So, these D5 things....
Discussion
Are they as good as everyone seems to think they are?
Just about to take ownership of a 52 plate S60 D5. I'm defecting from an eternity (since 1996) of dedicated Renault ownership and adding this Volvo to the fleet. It's for Motorway cruising, and towing my trailer/Rapid French kit about in comfort and with Cruise Control (not had cruise before save for my 172 and thats not a motorway cruiser by a long shot!)
Have I made the right move? It feels like I have
Just about to take ownership of a 52 plate S60 D5. I'm defecting from an eternity (since 1996) of dedicated Renault ownership and adding this Volvo to the fleet. It's for Motorway cruising, and towing my trailer/Rapid French kit about in comfort and with Cruise Control (not had cruise before save for my 172 and thats not a motorway cruiser by a long shot!)
Have I made the right move? It feels like I have
I've owned a couple of T5's over recent years (still have 1), and added a V70 D5 to the collection this year.
It's a '51 plate and has covered 230k ish miles and still drives really well IMHO. Nice comfortable cars.
It seems that they do have some faults but nothing too deadly.
Make sure the cambelt and tensioners are done according to schedule, and also the auxiliary belt. Cambelt failure will write off the engine, and aux belt failure will destroy the cambelt....
Make sure the handbrake shoes are replaced (or at least inspected) at your earliest opportunity. They can come apart and take the whole hub assembly with them.
Apart from that, enjoy!
It's a '51 plate and has covered 230k ish miles and still drives really well IMHO. Nice comfortable cars.
It seems that they do have some faults but nothing too deadly.
Make sure the cambelt and tensioners are done according to schedule, and also the auxiliary belt. Cambelt failure will write off the engine, and aux belt failure will destroy the cambelt....
Make sure the handbrake shoes are replaced (or at least inspected) at your earliest opportunity. They can come apart and take the whole hub assembly with them.
Apart from that, enjoy!
I had an S60 D5 of that year ans still remember it with great fondness. Had it from new and covered 100k miles in 3 years.
The only problem I had in that time was split turbo hose which happened just after I collected it from service from an independent garage.
The handling and ride was transformed when all four tyres (p6000's?) were switched for a set of Continentals.
The only issue that I can remember was its appetite for near side headlamp bulbs. Other than that it was supremely comfortable and economical and wouldn't hesitate to have another.
The only problem I had in that time was split turbo hose which happened just after I collected it from service from an independent garage.
The handling and ride was transformed when all four tyres (p6000's?) were switched for a set of Continentals.
The only issue that I can remember was its appetite for near side headlamp bulbs. Other than that it was supremely comfortable and economical and wouldn't hesitate to have another.
DaveL485 said:
Do the later Xenon lights physically fit the earlier model? (unlikely I know).
Collected it today. Very pleased so far!
Congratulations Collected it today. Very pleased so far!
I love mine.http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Any pics of yours?
They are an excellent engine and a good car but can have their faults.
I had a V70 (52 reg, auto) for 2 years and 30k miles.
It never broke down but needed a new DIM when I bought it, dealer sorted that thankfully as it can be a very expensive job. Needed an injector in my ownership, glow plugs, suspension bits doing, problems with turbo hoses, engine & g'box mounts and the gearbox started to get very crashy toward the end which wasn't cured with a proper flush through with new fluid. Heavy on front tyres and not that economical for me - the OBC lies like a good un.
They are proper comfy though, great stereo and you can fit literally anything in the boot, massive.
Eventually chopped it in due to the 'box making it an unecononomical repair.
I must say that compared to my 08 BMW E61 525d Manual the volvo is a complete dinosaur of a car, doesn't make it bad one though.
Loads of info on the Volvo forums if anything goes wrong.
I had a V70 (52 reg, auto) for 2 years and 30k miles.
It never broke down but needed a new DIM when I bought it, dealer sorted that thankfully as it can be a very expensive job. Needed an injector in my ownership, glow plugs, suspension bits doing, problems with turbo hoses, engine & g'box mounts and the gearbox started to get very crashy toward the end which wasn't cured with a proper flush through with new fluid. Heavy on front tyres and not that economical for me - the OBC lies like a good un.
They are proper comfy though, great stereo and you can fit literally anything in the boot, massive.
Eventually chopped it in due to the 'box making it an unecononomical repair.
I must say that compared to my 08 BMW E61 525d Manual the volvo is a complete dinosaur of a car, doesn't make it bad one though.
Loads of info on the Volvo forums if anything goes wrong.
dave_s13 said:
They are an excellent engine and a good car but can have their faults.
I had a V70 (52 reg, auto) for 2 years and 30k miles.
It never broke down but needed a new DIM when I bought it, dealer sorted that thankfully as it can be a very expensive job. Needed an injector in my ownership, glow plugs, suspension bits doing, problems with turbo hoses, engine & g'box mounts and the gearbox started to get very crashy toward the end which wasn't cured with a proper flush through with new fluid. Heavy on front tyres and not that economical for me - the OBC lies like a good un.
They are proper comfy though, great stereo and you can fit literally anything in the boot, massive.
Eventually chopped it in due to the 'box making it an unecononomical repair.
I must say that compared to my 08 BMW E61 525d Manual the volvo is a complete dinosaur of a car, doesn't make it bad one though.
Loads of info on the Volvo forums if anything goes wrong.
My OBC over-reads by 4mpg...same on XC90 too.I had a V70 (52 reg, auto) for 2 years and 30k miles.
It never broke down but needed a new DIM when I bought it, dealer sorted that thankfully as it can be a very expensive job. Needed an injector in my ownership, glow plugs, suspension bits doing, problems with turbo hoses, engine & g'box mounts and the gearbox started to get very crashy toward the end which wasn't cured with a proper flush through with new fluid. Heavy on front tyres and not that economical for me - the OBC lies like a good un.
They are proper comfy though, great stereo and you can fit literally anything in the boot, massive.
Eventually chopped it in due to the 'box making it an unecononomical repair.
I must say that compared to my 08 BMW E61 525d Manual the volvo is a complete dinosaur of a car, doesn't make it bad one though.
Loads of info on the Volvo forums if anything goes wrong.
OP good looking car, the wheels are not a fiddly to clean as the look...tbh wasn't struck on the style of them when I bought it and nearly swapped them with someone, glad I didn't as I have grown to like the look of them over the ones I nearly went for.
I'll drop you a PM
Update to my first non-Renault ownership experience (for a regular daily car).
EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE.
Also
THINGS KEEP BREAKING.
Not very happy, as you may have guessed. Since buying the first few months were uneventful, but then...
Ticking from engine bay. Sounded like the serpentine belt tensioner was packing up so i replaced the belt and tensioner (£80). Still making the noise. Eventually figured out it was the Alt Clutch Pulley.
£50 for one of those and £15 for the special tool to change it, to find that some f
king moron had rounded out the T50 inside the Alt shaft. Took the Alt off and the pulley is seized on and even after I cut half of it off, it wouldn't free up. Brand new Bosch Alternator sir? Why yes, thats another £90.
New drop links all round to cure a rattle from the back. Rattle still there. £30.
New front wishbone bushes as the bushes were shot. Can you change them? Can you fk. New wishbones after wrecking the original ones scrapping with the bushes (ridiculous configuration!). £40 for bushes, £20 fuel (getting to my mates fully equipped garage only to fail anyway) and then £100-odd for complete new wishbones.
New rear shock and topmount to cure rattle from back. Rattle still there. £50-odd
Flat on the rear, ended up buying a pair or rear tyres as it came with ditchfinders. £60-odd from a mate
Instrument panel suddenly becomes intermittent. Not fixed that yet, but thats a three figure bumming....and you cant fit a second hand one unless the serial numbers match or something.
New front discs, pads and bottom balljoints (£125-odd) as brakes were worn and balljoints were not great. Noticed (few month old) wishbone on OS has a knackered front bush. Great. Kicked off at parts place and got warranty replacements.
Fitting said wishbones and in trying to keep the outer driveshaft CV from falling apart accidentally pull the inner one out. IMPOSSIBLE thing, long story short, new shaft....ANOTHER £150. And if the new wishbones hadn't failed I wouldn't have even been in there to pop that driveshaft out of joint!
Now needs front tyres too, the instrument panel works for about 3 minutes per hour of driving, and that rattle at the back is still there driving me NUTS. As of last week I now also have a knock at the front again, which I have traced to the inner axial steering joint (the other end of the steering tie rod to the outer balljoint)
Add to that a bulletholed headlight, two interim engine services, gearbox oil change and pollen filter too.
This car has cost me more money in non-standard maintenance in six months and 12k than my R19TD did including servicing AND road tax in 3 years and 40k!!!
On the brighter side though, being 6'6" the comfort of driving is much better, Cruise Control...how did I live without it! and for towing the D5 lump is an absolute godsend as is the stability of the beast.
In summary, the tank is pushing it's luck. If I hadn't already put so much into it i'd be reconsidering my choice of car!
EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE.
Also
THINGS KEEP BREAKING.
Not very happy, as you may have guessed. Since buying the first few months were uneventful, but then...
Ticking from engine bay. Sounded like the serpentine belt tensioner was packing up so i replaced the belt and tensioner (£80). Still making the noise. Eventually figured out it was the Alt Clutch Pulley.
£50 for one of those and £15 for the special tool to change it, to find that some f
king moron had rounded out the T50 inside the Alt shaft. Took the Alt off and the pulley is seized on and even after I cut half of it off, it wouldn't free up. Brand new Bosch Alternator sir? Why yes, thats another £90.New drop links all round to cure a rattle from the back. Rattle still there. £30.
New front wishbone bushes as the bushes were shot. Can you change them? Can you f
k. New wishbones after wrecking the original ones scrapping with the bushes (ridiculous configuration!). £40 for bushes, £20 fuel (getting to my mates fully equipped garage only to fail anyway) and then £100-odd for complete new wishbones.New rear shock and topmount to cure rattle from back. Rattle still there. £50-odd
Flat on the rear, ended up buying a pair or rear tyres as it came with ditchfinders. £60-odd from a mate
Instrument panel suddenly becomes intermittent. Not fixed that yet, but thats a three figure bumming....and you cant fit a second hand one unless the serial numbers match or something.
New front discs, pads and bottom balljoints (£125-odd) as brakes were worn and balljoints were not great. Noticed (few month old) wishbone on OS has a knackered front bush. Great. Kicked off at parts place and got warranty replacements.
Fitting said wishbones and in trying to keep the outer driveshaft CV from falling apart accidentally pull the inner one out. IMPOSSIBLE thing, long story short, new shaft....ANOTHER £150. And if the new wishbones hadn't failed I wouldn't have even been in there to pop that driveshaft out of joint!
Now needs front tyres too, the instrument panel works for about 3 minutes per hour of driving, and that rattle at the back is still there driving me NUTS. As of last week I now also have a knock at the front again, which I have traced to the inner axial steering joint (the other end of the steering tie rod to the outer balljoint)
Add to that a bulletholed headlight, two interim engine services, gearbox oil change and pollen filter too.
This car has cost me more money in non-standard maintenance in six months and 12k than my R19TD did including servicing AND road tax in 3 years and 40k!!!
On the brighter side though, being 6'6" the comfort of driving is much better, Cruise Control...how did I live without it! and for towing the D5 lump is an absolute godsend as is the stability of the beast.
In summary, the tank is pushing it's luck. If I hadn't already put so much into it i'd be reconsidering my choice of car!
Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff