Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: mcd840 on 05 November 2016, 08:40:24

Title: going to see an omega
Post by: mcd840 on 05 November 2016, 08:40:24
Hi all, joined this forum a couple of years ago as i found you all very helpful in relation to any issues i had with my vectra cdx, sold that and bought a rover 75 and sold it a few months back as i wasnt to fussy on it...now looking for something cheap and comfy as i have a works van so fuel costs not an issue, i come across a 03 2.5 v6 omega auto woth 60000 on it, just wondered if theres anything specific to look out for ? do these auto boxes suffer from this excellent vauxhall design feature which allows coolant into the box ? i do need to ask this because as much as i want an auto i have walked away from an astra elite and a vectra elite autos because of all the negative reviews i have read.

thanks
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: biggriffin on 05 November 2016, 09:38:50
Cam belt history, every 40k, would budget for full service, wishbones, and at 60k a cam belt, be over on age not mileage, also a coolent   change.
If doing this all your self £250ish in parts.


Coole t in gearboxes is a fwd problem.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: biggriffin on 05 November 2016, 09:44:38
Will try writing again.

At 60k the cam belt isn't over due on miles, it will be over on age, 4years old,I would suspect the coolent is needing a change, and possibility of needing can cover gaskets.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Nick W on 05 November 2016, 10:13:14
As said, any used Omega will benefit from some refreshing of the front suspension and a cam belt.

Any 13 year old car with only 60k miles is going to need a thorough examination for rust and other damp related issues, and changing all of the fluids would be a good idea. My experience of this sort of thing is that putting such a car into use quickly requires expenditure on brakes, tyres, bushes and electrical components that have been affected by lack of use.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: tigers_gonads on 05 November 2016, 10:49:07
If its on a 03 plate, it will be a 2.6  ;)

Some of the early 2.6's suffered with valve stem failure.
Look for blue smoke on start up  :y

Gearboxes are pretty much bomb proof imo.
If the car is 13 years old, i'd change all fluids and filters inc the gearbox one.
The gearbox is easy enough if you can get it up on 4 ramps / tall stands but messy.
Cam belt / tensioner should be changed due to its age. These are very temperamental to cam timing and unless you have the FULL lock off kit, its impossible to do properly regardless of what any garage will tell you  ;)
They are lads on here who can do that job for you properly for appropriate exchange of sheckles or if the buy the bits yourself, the forum has a DVD which is spot on for any level of mechanic  :y

Other then that, just make sure most or everything is working and listen for any taps or rattles that don't sound too healthy  ;)

But the main thing is ............... don't be afraid to walk away if it doesn't feel right  ;)

Good luck  :y
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Shackeng on 05 November 2016, 10:53:07
Never heard of the coolant issue affecting the gearbox on these. :y
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Bigron on 05 November 2016, 11:12:13
Surely that's because they have a separate oil cooler and fan for the gearbox, Mr. Shackeng and not that silly pipe in the main radiator?

Ron.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: TheBoy on 05 November 2016, 11:26:28
Surely that's because they have a separate oil cooler and fan for the gearbox, Mr. Shackeng and not that silly pipe in the main radiator?

Ron.
Not all do, that only came with later cars.

However, even those that had the ATF cooler in the rad do not suffer from coolant in ATF.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Shackeng on 05 November 2016, 11:43:15
I suppose cross contamination due to internal rad failure is possible, but I haven't heard of it occurring on OOF, which is the fount of all Omega wisdom. ::) :y
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: biggriffin on 05 November 2016, 12:17:12
The coolent issue the op is referring to was an issue with vectra/sigmunds.

My 3.2 has the in built rad cooler, not the extension type.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: mcd840 on 05 November 2016, 16:47:36
thanks for all your replys. still havent been to see the car yet, trying to get info from the seller is like getting blood from a stone. i have only asked about ten times whether it is a cdx or an elite ?!...still waiting and his gumtree ad is extremly poor.

time will tell.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Steve B on 05 November 2016, 18:12:00
thanks for all your replys. still havent been to see the car yet, trying to get info from the seller is like getting blood from a stone. i have only asked about ten times whether it is a cdx or an elite ?!...still waiting and his gumtree ad is extremly poor.

time will tell.
Agreed that ad is a joke.. if it is the 65 000 one.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: powerslinky on 05 November 2016, 18:18:40
thanks for all your replys. still havent been to see the car yet, trying to get info from the seller is like getting blood from a stone. i have only asked about ten times whether it is a cdx or an elite ?!...still waiting and his gumtree ad is extremly poor.

time will tell.

Some sellers are a law unto themselves  . . ::)  will have a look for the Ad ::)
There will be other omegas  . . .  CDX's  are a good buy IMO . . . . .everyone is looking for the 3.2 Elites/MV6's and they are getting harder to find.   CDX's however , although only the V6 2.6 are available for almost peanuts .    Gone that route myself now , got a decent 2.6 CDX estate with leather for £300 ;)
No Bose of course , no rear blind or Air suspension  (which I'm not keen on myself} but spec is not that much behind the Elite. Am putting a set of late Elite/MV6 Alloys on mine, so externally it looks much the same  ;) ;)

oh dear, just seen ad . . . IF it is the 65K miles 2.5 saloon

Pretty poor  IMO . . .1 photo . . .very small at that ::)

Asking price well too steep IMO . . . but there again I never pay much for my Omegas  ::) ::)
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 05 November 2016, 18:41:55
Agreed re Cdx... Seats can be replaced with Elite ones front and rear, and as you say, externally, add wheels and a boot spoiler and you're pretty much there... 8)

As far as buying a car goes,  buy the one with the least rust/body damage as possible and budget £1,500 in the first year to get it mechanically right ;)
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: mcd840 on 05 November 2016, 23:02:54
Yes you have seen the correct advert...he got back to me to confirm it was cdx. Just need to wait untill hes back home. Need to see if it is indeed immaculate or a pile of shite...
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Ever Ready on 06 November 2016, 07:55:40
Tiny picture right enough, not too far to travel to check it out though.

Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: mcd840 on 07 November 2016, 08:13:16
Meant to be going through tonight. Just been checking mot history. Wishbone bushes have been advisory the last few mots and also alot about headlight aim- thinking that could be a fault with self leveling. Failed twice on brake pipes also so i suspect they have been corrected.
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 07 November 2016, 09:59:50
Well, on the plus side, you'd be wanting to bin the front suspension anyway. Just make the seller aware what's required to get it to a decent standard. And if he says the front suspension's 'fine' I chewed an Omega tyre from perfectly legal to the canvas in a matter of a few weeks.

So leave the wishbones as they are, fit new tyres, and in 3 months you've got half 7mm, half bald tyres... it gets expensive, tell him!  :y
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: mcd840 on 07 November 2016, 17:54:36
Just spoke to him. Apparently its had the wishbones replaced by a previous owner...i would check this anyway. Now the down side...its not a cdx. Its a cd. No cruise - which i would want. No self level xenons (doesnt matter - something else to break and i would just fit an hid kit) unsure what to do now....
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: mcd840 on 07 November 2016, 22:54:51
went to see it, straight away i knew it wasnt for me. not the kind of standard im used to. used car or not. back to looking. although impressed with 2.6 engine !
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Steve B on 07 November 2016, 23:00:20
went to see it, straight away i knew it wasnt for me. not the kind of standard im used to. used car or not. back to looking. although impressed with 2.6 engine !
Glad you never bought it...Look at the effort he put into his ad;;So what effort has he put into the car....It was mega over priced too..was it 900 quid he was asking ?
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: mcd840 on 07 November 2016, 23:16:49
yes correct, makes me realise what a gem my 51 plate cdx 2.2dti vec was when i sold it for £750
Title: Re: going to see an omega
Post by: Terbs on 08 November 2016, 23:32:14
Just a note to say, that if you, like me, find an immaculate CD, I had to buy it due to condition, low mileage and price. Already having two Elites, I do miss a few of the toys, but I fitted cruise control in about ten minutes for £15. Just had to get it programmed. All other aspects of the car was worth
the lack of toys. :y