Just bought a V50 T5 R Design!

[Boozy]

Unseen and it arrives this weekend

https://www.platinumautoct.com/2009-Volvo-V50-Wate...

I’ll need some new door parts it seems so any tips welcome, as well as replacing the center console.

Any tips from owners out there? Can it be tuned? More importantly can you hook a phone into it through Bluetooth? I can’t imagine you can install a fancy head unit.

Thanks!

[SKM1984]

Watch out for blocked sunroof drain plugs

I ended up selling my car because the electrics went mad after leaking onto the floor through behind the dash

Very tuneable especially due to Focus ST parts being interchangeable

I had:

Focus RS intake and airtec crossover pipe
D088 intercooler
Focus ST mongoose decat
Blockmod
Custom map

made 320bhp and a shedload of torque. Went very well for a civilised family estate and made a great noise

[Boozy]

Is the drain an easy fix?

[SKM1984]

Depends if its become detached or just blocked

you can put an airline down it with the sunroof open but mine had become detached behind the dash and water poured in when it rained, only found out after we had been away on holiday and it was left parked outside for 2 weeks

[Sidecar Man]

2009 should have blue tooth on R design. And USB In little centre consul hinged box

[Moonpiemagic]

Very lovely looking car, these can easily be tuned from a simple map which will make a massive difference to a lot more heavily modified parts.

Regual oil changes are a must.

Have an S40 T5 here running over 400bhp now.

[Boozy]

Now we’re talking! What options do you have for tuning? Trying to figure out what I can do here in the States.

[Moonpiemagic]

Boozy said:

Now we’re talking! What options do you have for tuning? Trying to figure out what I can do here in the States.

haha yeh its been a long journey.

For tuning an initial standard map, this is easy as it can be done via the ODBC. Anything more custom to the car will require an ECU out job which is the best way and dyno'd. There is one company in the states Hilton tuning who can seem to do this remotely, I did quite a bit of research but seemed a bit iffy if things go wrong and incredibly expensive. You just want to find a local specialist that can work directly with the ECU on the bench and dyno the car.

For bolt on's there are a lot of options there, our platform is shared with the ST225 and RSMK2

These are what I have on:
Engine / Power:
Forged Piston & Rods (K1 rods and wiesco pistons)
Block mod
K16 stage 3 hybrid
3" downpipe and 3" custom exhaust system
650cc injectors
DW LP340 fuel pump
AS Plenum
Lower port polished manifold
RS Vac pipe
BD modified oil filter housing to breather kit
Volvo S60R clutch kit with DMF
Focus RSMK2 oil cooler
Bell intercooler

Still to install - Quiffe LSD / 1000cc fuel injectors

Handling:
Bilstein B14 coilovers
Hardrace rear anti rollbar
4 x 235/40 PS4 tires
Car has been full polybushed
Focus ST225 bigger brakes with braided lines


There are other bits and bobs on there for tuning, but those are the general bits. But after installing 1000cc injectors am hoping to be up close to the 500bhp area.

[rix]

Off topic but I'm always amazed at used car prices in the US, especially when new cars are often cheaper. I reckon that would be about £3000 in the UK!

[Boozy]

rix said:

Off topic but I'm always amazed at used car prices in the US, especially when new cars are often cheaper. I reckon that would be about £3000 in the UK!

No kidding! I weep when I watch the sheds for under 5k thread, I don't know if the sheer volume of lease cars inflates the used car market?

Car should arrive today so pretty excited about that!

[oilit]

£3000 for a T5 V50 AWD ? Do you think so?

A genuine question as there are only 56 T5 AWD in the UK according to howmanyleft - and not one of them is an R-Design (not withstanding that howmanyleft data is only as good as the way the dealer entered it into the system

I would say that is a great looking car - well done on the purchase OP

[Boozy]

The snow here had delayed the car, it’s here in ten minutes!!! I’m excited! It’s for hauling the new dog and my three kids around in. I had an E63 before but can’t justify the money for a car I wasn’t driving so this is hopefully the perfect family hack I can drive into the ground. One owner from new with a full Volvo service history.

[Boozy]

So it's here! it appears to have the sunroof issue in someway shape or form as the driver's floor is damp....I've taken the A pillar trim off and there's a new hose on there, it's connected to the grommet at the bottom and when I blow back up the tube it's clear. I've poured water down the sunroof and it appears to be draining to the floor so don't think it's that, any thoughts team?

[Moonpiemagic]

Boozy said:

So it's here! it appears to have the sunroof issue in someway shape or form as the driver's floor is damp....I've taken the A pillar trim off and there's a new hose on there, it's connected to the grommet at the bottom and when I blow back up the tube it's clear. I've poured water down the sunroof and it appears to be draining to the floor so don't think it's that, any thoughts team?

When you are inside push up on the front windscreen and check all the corners. Its common that the seals go around the windscreen.

[Boozy]

She scrubbed up pretty well!! The interior is mint and sounds great, really happy so far.

[1979Andrew]

Boozy said:

She scrubbed up pretty well!! The interior is mint and sounds great, really happy so far.

That will be the Volvo paint. I've got a silver s40 from 2004 and I'm amazed at how good the paint is.

[snotrag]

Hows the car going Boozy?

I owned a Bright Red R-design V50 a couple of years ago which was great, other than the fact it was horrifically slow, being a 1.8 Duratec.

I'm looking for a Petrol change from my E350 and a V50 T5 just appeared for sale, I'm tempted...

[Davie]

Boozy said:

So it's here! it appears to have the sunroof issue in someway shape or form as the driver's floor is damp....I've taken the A pillar trim off and there's a new hose on there, it's connected to the grommet at the bottom and when I blow back up the tube it's clear. I've poured water down the sunroof and it appears to be draining to the floor so don't think it's that, any thoughts team?

Did you resolve this?

If not then I'd go round every drain, there are four and the clear tubes are a push fit into a sort of rubber grommet / drain tube, two at the base of the A-pillars in the corner of the windscreen and two at the rear of the sills, down by the rear tubs. Over time the drain pipes seem to shrink and the rubber tubs go hard and thus, the hoses pop out and you get a lovely indoor pool. They can also pop out of the bodywork with age, again go hard... and that also leads to leaks. The sort of "nipple" on the rubber drain tube is designed to let water out and nothing back in, like spiders... and they can clog but it's rare. I've also yet to see the actual drain pipes clog.

The one at the NSF is particularly important as if lefty unchecked, it'll drain down the back of the glovebox and that's where the CEM lives and then it can get a bit spendy. You can pour water down and it'll drain outside, but if there grommets aren't seated right or the drain pipe to rubber grommet fit is lose, you'll also get a bit over spill going inside the car as well as out so I wouldn't take water draining outside as being proof that all is well in that department.

[Boozy]

Hey team!

I ended up sealing the sunroof with strip sealant that you use for gaps in windows as for the life of me I couldn't stop it leaking despite putting new hose on it.

Still goes well, sounds great and is relatively quick. Performs the job of being the family/tip hack well and has been trouble free. Sorely tempted to swap it out for an S60R....

[Davie]

If you haven't already, I'd research the hell out of an S60R before you commit. Great cars, though flawed in some ways... but of an age where they can be quite hard work to keep running reliably. A very very different machine to the V50!