My Volvo S60 D4 R-Design Lux Nav
Discussion
Welcome to my thread about my 2013 Volvo S60 D4 R-Design Lux Nav. 
I have been meaning to write a thread about my car for a while and now that it is this time of year where nobody knows what day it is, let alone what time it is, I feel I’ve got the time to scribble my thoughts out.
My previous car was a 2010 Volvo C30 2.0d SE but after eighteen months, twelve breakdowns and nearly 40,000 miles, I’d had enough of it. I had got bored of picking up different rental cars (mostly often a Renault Captur). It meant that my C30 was a car I wanted to like but it was a car that I did not bond with. I liked the idea of a Volvo though, so didn’t discount the brand. I considered a BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics, a Skoda Octavia vRS and the Volvo S60 D4.
I eventually discounted the BMW & Skoda which left the Volvo S60 D4. I looked into the post-facelift cars but I preferred the front end of the pre-facelift examples. I preferred the instrument cluster on the pre-facelift examples as well; the new one looks cheap in my opinion. So with the facelift starting on ‘63’ plates, I had my search fixed on late, pre-facelift example; cue the blue example you see here!
Yes, the car is brilliant. I wondered how my thoughts on another Volvo would fare after my initial experience with the C30 but I am pleased to report that it is great. I’ve driven 13,500 miles since June and I have enjoyed every mile. It’s been nice and refined, doesn’t feel wide (although that is one thing that passengers comment on) and has the torque to make mile munching effortless. It’s averaging 50mpg which I am very happy with and on two different trips to London, it averaged an impressive 68mpg. I wasn’t trying to drive economically.
Being 23 when I bought it (now 24) I occasionally get comments about being an old man and they ask whether a National Trust membership was included with the purchase but that doesn’t bother me.
The cup holder. I’m a regular at Starbucks and when you change to 4th, there is a big chance you’ll knock the cup. It sounds petty but is annoying when you see it; the sat-nav update cost is annoying. I’ve downloaded the FREE update but although the car recognises the updated maps, it asks for a code which is a visit to the dealer and a cost of £70. Once you’ve paid that £70.00, all future updates to the sat-nav are free but I haven’t bitten the £70 bullet yet.
My biggest annoyance is the dealership network. I am constantly disappointed with the dealerships nearby and my expectations are getting lower and lower. I had been a regular at my dealership because of my multiple breakdowns with my last car that I owned but I had hoped to become a less frequent visitor now that I’ve gotten this S60. If it was just the routine service every six months, that would be OK. However, just a few weeks after my most recent service, I had the alternator making a noise so immediately took it to the dealer who diagnosed a total of £900.00 worth of work and labour to resolve the issue. The likely cause was a hose which hadn’t been secured at that most recent service. That was a bill I hadn’t expected.
£2.00 - OEM Clip from Volvo (July 2018)
I was heading to a meeting, the car was dirty and I could spare five minutes for a £5.00 wash. That was a mistake as not only did they induce a few scratches, the pressure washer broke a clip on the windscreen trim. I questioned it and the gentleman denied damaging it and ushered me to the drying area.
No problems though as a quick trip to the dealership, the clip was bought and installed within a few seconds.
£250.00 - Routine Service (September 2018)
My car was given a complimentary service by the dealership when I bought it but with the miles increasing, I thought I’d get a service completed by a Volvo dealer. That way, I know that OE Volvo parts are being used, get the stamp in the book, a courtesy car and last but not least, twelve months of Volvo Assist which, with my history of Volvo breakdowns is quite reassuring. The service is reasonable cost, comparative to an local independent. Here’s the loan car!
£900.00 - Repair following a Routine Service. (October 2018)
This was a repair or expense I hadn’t anticipated. As noted earlier in the (ever increasing) post, my alternator started to make a noise, the cause of which is thought to have been oil which had dripped into it from a loose hose that had not been tightened up at the last service, less than a month prior. The parts I had to replace are the alternator, drive belt, oil filter and housing. No photos, I didn’t receive a loan car either for the week that the S60 was out of action.
I must point out that while I do not query the assessment from the technician and/or the work carried out, I feel that there shouldn’t have been anything to diagnose in the first place if the correct care had been taken at the service. I did receive a 10% discount because I am a member of the Volvo Owners Club.
£405.00 - 4x Michelin Pilot Sport 4’s (December 2018)
With winter approaching/already here and tyres that were wearing away with each mile that passed, I saw that Costco had the tyres I liked at a reasonable price. I had to wait approximately forty minutes before they started on my car but the customer service was good and gave me an excuse to bulk buy things I had not considered buying until I saw them. The tyres are filled with nitrogen so the dust caps are now green which supposedly identifies nitrogen filled tyres.
That brings us nicely to the present day, I’ll continue to update the thread with any experience, expense or modification that I do to this. Thank you for reading my thread about a blue diesel saloon.
I have been meaning to write a thread about my car for a while and now that it is this time of year where nobody knows what day it is, let alone what time it is, I feel I’ve got the time to scribble my thoughts out.
My previous car was a 2010 Volvo C30 2.0d SE but after eighteen months, twelve breakdowns and nearly 40,000 miles, I’d had enough of it. I had got bored of picking up different rental cars (mostly often a Renault Captur). It meant that my C30 was a car I wanted to like but it was a car that I did not bond with. I liked the idea of a Volvo though, so didn’t discount the brand. I considered a BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics, a Skoda Octavia vRS and the Volvo S60 D4.
I eventually discounted the BMW & Skoda which left the Volvo S60 D4. I looked into the post-facelift cars but I preferred the front end of the pre-facelift examples. I preferred the instrument cluster on the pre-facelift examples as well; the new one looks cheap in my opinion. So with the facelift starting on ‘63’ plates, I had my search fixed on late, pre-facelift example; cue the blue example you see here!
Initial Impressions!
Yes, the car is brilliant. I wondered how my thoughts on another Volvo would fare after my initial experience with the C30 but I am pleased to report that it is great. I’ve driven 13,500 miles since June and I have enjoyed every mile. It’s been nice and refined, doesn’t feel wide (although that is one thing that passengers comment on) and has the torque to make mile munching effortless. It’s averaging 50mpg which I am very happy with and on two different trips to London, it averaged an impressive 68mpg. I wasn’t trying to drive economically.
Being 23 when I bought it (now 24) I occasionally get comments about being an old man and they ask whether a National Trust membership was included with the purchase but that doesn’t bother me.
What I dislike!
The cup holder. I’m a regular at Starbucks and when you change to 4th, there is a big chance you’ll knock the cup. It sounds petty but is annoying when you see it; the sat-nav update cost is annoying. I’ve downloaded the FREE update but although the car recognises the updated maps, it asks for a code which is a visit to the dealer and a cost of £70. Once you’ve paid that £70.00, all future updates to the sat-nav are free but I haven’t bitten the £70 bullet yet.
My biggest annoyance is the dealership network. I am constantly disappointed with the dealerships nearby and my expectations are getting lower and lower. I had been a regular at my dealership because of my multiple breakdowns with my last car that I owned but I had hoped to become a less frequent visitor now that I’ve gotten this S60. If it was just the routine service every six months, that would be OK. However, just a few weeks after my most recent service, I had the alternator making a noise so immediately took it to the dealer who diagnosed a total of £900.00 worth of work and labour to resolve the issue. The likely cause was a hose which hadn’t been secured at that most recent service. That was a bill I hadn’t expected.
Costs?
£2.00 - OEM Clip from Volvo (July 2018)
I was heading to a meeting, the car was dirty and I could spare five minutes for a £5.00 wash. That was a mistake as not only did they induce a few scratches, the pressure washer broke a clip on the windscreen trim. I questioned it and the gentleman denied damaging it and ushered me to the drying area.
No problems though as a quick trip to the dealership, the clip was bought and installed within a few seconds.
£250.00 - Routine Service (September 2018)
My car was given a complimentary service by the dealership when I bought it but with the miles increasing, I thought I’d get a service completed by a Volvo dealer. That way, I know that OE Volvo parts are being used, get the stamp in the book, a courtesy car and last but not least, twelve months of Volvo Assist which, with my history of Volvo breakdowns is quite reassuring. The service is reasonable cost, comparative to an local independent. Here’s the loan car!
£900.00 - Repair following a Routine Service. (October 2018)
This was a repair or expense I hadn’t anticipated. As noted earlier in the (ever increasing) post, my alternator started to make a noise, the cause of which is thought to have been oil which had dripped into it from a loose hose that had not been tightened up at the last service, less than a month prior. The parts I had to replace are the alternator, drive belt, oil filter and housing. No photos, I didn’t receive a loan car either for the week that the S60 was out of action.
I must point out that while I do not query the assessment from the technician and/or the work carried out, I feel that there shouldn’t have been anything to diagnose in the first place if the correct care had been taken at the service. I did receive a 10% discount because I am a member of the Volvo Owners Club.
£405.00 - 4x Michelin Pilot Sport 4’s (December 2018)
With winter approaching/already here and tyres that were wearing away with each mile that passed, I saw that Costco had the tyres I liked at a reasonable price. I had to wait approximately forty minutes before they started on my car but the customer service was good and gave me an excuse to bulk buy things I had not considered buying until I saw them. The tyres are filled with nitrogen so the dust caps are now green which supposedly identifies nitrogen filled tyres.
That brings us nicely to the present day, I’ll continue to update the thread with any experience, expense or modification that I do to this. Thank you for reading my thread about a blue diesel saloon.
Agree with all of that from owning a V60 D3 for a few years. In the end I couldn't get on with the manual box, it would either bog down or you'd disappear up the road in a cloud of clutch smoke, I just couldn't get the hang of it. If it was an auto I'd probably still have it.
Volvo dealers useless but the service is the cheapest around and worth it for the breakdown cover alone. Gloucester dealer didn't spot a huge chunk missing out of a rear tyre, wires cords and all, during a service.
Cup holder is utter rubbish, it may as well not be there. Has the handbrake button driven you insane yet?
Ours was a SE with adjustable suspension. How do you find the r-design ride?
Volvo dealers useless but the service is the cheapest around and worth it for the breakdown cover alone. Gloucester dealer didn't spot a huge chunk missing out of a rear tyre, wires cords and all, during a service.
Cup holder is utter rubbish, it may as well not be there. Has the handbrake button driven you insane yet?
Ours was a SE with adjustable suspension. How do you find the r-design ride?
Nice car. I went from a C30 R Design 2.0 petrol to a V40 Cross Country Lux Nav D3 almost a year ago. I loved the C30, but the stiff suspension and low seating position got too much for my aging bones 
Did you buy your car from a Volvo dealer, as they should have done the nav software upgrade when you got it ? Otherwise, I'd try asking if they could do it as a freebie or reduced rate at the next service. The older nav system is not quite as often updated as the later ones, but definately worth getting done.
Did you buy your car from a Volvo dealer, as they should have done the nav software upgrade when you got it ? Otherwise, I'd try asking if they could do it as a freebie or reduced rate at the next service. The older nav system is not quite as often updated as the later ones, but definately worth getting done.
agent006 said:
Agree with all of that from owning a V60 D3 for a few years. In the end I couldn't get on with the manual box, it would either bog down or you'd disappear up the road in a cloud of clutch smoke, I just couldn't get the hang of it. If it was an auto I'd probably still have it.
Volvo dealers useless but the service is the cheapest around and worth it for the breakdown cover alone. Gloucester dealer didn't spot a huge chunk missing out of a rear tyre, wires cords and all, during a service.
Cup holder is utter rubbish, it may as well not be there. Has the handbrake button driven you insane yet?
Ours was a SE with adjustable suspension. How do you find the r-design ride?
The ride is firm but isn’t uncomfortable; the handbrake doesn’t bother me but it only took a few miles to get used to it.Volvo dealers useless but the service is the cheapest around and worth it for the breakdown cover alone. Gloucester dealer didn't spot a huge chunk missing out of a rear tyre, wires cords and all, during a service.
Cup holder is utter rubbish, it may as well not be there. Has the handbrake button driven you insane yet?
Ours was a SE with adjustable suspension. How do you find the r-design ride?
Chris200 said:
Nice write up but I do have to ask, why the heck did you have to pay £900??
The issue was caused by the dealership at the service so they should have footed the bill and not made you pay for their mistake....or is there more too it than that?
Nope, nothing more to it; the technician who diagnosed the issue said that it was most likely caused by the service which had been completed a few weeks prior; he then retracted those comments when I informed him that the service had been completed by the same dealership network (different location). His verdict was less certain after that, he said that anything could’ve happened in the few weeks between the service and the issue developing.The issue was caused by the dealership at the service so they should have footed the bill and not made you pay for their mistake....or is there more too it than that?
I think that the dealership could have done more and I believe that I have paid to rectify somebody’s mistake but it evidences why my expectations of this dealership network isn’t very high.
Grahamdub said:
Nice car. I went from a C30 R Design 2.0 petrol to a V40 Cross Country Lux Nav D3 almost a year ago. I loved the C30, but the stiff suspension and low seating position got too much for my aging bones
Did you buy your car from a Volvo dealer, as they should have done the nav software upgrade when you got it ? Otherwise, I'd try asking if they could do it as a freebie or reduced rate at the next service. The older nav system is not quite as often updated as the later ones, but definately worth getting done.
I bought it from an independent garage called Witham Garage in Melton Mowbray. I wouldn’t expect them to update it. I bought the USB stick and downloaded the maps to see if the previous owner had already paid the fee but he hadn’t.Did you buy your car from a Volvo dealer, as they should have done the nav software upgrade when you got it ? Otherwise, I'd try asking if they could do it as a freebie or reduced rate at the next service. The older nav system is not quite as often updated as the later ones, but definately worth getting done.
bungz said:
If the alt failed from a leak then no way in hell would I be paying for that edit: after a service.
Again, while I agree with you in principle, the dealership disappoint on a regular basis.Edited by bungz on Tuesday 1st January 14:25
The dealers are a very mixed bag. My local one is happy to sell you a car and then bombard you with letters trying to sell you another one, but after sales service is dire.
My current Volvo was purchased from a dealer 80 miles away, and while the sale was ok, the handover was attrotious. So much so that after a lengthy email they collected the car, leaving a new XC60 as a loan car, and rectified all the issues I had, together with a couple of upgrades.
My dealings with Volvo customer services have been good though. They have answered any queries I have had and even gave me a list of the options my car had when new.
My current Volvo was purchased from a dealer 80 miles away, and while the sale was ok, the handover was attrotious. So much so that after a lengthy email they collected the car, leaving a new XC60 as a loan car, and rectified all the issues I had, together with a couple of upgrades.
My dealings with Volvo customer services have been good though. They have answered any queries I have had and even gave me a list of the options my car had when new.
agent006 said:
Volvo don't seem to realise that this is one of the things that's holding them back from being a proper 'big 3' competitor. As an owner coming from BMW the volvo sales and service experience is woeful.
I agree, Volvo produce nice cars but the care and dealers let them down. A family member drives a BMW and they have no problems.bungz said:
900 for a alternator is eye watering as well!
This is the last run of the 5 cylinder jobs? I find the D4/D5 stuff confusing.
More pictures please
I own the 2.0 5cyl which produces 177bhp and 400Nm of torque; this link explains it in greater detail.This is the last run of the 5 cylinder jobs? I find the D4/D5 stuff confusing.
More pictures please
I’ve had to use some of my remaining annual leave so I thought I’d give anybody that is still interested in this car an long overdue update.
£30.00 - Volvo Owners Club Membership (January 2019)
It was time to renew my annual membership for the Volvo Owners Club. It’s a no brainier, it is great value for money. I get 10% off every dealership visit, magazines and event information.
£8.00 - 4x Volvo Clips (January 2019)
I noticed that three of four clips (which secure the engine cover) had gone for a walk. I’m sure that I had four clips when I bought it and the three that’d gone were probably popped off at the service. Anyway, it isn’t a huge deal so ordered 4x clips which arrived a day later.
£350.00 - 1x OE Top Mount + 1x OE Driveshaft + Labour + Vauxhall Mokka 8hr Rental (February 2019)
All was well until driving home from my the airport after a holiday. I noticed a slight grinding noise coming from the suspension. I took it to a local and a respected mechanic who confirmed it was a top mount that has dried out. I bought an OE Volvo top mount and he fitted it. When fitting that top mount, he noticed the drivers side driveshaft was from a Ford Focus. It was investigated to see why it’d have that and apparently it is a common part to put in as it is £50/60 cheaper than the official Volvo part. I looked into the specifications of the two so I could establish the differences, only for my curiosity. I found that the Ford Focus driveshaft is 1cm shorter than a driveshaft that should be fitted. I’m pleased he noticed it but it meant that the car would be out of action for another day while we waited for a Volvo driveshaft to arrive. That meant a rental was needed.
Most rental places have a minimum age of 25 but being 24, the only option is Arnold Clark who do rentals for 23/24 year olds provided you pay a premium. £70.00 for an Astra. It was a joy to hear that there were not any Astra’s available and I would receive a free upgrade but that joy diminished when they showed me this;
Disclaimer: I wasn’t a fan of the Mokka X but it was better than any Renault Captur that I have driven before. 30mpg wasn’t brilliant.
£400.00 - Bodywork Repair + Rental Car (March 2019)
One day at work, I saw this (see below) on the passenger rear door shut. I went to my local Volvo dealership who advised me to go to their bodywork place to get a quote. I went to a few places for a quote and liked one of the companies because they explained how they’d do it, told me how long I am going to be without a car and they had previous experience of working with McLaren’s / Range Rovers etc. The quote was reasonable so this goes in on Monday 8th April 2019 to have this work done.
£65.00 - Halfords & ATS Tyre (March 2019)
The only other thing that it has asked for is some fluids, a 0.5l of oil and a splash of coolant. While I was at Halfords, I treated it to some new wipers. I’d nipped to ATS to get the nitrogen tyre pressures checked as I’d driven past when going to get the fluids. ATS charged £5.
#VOLVO600 World Record Attempt - Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome
A benefit of being part of the club is being made aware of events such as the #VOLVO600 which was a world record attempt for Volvo. I believe the number exceeded all expectations and well over 1500 Volvo’s had turned up. I didn’t know what to expect but from cruising with a pack of approximately 40 Volvo’s down the motorway to seeing the efforts that various people had gone to and just the general atmosphere, it was a great day. My car got a photo from the photographer on the track. I’ve got some mates who have Volvo’s so we cruised down after a meet up at J28, M1.
While it has thrown up some unexpected bills and will have more expense spared on it in the next few months, I’m still a fan of the car and I feel that dealership attitude hasn’t improved, the parts prices aren’t unreasonable. Being a Volvo Owners Club member to receive 10% discounts is beneficial.
£30.00 - Volvo Owners Club Membership (January 2019)
It was time to renew my annual membership for the Volvo Owners Club. It’s a no brainier, it is great value for money. I get 10% off every dealership visit, magazines and event information.
£8.00 - 4x Volvo Clips (January 2019)
I noticed that three of four clips (which secure the engine cover) had gone for a walk. I’m sure that I had four clips when I bought it and the three that’d gone were probably popped off at the service. Anyway, it isn’t a huge deal so ordered 4x clips which arrived a day later.
£350.00 - 1x OE Top Mount + 1x OE Driveshaft + Labour + Vauxhall Mokka 8hr Rental (February 2019)
All was well until driving home from my the airport after a holiday. I noticed a slight grinding noise coming from the suspension. I took it to a local and a respected mechanic who confirmed it was a top mount that has dried out. I bought an OE Volvo top mount and he fitted it. When fitting that top mount, he noticed the drivers side driveshaft was from a Ford Focus. It was investigated to see why it’d have that and apparently it is a common part to put in as it is £50/60 cheaper than the official Volvo part. I looked into the specifications of the two so I could establish the differences, only for my curiosity. I found that the Ford Focus driveshaft is 1cm shorter than a driveshaft that should be fitted. I’m pleased he noticed it but it meant that the car would be out of action for another day while we waited for a Volvo driveshaft to arrive. That meant a rental was needed.
Most rental places have a minimum age of 25 but being 24, the only option is Arnold Clark who do rentals for 23/24 year olds provided you pay a premium. £70.00 for an Astra. It was a joy to hear that there were not any Astra’s available and I would receive a free upgrade but that joy diminished when they showed me this;
Disclaimer: I wasn’t a fan of the Mokka X but it was better than any Renault Captur that I have driven before. 30mpg wasn’t brilliant.
£400.00 - Bodywork Repair + Rental Car (March 2019)
One day at work, I saw this (see below) on the passenger rear door shut. I went to my local Volvo dealership who advised me to go to their bodywork place to get a quote. I went to a few places for a quote and liked one of the companies because they explained how they’d do it, told me how long I am going to be without a car and they had previous experience of working with McLaren’s / Range Rovers etc. The quote was reasonable so this goes in on Monday 8th April 2019 to have this work done.
£65.00 - Halfords & ATS Tyre (March 2019)
The only other thing that it has asked for is some fluids, a 0.5l of oil and a splash of coolant. While I was at Halfords, I treated it to some new wipers. I’d nipped to ATS to get the nitrogen tyre pressures checked as I’d driven past when going to get the fluids. ATS charged £5.
#VOLVO600 World Record Attempt - Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome
A benefit of being part of the club is being made aware of events such as the #VOLVO600 which was a world record attempt for Volvo. I believe the number exceeded all expectations and well over 1500 Volvo’s had turned up. I didn’t know what to expect but from cruising with a pack of approximately 40 Volvo’s down the motorway to seeing the efforts that various people had gone to and just the general atmosphere, it was a great day. My car got a photo from the photographer on the track. I’ve got some mates who have Volvo’s so we cruised down after a meet up at J28, M1.
While it has thrown up some unexpected bills and will have more expense spared on it in the next few months, I’m still a fan of the car and I feel that dealership attitude hasn’t improved, the parts prices aren’t unreasonable. Being a Volvo Owners Club member to receive 10% discounts is beneficial.
Edited by TorqueR on Sunday 7th April 19:47
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff