New family bus - 2013 XC90 SE LUX D5

[NewUsername]

So i'm collecting it saturday, low miles, fresh belts etc

What do I need to know about running one?

Quite looking forward to not arguing with the wife about how full the boot is on the 3 series when we go anywhere now haha

[Mikebentley]

Some good stuff on you tube years ago meant I tackled a couple of jobs myself. Engine mount at top of engine the rubber can split. Replaced it myself in ten minutes saved about £100.00. There was a timing belt pre tensioner that can fail from recollection. Not too costly or difficult to replace. Other than liking brakes as quite heavy. I read somewhere to use genuine Volvo brakes and pads as aftermarket are not great but again easy job. This might explain why I couldn’t stop one of my fronts squeaking as I didn’t.

Fantastic cars, well designed.

PS. If buying bits look closely at what is needed. I needed a washer bottle for windscreen and headlights. When I looked it was logo for Ford with a part number. This was in Volvo Hereford showroom. Their price £125, Ford was £25 as same as Focus.

[Murph7355]

Quite a few threads on here in the last few months.

Thirsty so get a loyalty card.

Turning circle of a super tanker so choose where you do 3pt turns to avoid Austin Powers recollections.

Chunky monkey so think twice about where you're going to park when out and about.

It's not a sports car. Don't try and drive like one. Unless you like making passengers feel sick. In which case do drive it like one.

You may find yourself in for rear wheel bearings depending on the mileage of the car and if they've been done or not. Tyre choice makes a big difference to both ability in crap weather and noise on the inside.

And in our experience of owning a 2010 model for 7yrs/100k miles or so that was about it.

Great family cars. Wife loved ours (per your comment, especially as she stopped having to think about what to pack - she just packed everything. This is a double edged sword btw).

Loved it so much that really the only replacement she considered was a newer one (mk2). Looked at Discoveries of both flavours, Range Rovers, Audi Q7, Merc GLS. None of them had the right balance of space, quality and price.

[oldaudi]

We’ve had one for 3 years. Used it for towing a horse box

We’ve had some big bills unfortunately including a £2k steering rack and pump. Currently have the anti skid message and my Volvo diag tool is pointing towards no power going to the haldex system and I’ve yet to grow a pair big enough to take it to the garage. Recently bought a e63 630 and spending some time with that before I spend again on the Volvo.....

Saying that however it’s been brilliant. Loads of space, comfy Volvo chairs. Everything inside works, air con, folding mirrors . We always have the 3rd row down and it provides a huge flat area for loading with the bottom part of the boot down. Put some cross climate suv MO tyres on it and it’s been fantastic. As other have said don’t drive it like a sports car and just relax with it. They’re great. We have the se lux geartronic d5 and it’s on 165k at the moment. It does get through lots of bulbs but they are really easy to fix. The fuel flap also failed and we had to unlock it from within the car at every refill. I purchased the part on eBay and fixed it . Other than that it’s huge!

Enjoy your new purchase

Edited by oldaudi on Wednesday 19th August 20:46

[NewUsername]

It’s 38k miles and fresh belts/water pump , fresh gearbox oil and on Pirelli Scorpion All seasons so fingers crossed.
Deffo won’t be driven like a sports car haha

[david mcc]

Ive got a 2008 model, had it for 4 years or so and taken it from 90K to 140k

Great family cars, plenty space, great for towing, has never broken down. Very well designed i.e cup holders and 12V sockets everywhere, seats are really comfy for distance driving.


Negatives / Issues - Fuel flap locking mechanism failed ( I just manually unlocked the mechanism and leave it unlocked), electrical issues around the ABS / Anti Skid warning messages (Spent around £1500 trying to fix it without success including diagnostics by Volvo dealer, now just put up with the warning messages as I'm not willing to spend ££££ on a new CEM module)


Would I buy another - Yep

[oldaudi]

Sorry for hijacking the thread. This anti skid message that you’ve spent money trying to fix but now you just live with the message. Isn’t this a MOT failure because it’s leaves the anti skid traction warning light on the dash in amber? This is what I have and believed it to be a mot failure because it does not go out....is that correct?

[Throttle Body]

Find a good independent Volvo garage. Main dealers will cripple you.

[david mcc]

oldaudi said:

Sorry for hijacking the thread. This anti skid message that you’ve spent money trying to fix but now you just live with the message. Isn’t this a MOT failure because it’s leaves the anti skid traction warning light on the dash in amber? This is what I have and believed it to be a mot failure because it does not go out....is that correct?

Yep, its an MOT failure. Somehow my MOT man manages to clear the fault before MOT and it returns shortly after...;)

[Davie]

oldaudi said:

Currently have the anti skid message and my Volvo diag tool is pointing towards no power going to the haldex system and I’ve yet to grow a pair big enough to take it to the garage.

Quite common on AWD Volvos,

Check the fuse for the Haldex which usually lives in the rear electrical module in the boot. If it's ok, then check you have 12v going to the DEM which lives up under the prop, in front of the Haldex unit and if that's ok then highly likely the DEM itself has failed as Volvo thought wise to hang it down under the car, fully exposed to all the chaos. If it is, Volvo Diagnostics (Lukas) can do a refurb for about £180 or a replacement unit if yours if beyond saving for around £300. Fitting is a DIY job, if a bit fiddly. It could also be a seized Haldex pump as nobody ever seems to bother replacing the Haldex fluid or filter.

[oldaudi]

Thanks, I’ve been playing with the ViDA kit and also changed the fuse in the rear fuse box. No joy. I’ll take it to a good Indy and close this topic and return to the new purchase of the op!!