Volvo XC70 D5 - yet more comfy bargeness
Discussion
Congratulations!
Apparently the rear ARB bushes are a pig to swap the 'proper way' as it involves dismantling a lot of bits to get the arm off the car (exhaust, one of the suspension struts etc.). There are also different size ARBs to contend with, so it's easy to order the wrong parts.
This thread might be of interest: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=32...
My XC70 just went over 228k miles yesterday... barely run in (Volvo Cliché time).
Apparently the rear ARB bushes are a pig to swap the 'proper way' as it involves dismantling a lot of bits to get the arm off the car (exhaust, one of the suspension struts etc.). There are also different size ARBs to contend with, so it's easy to order the wrong parts.
This thread might be of interest: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=32...
My XC70 just went over 228k miles yesterday... barely run in (Volvo Cliché time).
Such a great thread. Currently regretting selling mine a few years back. I think I'll be getting another one in the new year, parents are moving 300 miles away so want something more suitable for the journey. Can't decide if I get a very late P2 again, or a ropey P3. I think probably the latter.
Faust66 said:
Congratulations!
Apparently the rear ARB bushes are a pig to swap the 'proper way' as it involves dismantling a lot of bits to get the arm off the car (exhaust, one of the suspension struts etc.). There are also different size ARBs to contend with, so it's easy to order the wrong parts.
This thread might be of interest: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=32...
My XC70 just went over 228k miles yesterday... barely run in (Volvo Cliché time).
Thanks Faust. Good intel on the ARB bushes - I will definitely be getting some aftermarket ones which are split, that I can slide over, rather than disassembling half the backend of the car.Apparently the rear ARB bushes are a pig to swap the 'proper way' as it involves dismantling a lot of bits to get the arm off the car (exhaust, one of the suspension struts etc.). There are also different size ARBs to contend with, so it's easy to order the wrong parts.
This thread might be of interest: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=32...
My XC70 just went over 228k miles yesterday... barely run in (Volvo Cliché time).
S100HP said:
Such a great thread. Currently regretting selling mine a few years back. I think I'll be getting another one in the new year, parents are moving 300 miles away so want something more suitable for the journey. Can't decide if I get a very late P2 again, or a ropey P3. I think probably the latter.
Glad you're enjoying - your ownership thread was inspirational to this one. I'd probably do the same now as the P2's are getting a bit long in the tooth and looking like old cars. One thing I did spot for the MOT was a split tie-rod boot, and some corrosion/wear of the balljoint underneath:
(Images after penetration spray and cracking off the nut).
Quite the discrete tear. I suspect it happened during the clutch change earlier in the year. The tie rod that came off was original, so likely to have lasted indefinitely if it wasn't for the boot failure.
I sourced a repair kit from Volvo as couldn't be bothered with the GSF/Eurocarparts lottery on what would actually turn-up. The kit comes with a boot, clips and the tie-rod itself:
And cracked-out the trusty Laser 3829 tie-rod undoer, which makes a job like this painless:
Set the new tie-rod to the same length as the old one, screwed-in and nipped up the boot clips:
All done and dusted inside an hour, including the mandatory mid-way cup of tea and tidying up. I'll recheck the tracking when I have 20mins spare.
(Images after penetration spray and cracking off the nut).
Quite the discrete tear. I suspect it happened during the clutch change earlier in the year. The tie rod that came off was original, so likely to have lasted indefinitely if it wasn't for the boot failure.
I sourced a repair kit from Volvo as couldn't be bothered with the GSF/Eurocarparts lottery on what would actually turn-up. The kit comes with a boot, clips and the tie-rod itself:
And cracked-out the trusty Laser 3829 tie-rod undoer, which makes a job like this painless:
Set the new tie-rod to the same length as the old one, screwed-in and nipped up the boot clips:
All done and dusted inside an hour, including the mandatory mid-way cup of tea and tidying up. I'll recheck the tracking when I have 20mins spare.
Hi Rob, great thread I have just read it all the way through. My dad gave me a V40 about 10 years ago. It was a good car and the load lugging ability was greatly appreciated at the time as I was moving into my first house.
Being young and into “sporty” cars I gave it a harsh time really. My mate picked me up in a xc90 on Friday and it made me really miss my Volvo and its heated seats! Funny how you appreciate things more as you get older.
Being young and into “sporty” cars I gave it a harsh time really. My mate picked me up in a xc90 on Friday and it made me really miss my Volvo and its heated seats! Funny how you appreciate things more as you get older.
klunkT5 said:
I've got to do my 2003 V70 D5 steering rack outer tie rods, Good to know theirs room to keep the track rod end in place and just wind the tie rod out of it.
Yeah I was expecting to need to break the balljoint and wind it off, but in the end plenty of room.keo said:
Hi Rob, great thread I have just read it all the way through. My dad gave me a V40 about 10 years ago. It was a good car and the load lugging ability was greatly appreciated at the time as I was moving into my first house.
Being young and into “sporty” cars I gave it a harsh time really. My mate picked me up in a xc90 on Friday and it made me really miss my Volvo and its heated seats! Funny how you appreciate things more as you get older.
I'm glad you're enjoying it and thanks for the feedback. When I don't use it for a while the first thing I notice is the distinct smell Volvo leather from this era has. Coupled with the comfy seats, great heating system and headlights, make it feel very welcoming this time of year.Being young and into “sporty” cars I gave it a harsh time really. My mate picked me up in a xc90 on Friday and it made me really miss my Volvo and its heated seats! Funny how you appreciate things more as you get older.
I rechecked the tracking on the front axle a couple of hundred miles after doing the inner tie rod. This time I went for the extremely quick Trackace method, which just gives total toe across the axle (and not the individual wheel toes the string method brings):
Just over 15' toe in:
The book figures are 12' +/- 6', so I'm just in. I've leave the tracking like this and assess tyre wear after a few thousand miles.
Just over 15' toe in:
The book figures are 12' +/- 6', so I'm just in. I've leave the tracking like this and assess tyre wear after a few thousand miles.
The mighty Ovlov continues to motor on, and has passed 4 years of ownership* and around 45k miles in our hands.
This particular bit claimed the lives of a few cars over the week or so it was flooded, most notably a newish RS6 that was abandoned in the middle of it for a while. On the same day the XC70 sailed on through.
Onwards!
- prompting me to do another annual tally of ownership costs, coming shortly.
This particular bit claimed the lives of a few cars over the week or so it was flooded, most notably a newish RS6 that was abandoned in the middle of it for a while. On the same day the XC70 sailed on through.
Onwards!
Four Years In
Another tot-up of running costs, averaged out over the period of ownership.
Picking up from January 2023...
Servicing (parts required/worn out/at end of life)
Oil and filter change £32
Clutch, flywheel, oil, slave cylinder, asso. bits and labour £1392
O/S/F trackrod end £35
Servicing (optional bits; could've left if just running as shed)
Some brighter headlamp bulbs £26
Car stands on 205k miles, meaning we've covered 45,000 miles in the four years of ownership.
Total over that period now rises to just over £80/month in maintenance average.
Another tot-up of running costs, averaged out over the period of ownership.
Picking up from January 2023...
TurboRob said:
Three Years In
As January passed it marked three years of having the car in the house.
Carrying on from January 2022...
Servicing (parts required/worn out/at end of life)
Oil and filter change £40
N/S/R caliper (that's all four done!) £73
Rear tyres (pair) £195
Servicing (optional bits; could've left if just running as shed)
An optional oil and filter change £40
Rear springs and shocks £179
Car stood on 194k miles in January, meaning we'd covered 34,000 miles in the three years.
Total = £60/month or 9p/mile in maintenance.
...and this year had a big spend in the name of clutch/flywheel change:As January passed it marked three years of having the car in the house.
Carrying on from January 2022...
TurboRob said:
Two Years In
All these are parts cost only as I do the work myself.
Servicing (parts required/worn out/at end of life)
2 x 'basic' services (oil changes, filters, etc) - it's about £80 a time for the bits, so £160 total.
Aux belt and tensioner, £80
Rear brakes, £90
Front brakes, £80
Rr droplinks, £40
O/S/F wheel bearing, £35
3 x brake calipers, £190
Tyres, £430
Total ~£1100
Servicing (optional bits; could've left if just running as shed)
2 x 'additional' services (oil changes, filters, etc) - it's about £80 a time for the bits, so £160 total.
Front suspension, £340
3 x engine mounts, £140
Front undertray, £45
Upgrades/tarting up, about £100
Total ~£800
Divide the above by the miles it's done in that time, or months owned, and it's cost buttons to run.
...I did another tot up of costs on the XC70. Add the below to the above for total ownership costs:All these are parts cost only as I do the work myself.
Servicing (parts required/worn out/at end of life)
2 x 'basic' services (oil changes, filters, etc) - it's about £80 a time for the bits, so £160 total.
Aux belt and tensioner, £80
Rear brakes, £90
Front brakes, £80
Rr droplinks, £40
O/S/F wheel bearing, £35
3 x brake calipers, £190
Tyres, £430
Total ~£1100
Servicing (optional bits; could've left if just running as shed)
2 x 'additional' services (oil changes, filters, etc) - it's about £80 a time for the bits, so £160 total.
Front suspension, £340
3 x engine mounts, £140
Front undertray, £45
Upgrades/tarting up, about £100
Total ~£800
Divide the above by the miles it's done in that time, or months owned, and it's cost buttons to run.
Servicing (parts required/worn out/at end of life)
Oil and filter change £40
N/S/R caliper (that's all four done!) £73
Rear tyres (pair) £195
Servicing (optional bits; could've left if just running as shed)
An optional oil and filter change £40
Rear springs and shocks £179
Car stood on 194k miles in January, meaning we'd covered 34,000 miles in the three years.
Total = £60/month or 9p/mile in maintenance.
Servicing (parts required/worn out/at end of life)
Oil and filter change £32
Clutch, flywheel, oil, slave cylinder, asso. bits and labour £1392
O/S/F trackrod end £35
Servicing (optional bits; could've left if just running as shed)
Some brighter headlamp bulbs £26
Car stands on 205k miles, meaning we've covered 45,000 miles in the four years of ownership.
Total over that period now rises to just over £80/month in maintenance average.
Great stuff, love the maths on this and working out monthly costs over a certain period, something quite satisfying seeing it all listed out then averaged out, pretty cheap motoring I must say when you list it all, even with the big ticket items you've had done.
I am doing the same, but running a leggy Vectra C 2008 petrol, all listed in a spreadsheet (geeky or what), was more an experiment to see how cheap I can run a biggish/sheddy car for my business mileage after selling my V60 D3 that was hemorrhaging depreciation and being a pain to own tbh.
I am currently at £125 over 24 months in maintenance costs in this, with purchase price of £1000, over 25,000 miles.
Anyway sorry, I am loving your thread, as I often look at these XC's 70's or 90's and wonder if I can run one cheap enough as they are pretty reasonable to pick up.
I am doing the same, but running a leggy Vectra C 2008 petrol, all listed in a spreadsheet (geeky or what), was more an experiment to see how cheap I can run a biggish/sheddy car for my business mileage after selling my V60 D3 that was hemorrhaging depreciation and being a pain to own tbh.
I am currently at £125 over 24 months in maintenance costs in this, with purchase price of £1000, over 25,000 miles.
Anyway sorry, I am loving your thread, as I often look at these XC's 70's or 90's and wonder if I can run one cheap enough as they are pretty reasonable to pick up.
Excellent thread! Great to see the car has generally been cheap to run and easy to maintain. I've recently picked up a 2004 V70 D5 Manual to escape the PCP/Lease merry go round, 174000 miles with 1 owner and full Volvo main dealer history. Threads like this encouraged me to go down the Volvo route and i'm loving the car so far. I'll start a ownership thread soon, along with my MR2 track car. Here's to many more miles of relaxed Swedish motoring!
Nice to see this still going. I'm at £110/month in parts at the moment, so you're doing better than me despite the clutch.
Mine has done a fair share of wading recently through the area by the width restriction as it's part of our school-run. The quoted wading depth on the P3 is pretty rubbish at 30cm but with a bit of common sense, I've never come close to troubling the air intake.
Mine has done a fair share of wading recently through the area by the width restriction as it's part of our school-run. The quoted wading depth on the P3 is pretty rubbish at 30cm but with a bit of common sense, I've never come close to troubling the air intake.
Accelebrate said:
Mine has done a fair share of wading recently through the area by the width restriction as it's part of our school-run. The quoted wading depth on the P3 is pretty rubbish at 30cm but with a bit of common sense, I've never come close to troubling the air intake.
On the 2001 dealer launch event of the XC70 the water section of the off road course was about 2ft deep. I was't there on the day, but the Volvo rep in a car with my slightly dim colleague mentioned to him how deep the water was and he decided to open the door to have a look... I assume after a thorough drying out at Daventry that car eneded up on dealer's lot somewhere for a customer to buy a 'well cared for' head-office car!Anyone on the fence about getting a P2 V70/XC just do it! Get a Euro3 (Black engine cover instead of the black/grey Euro4's) No DPF or swirl flaps to worry about and the 185BHP Euro4's are thirstier on fuel, The only real rust issues on these are the front strut towers so give them a good look, Make sure it is a manual as these gearboxes are bomb proof, The Aisin warner auto boxes are gash, The valve block in them simply wears out resulting in thumping gear changes and oil flushes just put off the inevitable, For a 2.4 litre 5 cylinder engine they do great MPG and for a diesel they sound decent, The 163BHP (Nearer 170BHP as Volvo downplay the power a bit!) is perfectly punchy and torquey enough, I scored a 2003 V70 D5 manual on Ebay 4 years ago with 236K miles on it for £510 with a wad of receipts with it, Totally rust free and in great nick for it's age, The previous owner was anal about maintenance as it was his company car, Bills included Clutch, DMF, Intercooler, Rebuilt injectors etc all done by Fishers Volvo indy in Gloucester using gen Volvo parts, On the OBC mine shows 53mpg on a run and 42mpg around town so if you allow a 10% error that is still decent for a car of this size and weight, It is one of the best cars i have ever owned and it's a keeper!
Edited by klunkT5 on Friday 1st March 08:59
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