V70 163 v's V70 185 - What should I look for when buying?
Discussion
Well, update time, after 7 years ownership and taking the miles from about 124k too 227k the Volvo goes on Ebay next week and will be a cheap old wagon for someone.
I have stopped driving so many miles and need to move a couple of cars on that are just sitting around now and not being used much.
I will be very sad to see the Volvo go as she has firmly got under my skin. I have no doubt she has many more miles in her left.
I have stopped driving so many miles and need to move a couple of cars on that are just sitting around now and not being used much.
I will be very sad to see the Volvo go as she has firmly got under my skin. I have no doubt she has many more miles in her left.
I must admit, I'm missing mine.
I had a tired 163bhp manual followed by an ill advised 185bhp Geartronic which lasted a mere few weeks begore i got all nostalgic and bought an 850 T5, which is lovely and great fun but doing 50 miles a day, on a motorway in crap weather... I fund myself thinking that the old diesel V70's were unbeatable for such tasks plus the general day in, day out family / lifestyle demands. In turn I also find myself browsing the classifieds regularly.
If a tidy 163bhp manual popped up in the right colour combo, I think I'd struggle to not jump back in again. Not the most dynamic of catsuit fabulous tools.
Anybody in the market for an 850?
I had a tired 163bhp manual followed by an ill advised 185bhp Geartronic which lasted a mere few weeks begore i got all nostalgic and bought an 850 T5, which is lovely and great fun but doing 50 miles a day, on a motorway in crap weather... I fund myself thinking that the old diesel V70's were unbeatable for such tasks plus the general day in, day out family / lifestyle demands. In turn I also find myself browsing the classifieds regularly.
If a tidy 163bhp manual popped up in the right colour combo, I think I'd struggle to not jump back in again. Not the most dynamic of catsuit fabulous tools.
Anybody in the market for an 850?
I am around 2 months into ownership of a V70 d5 163, previous owner liked to polish the outside, that’s about it, I still really love it though.
Currently on 155k, I plan to keep her until at least 250.
Never had a Volvo, diesel or auto before but 20 Alfa’s has made me useful with a spanner.
So far:
Made a new exhaust bracket.
HD drop links all round.
Bothe parts of tie rods and sleeves.
All filters, engine oil, gearbox sump dump.
Boost valve cleaned.
EGR pipework cleaned.
New injector seals.
Front fog light bulbs.
New vacuum pipes.
Oil filler seal
Things to do:
Handbrake cables (on the way)
Front brakes
Rocker gasket
Oil pump seal
Intercooler
Fruitier back box
Remap
Vacuum engine mounts
Currently on 155k, I plan to keep her until at least 250.
Never had a Volvo, diesel or auto before but 20 Alfa’s has made me useful with a spanner.
So far:
Made a new exhaust bracket.
HD drop links all round.
Bothe parts of tie rods and sleeves.
All filters, engine oil, gearbox sump dump.
Boost valve cleaned.
EGR pipework cleaned.
New injector seals.
Front fog light bulbs.
New vacuum pipes.
Oil filler seal
Things to do:
Handbrake cables (on the way)
Front brakes
Rocker gasket
Oil pump seal
Intercooler
Fruitier back box
Remap
Vacuum engine mounts
Sad times Roger. I’m sure you’ll find another V70 back in your life one day..
In other news mines off to Horton Cars near Thame (a well rated Indy Volvo specialist apparently..?) for a myriad of issues.
FNS is knocking, likely to be bushes.
Rear exhaust hanger has snapped - I’m hoping they can weld it as don’t really want bin a perfectly serviceable rear box.
And the rear vacuum engine mount has gone.
That’s the initial list, I know there’s more wrong with it but I’ll need to budget for the rest - I strongly suspect the hydraulic lifters are on their way out as it sounds like a skeleton w
king in a biscuit tin on cold idle. Also throws ‘Engine Service Needed’ if I press on and take it over 3k revs, which to be fair I rarely do.
Also need to budget for 2 new boots on the front.
The bills are stacking up and ideally want it tip top for the winter, but I’ll just have to take one job at a time.
In other news mines off to Horton Cars near Thame (a well rated Indy Volvo specialist apparently..?) for a myriad of issues.
FNS is knocking, likely to be bushes.
Rear exhaust hanger has snapped - I’m hoping they can weld it as don’t really want bin a perfectly serviceable rear box.
And the rear vacuum engine mount has gone.
That’s the initial list, I know there’s more wrong with it but I’ll need to budget for the rest - I strongly suspect the hydraulic lifters are on their way out as it sounds like a skeleton w
king in a biscuit tin on cold idle. Also throws ‘Engine Service Needed’ if I press on and take it over 3k revs, which to be fair I rarely do. Also need to budget for 2 new boots on the front.
The bills are stacking up and ideally want it tip top for the winter, but I’ll just have to take one job at a time.
wiliferus said:
Sad times Roger. I’m sure you’ll find another V70 back in your life one day..
In other news mines off to Horton Cars near Thame (a well rated Indy Volvo specialist apparently..?) for a myriad of issues.
FNS is knocking, likely to be bushes.
Rear exhaust hanger has snapped - I’m hoping they can weld it as don’t really want bin a perfectly serviceable rear box.
And the rear vacuum engine mount has gone.
That’s the initial list, I know there’s more wrong with it but I’ll need to budget for the rest - I strongly suspect the hydraulic lifters are on their way out as it sounds like a skeleton wking in a biscuit tin on cold idle. Also throws ‘Engine Service Needed’ if I press on and take it over 3k revs, which to be fair I rarely do.
Also need to budget for 2 new boots on the front.
The bills are stacking up and ideally want it tip top for the winter, but I’ll just have to take one job at a time.
Give my regards to Graham, and the dogs if they are there. Nice people, dogs and outfit generally.In other news mines off to Horton Cars near Thame (a well rated Indy Volvo specialist apparently..?) for a myriad of issues.
FNS is knocking, likely to be bushes.
Rear exhaust hanger has snapped - I’m hoping they can weld it as don’t really want bin a perfectly serviceable rear box.
And the rear vacuum engine mount has gone.
That’s the initial list, I know there’s more wrong with it but I’ll need to budget for the rest - I strongly suspect the hydraulic lifters are on their way out as it sounds like a skeleton w
king in a biscuit tin on cold idle. Also throws ‘Engine Service Needed’ if I press on and take it over 3k revs, which to be fair I rarely do. Also need to budget for 2 new boots on the front.
The bills are stacking up and ideally want it tip top for the winter, but I’ll just have to take one job at a time.
All sorted and thrilled with the results.
Horton fixed the knocking... top strut mounts. More importantly the rear engine mount seems to have been the cause of the ‘Engine Service Needed’ message over 3k revs. I don’t proclaim to know a huge amount about the workings of the D5 but guessing because the mount is a vacuum mount over 3k it was causing issues.
Anyhoo, bottom line is the car now drives superbly, and is much more responsive.
Happy days for me. That said I have now spent £800 on it in the last 3 months. She now owes me some loyal hassle free motoring
Horton fixed the knocking... top strut mounts. More importantly the rear engine mount seems to have been the cause of the ‘Engine Service Needed’ message over 3k revs. I don’t proclaim to know a huge amount about the workings of the D5 but guessing because the mount is a vacuum mount over 3k it was causing issues.
Anyhoo, bottom line is the car now drives superbly, and is much more responsive.
Happy days for me. That said I have now spent £800 on it in the last 3 months. She now owes me some loyal hassle free motoring
DJFish said:
Well, not being one to rush into car purchases, I’ve finally picked myself up a 2005 D5 (185) manual on 78k, I need to sort a few niggles but on the whole it’s rather nice.
That’s exceptionally low mileage for one of these at that age. Top find! I’ve always lusted after those alloys too, I think they look great and add a sporty edge to the looks.
Great choice, happy motoring!
DJFish said:
Thanks chaps,
Having had a poke around it today I’ve been quite impressed by the way these things are put together.
Having had a poke around it today I’ve been quite impressed by the way these things are put together.
We can't think of anything else to replace ours, including later Volvos. Which means that we'll run the XC70 forever, but look to add a convertible next year. Seems logical?!
S100HP said:
Having the same issue. Can't work out what to replace it with!
Snap. Factor in I have the 7 seat option and it’s an unanswerable question. I don’t like SUVs (tried the XC90 but fuel consumption was crippling), new SUVs are frankly crap. And I’d rather eat my feet than have a people carrier.
So I’ll be running the V70 until the world implodes.
wiliferus said:
S100HP said:
Having the same issue. Can't work out what to replace it with!
Snap. Factor in I have the 7 seat option and it’s an unanswerable question. I don’t like SUVs (tried the XC90 but fuel consumption was crippling), new SUVs are frankly crap. And I’d rather eat my feet than have a people carrier.
So I’ll be running the V70 until the world implodes.
With the 7 seats, is there a tailgate release on the inside of the tailgate?
I’m thinking of retrofitting if a decent 2nd hand kit turns up in the right colour.
Although I’m not sure if the extra seats are compatible with the boot mounted sub, I’m thinking about one of those instead...
I’m thinking of retrofitting if a decent 2nd hand kit turns up in the right colour.
Although I’m not sure if the extra seats are compatible with the boot mounted sub, I’m thinking about one of those instead...
Bonefish Blues said:
Did Graham give you one of his ancient loaners when you visited Horton/ Proudly emblazoned with the company script, and none of them under 200k, at least not that I've seen. He occasionally robs a part off them to stick on one of ours
Ha, yea I had a 2.4 manual petrol. Looked a bit shabby but if you closed your eyes when driving (not recommended by the way) it felt and drove like a car that had just rolled off the production line. Lovely thing. DJFish said:
With the 7 seats, is there a tailgate release on the inside of the tailgate?
I’m thinking of retrofitting if a decent 2nd hand kit turns up in the right colour.
Although I’m not sure if the extra seats are compatible with the boot mounted sub, I’m thinking about one of those instead...
Yea it does have an internal boot release. Mines a factory fit but I’m led to believe retro fitting the boot catch is actually the most awkward bit of the conversion. I’m thinking of retrofitting if a decent 2nd hand kit turns up in the right colour.
Although I’m not sure if the extra seats are compatible with the boot mounted sub, I’m thinking about one of those instead...
On a side note - does anyone have a V70 with the bi xenon bendy lights?
Now the mornings and evenings are drawing in I’ve noticed mine are pointing at the floor. Done a bit of googling which suggest some adjustment via a white screw on top of the headlight units. This has made negligible difference.
I’ve noticed mine don’t do the up and down thing when I start the car. Are they goosed? It’s both sides so I’m thinking/hoping the sensors?
If the headlights themselves are borked how easy is converting back to standard lights?
Now the mornings and evenings are drawing in I’ve noticed mine are pointing at the floor. Done a bit of googling which suggest some adjustment via a white screw on top of the headlight units. This has made negligible difference.
I’ve noticed mine don’t do the up and down thing when I start the car. Are they goosed? It’s both sides so I’m thinking/hoping the sensors?
If the headlights themselves are borked how easy is converting back to standard lights?
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