I read it in the magazine "Behind the Wheel", it turns out that everything is not so bad. Maybe someone will come in handy on the forum.
With the advent of the new "Opel-Astra", the previous model with the factory index H, still produced, received a prefix to the name: "Family".

Opel astra h

Buying a new car is a pleasant business, but very expensive. Those who want to save money are looking for a car in the secondary market - it is cheaper here. For the purchase to be successful, you need to know what you should pay close attention to.
NERVOUS DISRUPTIONS

It is relatively easy to wind up the run on the Astra; it is enough to replace the instrument panel with a fresher one. Don't rely on the odometer reading! It is better to compare the mileage with the marks in the service book, asking the dealer to check the authenticity of the MOT in the database. At the same time, order a complete diagnosis - it is not so expensive compared to the price of the "pig in a poke" itself. By the way, there is an unspoken rule: if specialists find only flaws, honestly named by the seller, diagnostics are at your expense, and if there are hidden defects, the “forgetful” seller pays. You just need to agree on this in advance.
An Opel electrician contains many electronic units that communicate with each other via a multiplex (CAN bus), which makes troubleshooting difficult in a domestic environment. And they do happen. Either the ceiling light will light up for no reason, then the immobilizer stops recognizing the native key. As a rule, it is enough to remove the terminal from the battery for a couple of minutes, and everything will return to normal.
More often than others, the steering column CIM module is buggy: you press the horn, and it is silent. Other buttons located on the steering wheel also sometimes do not work, and the audio center may stop responding to its own controls. At an early stage, the defect was random, so it took a long time to establish the cause. Changing the module under warranty, re-soldering contacts, assembling one block from several, did not help. As a result, we came to a simple and reliable solution: in 2009, they introduced a steel U-shaped bracket that squeezes the body halves and ensures reliable contact. For reference: the price of such a piece of iron is only 8 rubles.
It will not be cheap to make a new key to replace the lost one - 5700 rubles together with the firmware (this is how the process of “acquaintance” of the key with the immobilizer is called). In this case, you will definitely need a personal car card (Car-Pass) - take care of it like the apple of your eye.

SUPPORT AND MOTOR APPARATUS

Many engines were installed on the "asters", but only Z16XER and Z18XER (1.6 and 1.8 liters, respectively) have taken root in our market. They have a belt drive, so if in doubt about the authenticity of the run, replace it immediately. Until recently, the belt resource was 150 thousand km, but recently it was officially reduced to 120 thousand km. We change the videos without hesitation.
The most troublesome is the ignition module, which is inserted with its leads directly into the spark plug wells. Over time, the ends crack (this happens when the candles are carelessly replaced), and then, consider, they arrived. Another reason is the untimely replacement of the candles. According to the regulations, it is necessary every 30 thousand km, however, it happens that the central electrode by that time is significantly shortened due to erosion, which causes the spark gap to increase. Accordingly, the breakdown voltage increases and the module burns out. We recommend checking the spark plugs at every MOT (15 thousand km) and adjusting the gap. It is not superfluous to carry a spare module with you, and in a reliable package, so as not to split, flying over the trunk.
The resource of the air conditioner compressor is unpredictable: some examples serve 150 thousand km without complaints, others fail even on a new car. In half of the cases - due to a break in the winding of the switching clutch. Replacing does not always help, because a new node may well turn out to be with the same defect. Therefore, it is advisable to "ring" the winding with a tester before buying.
The diode bridge of the generator usually burns out due to an oversight of the owner himself: he damaged the right mudguard of the engine compartment somewhere in the rut and did not change it in time. Through the hole, dirt flies straight onto the generator, clogging its insides. Of course, neither the unit itself nor the poly V-belt that drives it can withstand.
On cars produced in 2005-2007 with a 1.8 liter engine and automatic transmission, serious problems were created by an engine cooling radiator combined with a box heat exchanger: due to the destruction of the partitions, the oil was mixed with antifreeze. If such a cocktail is very undesirable for the motor, then it is deadly for the machine! In those years, a revocable campaign was carried out to replace the radiators, and in neglected cases, in addition, the complete boxes were changed. Later, they began to be repaired, for which the manufacturer accredited a number of third-party firms operating on an official basis to this day. They do not sit idle, because even with a working cooling system, the service life of the machine barely exceeds 160 thousand km. Mechanical boxes serve about the same number, regardless of the version (there are five of them), as well as the clutch.
Two types of steering racks were installed on the "asters" - with an electric and with an electrohydraulic booster, and in different modifications, the account of which even the specialists lost. Some mechanisms are pleasing with adequate effort and clear feedback on the steering wheel, others, to put it mildly, not very much. The main complaints about EGUR: even a serviceable unit does not work perfectly, and sometimes fails due to overheating. Well at least, he doesn't steer where he pleases! To return the mechanism to working condition, you need to wait until it cools down.
Regardless of the version of the amplifier, we closely monitor the steering rods: by 60 thousand km, a backlash is already noticeable in them (they are replaced separately). The tips are unlikely to require attention up to 150 thousand km. In the front suspension, the conditionally weak link is called the support bearings of the struts - they become clogged with dirt and begin to crunch. As a rule, dirt penetrates with a sharp rebound, for example, when driving off a curb, when the seal does not have time to work out following the parts of the rack going down, leaving a gap-loophole. Moral: "speed bumps" are best pressed at low speed.

The front sensors are most often to blame for the failure of the anti-lock braking system, and they cannot be replaced separately from the hub. Less often, the hub has to be replaced due to bearing wear. Both are expensive. There are no complaints about the rear hubs.
But the shock absorbers often sweat behind; but this does not affect the efficiency of their work - you can take your time to change.
ASTRA: LOGICAL FORECAST

Although the cost of maintaining the base model is higher than that of some competitors ( ZR, 2011, No. 12 ), but remain quite acceptable. The sports modification of the OPC does not lend itself to such an accurate forecast, since a lot here depends on the driving ambitions of the previous owner. Of course, in general, these cars get a lot more, especially in terms of brakes and clutch.
The compact van "Zafira V", built on the basis of "Astra N", has a similar list of diseases, however, problems with the engine radiator and support bearings of the struts did not affect it, since there is a different set of components and assemblies here, as well as some parts of the suspensions are reinforced. Therefore, when you are convinced that machines built on the same platform suffer from the same birth defects, be aware that this is not always the case.

We thank the company "Armand" in Gostinichniy proezd (Moscow)
for assistance in preparing the material.


The paintwork of the body as a whole is not satisfactory, but some 2005-2006 cars show rust on the trunk lid and lower flanges of the doors. Faded chrome is common. All the buttons on the steering wheel of this car are still working without interruptions thanks to the owner's ingenuity - he pulled the halves of the CIM steering column module with bandage rubber. The smart alternative to the branded U-shaped bracket! In the rear suspension with an H-shaped elastic beam, we focus on shock absorbers: by 100 thousand km they can leak. The brake pads are enough for 60 thousand km. Pay attention to the high-quality plastisol coating of the bottom - it resists salt very well.
The most popular Z16XER motor: we recommend checking the spark plugs at every service and, if necessary, adjusting the gap. Be careful with the ignition module: the product is rather fragile. Some dealers advise flushing the nozzles at every MOT, but you need to make a decision wisely: if there are no complaints, you should not go into the well-established mechanism. Front suspension: ball joints are riveted to the levers, which is reasonable on this model: the resource of the supports, silent blocks and the levers themselves (due to fatigue cracks) is approximately the same - under 180 thousand km. Brake pads wear out by 30-40 thousand km, discs last twice as long. The clutch for turning on the air conditioner compressor is not famous for its reliability: an open or interturn short circuit of the winding is possible. Replacing it is easy, as there is an automatic poly V-belt tensioner.
FROM THE HISTORY OF THE MODEL COST OF SEPARATE WORKS AT DEALERS, RUB COST OF ORIGINAL SPARE PARTS, rub.
ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THREE YEARS OF OPERATION (75–150 thousand km), rub. Opel astra h