Volvo xc90 - are these problems big?
Discussion
Hi,
I wonder if there are any of you out there with big Volvo experience?
Just looked at a 2008 xc90, Manual d5, 140k miles. Lower end of the price scale for this year but drove pretty well. Just a few things I'm concerned about and wonder if you could help?
1. Black, watery fluid - could be oil and water - underneath tray under engine. Looks fairly dry on top.
2. oil around a seal to left of engine when looking into bay. It is a square housing that has a big pipe coming out of it, I think into the intercooler.
3. Intercooler looks a bit rusty, pitted and past its best.
4. Underneath has lots of surface rust.
5. Boomy engine at idle. A bit vibey but smooths up when gets going. Did miss a beat once, a brief hiccup, but could have been my driving.
6. Steering wheel off centre. Drive in straight line though. Are they a bit wobbly during sudden wheel turns?
Are any if these deal breakers? Would be great to have some feedback.
Cheers,
Sam
I wonder if there are any of you out there with big Volvo experience?
Just looked at a 2008 xc90, Manual d5, 140k miles. Lower end of the price scale for this year but drove pretty well. Just a few things I'm concerned about and wonder if you could help?
1. Black, watery fluid - could be oil and water - underneath tray under engine. Looks fairly dry on top.
2. oil around a seal to left of engine when looking into bay. It is a square housing that has a big pipe coming out of it, I think into the intercooler.
3. Intercooler looks a bit rusty, pitted and past its best.
4. Underneath has lots of surface rust.
5. Boomy engine at idle. A bit vibey but smooths up when gets going. Did miss a beat once, a brief hiccup, but could have been my driving.
6. Steering wheel off centre. Drive in straight line though. Are they a bit wobbly during sudden wheel turns?
Are any if these deal breakers? Would be great to have some feedback.
Cheers,
Sam
How much? My wife would love one of these but the sub £10k budget we had took us to some pretty ropey ones so we took on an people carrier instead, do miss Volvos though the build quality is very good.
I'd say if you can get it at a price that leaves you a couple of grand in reserve then perhaps it's worth a punt. You can always steam clean it and flog it on.
I'd say if you can get it at a price that leaves you a couple of grand in reserve then perhaps it's worth a punt. You can always steam clean it and flog it on.
£9k is steep, these fellas have one at £9.5k and it's only done 70,000 and they're a very good indie dealer and garage, I'm not advertising for them just saying like.
http://www.cornergaragevolvo.com/products
http://www.cornergaragevolvo.com/products
That seems very expensive for 140k on the clock. Personally, I'd be going on condition rather than age. We looked at 3 last weekend, '54/'55 plates for around the £6k mark. 2 were ropey......the 3rd was very nice, but had the aircon blowing hot on the coldest setting, so we walked.
I think it's just a case of finding a good one!
I think it's just a case of finding a good one!
Twin Turbo said:
That seems very expensive for 140k on the clock. Personally, I'd be going on condition rather than age. We looked at 3 last weekend, '54/'55 plates for around the £6k mark. 2 were ropey......the 3rd was very nice, but had the aircon blowing hot on the coldest setting, so we walked.
I think it's just a case of finding a good one!
The aircon issue is common on all 05 model year S60/V70/XC90 - there is a software upgrade available from Volvo for about £60 fitted which usually fixes it. Basically, the climate module gets confused where the damper motor is and needs new software downloaded to calibrate its self again - it usually manifests its self as going from hot to cold and back again endlessly.I think it's just a case of finding a good one!
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/xc90-20...
gives you a useful rundown on what to watch for and spec for each year etc.
gives you a useful rundown on what to watch for and spec for each year etc.
Thanks, interesting reading.
If I mention the positives, does that change things?
Trade sale with warranty, one owner from new, fully stamped book from same Volvo main dealer, last service 3k ago including cambelt and boost pipe. No receipts though so they are just stamps in a book.
Oil would probably be sorted by new intercooler. That's 500 quidish so a fair amount.
If I mention the positives, does that change things?
Trade sale with warranty, one owner from new, fully stamped book from same Volvo main dealer, last service 3k ago including cambelt and boost pipe. No receipts though so they are just stamps in a book.
Oil would probably be sorted by new intercooler. That's 500 quidish so a fair amount.
If the car is from a dealer you should try and get him to sort out some of these issues before you agree to buy it surely. As others have already said there are other XC90s out there. Dont get hung up about this one if you cant get it in good order...its not 500 quid after all it should be in good order. These are not especially rare so there will be another along that suits if this one doesnt. In my experience the better one always gets advertised just after I get mine!
I have not had an XC90 but have had the 163bhp and 185bhp in S60s, the 185 is actually less economical,not as smooth and has some pain in the ass things that go wrong more often.Buy on the condition of the car not the bhp of the engine which you will probably not even notice ten minutes down the road.
I have not had an XC90 but have had the 163bhp and 185bhp in S60s, the 185 is actually less economical,not as smooth and has some pain in the ass things that go wrong more often.Buy on the condition of the car not the bhp of the engine which you will probably not even notice ten minutes down the road.
Ok, it still doesn't look good I suppose.
The trouble is, manuals are quite rare and it must be manual. Within reasonable distance of surrey too.Engine shout a good one as the 163 would probably be fine. The 185 didn't exactly pull my face off.
I believe Volvo sorted out the awd issues after 06 which is why I was looking at later ones.
The trouble is, manuals are quite rare and it must be manual. Within reasonable distance of surrey too.Engine shout a good one as the 163 would probably be fine. The 185 didn't exactly pull my face off.
I believe Volvo sorted out the awd issues after 06 which is why I was looking at later ones.
I just don't understand this. You're potentially buying a car that's going to cost you several thousand pounds to rectify faults that are already either present or showing signs of being present...all to save circa £200 a year on VED. That's f
king lunacy if you ask me. If all the problems cost you £2k to resolve, that's 10 years of the difference of VED. £480pa isn't that much anyway.
king lunacy if you ask me. If all the problems cost you £2k to resolve, that's 10 years of the difference of VED. £480pa isn't that much anyway.The Moose said:
I just don't understand this. You're potentially buying a car that's going to cost you several thousand pounds to rectify faults that are already either present or showing signs of being present...all to save circa £200 a year on VED. That's fking lunacy if you ask me. If all the problems cost you £2k to resolve, that's 10 years of the difference of VED. £480pa isn't that much anyway.
I was just about to post the exact same thing. king lunacy if you ask me. If all the problems cost you £2k to resolve, that's 10 years of the difference of VED. £480pa isn't that much anyway.
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