Volvo V70 Buying

[cobra kid]

Evening all.

A mate is going to look at a 2003 53 plate Volvo 2.0T auto 180hp. 80k miles with FSH.

Are there any obvious faults/issues to look for on these motors? I've had a brief look at it from through a fence and it looks smart enough.

Any thoughts?

Cheers!

[cobra kid]

bumpety bump

[anonymous-user]

This lists a few specific things; http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/v70xc70...


This may help as a general guide;
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=469...

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th September 08:41

[cobra kid]

Thank you Champ.

[dave_s13]

champ54321 said:

This lists a few specific things; http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/v70xc70...


This may help as a general guide;
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=469...

Edited by champ54321 on Wednesday 8th September 08:41

Jesus. A read of that and you'll never buy one!

I've got a 52 plate D5 SE and done 6000 miles in it so far. On 109k now.

I bought it with an issue with the DIM (speedo/rev counter/trip computer etc). The clocks were replaced with a 2005 model car and been fine since. This is a common fault and can cost hundreds to fix (OK after 2004 though - silver clock bezel indicates the later clocks).

Turning circle is poor but compared to my previous Alfa 156 SW it turns on a penny - you get used to it and it's no bother.

They handle like large ships, being honest.

Just make sure it drives fine, doesn't make any funny noises and all the switches/buttons/stuff works as it should. It'll be reet.

They are great at what they do i.e. take lots of stuff places in supreme comfort.

Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 8th September 12:47

[AreseV6]

Just bought an 04' D5 SE I too came from Alfa's very happy with my purchase made sure it was serviced , cambelt had been done etc etc and bought on condition

[captainzep]

I've a '53 V70 D5. 125,000 on the clock now. I'd echo Dave's points.

Its not very 'Pistonheads' but its gradually becoming the best car I've owned.

There is still a strong 'Volvoness' about the V70 and I can't praise the comfort and ergonomics over long journeys enough. -Just done 1000 miles in a week during a French holiday.

You want to drive it fast for the same reason you want to chase an overweight middle-aged school ma'm around a library. -I don't really know what that means but I think it equates to the car being quite genteel and heavy, whilst having a surprising and jolly turn of speed when you're occasionally feeling 'saucy'.

As my wife drives it most of the time it had been largely ignored and abused bar the odd oil change and light bulb replacement. This seemed a very cheap way of motoring for 2-3 years until I decided to take it to the main dealers for some tlc and a service. One sweaty credit card transaction later I was £1200 lighter -but you have to bear in mind the myriad of little things I'd ignored for ages.

That said its still strong, smooth, massively comfy, roomy, looks quite fresh, never let us down, drives like a big engined car but returns 40-45 mpg.

-Which brings me on to my only query, is the 2.0 turbo the right one to be buy?

Oh yes, just to save your mate half an hour, the battery is in boot... -Made that mistake...

Rear wash wipe motor a known problem. Very few pattern/scrap parts about and a £400(?) dealer job, so make sure it works. Hinge on filler cap gets brittle but this is a cheap (£3) DIY job. Top mount problems also common but again cheap DIY task.

[GreatGranny]

They are heavy on front suspension so check for knocking over bumps.

Also front disks get a hammering.

I had a S1 V70 2.5 10v and it was the best car I ever owned. Still wonder over 4 years later why I didn't keep it.

If you can get a D5 then I would.

[dave_s13]

Ooh yeah...top mount on the D5 with invariably be fooked. Noticable shudder when you shut off the engine and will eventually knacker other engine mounts. Dead easy to fix.

Like he said ^^^^ the one you want is a D5 SE, preferably manual if you want to eek out max MPG.

[Arese]

dave_s13 said:

Ooh yeah...top mount on the D5 with invariably be fooked. Noticable shudder when you shut off the engine and will eventually knacker other engine mounts. Dead easy to fix.

Like he said ^^^^ the one you want is a D5 SE, preferably manual if you want to eek out max MPG.

:yes

I still miss my D5 SE. I had it re-mapped, which screwed the already dying turbo. New turbo later and it was a great cruiser with bags of power and torque. I think a remap can take the 163bhp to around 195bhp and twelve-million torques. Epic stereo, epic seats, but I think after six months I decided I was too young (32 at the time) for an S60.

[Stedman]

champ54321 said:

This may help as a general guide;
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=469...

This guide is for the 850/X70 cars. S60/V70s are totally different cars with different issues.

[Greg_D]

the only non wear related failures i have had on my 2.4t have been related to rubber bits
Anti Roll bar drop links twice
top engine mount
both front lower wishbones
the gearbox is also dreadfully snatchy which worries me (I'm waiting for a big bill)
it is also reasonably juicy 20mpg

but it is epically comfortable and a great mile muncher

Greg

[dave_s13]

Greg_D said:

the only non wear related failures i have had on my 2.4t have been related to rubber bits
Anti Roll bar drop links twice
top engine mount
both front lower wishbones
the gearbox is also dreadfully snatchy which worries me (I'm waiting for a big bill)
it is also reasonably juicy 20mpg

but it is epically comfortable and a great mile muncher

Greg

Mine has started to give a little thump when slowing down and it changes from gear into "neutral". It's only every so often though and seems to bhave been that way for months, so I'm not that bothered.

[Fartgalen]

Had my V70 2.4t for about 18 months. Only problem I had was breaking and locking rear wheel handbrake shoes.
They´re rear discs brakes, but inside the centre is a brake drum with shoes operated by the handbrake. These come lose and lock the rear wheel.
Had the same problem on another Volvo also.

[Jebi]

dave_s13 said:

champ54321 said:

This lists a few specific things; http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/v70xc70...


This may help as a general guide;
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=469...

Edited by champ54321 on Wednesday 8th September 08:41

Jesus. A read of that and you'll never buy one!

I've got a 52 plate D5 SE and done 6000 miles in it so far. On 109k now.

I bought it with an issue with the DIM (speedo/rev counter/trip computer etc). The clocks were replaced with a 2005 model car and been fine since. This is a common fault and can cost hundreds to fix (OK after 2004 though - silver clock bezel indicates the later clocks).

Turning circle is poor but compared to my previous Alfa 156 SW it turns on a penny - you get used to it and it's no bother.

They handle like large ships, being honest.

Just make sure it drives fine, doesn't make any funny noises and all the switches/buttons/stuff works as it should. It'll be reet.

They are great at what they do i.e. take lots of stuff places in supreme comfort.

Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 8th September 12:47

I had a 2007 one and it handled quite well, pretty firm and for a large estate it could be thrown around a bit. Did they change the suspension much in that time?

It was the D5 too, went like stink!

[entwisi]

the older models had a known issue with ABS lights, basically the unit suffers dry joints, there is a bloke who refurbs them for ~ 90 quid.

I had a 2.5 LPT on LPG for nearly 100K, did 23 mpg on gas so as good as the D5s if not slightly better with the fun that is ~200 bhp of turbo power.

As others said can be heavy on front tyres if you do lots of fast B roads but on motorway commutes I got ~ 30K out of a set roatted at 20.

[dave_s13]

Jebi said:

dave_s13 said:

champ54321 said:

This lists a few specific things; http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/v70xc70...


This may help as a general guide;
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=469...

Edited by champ54321 on Wednesday 8th September 08:41

Jesus. A read of that and you'll never buy one!

I've got a 52 plate D5 SE and done 6000 miles in it so far. On 109k now.

I bought it with an issue with the DIM (speedo/rev counter/trip computer etc). The clocks were replaced with a 2005 model car and been fine since. This is a common fault and can cost hundreds to fix (OK after 2004 though - silver clock bezel indicates the later clocks).

Turning circle is poor but compared to my previous Alfa 156 SW it turns on a penny - you get used to it and it's no bother.

They handle like large ships, being honest.

Just make sure it drives fine, doesn't make any funny noises and all the switches/buttons/stuff works as it should. It'll be reet.

They are great at what they do i.e. take lots of stuff places in supreme comfort.

Edited by dave_s13 on Wednesday 8th September 12:47

I had a 2007 one and it handled quite well, pretty firm and for a large estate it could be thrown around a bit. Did they change the suspension much in that time?

It was the D5 too, went like stink!

It's not bad as such it's just the steering rack is a little slow it doesn't dart about the place. My previous car was an Alfa 156 SW (a load of sheet by the way) that had somethiung like 2 turns lock to lock. That changed direction very nicely. The volvo feels like a lot more than that.

But....it's not meant to be a sporty car....not the SE spec D5 anyway. Never driven a T5(R).

[Tunku]

I'm glad this thread came up. I used to run old Volvs, 240, 740, then had economise so ran French diesel things (shudder). I'm wanting the waftiness back in my life, plus something that will tow a boat and a caravan (not necessarily at the same time ). The V70 seems to be the modern equivalent, and I must admit I like the sound of the 5 cylinder engine. Has to be petrol and manual for me. I'm not keen on diesel or automatic.
I've only got about £5000 to play with so I'm a bit limited, but I'll wait till a good one comes up.

[GreatGranny]

Tunku said:

I'm glad this thread came up. I used to run old Volvs, 240, 740, then had economise so ran French diesel things (shudder). I'm wanting the waftiness back in my life, plus something that will tow a boat and a caravan (not necessarily at the same time ). The V70 seems to be the modern equivalent, and I must admit I like the sound of the 5 cylinder engine. Has to be petrol and manual for me. I'm not keen on diesel or automatic.
I've only got about £5000 to play with so I'm a bit limited, but I'll wait till a good one comes up.

I still prefer a S1 to the S2 and you can get very good one for less than £3k.

[demondan]

I had a T5 V70 02 fantastic car. However the ETM went on it and Volvo were rubbish about replacing it and it ended up costing me over £500 to replace. It was a known fault and there was a class action lawsuit in the US and a few years later it was on watchdog as well. That said it's one of the best cars I've owned!! The only other problem I had was it went through front tyres like nobody's business...
My family motor at present is the XC90 but I get it serviced privately.