2004 Manual D5 S60 as a daily?

[blueacid]

Hello!
I'm looking to get a 2004 Manual D5 SE S60 as a daily, it'll be the first car I've owned myself (although I've been a named driver on a few over the years!)

I've read a whole slew of buying guides so have notes ready for when I go to look... hopefully my checks will be thorough enough! Going to be doing a 20 mile commute, with good motorway runs at the weekends visiting family and friends.

Any advice or last-minute cries to avoid & look at something else?

Regards,
Blueacid

[martinrpeachey]

It'll be a good cheap, comfy car with a good spec, plenty of grunt when you need it and return surprising MPG for a car that size.

the wishbone bushes can get tired and give a wooly feel to the steering.

It's worth checking the egr valve, they can clog and ruin performance/economy.

[AlpineWhite]

Do it, I don't regret it having done the same in the spring.

[rb5er]

They are great cars, sound reasonable for a diesel and have a decent amount of grunt. Most of all they are just so damned comfy.

[blueacid]

Hrmph. The ones I've looked at so far have been a bit knackered unfortunately! One which had a "Full service history" which turned out to mean a comprehensive record of the patchy servicing regime it had experienced, another whose bodywork and interior was great but with a poorly engine ("HIGH EMISSIONS - SERVICE REQUIRED" appeared about 2 miles into the test drive. I wonder what other fault codes were cleared off before I took it for a drive?)

Frustratingly, the Dolby Stereo and comfy seats mean I'm not dissuaded yet! Just need to keep searching it seems :P

[martinrpeachey]

blueacid said:

Hrmph. The ones I've looked at so far have been a bit knackered unfortunately! One which had a "Full service history" which turned out to mean a comprehensive record of the patchy servicing regime it had experienced, another whose bodywork and interior was great but with a poorly engine ("HIGH EMISSIONS - SERVICE REQUIRED" appeared about 2 miles into the test drive. I wonder what other fault codes were cleared off before I took it for a drive?)

Frustratingly, the Dolby Stereo and comfy seats mean I'm not dissuaded yet! Just need to keep searching it seems :P

That error could just have been a blocked EGR valve. Not a hard job to sort, just messy.

Have you thought about ex-police cars? high miles but well maintained in the engine department and always repaired/serviced with genuine parts.

[blueacid]

I suspected it would be the EGR valve, but this was one of many things that showed this particular car had been especially unloved.. The online MOT history showed an advisory for low tread on a tyre one year, the next year a fail for the canvas showing through on the same one.
I walked.

Are the police volvos sold anywhere particular? Or just with the rest on Autotrader, Pistonheads and the such?

[martinrpeachey]

blueacid said:

I suspected it would be the EGR valve, but this was one of many things that showed this particular car had been especially unloved.. The online MOT history showed an advisory for low tread on a tyre one year, the next year a fail for the canvas showing through on the same one.
I walked.

Are the police volvos sold anywhere particular? Or just with the rest on Autotrader, Pistonheads and the such?

http://expolicecar.co.uk/

There are plenty of other sites, I like to browse this one as they get the P3 V70 T6 (304bhp) from time to time for peanuts.

Look for local police auctions too but expect to do a little work if they don't come through a specialist like the above website.

[rb5er]

After a friend of mine bought an ex police car from auction I would not go near them.

[martinrpeachey]

rb5er said:

After a friend of mine bought an ex police car from auction I would not go near them.

There indeed some dogs about but then there are some real diamonds.
My ex-plod was rather rough when I got it but I put the time and effort (and a fair bit of cash) and she's a fine example of a sorted V70 now.

I just realised, I've been chatting to the OP over on VPCUK lol.

[blueacid]

Well having read around about the auto being mostly fine as long as you get the fluid changed...

... I've just put a deposit on a 2004 D5 SE Auto, with only 67,000 on the clock. Looks to be in excellent condition, with a full Volvo/specialist service history. Success, I hope :-)

[Garett]

I've done over 50k miles now in my D5 over the last 2.5 years. The only real major expense has been a clutch. Great cars, I will keep mine until it becomes uneconomical to repair, I fully intend to reach 200k (currently on 147k!. My profile has a run down of costs etc, its an easy way to keep track of things!

[Pvapour]

we bought one as a barge / dog carrier, fsh 185k 5k in and no issues, returns 40mpg but if you go for a 2004 you'll get even more as it wont be laden with EGR. paid £2.5 for our facelift, went for manual deliberately due to possible gearbox issues on higher mile cars

ps - there's a fantastic volvo forum as well http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/

Edited by Pvapour on Wednesday 30th October 11:59

[458bhp]

Pvapour said:

we bought one as a barge / dog carrier, fsh 185k 5k in and no issues, returns 40mpg but if you go for a 2004 you'll get even more as it wont be laden with EGR. paid £2.5 for our facelift, went for manual deliberately due to possible gearbox issues on higher mile cars

ps - there's a fantastic volvo forum as well http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/

Edited by Pvapour on Wednesday 30th October 11:59

Bloody small dogs that can fit in the boot of an S60

Don't necessarily go by age, as iirc on an '04 plate you could have either the 163bhp or 185bhp, the latter having DPF, which if you predominantly are only doing short journeys will clog up and is much worse than a simple to clean EGR.

[blueacid]

458bhp said:

Bloody small dogs that can fit in the boot of an S60

Don't necessarily go by age, as iirc on an '04 plate you could have either the 163bhp or 185bhp, the latter having DPF, which if you predominantly are only doing short journeys will clog up and is much worse than a simple to clean EGR.

And I suppose the dog will have to be one that doesn't mind traveling in darkness!

The S60 I'm hopefully picking up from the dealers tomorrow is indeed a 163BHP one (black engine cover, rather than the grey of the 185). I know this because I checked the top engine mount when viewing it

..I'll be back when I've got the car! Fingers crossed!

[AlpineWhite]

458bhp said:

Bloody small dogs that can fit in the boot of an S60

Don't necessarily go by age, as iirc on an '04 plate you could have either the 163bhp or 185bhp, the latter having DPF, which if you predominantly are only doing short journeys will clog up and is much worse than a simple to clean EGR.

Yes, in fact the euro 3 engine goes later still - 05 facelift with the earlier engine here

[blueacid]

So this Friday I picked up a 2004 D5 SE Auto, in Burgandy and with cream leather. 67,000 miles on the clock, not a bad do!

Being in my 20s, I was gently prodded by colleagues for not having a beaded seat cover, hat and box of tissues on the parcel shelf, walking stick in the boot and a combination of fisherman's friend / wurthers originals around the car!

So, the good:
- Massively comfortable
- That stereo. It's "only" the 9-speaker but it still sounds superb, with more than enough punch. I've just ordered the GROM Aux-in adaptor (and I know to not disconnect the climate control panel when getting to the back of the radio to plug it in)
- Gearbox shifts nicely and smooth, cold or warm
- Seat heaters are nice. Right time of year to start owning those I think!


The not so good:
- Couple of scratches on the paintwork here and there, plus a tiny rust bubble right beside the offside rear lights (on the very bottom corner of the rear quarter panel, just where it meets the bumper)
- The steering has what feels like a 'notch' in it when heading straight ahead. It's difficult to describe, and it clears after a minute or two... it did pass the MOT, but it's got me wondering.. A better description can follow if needs be?
- I don't have many actual receipts to back up the fully-stamped service history.
- All the comments about the power band being nice and wide (1,500 to around 4,000 RPM) are true. I've made good use of it, therefore the MPG off this first tank is not so hot Wait, is this a bad thing?
- The daytime running lamps are enabled, so the headlight switch being set to '0' makes no difference. It merely stops me being able to enable main beam. Bit of a pain..


So, assuming that slight 'notch' with the steering is common to these cars, I'm planning to get the transmission fluid changed; can anyone recommend a good place around Manchester/Cheshire to get this done?

Following that, I plan to change the rear handbrake shoes, plus a few filters here and there (pollen and fuel are the ones that apparently often want doing but never get done). I'm happy to buy the haynes manual and have a crack at these, although it'll be my first stab at driveway mechanics. Got to start somewhere I suppose!

Finally, pictures will indeed follow. I've not taken any yet; strange as it might seem..

Thanks for all the help so far

[confused_buyer]

blueacid said:

So, assuming that slight 'notch' with the steering is common to these cars, I'm planning to get the transmission fluid changed; can anyone recommend a good place around Manchester/Cheshire to get this done?

The "notch" is usually the valves in the steering rack playing up. It is very common. It can often be improved by flushing the power steering fluid but usually the only thing which really cures it is a new or refurbished steering rack.

Daytime running lights can be turned off by anyone with the VADIS software and cable.

[blueacid]

confused_buyer said:

The "notch" is usually the valves in the steering rack playing up. It is very common. It can often be improved by flushing the power steering fluid but usually the only thing which really cures it is a new or refurbished steering rack.

Daytime running lights can be turned off by anyone with the VADIS software and cable.

Aha okay - that's good news at least!

Re the second point, is there anyone around Manchester / Cheshire who owns a VADIS system and would like to help me with the daytime running lights in exchange for a bribe? (liquid, monetary or otherwise). Or do you guys think it's likely worth the £80-odd from a certain auction site to get my own?

Cheers,
Blueacid

[martinrpeachey]

Ask around on one of the various Volvo specific forums you joined recently mate Lots of members have the kit. Some of them even know how to use it lol.