Buying 2nd hand Volvo XC90 ‘approved used’
Discussion
Hi guys, I would be very grateful for your wisdom please. Keen to buy a used Volvo and have reserved it before then asking some questions around service history.
Have received the below from the sales manager and the attached images showing the history. I’m put off by a chequered record and can’t see why someone would not have had servicing done every year. Am I being overly cautious? 29k which feels a lot of money to have any doubts!
The car was first registered on 29 April 2019 and has had one previous owner. You would be the second registered keeper.
Full service records are attached for your reference. The vehicle has been sold and maintained by Volvo Cars West London since new.
The third service, originally due in June 2022, was unfortunately missed by the previous owner. However, it has had a full Volvo main dealer service history otherwise, with the last service carried out in February 2023. It is now due its fifth service, which we will complete before releasing the car.
As part of our preparation, the car will go through a multi-point mechanical and safety inspection, a fresh MOT with no advisories, and a general valet.
Any issues raised in the previous MOT will be resolved to meet Volvo Selekt standards, which the car must meet to qualify for the 12-month nationwide Volvo warranty.
Have received the below from the sales manager and the attached images showing the history. I’m put off by a chequered record and can’t see why someone would not have had servicing done every year. Am I being overly cautious? 29k which feels a lot of money to have any doubts!
The car was first registered on 29 April 2019 and has had one previous owner. You would be the second registered keeper.
Full service records are attached for your reference. The vehicle has been sold and maintained by Volvo Cars West London since new.
The third service, originally due in June 2022, was unfortunately missed by the previous owner. However, it has had a full Volvo main dealer service history otherwise, with the last service carried out in February 2023. It is now due its fifth service, which we will complete before releasing the car.
As part of our preparation, the car will go through a multi-point mechanical and safety inspection, a fresh MOT with no advisories, and a general valet.
Any issues raised in the previous MOT will be resolved to meet Volvo Selekt standards, which the car must meet to qualify for the 12-month nationwide Volvo warranty.
Well, its a car with a partial service history, as such it affects the value compared to one with full service history. Whether it actually affects the car, I'd say no, because its had a subsequent service which will have "caught up" in any meaningful technical way.
You need to use a proper quality resource (such as CAP HPI) to determine the retail value of the car (that particular car, with its model/trim/colour/engine) and then make some kind of adjustment for a missing service, to know its true value and whether its worth proceeding.
Obviously if you negotiate £1000 off, and then later when you come to sell it, the buyer takes (say) £1000 off for the partial service history, you're no worse off. The longer you keep the car, the less of a price differential a missing service would make. Most 10-12 year old cars don't have full service history any more, for example.
You need to use a proper quality resource (such as CAP HPI) to determine the retail value of the car (that particular car, with its model/trim/colour/engine) and then make some kind of adjustment for a missing service, to know its true value and whether its worth proceeding.
Obviously if you negotiate £1000 off, and then later when you come to sell it, the buyer takes (say) £1000 off for the partial service history, you're no worse off. The longer you keep the car, the less of a price differential a missing service would make. Most 10-12 year old cars don't have full service history any more, for example.
There are two questions with a gap in service history - will it compromise the car, and will it compromise any warranty.
On the latter front, it's 6yo so out of original warranty, and being sold as approved used it'll come with 12 months from Volvo either way. My only question might be what drivetrain it is, if it's the hybrid would the 8 year hybrid battery warranty be affected? I guess not but if relevant might be worth getting that in writing from the dealer.
On the mechanical side, it was within mileage, just 8 months late in time. So it would be relatively less of a concern to me, if Volvo are happy for it to do up to 18k miles between services and it's been serviced after 11k, the fact that those miles were done over 20 months rather than 12 feels relatively less significant.
FWIW I bought a low mileage car with similar gaps in service history and it was fine.
Ultimately it's also a question of how easy it would be to find another, is it a particularly attractive spec or deal? If so I'd be inclined to accept the gap in the history, I think. OTOH if you can easily find another as good, with full history, then may as well do so.
On the latter front, it's 6yo so out of original warranty, and being sold as approved used it'll come with 12 months from Volvo either way. My only question might be what drivetrain it is, if it's the hybrid would the 8 year hybrid battery warranty be affected? I guess not but if relevant might be worth getting that in writing from the dealer.
On the mechanical side, it was within mileage, just 8 months late in time. So it would be relatively less of a concern to me, if Volvo are happy for it to do up to 18k miles between services and it's been serviced after 11k, the fact that those miles were done over 20 months rather than 12 feels relatively less significant.
FWIW I bought a low mileage car with similar gaps in service history and it was fine.
Ultimately it's also a question of how easy it would be to find another, is it a particularly attractive spec or deal? If so I'd be inclined to accept the gap in the history, I think. OTOH if you can easily find another as good, with full history, then may as well do so.
So missing service is really just about 8 months late but within mileage limits?
Personally, I wouldn’t be too bothered but would maybe use it as a bit of leverage to get something off or maybe an extension to the Selekt warranty (which is generally one of the better approved used warranties).
That timeline was also within the Covid era (albeit towards the end) where things went a little awry and the discrepancy may be a result of that
If it’s a good car otherwise I’d go for it!
Personally, I wouldn’t be too bothered but would maybe use it as a bit of leverage to get something off or maybe an extension to the Selekt warranty (which is generally one of the better approved used warranties).
That timeline was also within the Covid era (albeit towards the end) where things went a little awry and the discrepancy may be a result of that
If it’s a good car otherwise I’d go for it!
You guys are great, thank you for coming back to me so swiftly and comprehensively.
It’s really tough to find a car within my budget at the moment and this is one of very few I’ve seen over the past months that meets requirements.
I’ll aim to use as leverage for either money off or an extension to warranty
It’s really tough to find a car within my budget at the moment and this is one of very few I’ve seen over the past months that meets requirements.
I’ll aim to use as leverage for either money off or an extension to warranty
You guys are great, thank you for coming back to me so swiftly and comprehensively.
It’s really tough to find a car within my budget at the moment and this is one of very few I’ve seen over the past months that meets requirements.
I’ll aim to use as leverage for either money off or an extension to warranty
It’s really tough to find a car within my budget at the moment and this is one of very few I’ve seen over the past months that meets requirements.
I’ll aim to use as leverage for either money off or an extension to warranty
Was the missed service a major or minor…. The major would have had a brake fluid change but otherwise its a visual check, new filters and oil…… none of which deteriorate over time as far as i’m aware.
Servicing is a joke anyway. My used XC60 covered 12k miles in the first 3 years and was serviced every 4k miles! Whats the point in that. It’s just wasting materials! Perfectly good oil just being poured away…. All designed to make money for the dealer!
If the services are within the mileage guides then i’d have no problem with a partial history!
Servicing is a joke anyway. My used XC60 covered 12k miles in the first 3 years and was serviced every 4k miles! Whats the point in that. It’s just wasting materials! Perfectly good oil just being poured away…. All designed to make money for the dealer!
If the services are within the mileage guides then i’d have no problem with a partial history!
You will need the warranty on that volvo.
Article from 2020 covering that model (2015-) shows the xc90 as most unreliable car you can buy. That's an impressively s
t statistic given it's against alfa, MG and VW. Yes, it covers cars that are 3-8 years old, but guess how old that car is now...
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-8...
Would I buy one of the most unreliable cars that might have missed services and likely not looked after by it's previous owners?
Article from 2020 covering that model (2015-) shows the xc90 as most unreliable car you can buy. That's an impressively s
t statistic given it's against alfa, MG and VW. Yes, it covers cars that are 3-8 years old, but guess how old that car is now... https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-8...
Would I buy one of the most unreliable cars that might have missed services and likely not looked after by it's previous owners?
super7 said:
Was the missed service a major or minor…. The major would have had a brake fluid change but otherwise its a visual check, new filters and oil…… none of which deteriorate over time as far as i’m aware.
Servicing is a joke anyway. My used XC60 covered 12k miles in the first 3 years and was serviced every 4k miles! Whats the point in that. It’s just wasting materials! Perfectly good oil just being poured away…. All designed to make money for the dealer!
If the services are within the mileage guides then i’d have no problem with a partial history!
Brake fluid should really be tested and changed when water content too high. I think changing it every 2yrs is a bit of a UK thing that's a handy upsell for dealers as it's usually extra to the service cost and it's rarely done properly (if at all).Servicing is a joke anyway. My used XC60 covered 12k miles in the first 3 years and was serviced every 4k miles! Whats the point in that. It’s just wasting materials! Perfectly good oil just being poured away…. All designed to make money for the dealer!
If the services are within the mileage guides then i’d have no problem with a partial history!
OTOH if the 4K miles per year your car did was all (or mainly) short journeys then the oil gets condensation in it which builds up and that turns acidic so yearly oil changes are warranted.
Thanks again guys. Very dubious rationale for the latest missed service- seller supposedly either forgot or didn’t bother with as they knew they were selling (?!)- so I have avoided and will get back to it.
Process of buying a 2nd hand car always jars me. Every time I’ve bought one I’ve thought why not just lease and have no issues with 2nd hand but I just cannot bring myself to, I just like owning.
Process of buying a 2nd hand car always jars me. Every time I’ve bought one I’ve thought why not just lease and have no issues with 2nd hand but I just cannot bring myself to, I just like owning.
Has it missed 2 services, it says last one was 2023 meaning no 2024 service?
For me the only issue is oil condition. BMW seem very happy with 24 month intervals if mileage limit not exceeded. However if it does lots of short journeys typical of say, school runs etc, then the oil degrades more quickly and I think the 'oil condition algorithm ' will request an earlier oil change.
For me the only issue is oil condition. BMW seem very happy with 24 month intervals if mileage limit not exceeded. However if it does lots of short journeys typical of say, school runs etc, then the oil degrades more quickly and I think the 'oil condition algorithm ' will request an earlier oil change.
Gville said:
Thanks again guys. Very dubious rationale for the latest missed service- seller supposedly either forgot or didn’t bother with as they knew they were selling (?!)- so I have avoided and will get back to it.
Process of buying a 2nd hand car always jars me. Every time I’ve bought one I’ve thought why not just lease and have no issues with 2nd hand but I just cannot bring myself to, I just like owning.
I'd tend to agree, one missed service can be overlooked but nothing since Feb 2023 either is a bit sub-optimal.Process of buying a 2nd hand car always jars me. Every time I’ve bought one I’ve thought why not just lease and have no issues with 2nd hand but I just cannot bring myself to, I just like owning.
Keep looking, plenty more fish in the sea.
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