Well, I've had no bother for a while, but now its all kicked off. Two weeks ago everything fine then a loud exhaust noise from passenger side of the engine.

Suspected the dreaded exhaust manifold gasket. Happy to find it was only a small rubber hose on the secondary air injection system at the front of the engine down near the air con pump.

Replaced it then five miles later the second one blew.

Replaced that and five miles later a further exhaust noise from under the passenger side manifold again.

Eight miles later finds that the first hose has blown again too.

Exhaust noise intolerable+fumes in cabin.
Pops into local garage to have it looked at. Diagnoses vague, suggests dissembly. However they are up to their eyeballs in work so will have to wait two weeks.

Goes home and trawls t'internet. Upshot of all this is the secondary air injection valve in the manifold siezed open allowing exhaust gases to back-up through the system made worse by a blocked exhaust pipe.

So, if anybody wants a 2000 Elite 2.5 in blue with cream leather, spares or repair, requiring a lot of work, pm me.
I'll put some more details in the proper section later.
End of tedious story . . . .and Omega ownership.

I'll put some