Owners Club MiTo Register Newsletter

February 2019 Issue 11

MiTo Service Race MiTo K&N Air Filters MiTo Alarm Schedule Build Progress Full Guide Update

Our 200,000 mile, 20 Progress update for Choosing and fitting Remove the beeps year service guide to our Alfa Championship K&N air filters for better when you lock and maintain your MiTo MiTo race for the filtration, performance unlock your car with for the next decade 2019 season and longevity your remote 2019 Events Show off your MiTo at an event this year

Alfa Championship (23/24 Mar) Spring Alfa Day Brands Hatch Circuit, Longfield, West Kingsdown, Longfield DA3 8NG National Motor Museum, Beaulieu SO42 7ZN The kick-off race event of the Alfa Romeo Championship is on the The Alfa Romeo Owners Club’s first big event of the year, Spring Alfa 23 weekend of 23/24 March at Brands Hatch. Find us in the paddocks Day will be returning to the impressive National Motor Museum at 14 and meet the team and see the MiTo. Beaulieu in Hampshire. MARCH APRIL Auto Italia Italian Car Day South West Alfa Day Brooklands Museum, Weybridge KT13 0QN Mapperton House & Gardens, Mapperton, Beaminster DT8 3NR One of the UK’s biggest and best Italian car gatherings. See and hear The Alfa Romeo Owners Club’s South West gathering, this year at the 4 Italian being demonstrated on the circuit, at the adjacent Mer- fabulous Mapperton House and Gardens in the heart of Dorset, 19 MAY cedes-Benz World and the demanding Test Hill. between Dorchester and Yeovil. MAY Scottish Italian Car Day Cotswold Alfa Day Hopetoun House, South Queensferry, Edinburgh EH30 9SL Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park, Compton Verney CV35 9HZ The Alfa Romeo Owners Club’s Scottish Section return again with the The Alfa Romeo Owners Club’s Cotswold Section again host the 26 Scottish Italian Car Day at the wonderful Hopetoun House, a 17th Cotswold Alfa Day, this year at Compon Verney Art Gallery and Park, 16 MAY Century stately home and grounds. a stunning 120 acres of parkland and lake. JUNE

National Alfa Day MiTo Curborough Track Day Bicester Heritage, A4421, Launton, Bicester OX26 5HA Netherstowe Lane, Lichfield WS13 8EJ The Alfa Romeo Owners Club’s biggest event is this year at Bicester Independence Day: Curborough Resurgence will be the 2019 gather- 30 Heritage, a campus dedicated to historic motoring and housing the ing of the MiTo Register at Curborough Sprint Course, partially re- 4 UK’s best preserved WW2 RAF bomber station. living our 10th Anniversary event with MiTo trackday fun. JUNE JULY Festival Italia NEC Show Brands Hatch Circuit, West Kingsdown, Longfield DA3 8NG T NEC, Birmingham B40 1NT Festival Italia returns to Brands Hatch with a wealth of Italian cars on The Alfa Romeo Owners Club return with a stand at the UK’s premier 18 and off the track, including races and demonstrations and of course classic car show at the NEC, filling the equivalent of over 18 football 8 AUGUST the Alfa Championship racing. pitches with classic cars, the Discover Stage and autojumble. NOV

The Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK is the only official owners club for Alfa Romeo in the UK, providing six fantastic magazines a year, our own parts service, an enormous list of discounts to members and of course the biggest and best Alfa Romeo and Italian car events in the UK. Join us now at AROC-UK.COM and enjoy full membership from today!

02 Welcome Issue 11 February 2019

New Look Newsletter

The Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK MiTo Register mitoregister.com

MiTo Registrar David Faithful [email protected]

Visit mitoregister.com for owners’ manuals, useful guides including servic- ing and basic maintenance, guides for servicing routines, oil and batteries for your MiTo along with our newsletters and photo galleries updated regularly.

To find your nearest Alfa Romeo spe- cialist or dealer for servicing or repair, visit alfamap.co.uk a dedicated service from the Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK.

Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK aroc-uk.com In the last Newsletter, I warned This edition also includes details Established in 1964, the Alfa you that this February edition for silencing the traditional ‘Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK is the would be considerably smaller. I beeps’ when you lock and unlock only official owners club for owners and lovers of Alfa Romeo. based that on the fact that there your MiTo, a how-to guide to are no exciting events to report on change your cabin/pollen filter Benefits of membership of the Alfa over Christmas and the previous (with thanks to Tony Gould for Romeo Owners Club include 6 bi- edition contained a big article on a sharing his pictures), a breakdown monthly magazines and a variety of full cambelt service. of the different K&N air filters for discount schemes including Alfa Romeo As it turns out, this edition is the MiTo as well as useful infor- dealers, Pirelli tyre cashback, AROC’s actually quite chunky, to the extent mation on MiTo OEM mats. own Parts Service and discounts at Halfords, Shop4Parts, Partsworld, Al- that I actually had to cut a few arti- Less useful but hopefully still of fashop, Bluespark, National Tyres and cles that weren’t quite finished. interest are a few articles on the Autocare, Maxton Design, The Wheel You may have also spotted that I Royal Portbury Docks (where your Specialist, Chipex and many others. used some of the Christmas down- MiTo first landed in the UK) and an time to review and refresh the look update on our racecar build for the Club Manager Nick Wright of our Newsletter. Not that the 2019 Alfa Championship which gets [email protected] previous layout was too horrific on closer every day! Copyright © 2019 Alfa Romeo Owners the eye, but we had that format for But I really want to thank the Club UK / MiTo Register. All rights re- a few years (and ten newsletters) team at Alfashop who have provid- served. This publication or any part so I thought it justified a small ed a unique 10% discount offer for thereof may not be reproduced. change. MiTo owners, valid until the end of But this newsletter is not March, so even if you’re not a Please note that neither AROC Ltd, its wanting for exciting content. Well, member of the Alfa Romeo Owners directors, committee or any Club offic- exciting to a MiTo fan anway. Club, you can still benefit from 10% ers accept responsibility for, verify or I finally completed our 200,000 off everything for your MiTo in the endorse information, opinions, advice mile, 20-year service schedule for online shop at Alfashop.co.uk. or advertisements published without prejudice, contained in this newsletter. the MiTo which will hopefully be useful as a single source of guid- ance as our MiTos grow older and our mileage increases.

03 Photographic Memories 2018 | Spring Alfa Day | Duxford

04 Photographic Memories 2018 | Spring Alfa Day | Duxford

05 MiTo Accessories in Japan After-market style, but OEM

I recently came across a Mi- there is a rather inventive roof To Accessories brochure for the aerial which can be folded to Japanese market. Nothing spe- different angles, along with tai- cial about that - all markets lored car covers for outdoor and have pretty much the same indoor use. MOPAR Accessories options One of my favourite offerings ranging from different light are the tiny screw covers for the surround and mirror colours, number plate fixings with an Alfa spoilers and stickers along with Romeo logo, though 6,480 Japa- luggage netting and roof racks nese Yen (roughly £45) for a for those of you who do moun- pack, I’m not sure even I would tain biking or skiing. invest in them. But probably But for some reason I’d nev- would. er seen the Japanese version We often see posts on our before, despite the MiTo being social media for innovative meth- hugely popular in Japan and ods of installing Xenon headlights sharing our right-hand drive to our MiTos that are equipped format. And it was quite an eye with halogen lights. Well in Ja- -opener! pan, you could order a 6600K Firstly, all the standard op- conversion kit complete with tions that we know and love controllers and a bespoke har- are there: front spoiler and side ness to perfectly fit the MiTo for skirts, rear spoilers and diffus- a little over 97,000 Yen (£685). er. The wheels are the same as Not only that, you could order most of Europe, though there is LED foglights for 48,600 Yen an interesting little twist of be- (£340). ing able to order wheels com- Once inside the car, the op- plete with Pirelli tyres, all bal- tions are even more wide and anced as a set. And mirror co- varied, and have a real after- vers are available in chrome, market feel to them. Though the satin or titanium just like over prices are not quite what you here, but with the addition of might expect for after-market! matt black - never available The “Console Leather Kit” here as far as I can remember. shown on the next page includes Sticking with the outside, red-stitched leather gear and handbrake gaitors and a red gearknob available for 30,240 Yen (£213 in today’s money). There are also some rather nice leather covers for the interior door pulls (quite common as after-market accessories in Eu- rope) available with grey or red stitching at about £90 a pair. tions too, with a nice option being Lighting continues to play the illuminating ignition key sur- quite a role with the interior op- round which lights on opening the door and stays on for a while after closing. But I particularly like the LED options for the interior lights, both the overhead lights and courtesy lights which are in a set of three for the doors and luggage compartment (or “boot” as we call it). Though at around £162 for the set, I think there may be slightly better value LED solutions available elsewhere. I do like the option of LED floor lighting though. Wired into the

06 MiTo Accessories in Japan After-market style, but OEM

interior lights, low-level LED lighting lights the footwells, and at 11,880 Yen (£84) fitted it seems reasonable value com- pared to the other options avail- able. If LED lighting isn’t your thing, you can also have a reversing chime installed in your TCT box so you hear what I assume would be an annoying and dis- tracting beeping to indicate you are in reverse, just in case the fact that your MiTo is moving backwards was not a giveaway. There are a few other options available and I’ve uploaded the Japanese MOPAR MiTo Accesso- ries brochure and price list at the bottom of our Useful Info section at mitoregister.com.

07 Royal Portbury Docks Where your MiTo first landed on UK soil

The Royal Portbury Docks in Bristol was opened by Her Maj- esty Queen Elizabeth II in her Silver Jubilee year, 1977, and with the biggest locks in West- ern Europe it should have pros- pered, but in reality it’s crea- tion was at a time when con- tainer shipping lines had al- ready committed to existing UK docks, so the Royal Portbury Docks became a financial bur- den for Bristol City, threatening thousands of jobs. The port entered into pri- vate hands in 1991, investing over £475million to create a modernised business for a range of shipping, distribution and logistics. If you are still reading this, you are probably wondering ly pin-point where the FCA cars guard appeared in, ironically, a bridge (impossible as the walk- what this has to do with the are among the 600,000 vehicles funky little Fiat Fiorino way and cycle-path is on the op- Alfa Romeo MiTo. stored across 538 acres of car (note to self, how much are posite side of the bridge!). Well, every FCA vehicle from compounds. these ? I’d love one) and I am reliably informed that Italy (Fiats, Jeeps and of course Anyone, legally or otherwise, approached me at the fence. I there are upwards of a hundred Alfa Romeos) all come into Roy- can enter the outer perimeter of won’t bore you with the con- MiTos at this site, waiting for al Portbury Docks, so every Portbury docks, and from here versation, but I explained my their new owner. But I have to MiTo landed in Bristol and you can walk or drive around presence and was warned confess that whilst I spotted vir- touched English soil (or con- aimlessly peeking through fences about being on Crown land and tually every FCA model, there crete) at the beginning of it’s and over hedges to see which photography was illegal and I were no visible MiTos. journey to it’s first owner in the manufacturer’s cars are stored in should probably leave very If you squint at the picture at UK. each compound. swiftly. I politely thanked him the top of this page, you can just I was in Bristol recently and After a short while, I finally and decided my apparently see that there are dozens of took a short trip down to Port- spotted a very secure, high- illegal operation was best un- acres of FCA cars under the mo- bury Docks. My plan was to fenced compound full of Fiat dertaken on foot after hiding torway bridge with no easy ac- seek out the MiTos and take 500s. And I do mean full. There my MiTo just outside the pe- cess. This sea of cars would back lots of photos, but it really was- were hundreds of them in all rimeter. onto the first compound full of n’t that simple! colours. As I looked at Apple But being on foot didn’t real- 500s that I found when Mr Secu- Royal Portbury Docks is a Maps on the phone, trying to ly help. The big red circle on rity sent me on my way, quite 2,600 acre site, and no amount establish how I would get better the map on the next page rightly. of Google mapping can precise- access, a very polite security shows you where the acres and I suspect the MiTos and, per- acres of FCA cars are parked, haps, the longer-stay vehicles are and it became clear that the probably back there as the newer best view would be with a long- models are all closer to the pe- lens up on the motorway rimeter. I shall have to return...

08 Royal Portbury Docks Where your MiTo first landed on UK soil

09 Photographic Memories 2018 | National Alfa Day | Weston Park

10 Photographic Memories 2018 | National Alfa Day | Weston Park

11 Alfamap The MiTo Register Survey idea that has gone (slightly) viral

In our recent MiTo Register bile device, and if you click on Survey, a respondent suggested any specialist or dealer it will a map of all Alfa Romeo Spe- show a small text box with their cialists and Dealers: some- address, then simply click on where to go that was inde- their name to be taken directly pendent and showed all dealers to their website. and specialists who can main- And of course, the Alfamap is tain, service and repair our Mi- also embedded into a link at the Tos. top of the Useful Info page on So you have likely seen our our website, mitoregister.com. recent launch of a new website, This mapping technology is Alfamap.co.uk. not new, but it’s new to us, and This contains all known spe- we are also developing a MiTo cialists and dealers and is being Register Member Map for all kept up to date on a monthly paid-up members of the Alfa basis. Romeo Owners Club (though you The site features a search won’t be able to zoom in to facility so you can enter the street view or see anyone’s actu- name of a company, or a town al address). or even your own postcode Alfamap is a great example of and narrow down your search. an idea from one of you becom- You can zoom and move ing reality. So thank you. around the map on both a Be sure to use Alfamap.co.uk desktop computer or any mo- and tell everyone with an Alfa!

12 Alfashop MiTo Offer Exlusive offer for MiTo owners until 31st March 2019

In our recent MiTo Register The Alfashop team enjoy shar- Survey, you said we should try ing their experience and to provide specific discounts knowledge, built up over three aimed at MiTo owners, wheth- decades of working on models er or not they are paid-up from the 1970s to present day. members of the Alfa Romeo And they have a lot of experience Owners Club. with the MiTo. Their passion and Well, I am delighted to an- commitment to giving a quality nounce that Alfashop have service and helpful advice at an agreed to do just that! affordable price is a key differen- Alfashop is one of the largest tiator, and that’s just one of the stockists of Alfa Romeo and Fiat reasons why customers stay loy- parts in the UK, and it is a fami- al. ly-owned, family-run business So I am delighted to announce based in Norfolk. that Alfashop have agreed a lim- Established in 1982 and with ited offer just for MiTo owners! over 35 years experience, Al- Simply use the code ‘MiTo’ for a fashop supply parts through 10% discount in the online shop their online shop, but also op- at Alfashop.co.uk for any parts erate a fully functional work- you need for your MiTo. shop which repairs, services This offer will last until 31st and maintains Alfa Romeos and March 2019 and cannot be used Fiats. with any other offer.

13 MiTo Mats Guide to the OEM mats available for your MiTo

Alfa Romeo have made it part number 156087998 which Black with black stitched MiTo original logo 50903476 quite difficult to understand the are a set of completely plain Black with red stitched MiTo original logo 50903477 various options for OEM car black mats of questionable quali- 2008 - 2013 mats for the MiTo, so this short ty and no logo at all. These are Black with blue stitched MiTo original logo 50903478 article aims to clarify things for shown as compatible for all years Black rubber mats (2 x front only) - MiTo owners. and were supplied with all new Black with black stitched MiTo original logo 59137407 Needless to say, there are MiTos over several years (and many aftermarket versions were fitted in my 2018 MiTo Ve- 2014 - 2016 Black with red stitched MiTo original logo 59137406 available on your favourite auc- loce). In earlier years, dealers Black with black stitched MiTo original logo TCT only 59137446 tion sites, but I have always would replace these somewhat been keen to maintain OEM inferior mats with the much nicer Black with silver stitched MITO new logo 50903572 mats in my Alfa Romeos, and logo mats from the Alfa Romeo 2016 on Black with red stitched MITO new logo 50903573 my MiTos are no exception. Accessories, but in recent years Black rubber mats (2 x front only) - So why is it not perfectly the dealers have been leaving clear which mats you should them in for understandable cost Any Black with no logo 156087998 order? reasons. So despite Alfa Romeo’s attempts to align a new set of mats to each model refresh, it’s all a bit fictitious in terms of the actual mats themselves. The only notable incompatibil- ity is the MiTo logo which changed in the 2016 facelift. So if you have the latest MiTo you would likely want to get the later mats with the appropriately re- freshed logo. All OEM mats are black. For Alfa Romeo have attempted the pre-facelift MiTo, there are to split the carpets into three three logo/stitching colour op- year brackets: 2008-2013, 2014 tions: black, red or blue. For the -2016 (the 2014 model year 2016-on facelift logo/stitching, being a model refresh) then there are only two options: black 2016-on for the facelifted MiTo. or silver. And as the owner of a 2008, a I wrote just now that all mats 2012 and a 2018 MiTo, this fit all years, but there are some black. In 2014, these were re- would be useful for winter in the should create complications for changes made during production designed with reduced coverage UK. me. But it never really has. years, though my inclination is shown in the silhouette by an The table at the top of this And that is because all the that this was a pure cost-cutting overlay in grey: the passenger page lists the part numbers for mats made by MOPAR are exercise and nothing functional. mat got a lot shorter and both each of the derivatives of mat broadly the same and will fit The silhouette on the right mats were squared off at the base sets from Alfa Romeo for the any year MiTo! Alfa Romeo highlights the standard shape of of the seats. The rear mats were MiTo so you can differentiate gave this away by producing the OEM mats from 2008 in also re-shaped and reduced in between them. The 2008-2013 size, though of course all versions versions seem the best quality still fit all MiTos. and have physically more cover- Alfa also, quite bizarrely, re- age. The 2014-2016 versions leased a version of the mats spe- are slightly reduced in size as cifically for the TCT gearbox for per the silhouette above, and the 2014-2016 models, though the 2016-on versions are only these appear to be identical to available with the new MiTo the other mats and fitted perfect- logo in silver or red. ly in my manual MiTo from 2008, Or of course you can buy some years before TCT! aftermarket versions where In Europe, Alfa also provided there is a much greater choice of the option of rubber front mats, designs, albeit with varying qual- presumably for areas with colder ity. Though I must confess that climates. These are unfortunately the generic non-logo mats from only available in left-hand drive Alfa Romeo are some of the versions which is a shame as they poorest quality I’ve seen...

14 MiTo Cabin/Pollen Filter Change Don’t overlook your cabin filter for a fresh driving experience

The cabin filter (or pollen 1. Remove Trim Panel seal the bag by either tying it or ly and securely (see Pic. 4). filter) performs an important In the passenger footwell, taping the top to retain any nasty 5. Replace Cabin Filter Cover remove the side trim panel by stuff. role for your MiTo and should Replace the filter cover by gently pulling the grille at the be changed with every service 4. Insert New Cabin Filter ‘hanging’ the top of the cover on bottom of the panel (see Pic. 1.) or at least annually. The filter Gently push the new filter in, the filter housing then clipping until it pops out, then gently pull traps dust, pollen, pollutants alternating pushing the top and the bottom retaining clip firmly from the top until the panel pops and mould spores that come bottom until it goes in complete- into place (so it looks like Pic. 2). out. through the MiTo’s HVAC (heating, ventilation and air 2. Remove Cabin Filter Cover conditioning) system. All MiTos have the same The cabin filter is housed be- filter which is part number hind a cover which is a vertical Cabin filter black plastic component visible 55702456 and is readily availa- cover ble typically for no more than up in the corner of the footwell £15. But people often don’t (see Pic. 2). No tools are needed to re- bother to change it – they just Gently pull move the cover; simply pull the change the oil and filter and from below possibly the air filter and think plastic retaining clip at the their MiTo is serviced. bottom of the cover outwards until it comes free, then lift the Pull out bottom If you have recently bought a cover as it basically ‘hangs’ from clip and lift away used MiTo, be sure to check the cabin filter and replace it if it the top. does not look new. 3. Remove Old Cabin Filter Pic. 2. - Remove cabin filter cover (pull out from bottom and lift) Accessing and replacing the With the cover off, you will filter could not be simpler, see your existing cabin filter and though it could be slightly more it will likely look dirty like Pic. 3. convenient. It is in the passen- Do not remove the filter unless ger footwell, behind the access you are wearing disposable panel, and no tools are re- gloves as the filter could contain quired to change it. However, I harmful contaminates and strongly recommend that you spores. And have a bin bag, plas- wear disposable gloves and tic bag or carrier bag ready to put carefully put the used filter in a the filter in. carrier bag, seal it and put it in Gently pull the filter out, alter- the dustbin. Whilst the materi- nating the pulling between the als used the manufacture of the top and the bottom of the filter. filter are recyclable, the nature Do this process gently and slowly of the pollutants contained to avoid any contaminates enter- within it are such that it is best ing your car or your carpets, and to dispose of in the rubbish immediately put the filter gently rather than recycling. into your bag for disposal and Pic. 3. Cabin filter is exposed, remove with gloves and bag it

Pic. 1 - Gently remove the trim panel by pulling away

Gently pull from below Pic. 4. Gently push new filter into the housing

15 Photographic Memories 2018 | Festival Italia | Brands Hatch

16 Photographic Memories 2018 | Festival Italia | Brands Hatch

17 MiTo Service Schedule The 200,000 mile, 20-year schedule to maintain your MiTo for the future

Understanding the servicing schedule for your MiTo should be a simple task, but over time Alfa Romeo have made it a little confusing. As each year of pro- duction produced different versions of owners’ manuals, differences in print versions showing kilometres versus miles, and several on-line ser- vicing guides on the websites of some Alfa Specialists trying to clarify the situation, and it be- comes even more confusing. Early owners’ manuals rec- ommended servicing for petrol MiTos every 30 thousand kilo- metres and every 35 thousand kilometres for diesels. Later versions of the manual started showing a service regime every 15 thousand kilometres for some of you who think that this ing them if necessary. Skipping the appropriate mileage) with- petrol and every 20 thousand service guide seems excessive, these steps is how we end up with out fail. We have all seen the 10 kilometres for diesel. Then the but it aims to be a single-source huge bills all at once in future. year old MiTos for sale stating final versions overlaid the of guidance for MiTo mainte- And this is one reason why having “cambelt done”, but a 2008 Mi- 15/20 thousand kilometre in- nance over twenty years or up to a “full service history” is im- To should have had a cambelt tervals with years from year 1 200,000 miles. portant with a MiTo (or any Alfa change in 2012 and again in of ownership to year 10, finally For all versions of the MiTo, Romeo) – an Alfa Romeo dealer 2016 even the mileage is low. acknowledging that some ser- the top fifteen or so items are or specialist should have per- The 1.6 diesel timing belt should vice items should be checked or checks, and it is very easy to ig- formed those checks and either be changed every 84 thousand addressed annually regardless nore those and skip down to replaced any faulty item or, at miles or every four years, which- of mileage. simply changing the oil. But least, written the advisory note on ever comes sooner. The only So this servicing schedule these are often the most im- the service receipt (this is why exceptions being the 0.9 TwinAir combines the best of that data portant aspects of a service, and simply having a stamp in the ser- or the 1.3 diesel MiTos which and the recommendations of a these tasks are what enable the vice book is not good enough have a timing chain that should, number of Alfa Romeo special- preventative maintenance of any when buying a car – ensure all with regular maintenance and ists, combined with my own car: checking rubber gaiters service receipts are present and oil changes, last the life of the personal additions which aim to means checking them, spotting check them carefully to see that vehicle. increase the life of your MiTo. any problems then fixing/ maintenance has been carried out The guide should be relatively This does mean that you may replacing the part. Checking and any advisory points made easy to understand: simply look spot some differences between your pads and discs means which have not been addressed). at the top or bottom and find this guide and your owners’ checking, recognising that they This guide recommends that the correct year or mileage of manual, and there may be are nearing end of life and chang- the oil and filter is changed annu- your MiTo (note, mileages differ ally, although earlier manuals may between petrol and diesel) then recommend every other year (or check all the service aspects in at the alternate mileage read- that column. If your MiTo has ings). Every specialist I have spo- been a little unloved, check the ken to strongly recommends oil service items in the previous changes every 9 thousand miles column or two as well, and con- (petrol) or 12 thousand miles sider including those now rather (diesel), though there is a tenden- than put them off. cy among MiTo diesels to not The aim of this guide is to change the oil until the light help you protect and maintain comes on because that’s what it your MiTo for the next decade states in the manual. This is bad or more, and keeping on top of practice: change the oil and filter servicing and maintenance will annually or when the light comes result in a much safer, more on, whichever is sooner. reliable and happier MiTo for Timing belts should also be you and the next owner, avoid- changed every four years (or at ing huge bills in future.

18 MiTo Service Schedule The 200,000 mile, 20-year schedule to maintain your MiTo for the future

Thousands of miles: Petrol versions 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90 99 108 117 126 135 144 153 162 171 180 Thousands of miles: Diesel versions 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 132 144 156 168 180 192 204 216 228 240 Years (regardless of mileage) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

All Versions

Check tyre condition/wear and adjust pressure if required l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Check operation of all lights, external and internal and l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l replace any bulbs as needed Check condition and wear of front brake discs and pads and l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l replace if worn

Check condition and wear of rear brake discs and pads and l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l replace if worn Check condition of bodywork, underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust, fuel lines, brakes lines), rubber parts l l l l l l l l l l (gaiters, sleeves, bushes) and replace any worn or split components Check front and rear wiper blade position/wear and replace l l l l l l l l l l blades if necessary Check windscreen and rear wiper/washer operation l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Check cleanliness of locks, bonnet and boot, and cleanliness l l l l l l l l l l and lubrication of linkages and lubricate if needed

Check all suspension components for wear and operation, l l l l l l l l l l replacing any components which are worn or leaking Check and top up, if required, fluid levels ( coolant, l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l brake/hydraulic clutch fluid, windscreen washer fluid) Check moisture level in brake fluid l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Check the handbrake lever travel and adjust if necessary l l l l l l l l l l Check exhaust fumes/emissions l l l l l l l l l l Check engine management system operation (via OBD) and l l l l l l l l l l address any faults or warnings Replace air filter l l l l l l l l l l Replace cabin pollen filter (or every 2 years) l l l l l l l l l l Change brake fluid (at least every 2 years) l l l l l l l l l l

Petrol Versions

Change engine oil and oil filter l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Change Gauze/Filter (MultiAir versions only) ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ l Change TwinAir Gauze/Filter (TwinAir versions only) l l l l l Replace spark plugs l l l l l l l l l l Check condition, tension and adjust auxiliary drive belt l l l l l l l l Check timing belt condition (excl. 0.9 TwinAir) l l l l l l l l

Replace auxiliary drive belt (every 4 years regardless) ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝

Replace timing belt (every 4 years regardless) ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ Check and if necessary top up TCT oil level (where fitted) l l l l l l l l l l

Diesel Versions

Change engine oil and oil filter (or when warning light shows l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l if sooner) Check condition of auxiliary drive belt l l l l l Replace auxiliary drive belt (or every 4 years regardless) l l l l

Replace timing belt (every 4 years regardless) (1.6) ⃝ l ⃝ l ⃝ Replace fuel filter l l l l l l Replace glow plugs l l

Years (regardless of mileage) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Thousands of miles: Diesel versions 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 132 144 156 168 180 192 204 216 228 240 Thousands of miles: Petrol versions 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90 99 108 117 126 135 144 153 162 171 180

19 Alfa Championship MiTo Build Progress so far on the MiTo QV championship car

As many of you will have read, our foray into the Alfa Romeo Championship has offi- cially begun in earnest. The build of my 2012 MiTo QV is well underway and in extreme- ly capable hands. Back in 2014/2015, I had seen the first MiTo in the Alfa Romeo Championship driven by Davie Peddie (‘The Flying Fifer’) who partnered with Pro Alfa (now sadly not in business). The Alfa Romeo Championship grid continues to be a sea of 147 and 156 Twin Sparks, with a couple of other models (164, 75, GTV6, 155 and a couple of Puntos) for good measure. But seeing a MiTo was something very special. Davie Peddie is an experi- enced racer. His father (a Fiat/ Alfa Mechanic) regularly took the young Davie to Knockhill to see racing, and Davie was rac- ing in karts and cars for many years. But Davie is a very expe- rienced fabricator/welder who dena and Christian Danner). and, importantly, loves the MiTo. plan to enter. has worked on some of the With JAS, Davie built every Perhaps even more importantly, The Power Trophy has a bhp most incredible cars in motor- one of the Honda NSX GT3 cars he is the only person in the UK to per tonne limit so a car like a sport. Whilst at M-Sport, he and more recently the Honda have previously built and run a MiTo that may be running worked on the Ford WRC, R5 Civic Type R 2018 TCR cars. Re- MiTo in circuit racing to FIA regu- around 170bhp might be fine if and Rallycross programmes as cently, Davie returned to the UK lations, so although there were you can get the weight down, or well as the Bentley Continental and has been on assignment with many outstanding, reputable and a MiTo running over 200bhp GT3 cars. He lived in Italy and Prodrive fabricating the latest perhaps more obvious (and local) may have to carry some ballast worked at JAS Motorsport Aston Martin GT3 and GT4 cars. builders to choose from, Davie (which is typically a metal ballast (famous in the Alfa world for I have got to know Davie and was the natural choice for me. He box which is bolted to the floor- running the 155 touring cars of his wife Maggie during the last also shares my passion for cre- pan). Gabriele Tarquini, Michael Bar- year and I have seen the quality ating a cost-effective model to In any event, the weight of tels, Stefano Modena and Jason of Davie’s workmanship. He is a enable other MiTos to copy and the car is extremely important Watt, as well as the 155 D2 genuine, detailed engineer who enter the world of motorsport and a real focus for us. Super Turismo for Stefano Mo- is passionate about Alfa Romeo without a huge financial invest- My QV was relatively stand- ment and the need to re-invent ard, albeit with a hybrid turbo the enormous material and devel- opment list. Davie, with the support of his wife and father, runs DP Motor- sport Developments (DPMD) in Fife, so my MiTo made its long journey to their workshop in Glenrothes for the build to start. Within the Alfa Championship, there are currently three classes: the TwinSpark cup (only for Twin- Sparks like the 147 and 156), the Modified Class (for heavily modi- fied and V6 Alfas, including se- quential gearboxes) and the Pow- er Trophy, which is the class we

20 Alfa Championship MiTo Build Progress so far on the MiTo QV championship car

alwork that might be useful in a road car, but just adds weight to a race car. So metalwork such as seat mounts, speaker mounts, mounting plates for interior and any other extra metal that serves no structural purpose is cut out and added to the scrap pile. And Davie, it has to be said, is quite a perfectionist. The tail- gate, doors and bonnet all get addressed methodically. The MiTo tailgate (once the trim panel is removed) has a lot of pressed metal to fit trim, the wiper motor and tailgate release and it all gets removed, just like the doors and the underside of the bonnet. Remember, the bonnet and the tailgate will be fitted with locking pins. Performance By performance, I’m not too concerned about outright pow- er. The class limits means our MiTo will likely be powerful and remap. But I retained the Weight Once the roll-cage is fitted, we enough. But we need to address standard adaptive suspension, The unladen weight of a will re-fit the basic dash and dials, the complete performance of front mounted intercooler and standard MiTo QV is 1,145kg but obviously we have removed the car: handling, cornering, catalyst along with standard with all fluids. Whilst we don’t the heater and everything that braking and cooling. Brembo brakes. But all that is have a specific weight target in comes with it. Davie and the team have changing now. mind, we certainly hope to get to Davie and the team have also completely stripped and rebuilt There are broadly (and fairly somewhere around 1,000kg or tirelessly removed all the sound- all the running gear of the MiTo, obviously) four areas of focus below. So the first thing to do is deadening material which is a) a including some significant im- for the race prepared MiTo: strip everything out that is abso- nightmare to get off and b) sur- provements. A full set of KW weight, performance, safety lutely not needed for racing. This prisingly heavy. I don’t think we Version 3 suspension has been and getting the ECU and elec- includes the entire interior, car- will worry too much about road fitted but holes needed to be cut trics to deliver full power to the pets, roof-lining, all interior fit- noise in the finished car. into the rear floor-pan so we MultiAir engine without a DNA ments, airbags and unnecessary But even after all this, we are had access to adjust the rears switch and virtually all the elec- plastic stuff. left with a MiTo with lots of met- quickly at races. tronics removed. None of which are particularly easy.

21 Alfa Championship MiTo Build Progress so far on the MiTo QV championship car

Along with the running gear rebuild and suspension, the car has been fitted with Tarox brak- ing, leaving the front Brembo calipers standard. The final key area of focus is on cooling, and although there are many options for intercool- ers for the MiTo, Davie (being a fabricator) is custom making a fully integrated cooling system of intercooler, radiator and exhaust. Having seen the fabri- cation he did at Prodrive I am very much looking to seeing this. Safety We are heading into this phase as I write this, with a custom designed and fabricat- ed, FIA compliant roll-cage al- ready designed and cut, about to be fitted into the car and welded for safety. The cage has been designed by Davie based not only regula- tions, but also on lessons he learned with M-Sport, JAS and preparers install the roll-cage for Ben Sharich, our driver, along should avoid the MultiAir and Prodrive regarding optimum first, but Davie was absolutely with safety devices such as the only go with the TJet engine. design, strength and weight. right when he said we should electrical cut-off and the fire ex- And it’s not, as many people And of course, Davie raced a wait for the car to be back down tinguishers. think, because the TJet is “more MiTo in 2014/2015 in the Alfa on it’s wheels before the installa- It’s worth mentioning that Da- tuneable” than the MultiAir. Championship so he has a lot of tion. The design has had to vie and I have both been really They are broadly the same en- learning from that experience change slightly because of the impressed with the STR Racing gine underneath. The issue is in terms of what works well access holes that were made for Products and their distributor getting the ECU to correctly op- and what works less well. the rear suspension adjustment - McGill Motorsport. The quality is erate the MultiAir timing at full This really is Davie’s bread had we installed the cage first we outstanding at prices that beat power without a DNA switch or and butter, and I have seen roll- would have had issues. the competition hands down. 90% of the other electronics still cages he has produced and Among the final tasks will be in the car. they are the highest standard, the installation of the FIA certi- My view on this was, and is, TIG welded builds. Frequently, fied seat and final adjustments that people racing a MiTo in the future will more than likely own or easily get hold of a MultiAir MiTo, so to avoid the MultiAir would be a missed opportunity. With Davie’s contacts in the industry and a few trusted local tuners, we have a plan to over- come the issues and save anoth- er 15kg of wiring by stripping out much of the loom. It is fair to say that we have- n’t addressed this yet, but we are about to and it may get ECU and Electrics messy! But I remain optimistic If anything, this is one of the that the MultiAir MiTo can and trickiest aspects of the build. I will be wired and tuned without was advised time and time again having to buy an expensive cus- by other race car preparers that I tom ECU.

22 Alfa Championship MiTo Build Progress so far on the MiTo QV championship car

But of all the challenges, this feels like we are on the last is the one I may end up eating stretch now. The race dates are my words over. on the back cover and we will I am personally now plan- post more about this on the web- ning and buying stuff for the site, on social media and on the final stages, including the AROC members’ forum. wheels and tyres which are, I In the meantime, our quest to have to admit, proving to be an build a model for a racing MiTo expensive nightmare. The that can be duplicated cost- championship, for what I’m effectively continues. Both Davie sure are perfectly reasonable and I are determined that we can reasons, are locked into Yoko- create a model that shows what hama tyres for all cars. But needs to be done to a standard with Yokohama slicks costing MiTo to deliver the right balance around £250 each, it is not of weight, performance, safety cheap to line up 12 to 16 tyres, and the ECU and electronics that mostly slicks plus a set of wet enables owners to enter the tyres. world of competitive motorsport So there is a lot still to do, with their Alfa Romeo MiTo. and a bit more to spend, but it Will your MiTo be next?

 Davie Peddie Motorsport Developments

 Experienced in WRC, Rallycross, GT3 and BRSCC

 Motorsport innovation, design and development

 Professional fabrication and welding

 Custom parts and modifications

 One-off and full track/race car builds

DPMD LTD DPMD Ltd 20 Woodgate Way S Eastfield Ind. Est. Glenrothes Fife KY7 4PDF Tel: 07494 796207

23 Photographic Memories 2018 | MITCAR | Arbury Hall

24 Photographic Memories 2018 | MITCAR | Arbury Hall

25 K&N Filters MiTo options for better filtration and longevity

The MiTo engine, like all turers have pretty much caught combustion , needs air up with K&N these days and offer as part of the combustion pro- similar benefits, but let’s be clear cess. And it needs clean air, about K&N and all air filtration free of dust, bugs and other solutions – none really add much particles for optimum perfor- bhp to your MiTo. K&N claim mance. That’s why you have an between 1 and 4bhp, but in reali- air filter which is designed to ty what they are really talking allow the right level of air about is not losing between 1 through whilst blocking any- and 4bhp through poor filtration. thing that can cause abrasion That’s not a gain as such, just or corrosion to your engine. “reduction avoidance”, if such a But air filtration is a tricky phrase exists. What you will typi- business. Standard air filters cally experience with different air don’t last long before they are filtration though is a change in full of dirt and hinder air flow, noise or tone which, depending needing to be replaced as they on your preference, can be a are manufactured from paper. good or bad thing. K&N have been developing air filters since 1969 and are the earlier turbo MiTo 1.4 pet- K&N filter should last a lifetime. rightly one of the World leaders rol is named the 57i (which But there is a third option, or in this technology. Their filters K&N do not recommend for the compromise, which K&N call the aim to find the optimal blend of 1.6 diesel), and K&N claim po- 57S. This is a performance airbox high air flow, filtration efficien- tential horsepower gains of 4 to housing a conical filter which di- cy, durability and dust capacity. 7bhp. In reality this is still likely rectly replaces the MiTo airbox And unlike normal air filters to be more of a power loss for turbo models, including the they can be washed out and re- avoidance of between 1 and 1.6 diesel. The same quality and used, not thrown away, as in- 4bhp for the MiTo. performance, similar noise to the stead of being made of paper, With the cone filters, you get 57i but less noticeably as it is they are made with layers of a particular whooshing sounds housed in an airbox. Though it is cotton gauze pleated between Induction Kit or Panel Filter? as it gulps air as you change quite expensive. coated wire mesh. K&N are so An induction kit (or open-air gear or lift-off the accelerator. confident in their filters that conical filter) takes the airflow With panel filters you still get they offer a ten year/million out of the standard airbox and the same type of noise but it’s mile warranty, so although the instead passes through a larger much more reserved. Initially, price is initially considerably open-air conical filter. The rea- the conical filter sound is very more than a standard air filter, son for this is that the design of addictive and fun, but if you you’ll never need to buy anoth- the conical filter has significantly use your MiTo for longer jour- er one. And that’s why I’ve more surface area to create neys it can become a little tedi- been using K&F filters on every more airflow. Thus the result of ous. So bear this in mind when car I’ve owned for the last dec- this is that it creates less air re- choosing. ade or more. striction. And that’s a good In terms of performance, Choosing Your K&N Of course, other manufac- thing. The K&N induction kit for both cone filters and panel fil- ters (which are a direct replace- The table on the next page lists ment of your existing paper air the K&N filters available for each filter) are extremely effective MiTo. and offer less restriction and far There are a few points worth more longevity than the stand- mentioning. Firstly, for the nor- ard filters for the MiTo. mally-aspirated (non-turbo) 1.4 Panel filters are available for MiTo, you only have the choice of all models of MiTo, whether the panel filter which is behind you have a turbo or not or the airbox at the front of the en- whether you have petrol or gine. The 1.3 JTDM has two types diesel, so they are a very effec- depending on which engine you tive upgrade for both perfor- have. The simple rule is that if mance and longevity. The you have an earlier 1.3 with the standard paper filters may cost Euro 4 engine you will have the a quarter of a K&N replace- Variant of AXH1B in Section 4 of ment, but they should be your DVLA vehicle document, the changed annually whereas a V5. The Euro 4 engine needs the

26 K&N Filters MiTo options for better filtration and longevity

K&N panel filter 33-2932. All eral manufacturers of perfor- pear biased, so please do your minutes or so on any MiTo. other Euro 5 and Euro 6 1.3 mance filters these days, many or own investigation. All filters The following are guides for engines need the later filter, all of which will offer similar ben- follow broadly the same for- replacing your standard panel the 33-2984. efits to the K&N filters, though mats as the K&N table below. filter with the appropriate K&N The 1.4 turbo and the 1.6 guarantees vary. Companies panel filter, and for installing an Fitting diesel both share the same such as Ramair and BMC manu- induction kit on a petrol turbo panel filter, but the 57S en- facture highly regarded filter For either a panel filter or an MiTo which is the same process closed cone options have differ- solutions for the MiTo and Punto induction kit/cone, fitting is not as the 1.6 diesel. ent part numbers, so ensure Abarth which are definitely complex, though replacing your Non-turbo and 1.3 diesel ver- you select the correct version worth considering. I personally panel filter with a like-for-like sions only accept a flat-panel fil- for your MiTo. choose K&N based on years of size K&N (or similar) panel filter ter, though follow the same prin- It is certainly also worth experience I have had with them, is certainly simpler and can ciples (I just don’t have either pointing out that there are sev- but I appreciate this might ap- typically be done within ten MiTo to hand to show you).

Engine Years Type Part # Notes

0.9 All Years Panel 33-2981

1.4 Non All Years Panel 33-2842 Turbo

1.4 Turbo All Years Panel 33-2935 Same as 1.6 JTDM

Fits later years but not 1.4 Turbo 2008-2012 Cone 57-0679 recommended by K&N

Enclosed 1.4 Turbo All Years 57S-3300 Not recommended for 1.6 JTDM Cone

2008-2011 Early 1.3 diesel Euro 4 engine with 1.3 JTDM Panel 33-2932 Euro 4 Variant AXH1B on your V5

Later 1.3 diesel Euro 5/6 engine 2011 on 1.3 JTDM Panel 33-2984 with Variant AXP1A, AXT1A or Euro 5/6 AYC1A on your V5

16. JTDM All Years Panel 33-2935 Same as 1.4 Turbo

Enclosed 1.6 JTDM All Years 57S-4902 Not recommended for 1.4 Turbo Cone

27 K&N Filters Replacing the panel air filter on a MiTo

As the diagrams at the top of wait until after step 3. this show, the four engine 0.9 Twinair 1.3 JTDM types of the MiTo vary: the 0.9 TwinAir has a panel filter on the top of the engine, as does the 1.3 diesel. The normally aspi- rated (non-turbo) has a panel filter at the front of the engine, whereas the 1.4/1.6 turbo en- gines have a separate airbox. 1.4 / 1.6 Turbo Whilst this guide is for the 1.4 Non 1.4/1.6 turbo engines, if your Turbo MiTo is one of the other en- gines then replacing the air filter is broadly the same pro- cess: you need to unscrew the air filter cover to access the filter underneath. Step 3: Remove Airbox Lid The MiTo 1.4 turbo and 1.6 diesel has a peculiar airbox The airbox has four screws angle of the lid until you are hap- which, as you will know if you (circled) which all need to be py that the hinge parts of the lid have changed an air filter, removed, enabling you to re- are securely in and all screws can makes for a very difficult clos- move the airbox lid completely. be done up tightly. ing of the airbox lid once you 6. Re-attach Air Pipe have fitted a new filter. But Position the air pipe back on hopefully you can follow these the airbox but do not fit fully yet, steps and, with a little gentle just ensure it is in place. persuasion of the airbox lid, the task can be done in around ten 5. Refit Airbox Lid minutes or so. You need to gently push the 1. Loosen the jubilee clip or three hinge parts of the airbox CLIC-R clamp on the air pipe lid into the gaps of the airbox Depending on your MiTo, and push down the airbox lid. you may have a jubilee clip or a This may be a struggle but this CLIC-R hose clamp holding your is only because the rubber of air intake pipe to you airbox. If Note how the side of the lid the new air filter is new and it’s a jubilee clip, simply undo has three small plastic hinge-type needs to be pushed down. this with a screwdriver. If you parts which feed under the gaps Have the first airbox screw and have a CLIC-R clamp like the of the airbox. This is the part your screwdriver ready as you pictures, you can ease the clip which is difficult to replace with a need to get one in whilst hold- off by lifting with a flat-bladed new filter installed. ing the lid down, ensuring the side hinges are in place. screwdriver. The final step is to tighten the jubilee clip or CLIC-R clamp in place to fix the air pipe to the airbox inlet. There is a knack to this, holding the pipe fully in place against the airbox with one hand whilst you tighten the clip with the other. If you have the CLIC-R clamp, this is easy with the correct clamp pliers, but it is pos- 2. Prise off the air pipe 4. Fit new filter Get your first screw in but do sible with a screwdriver and a bit Gently prise away the air The existing air filter can be not fully tighten yet as you will of strength. Try to focus less on pipe from the airbox. This can withdrawn from the airbox and need to make adjustments to pushing the top metal over the be a little fiddly but do not be replaced with the new filter. get all screws in. Once your bottom, but focus on pulling the tempted to use force – just Ensure the lips of the new filter first screw is in place (but not bottom metal under by pushing ease it off by pulling in different are pushed down and sit snug on fully tight), the further screws the small clip with a screwdriver directions and up and down. If the surface of the airbox open- are relatively easy to get in, but whilst easing the top clip over it really will not come away, ing. make small adjustments to the with your thumb.

28 K&N Filters Installing a cone filter cold air induction kit on a MiTo (1.4/1.6 Turbo)

1. Loosen the jubilee clip or et to be removed along with the 7. Loosely Fit K&N Bracket With the original airbox re- CLIC-R clamp on the air pipe air pipe. Loosely attach the supplied moved, you will see there are 4. Remove Airbox bracket by hand-tightening the plenty of points to attach a cable Depending on your MiTo, tie to under the new cone filter, The airbox is held in place with engine mount bolt through the you may have a jubilee clip or a so spend a few minutes deciding three lugs attached to the airbox bracket, ensuring it is the cor- CLIC-R hose clamp holding your where to attach the top of the itself so can be removed by hand. rect way round to ensure the air intake pipe to you airbox. If pipe before settling on a location There is a lug underneath to- pipe bracket fits around the it’s a jubilee clip, simply undo that enables the pipe to directly wards the rear and two to the intake pipe. This part of the this with a screwdriver. If you point at the cone filter and be side which go into holes in the bracket will have the jubilee have a CLIC-R clamp like the held securely with a cable tie. pictures, you can ease the clip wing (shown in the picture be- clip tightened around it to hold off by lifting with a flat-bladed low). Pull the airbox up to re- the pipe and the cone filter screwdriver. lease the lower lug, then pull tight. away from the wing to release it. You can now take the airbox out of the engine bay and set it aside.

2. Prise off the air pipe 8. Apply/Fasten Jubilee Clip 10. Attach Bottom of Cold Gently prise away the air Air Pipe pipe from the airbox. This can When you are happy with be a little fiddly but do not be the position of the mounting Attaching the bottom of the tempted to use force – just 5. Position Cone Filter bracket, slide up the jubilee clip cold air pipe is a little less pre- so that it is positioned to tight- scribed in terms of where you ease it off by pulling in different The K&N 57i kit includes a en over the bracket, then tight- want to attach it. My personal directions and up and down. If new, slightly larger, jubilee clip en the jubilee clip around both choice is that there are several it really will not come away, for the air intake pipe. So re- the intake pipe and the bracket holes in the undertray which are wait until step 4. move the old one and place the so it is tight. ideal to attach the cable tie to new one over the pipe and slide around the pipe. This is suffi- the new cone filter into the pipe. ciently placed to get a good flow Do not fasten the jubilee clip yet. of cold air whilst not being too much lower such that it grounds out on speed humps.

3. Remove Intake Pipe Bolt 8. Fasten Engine Mount Bolt Tucked down between the air intake pipe and the engine is With the bracket attached to a small bolt which holds the 6. Remove Engine Mount Bolt the pipework, now adjust the bracket to ensure it is lined up intake pipe fitting to a The K&N 57i utilises the front mounting bracket. Using a then tighten the engine mount engine mount bolt to attach the 10mm socket, loosen the bolt bolt. The K&N filter is now in- cone bracket, so undo and re- The key points to consider are then undo it by hand so you stalled, but the kit also comes move the front-most bolt of the ground clearance and cold air don’t drop it to allow the brack- with a cold-air pipe which engine mount as per the picture should be fitted. positioning - you need a practical below. A 14mm socket will fit. location that will suck up cold air 9. Attach Top of Cold Air Pipe to the new cone filter. The kit is supplied with a Finally, trim both cable ties so length of cold-air pipe which there is no excess, and check all should be installed to enable connections and the jubilee clip cold air from the front of the again for tightness. car to directly reach the cone You can now take your MiTo filter for optimal performance. for a run and hear the difference The pipe is simply attached in a performance cone air filter two places using cable ties. makes to your MiTo.

29 MiTo Alarm Update Silencing the loud beeps when you lock and unlock your MiTo

There is a generally accepted yet not fully understood urban legend that it is possible to dis- able the alarm beeps when locking and unlocking your Mi- To, but there has long been confusion about precisely how to do it, what the impact is and whether it is safe or even legal to do so. Rumours that the disabling process turns your MiTo menus into a foreign language are widespread, and opinions vary about whether the modifica- tion is illegal, whether it affects your insurance or somehow disables the actual function of the alarm thus making the Mi- To vulnerable to theft. And of course, some people love the recognisable beeps which, if gade. no setting beeps or have user- I have been using the diagnos- you’ve been to one of our Alfa So it is a bit of a minefield configurable settings within the tic software MultiECUScan for Romeo events, you will know is which I aim to clarify. car menu itself (something that well over a decade on my Alfa standard on all Alfas and many Let’s start with the legalities Alfa really should have imple- Romeos. From memory, I think Italian cars. and safety aspects. My wife’s mented with the MiTo). the first version I used was 1.3 or It is less well known that Audi has a fully functioning re- I have also spoken with perhaps 1.4. from the middle of 2017 virtu- mote locking and alarm system, three reputable insurance pro- MultiECUScan is an inde- ally all new Alfa Romeos were but doesn’t beep when the car is viders who, it has to be said, pendently produced diagnostic built with a security gateway locked and unlocked. It is com- had no clue what I was talking tool specifically designed, updat- (SGW) module which blocks pletely legal to disable the initia- about but did confirm they do ed and supported for Fiat, Alfa any diagnostic tool from exe- tion beeps on any vehicle in the not capture information about Romeo and Lancia cars and vans, cuting commands on the vehi- UK. Indeed, there are no laws in whether a car audibly beeps along with a small number of cle (e.g. resetting service indica- this country regarding the pres- when locked and unlocked, vehicles with shared platforms tors, clearing errors) unless ence of an alarm, let alone how it only whether the vehicle has an and electronics (e.g. the Jeep done so through an official FCA is set. approved alarm fitted. Renegade). But not being affili- group dealership tool which In most of central Europe, Of course, officially your ated with FCA means that devel- communicates with the SGW. noise restrictions prevent the use insurer should be notified of opments come some time after This update was applied to the of beeps for setting/unsetting any modification to your vehi- the release of new functions and MiTo, Giulia, Stelvio and most alarm functions in motor vehi- cle, though I suspect many of security measures in each vehicle new Fiats including the 500X, cles. The majority of vehicles us do not follow this process model. 500L as well as the Jeep Rene- sold in these markets either have with every small change, but And that is where the Holland the decision is yours. myth comes from. The first ver- sion of the software (just called The ‘Holland’ Myth ‘ECUScan’) to support the MiTo The urban legend is that you with the CAN setup was at the can somehow change your end of 2010 (version 2.6). Func- alarm setting to operate using tions such as proxy alignment (to the standard functionality that solve the infamous ‘flashing mile- the Dutch market experiences, age’ issue) came several months which has no beeps when you later in version 2.8, along with set or unset the alarm due to support for the Delphi Body Com- noise restrictions. puter on the MiTo. So suddenly And there is some truth to MiTo owners were playing with this. Setting the alarm country the settings in the MiTo body code to Holland is the solution, ECU, including alarm settings. but like everything on the MiTo But version 2.8 of ECUScan was it depends on how you do it. only the first compatible version, And it would also depend when and it had a lot of issues like any you did it. early software development, the

30 MiTo Alarm Update Silencing the loud beeps when you lock and unlock your MiTo results of which have been ther of which are particularly found by MiTo owners over the simple. years using Google and old Alfa Your MiTo has a unique five- Romeo forums boards (often digit alarm code which must be not to be trusted if the infor- entered when making changes in mation is several years old). the body computer, whether you It wasn’t until 2012 and ver- do it yourself or have it done for sion 3.4.2 of ECUScan that the you. This is not to be confused MiTo and Punto body computer with, for example, your Interna- and Proxy Alignment started to tional Security Register (ISR) function as you would expect, number that you may have in followed by the launch of the your ownership documents. new ‘MultiECUScan’ version Years ago, you could contact 1.0. So four years after the Alfa Romeo with your vehicle MiTo launch, the diagnostics details and they would send you as long as you attended in per- software was just catching up. your unique alarm code for But I strongly recommend that if son with your documents. However, during the period around £20. But that is no longer you are not particularly mechani- There is no longer an official 2012 through 2014, Alfa Romeo possible. Some years later, Alfa cally minded or happy to use charge as such, but the dealer made several changes to the Romeo dealers could request an your local Alfa Specialist or deal- has the option to charge for programming of the main ECU alarm code through their internal er on occasion, then do not in- their time (mine didn’t). But and the body computer on the system (providing you showed vest in MultiECUScan purely to this is where the dealer’s lack MiTo, and the model refresh your vehicle ownership docu- change your alarm. It will be of knowledge can help: simply for model year 2014 (the switch ments) and a few days later they cheaper to simply have your local tell them you’ve done it before, from the original Blue&Me ra- would receive a printed data Specialist do it for you. it takes a few days and is a free dio to the new UConnect sys- sheet for your car including your service - they probably won’t tems) changed many things alarm code, which they would know any different. resulting in MultiECUScan being typically share with you for But please don’t all go relatively ineffective for the around £30. straight to your dealers de- MiTo from 2014 onwards. However, today it is slightly manding alarm codes. You It was not until August 2016 improved but still a little compli- should only do this if and when and MultiECUScan version 3.2 cated, depending on your dealer. you are seriously going to use that the updated Delphi body The alarm code can still be ob- it, otherwise it is quite likely computer and the updated Sie- tained from an Alfa Romeo deal- that dealers will become un- mens instrument panel on the er, though their internal system For those of us more likely to helpful or definitely start charg- MiTo were supported, and not has changed meaning most re- get value from MultiECUScan, ing if you’re the fourth person until the middle of 2017 until cent joiners to the service and there are several options. I use that week to request your the new Uconnect radio/nav parts department at dealers the full version on a Windows alarm code. was supported in version 3.7. simply do not know how to re- laptop, though there are versions The second thing you will The latest version of Mul- trieve it. And in the modern for use on mobile devices via a need, quite obviously, is either tiECUScan (4.3) has been availa- world of multi-franchise dealer- Bluetooth OBD connection. I a dealer or specialist to do the ble since the end of 2018 and ships it is becoming harder to have not tried the mobile version update for you, or MultiECUS- provides support for the new find a genuine Alfa Romeo per- as their website states that it has can and the appropriate con- Giulia and Stelvio, though of son who isn’t in the workshop in a “limited set” of reset/ nection leads. course their developments nat- overalls. programming functions. My in- urally follow many months or But if you go to your Alfa deal- MultiECUScan clination is that the mobile ver- years behind the actual launch er service desk presenting your Having been a long-time sion may not support the critical of the cars. ownership documents and po- user of MultiECUScan, I would functions I would typically need, Of course, you can avoid all litely request your five-digit recommend it for any owner of but I will do a comparison test at this complication by just visiting alarm code, they will eventually an Alfa Romeo, Fiat or Lancia. some point in future. Knowing an Alfa Romeo dealer or spe- work out how to do it on their Unlike many cheaper alter- the development process, my cialist who have the official system (and I strongly recom- natives, it has been designed suspicion is that the mobile ver- diagnostic capability. mend you stay there while they and built from the ground up to sion will be a few years behind work out how to submit the re- support our cars and, more the desktop version. What You Need quest, otherwise it will go to the importantly, the support is sec- A full licence for the software There are two options to bottom of their to-do list once ond to none as I will show you is €50 and includes twelve change your MiTo alarm you’ve left). soon. months of updates. Once the settings: either get your dealer It does typically take a couple If you are serious about a twelve months is up, the soft- or specialist to do it, or do it of days before the dealer re- long-term affair with Alfa Ro- ware still works but only at the yourself. Either way, there are ceives the code, and they can tell meo, MultiECUScan needs to version you currently have. This two key things you need, nei- you the code over the telephone be something you invest in. should not be a problem as there

31 MiTo Alarm Update Silencing the loud beeps when you lock and unlock your MiTo may be no further updates for the SGW prevented any modifi- the MiTo, but please read all of cation. Most annoying. this article if you have a 2017- So I contacted MultiECUScan onwards MiTo before down- and asked if they were willing to loading the software for your do some tests with me, and they newer MiTo. agreed. The outcome of this is But the software alone is no that they have developed an up- use without some means of dated version of MultiECUScan connecting to your car via the which can specifically modify the OBD socket behind your tiny alarm setting on 2018 model year glovebox to the right of your MiTos and Giuliettas. This ver- (right-hand drive) MiTo. sion is a bit of a workaround (you There are many differing need to use the Giulietta body leads to connect the multitude computer connection for the Pic. 1. - Select the MiTo Model/Version then Body Computer Delphi of FCA vehicles to a laptop us- time being) and is not yet availa- ing MultiECUScan, and I pur- ble to the general public, but I chased the full diagnostic pack- can provide it to MultiECUScan age with all leads many years 4.3 registered users who have a ago (they don’t change) and 2018 MiTo as a beta upgrade. this package is still available at The full production version £120. But the MiTo only needs should be released in the coming a CAN-compatible connection months to the general public, known as an ELM327, though and this only applies if you have care should be taken buying a MiTo registered from late 2017 these leads from auction sites onwards. as MultiECUScan warn about Updating Your Alarm issues with cheap or imported ELM leads not working without Assuming you have your five- modification. digit alarm code, you can arrange Pic. 2. - Confirm yellow adapter is connected (click ‘Y’) MultiECUScan’s UK distribut- with your Alfa Romeo dealer or er, Gendan Automotive, offer a Specialist to change your Alarm MultiECUScan package for CAN Mode (Country) to Holland. Typi- cars for £97.94 which includes cally they will charge between the twelve month licence, the £40 and £60 for this. software on a disc along with But if you have MultiECUScan, the leads you will need for the you can do the change yourself MiTo, including the yellow body using the red ELM lead and the computer lead. Gendan’s Mul- Yellow adapter. The process for tiECUScan products can be pre-2018 MiTos is as follows: found at this link. 1. Select your MiTo You will need at least version 3.7 of MultiECUScan, though I MultiECUScan covers many tested the alarm upgrade on vehicles from Fiat, Alfa Romeo, the latest version 4.3 for the Lancia and several Chrysler and Pic. 3. - Body Computer connected pre-2018 MiTo. Jeep. Firstly, select the Make of ‘Alfa Romeo’ and the MiTo mod- 2018 Model Year MiTos el you have (Pic. 1). Note, there I said that the support are only five options: 0.9 TwinAir, offered by MultiECUScan is 1.3 JTD, 1.4, 1.4 Turbo and 1.6 second to none, and I want to JTDm. If you have a non-turbo, expand on that a little. you must choose 1.4. If you have With the introduction of the any variation of 1.4 turbo security gateway module in (including T-Jet and MultiAir) new Alfa Romeos, it has be- then choose 1.4 Turbo. come impossible to make At the bottom-left of the changes to parameters or reset screen, you must then choose functions on newer MiTos. I the ‘Body’ system, and click on proved the alarm upgrade on ‘Body Computer Delphi (955)’ my 2008 model and wanted to control module on the right. Pic. 4. - Select Adjustments then Alarm mode and press Execute test it on my 2018 model, but Turn your ignition key ON but

32 MiTo Alarm Update Silencing the loud beeps when you lock and unlock your MiTo do not start the engine, then from the drop-down list (see Pic. press the ‘Connect’ button at 6). Select ‘Holland’ and press the bottom-right of the screen. ‘OK’. Note, you can repeat this If your ignition is not on, it will process and return the setting to not connect and give you an ‘United Kingdom’ if you want error message. your beeps back in future. 2. Confirm Connection 6. Confirm Change You will be prompted to con- firm your change of country (see Pic. 7). Press ‘Y’ to confirm. You will then see two messag- es displayed; the first tells you the change has been executed, Pic. 5. - Enter 5-digit alarm code and press ‘OK’ and the second tells you to switch off your ignition key. Switch off your ignition then click ‘Y’ and the process is complete. Changing 2018 MiTo Alarm The process described is the same for newer 2018 models, but it must be followed on the You will be prompted to con- 4.3R5 beta version of the soft- firm that you have connected ware (likely to be included in the red ELM lead with the yel- MultiECUScan version 4.4, not low Adapter 3 (see Pic. 2). Con- released at time of writing). nect the yellow adapter to the However, there is one signifi- ELM lead and plug into your cant and material difference. Pic. 6. - Select ‘Holland’ and press ‘OK’ OBD socket, connecting the When selecting your vehicle USB end to your laptop. Once model, do not select any MiTo this is connected, press ‘Y’. model. Instead, select ’Giulietta 3. Select Alarm Mode 1.4 Turbo 16V’ as shown in Pic.8. For no clear reason, Alfa Ro- Once connected to the body meo did not build the security computer (see Pic. 3.) you can gateway module into the Giuli- then click on ’Adjustments’ at etta range of Marelli body com- the top-right of the screen to puters, enabling MultiECUScan to show the available adjustments write some bypass code for the (see Pic. 4). MiTo. On the left side of the So for your 2018 MiTo, step 1 screen, click ’Alarm mode is replaced by selecting your ve- (country) and you will see the hicle as ’Giulietta 1.4 Turbo 16V’. screen in Pic. 4. Press ’Execute’ At the bottom-left of the screen, Pic. 7. - Confirm by pressing ‘Y’ at the bottom-right of the you must then choose the ‘Body’ screen. system, and click on ‘Body Com- 4. Enter Five-Digit Alarm Code puter Marelli (940)’ control mod- You will prompted for your ule on the right (see Pic. 8). five-digit ‘Security Code’ for Turn your ignition key ON but your alarm (see Pic. 5). It is do not start the engine, then important you do not enter this press the ‘Connect’ button at the wrong or (after three unsuc- bottom-right of the screen. cessful attempts) the body You will be prompted with an computer will lock you out for error which states ‘Invalid ISO thirty minutes for security. Code. Press N to cancel or Y to Enter your code and press ‘OK’. continue’. Press Y and you will be con- 5. Enter Alarm Mode Country nected and can then follow the You will be prompted to remaining steps from Step 3 as Pic. 8. - 2018 MiTo uses Giulietta/Marelli(940) in Beta software only choose the alarm mode country per the pre-2018 MiTo.

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