Just got an S60 D5 SE - seems very nice!

Just got an S60 D5 SE - seems very nice!

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BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Hi All,

Just got an S60 D5 SE in solar gold. Its done 72K miles,has the winter pack, laminated side windows and the 13 speaker Dolby pro-logic upgrade.

Its on a 54 plate and one owner full service history + cambelt.

Luckily its the facelifted version and so I am led to believe, the preferable euro 3.

Really pleased with it - only had it a day.

Certainly feels in a different league to my Corsa 1.0.

BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
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Good aren't they!?

Like I say early days. Not without drawbacks - the interior is fairly snug for the size of the exterior and the turning circle isn't great.

Just getting used to it really - it does seem to go quite well but the accelerator is quite long travel so it needs a positive push to get it to "go".

Seats are very comfy.

Stereo - well its the best car stereo I've ever heard for sure.

Cold this morning - I had to scrape off ice from the windscreen - I had the engine running and I was pleasantly surprised at zero degrees how quiet it was on start up.

Five gears - its ok but I would've preferred 6 I think - seems like each gear is quite long.

Heated seats are lovely!

BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Tuesday 17th February 2015
quotequote all
That looks tasty!

Comfortable cars for sure - I'm told that the laminated side windows mine has makes it a little quieter - how much of that is true I don't know.

The ride is firmer than I was expecting but the comfy seats take the edge off that so on balance its a good ride from the seat.

BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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martinrpeachey said:
Just something to note, and I'm not sure how obvious it'll be on a standard D5 as I've only driven remapped ones but it has a torque demand thingy...

It looks at not only where the throttle pedal is but how fast it got there (gentle press or stamped) and adjusts power delivery to suit.

Flooring it hard should make it take off harder than gently feathering the throttle.


Welcome to the fine and understated world of volvo ownership.
Ooh! I'll have an experiment with that on the way home tonight. Will add my thoughts!

My previous diesel 3 years ago was an Astra CDTI 150 which had a "sport" button - that made the accelerator very sensitive and subjectively made the car feel like it was always wanting to "go".

Not expecting a heavy Volvo to be anywhere near as lively as the Astra which feel like a paper bag in comparison seemed to be - the D5 does go, its subtle - perhaps I need to be a bit more "positive" with it - its all very new to me at the mo.

Maybe the refinement of the drive belies the rate at which speed is being added.

BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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Oh and it makes a novel wobblewobblewobblewobblewobble noise when you going up through the gears.

BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Really? Could have sworn it was Solar Gold - it has the tiniest tinge of a sage green in it.

Are you sure? - perhaps Volvo changed the gold around the time of the cosmetic facelift in 2004? Mines a 54 facelift.

I've just ordered a touch up stick of solar gold - looks like it might be an oops!

BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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I've been talking a right old load of rubbish.

It might be "Lunar Gold" not solar gold....



BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Hi All,

Well, its two years on and 12K miles and what can I say?

I'm not getting bored of this car at all.

Its still immaculate, comfortable, smooth, economical and the stereo still amuses. Other cars feel like a park bench to sit in.

All its needed is tyres and a service.

Boy does it go through front tyres - blimey! 10,000 miles - does that seem right for urban only use?

The car got paggered all over by enormous hailstones 18 months ago and I had them all removed so its still looking good.

The bonnet and boot lid are aluminium (ask me how I know - see above!)

Its the little things too.

Did you know that if you flick the disable switch for the rear electric windows it also switches off the illumination of the decal on them too!

The carpets are proper deep pile and clip on fitted mats - not the usual syntho black flat stuff used in other marques.

The paint (probably not water based) is thick and luxurious with very very little orange peel.

The visible vin number on the dash top has Volvo enscribed rivets holding it on so you cant use any old rivets to protect against ringing that little bit more.


Has decent pedal spacing - I've noticed that before on Volvos.

Its a proper Engineers car.

I notice that current V70s seem on casual glance from behind to have Mondeo suspension. I hope they have rust proofed them for Volvo as any Ford over about 3 years old looks to have visible suspension components covered in surface rust.

At 13 years old, my S60 is spotless underneath, but it shows the depth that mattered to Volvo. I've been told that most cars would be kn4ckered on the chassis at this age. The Volvo has a tiny bit of surface corrosion on an exhaust bracket.

What do Volvo make their exhausts out of - it looks new but I know its original as I bought the car of the first owner.

So its with me for the foreseeable. I used to like changing my car regularly but if I had to get a new one tomorrow, I dont know what I could get for a couple of grand that would come close for all round usability, quality and cost.


The only thing I can think of right now if I had to replace it would be an E320 cdi for about 4K and only then because it has a higher towing weight than the Volvo.

I'll have to change my wifes car more often to keep with the car changing bug ha ha.

Anyway, if you are thinking of buying one - get one, they are really rather good.




BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
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Super Slo Mo said:
In fact, before I realised the tracking was out, I got through a set of fronts in under 4,000 miles, without trying particularly hard.
Oooofff!

BL Fanboy

Original Poster:

339 posts

143 months

Wednesday 1st March 2017
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Remapping a 163 D5?
I've been toying with the idea but I'm not sure to be honest. As standard, at 163 the engine feels un stressed and reliable, almost like its well within its capabilities. I don't really know how near to its components limits it is I have no way of knowing. For certain the engine block and turbo look meaty in size!
I'm taking the view right now that the car is fast enough (did I just say that!) and its not intended to be a sports saloon so why not keep it as Volvo intended.
I feel sure it would handle 200bhp but would the clutch,fuel pump hold out?
Its such a lovely old thing I suppose I want to kid glove it 😊