D5 how reliable???

Author
Discussion

MrB.

556 posts

185 months

Monday 22nd October 2018
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I had been looking at a V70XC (2.4 petrol) but it has now been sold, and all I seem to see are XC70 D5s now. What are these like when they have done 120/130k? Should I be steering well clear? There does seem a crossover point of earlier 163bhp cars and later 185bhp cars. What should I be looking for?

Any advice welcome.

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

197 months

Monday 22nd October 2018
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It’s been 6 years since my V70 was scrapped but from memory if they’ve been properly serviced then it should only be consumables that need replacing.
Suspension drop links
Engine top bracket
Hand brake wasn’t great in mine, they need adjusting properly but still it wasn’t amazing, not that it bothered me as I use the foot brake for hill starts.

I’ve mentioned it before, but mine had more than 180000 on the clock when it was stripped. The engine wear was negligible, it looked almost new, so don’t worry about mileage if it has a good history.

DJT

231 posts

160 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
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My 2008 V70 D5 auto is now at 134k and no issues apart from a new intercooler and EGR the other year. I would consider them consumables on a higher mileage car. If I was to replace it today, I'd buy another or the XC70.

wiliferus

4,053 posts

197 months

Tuesday 6th November 2018
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I sold my D5 to a friend. It’s currently on 139k (2005 163 facelift manual) The engine is still sweet as a nut, usual handbrake issues at the last MoT which required a complete rebuild.

I think the clutch maybe on its last legs as I drove it a few weeks back, full throttle in third up a dual carriageway slip caused a minor slip. It’s a bit of a concern as a D5 clutch is quite an expensive job (~£1k I think).


The rest of the car is solid as a rock, if I didn’t have the need for 7 seats I’d have another V70 D5 in a heartbeat.

Garett

1,622 posts

191 months

Sunday 11th November 2018
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I'll soon have a D5 back in my life after my old 163bhp euro 3 S60 got written off by an errant taxi driver last year.
I've put a deposit down on a 205bhp V70 D5, I hope it's every bit as good and surpasses my old one.

paddy27

1,742 posts

233 months

Sunday 11th November 2018
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I have a 2010 V70 d5 with the polestar remap. So it's 225bhp. It's gearteonic and it's definatly torque limited in 1st and 2nd gears.
Its on 168000 miles and has had no issues at all. Had a small oil leak and that's it.
Been in the family since new so I know it's history.
Got to be the most comfortable seats ever. Really quiet as well.
Engine sounds really nice, compared to the wife's 4pot audi diesel.
Can't believe olvo no longer make the 5pots anymore.
As someone else said, no idea what I would ever replace it with as the new v90 is so much more money.

Summit_Detailing

1,874 posts

192 months

Monday 12th November 2018
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I too will be entering Volvo ownership when I collect a 2005 V70 D5 auto this evening, is it a bit sad to be looking forward to the 2.5hr drive home?

Test drive impressions from yesterday -
The much vaunted seats are indeed immediately comfortable, lots of adjustment along with the steering wheel.

Engine a bit gruff when cold but fine once warm.
Gearbox smooth and seemed to be in the correct gear for speed / throttle input - the same can't be said of my current 5-series which sometimes feels like it doesn't know which of the 8 gears to use.

Everything inside works, not that I was expecting otherwise but sometimes a £3k car can throw a curveball.

I have read that 18" wheels spoil the ride, this car has them and yes I'm sure it would float down the road better on 17"s but I didn't pick up on the ride being crashy. I guess it depends on what you are used to and are comparing it too.

Right, time for a coffee and to order some wipers blades and a boot liner.

Chris

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Monday 12th November 2018
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Summit_Detailing said:
I too will be entering Volvo ownership when I collect a 2005 V70 D5 auto this evening, is it a bit sad to be looking forward to the 2.5hr drive home?

Chris
Not at all. I recall when I collected my first XC70 from Trowbridge. It was a bit of an accident that I went and looked at it. I wrote the below at the time.

me said:
For some time I had been perusing estate cars, mostly Saab 9-5/9-3 (HOT) and the occasional Volvo V70 T5 and waiting for one to jump out at me. I figured this would resolve the dog issue when the other half was at work along with the bike issue. Last weekend I found a Saab 9-5 for sale locally so on the Monday I decided to drive over after the other half had left for work, only to find out it was sold once I arrived.

A quick check on autotrader and ebay showed nothing else of much interest locally so I expanded my search and up popped a Volvo XC70 near Trowbridge. I wasn't in the market for an XC70, but for some reason I really liked the look of this one. Its an Ocean Race edition, which Volvo produced to commemorate Volvo sponsoring some boat race.

I sent a cheeky best offer via ebay and received an email back asking to call the guy. He was a trader and I discussed trading in the xsara plus giving him a bit of cash to strike a deal (it was about half 3 by this point). We agreed a deal, then I set off around 4pm to Trowbridge.

Its worth noting that by this point I had never even sat in a XC70, let alone driven one.

The dealer took me out for a drive from his home, and I was sold by the end of the close. The seats were like armchairs, the ride was excellent (having just spent 2hrs in the Xsara probably made this seem better than it was) and the stereo was superb. I didn't even ask to drive it. He took a quick drive in the xsara and we were good to go.

I then thoroughly enjoyed my drive home over Salisbury plain, giving myself far too much room everywhere as I got used to the size of it! My other half then found out about my latest purchase when she got home from work (I figure its easier to ask forgiveness than permission..)
The drive home sticks in my memory still. It was such a step up in quality from the xsara I'd just driven there and just felt so grown up, in a good way. It was far from dynamic, but oh so comfortable and refined with a lovely smell. Don't make the same mistake I did however. I assumed the main beam didn't work as I'd flick the switch and they'd flash on and back off. I'd not actually turned the dial for the lights to "on"

Good luck!

JVaughan

6,025 posts

282 months

Friday 16th November 2018
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Those are certainly encouraging posts ..
My company car goes back in March, so Im currently going through a shopping list of potential replacements.
So far, a D5 212 or 215bhp Phase 3 XC70 is out on top. (I love the shape of the later cars, and the D5 "bark" gets a thumbs up from my youngest too !). Im probably going to be putting around £14-16k into it, with an intention of it lasting for the next 4 years minimum