wasn't so regular.

I hope it goes well with diagnostic!

[Turk]

The following are some 2.5td related links. (More useful postings in the Maintainance Guide ).

How to fit a chip
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1232908603

Lift Pump fix
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1208770558

Paper Clip Test
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1189022687

Fault Codes   
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1205270870

Oil Change - 2.5TD
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1164549800



Don't forget, if you use the "Paper Clip Test" before buing the car, it could be showing some old, un-cleared fault codes. So if no symptoms, there may no longer be a fault.
(Although you could still show the seller and use it to knock the price down I suppose )

Print off a copy of the codes and take it with you to check what the flashed up No's mean.

1 flash followed by 2 flashes. This is repeated 3 times and then either the codes start and repeat 3 times before moving onto the next fault code or (hopefully) you just get the 1...2 flash sequence all over again, which means no faults showing.

P.S
The oil and filters change I mentioned previously is a maximum of 4,500 miles not kilometres