2004 Volvo S60 D5 SE. Captain Slow's cheap Swedish adventure

[Davie]

Great thread... one I keep finding myself back reading given a V70 D5 is one of those cars that keeps popping up on the radar. One day I'll have to accept that 25mpg in various T5's is going to get a bit hefty in the fueling department and if that day comes, a 163bhp V70 D5 is the car that for some reason, appeals.

[_Nathan_]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Theres a bit of a story behind the parts actually.

I just looked at the listing myself and I must say that the advert screamed knock off part to me. Amazing how these sellers manage to get so big being deceptive.

Febi part was only a few quid more, but ultimately it cost you nothing

[chammyman]

Osram nightbreakers will maybe last 6 months. I got fed up replacing them and just went with phillips normal bulbs lasting way longer.

The rear side bulbs never last long either and don't activate the bulb warning on the DIM. Many people don't know theres 6 bulbs for the rear sidelights.

Fuel economy I have no idea how anyone gets what they claim to get. Realistically you'll get high 30's low 40's.

I have tracked mine for a year now with a spreadsheet (for business reasons) and in the 11,982 miles I have coverd it has averaged 42.0643 MPG. Highest was last week at 45 mpg and thats only because I went to France in it.

Its also cost £1717.99 in fuel for that.

The 9 speaker system is rubbish compared to the 13 speaker set up. My d5 has the peasant spec 9 speaker and my 2.0 s60 has the 13 and my s80 t6 also has the decent one. The difference is immense. But upgrading is hassle.

My D5 has the winter pack, cloth heated seats and no DIM computer. A weird spec.

The 2l has the winter pack, cream heated leather, 13 speaker sound system and the space ball gearstick and trip computer.

[Mr Dripping]

^ ^

Do you have a link to a similar reader available for purchase?

An eBay search for 'BSR/PPC code reader' reveals nothing - unless I'm missing something?

Alternatively I should probably try to install VIDA/DICE on Windows 10 with great difficulty and involving various pieces of kit being sent over from China.

[Mr Dripping]

Apologies if a silly question, but how would it differ from the myriad of other code readers available on the Electronic Bay?

[Krikkit]

Sounds like you've picked up a cracking car cap.

[Shadow R1]

Great stuff.

[Super Slo Mo]

I used to love the headlamp washers. They are brilliant, a single journey at this time of year can have the headlights utterly filthy before half the trip is complete, I never really grasped why more manufacturers don't fit them.
With the current car I'm often out washing the lights with a tissue and bottle of water.

[JakeT]

Super Slo Mo said:

I used to love the headlamp washers. They are brilliant, a single journey at this time of year can have the headlights utterly filthy before half the trip is complete, I never really grasped why more manufacturers don't fit them.
With the current car I'm often out washing the lights with a tissue and bottle of water.

Plastic lenses would scratch in a single wipe of the lenses, which is what most cars have nowadays. Not to mention headlight wipers were unreliable, and easy to break.

[Super Slo Mo]

JakeT said:

Plastic lenses would scratch in a single wipe of the lenses, which is what most cars have nowadays. Not to mention headlight wipers were unreliable, and easy to break.

Mine managed 186,000 miles without a hitch. But yes, I guess you're right about the plastic lenses. That hadn't occurred to me.

[AlpineWhite]

Lovely car. I bought one (face-lift 2005 euro3) a few years back for motorway commuting. Have it up early this year for a company car and I still miss the old thing. Great car to cover distance in!

[jke11y]

Never mind miles to a tank, how many miles have you had out those timberlands!

[croakey]

Will be interested to hear your views on a map, I'm tempted by one but not sure I can justify £400+

[hazzaman]

Just FYI - Budget for a new intercooler if you're going for a remap. Stock one will bulge or blow very quickly. I had a RICA map on my euro3 which was around 210bhp and it went within a week. Also the standard clutch struggled with the torque but it was on it's way out anyway.

IC blew within a week and is a common issue after mapping these. Performance was night and day though

Edited by hazzaman on Wednesday 28th December 15:44

[Shadow R1]

He has had the ic issue before, so should be versed in them bulging \ failing.

[Hainey]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

croakey said:

Will be interested to hear your views on a map, I'm tempted by one but not sure I can justify £400+

Will post results. Im paying €350, which seems to be going rate here. A RICA is more, but actually comes with mixed reviews.

I'm looking for one just now as well but no one local to me (Central Scotland) seems to offer them, and I am wary of those tuning boxes that are hawked around everywhere.

I put a new IC on it less than 10 thou ago so it should be ok-ish with a mild map.

[anonymous-user]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

I *think* either RICA or Kalmar Union will do a remote tune via an OBD uploader which you can rent out.

Kalmar Union certainly do for their MTE maps. I put one on my C70 D5 at 57k miles and it transformed the car. It's on about 115k miles now and the extra power gets used extensively. 180bhp to 225bhp (claimed) was a hell of a boost, but it's the extra torque available at any engine speed that makes the car so much more enjoyable. Acceleration from 70 in 6th is very useful indeed.

My rip off DICE box and version of VIDA was probably the best £50 and several hours of work I've ever invested on car maintenance. Just being able to modify the temperature settings of the heated seats was worth it

[Hainey]

Fantastic. You now have one amazing motorway cruiser.

[_Nathan_]

Just needs that 6 Speed gearbox now

[dandam]

So potentially you have gone from 130bhp to 210bhp ?? That'd make a difference