Xc90, 2011 D5 SE.

[sthodgson]

Hello all,

Looking at picking up an XC90 on 95k tomorrow. Great history, lovely condition, drives well.

I haven’t checked the prop shaft for lack of 4wd so must do that. Only problems I can find are a noisy interior fan motor and the swirl flap linkage is broken with an oil leak on the engine mechanism.

As for the swirl flap, I am happy to fabricate a fix for the mechanism, but some say you should do the whole job and get new swirl flaps to prevent problems. Others have said fix the mechanism, shove some injector cleaner in the tank and give it a blast. Any opinions?

I can’t find a better one for the money, and I realise that a heavy, complicated 10 year old car is going to give a few bills, but so does any car of a certain age.

We had one before, thought we didn’t need 7 seats and realised soon after we sold it that it was the perfect car for the family and dog.

I dislike making decisions especially when I know there are a few niggling issues, but it will probably get sold soon if i don’t get it.

Cheers.

[wiliferus]

If moves freely by hand, just buy a new arm linkage of EBay for a few quid. I did just that, lubed it with a bit of Vaseline on both joints and it’s been fine ever since.

If it’s seized, and that’s why the arm has broken, then that’s a whole new ball game.

[sthodgson]

Thanks. It moves very easily - very little resistance so that might be ok.

[Robert Green]

Have you bought the car? I have one very similar which I am looking to sell and trying to gauge value for a private sale of a well looked after SE Lux with a nice spec (RSE, nav etc).