D5 how reliable???
Discussion
I work in a garage & have taken a shine to a v70 D5 that came in the other day, but to be honest i havent done a great deal of work on them so are they super reliable or have i just not seen a bad one??????
I would like a big estate car for the dog & other stuff & they drive great, what things in particular shoud i be looking at???
I would like a big estate car for the dog & other stuff & they drive great, what things in particular shoud i be looking at???
Mines done 80k in a little over 2 years with no sign of any issues. If anything it has only recently started giving better fuel economy, so probably just run in 
Still feels very strong, and I have no reason to doubt it will do many many more miles.
I'll miss it come March next year when it has to go back
Still feels very strong, and I have no reason to doubt it will do many many more miles.
I'll miss it come March next year when it has to go back
it seems they may well be as good as i suspect 
Mine's done 55k in 4 years and hasn't needed anything apart from servicing and consumables. Dash cupholder broke a couple of months ago (!), but that's been it.
My only complaint is that I'm lucky to get 12k out of a pair of front tyres.
Scouring the web for known problems has trawled up some compliants about premature injector failure for a some EuroIII engines in a known range of chassis numbers, diesel particulate filter issues on EuroIV engines, regular trailing link failures and premature wear on some front ball joints.
Volvo dealer hourly rates are scandalous and the indy I've found is still not cheap - but given your line of work that's obvilously not an issue for you.
I've surprised myself how much I've come to like mine.
My only complaint is that I'm lucky to get 12k out of a pair of front tyres.
Scouring the web for known problems has trawled up some compliants about premature injector failure for a some EuroIII engines in a known range of chassis numbers, diesel particulate filter issues on EuroIV engines, regular trailing link failures and premature wear on some front ball joints.
Volvo dealer hourly rates are scandalous and the indy I've found is still not cheap - but given your line of work that's obvilously not an issue for you.
I've surprised myself how much I've come to like mine.
I have also grown to like mine, strangely. Don't know why.
If you read the volvo.org forums it scares the beejesus out of you, but you could say that about any marque specific forum.
Mines a 52 plate V70 D5 auto and on 113k miles. Only things "wrong" are the drivers seat heating no longer works and the rear window demister has also gone kaput. Both are useful in this weather.
Oh and I found out this morning that a Volvo V70 + new Khumo Ecsta sports + snow = don't even try to up any hills....useless!!
If you read the volvo.org forums it scares the beejesus out of you, but you could say that about any marque specific forum.
Mines a 52 plate V70 D5 auto and on 113k miles. Only things "wrong" are the drivers seat heating no longer works and the rear window demister has also gone kaput. Both are useful in this weather.
Oh and I found out this morning that a Volvo V70 + new Khumo Ecsta sports + snow = don't even try to up any hills....useless!!
Age dictates engine to a degree. Go for a EuIII if you pay for the fuel. Auto or manual are irrelevant.
Somebody has already flagged the injector issue - this is really it! Most other things are jusr cars and parts as normal. Ensure everything works when purchasing. Dealers are not plentiful i.e limited in number. Excellent pre-owned purchases as most are well maintained.
Best of luck.
DO NOT buy the V70 GIII (>2008) without spending some time in one.
Somebody has already flagged the injector issue - this is really it! Most other things are jusr cars and parts as normal. Ensure everything works when purchasing. Dealers are not plentiful i.e limited in number. Excellent pre-owned purchases as most are well maintained.
Best of luck.
DO NOT buy the V70 GIII (>2008) without spending some time in one.
T5R+ said:
Age dictates engine to a degree. Go for a EuIII if you pay for the fuel. Auto or manual are irrelevant.
Somebody has already flagged the injector issue - this is really it! Most other things are jusr cars and parts as normal. Ensure everything works when purchasing. Dealers are not plentiful i.e limited in number. Excellent pre-owned purchases as most are well maintained.
Best of luck.
DO NOT buy the V70 GIII (>2008) without spending some time in one.
Why ??? if i get one will be a 2005-2006 modelSomebody has already flagged the injector issue - this is really it! Most other things are jusr cars and parts as normal. Ensure everything works when purchasing. Dealers are not plentiful i.e limited in number. Excellent pre-owned purchases as most are well maintained.
Best of luck.
DO NOT buy the V70 GIII (>2008) without spending some time in one.
If you were buying a GIII, would give you a run down of experience(s) of owners, myself included.
Given your choice - you will be going into a GII with EuIV.
Make sure that you appreaciate the difference between 2.4D (163bhp) and D5 (185bhp).
In the real-world MPG is insignificant. The D5 is just a bit quicker through the range.
Both are good cars. I use a 2.4D S60 for commuting and it is a great motorway car but the D5 is just a bit better on the A roads due to it's grunt.
Given your choice - you will be going into a GII with EuIV.
Make sure that you appreaciate the difference between 2.4D (163bhp) and D5 (185bhp).
In the real-world MPG is insignificant. The D5 is just a bit quicker through the range.
Both are good cars. I use a 2.4D S60 for commuting and it is a great motorway car but the D5 is just a bit better on the A roads due to it's grunt.
Good advice there.
I had an 06 d5, 55k injectors replaced then shortly after gearbox. But that's very rare and I suspect car was used for towing (heavy).
Overall I loved it and only chopped as mileage was getting silly. Overall it's better built and better place to be in bs the newer models - I got the new one few weeks back.
Buy one and you won't regret it, look for se spec, it's well appointed and those seats are fab. Premium sound is a bonus and really good.
I averaged 40 mpg with hard driving and cruising.
I would happily go back to a phase 2.
I had an 06 d5, 55k injectors replaced then shortly after gearbox. But that's very rare and I suspect car was used for towing (heavy).
Overall I loved it and only chopped as mileage was getting silly. Overall it's better built and better place to be in bs the newer models - I got the new one few weeks back.
Buy one and you won't regret it, look for se spec, it's well appointed and those seats are fab. Premium sound is a bonus and really good.
I averaged 40 mpg with hard driving and cruising.
I would happily go back to a phase 2.
halo34 said:
look for se spec.....seats are fab...... Premium sound is a bonus and really good
Wrote that and then edited. Note, there is also an LUX which adds more. Avoid Sport unless you have a dentist in the family. Leather and 17" (not 18") alloys suit the car and ride.halo34 said:
I would happily go back to a phase 2.
Ditto - would go for a EUIII / D5 / 163bhp / Manual with Facelift. i.e late 54 into 55 plates but be wary as there are crossover year cars around.halo34 said:
Overall it's better built and better place to be in bs the newer models - I got the new one few weeks back.
So nearly said this - but knew "halo" had just bought one. Again I agree with "poorer" quality. My view is they will not be as hard-wearing. But moaning aside, they have nice interiors. 
I have an O2 plate D5 which has done 150k. I've driven almost all of them.
Since 50k miles all I have done is put decent oil in the engine every 10k miles and replaced a few parts namely:
Aux drive belt tensioners
Alternator pulley underdrive clutch
Front lower wishbones (bushes failure)
Top engine mount
Lower engine check mount.
It had the turbo hoses fixed with tougher ones under warranty.
Consumble costs such as tyres are low. I drive mine hard, get a real 39mpg (which is 48 on the dash module) and have had two replacement sets of discs and pads (eaby pattern parts) Pads last 30k in the front, 50k at the back.
Decent tyres (Michelin pileups) last 30k/set on the front, double that on the rear.
I do the fuel filter every 50k, and di the cam belt myself.
in the life of the car since £50k the running costs have been under £2k plus fuel, insurance etc. Thats 2p/mile.
These really are great cars, the 163hp car has loads of grunt for normal driving.
Since 50k miles all I have done is put decent oil in the engine every 10k miles and replaced a few parts namely:
Aux drive belt tensioners
Alternator pulley underdrive clutch
Front lower wishbones (bushes failure)
Top engine mount
Lower engine check mount.
It had the turbo hoses fixed with tougher ones under warranty.
Consumble costs such as tyres are low. I drive mine hard, get a real 39mpg (which is 48 on the dash module) and have had two replacement sets of discs and pads (eaby pattern parts) Pads last 30k in the front, 50k at the back.
Decent tyres (Michelin pileups) last 30k/set on the front, double that on the rear.
I do the fuel filter every 50k, and di the cam belt myself.
in the life of the car since £50k the running costs have been under £2k plus fuel, insurance etc. Thats 2p/mile.
These really are great cars, the 163hp car has loads of grunt for normal driving.
T5R+ said:
halo34 said:
look for se spec.....seats are fab...... Premium sound is a bonus and really good
Wrote that and then edited. Note, there is also an LUX which adds more. Avoid Sport unless you have a dentist in the family. Leather and 17" (not 18") alloys suit the car and ride.halo34 said:
I would happily go back to a phase 2.
Ditto - would go for a EUIII / D5 / 163bhp / Manual with Facelift. i.e late 54 into 55 plates but be wary as there are crossover year cars around.halo34 said:
Overall it's better built and better place to be in bs the newer models - I got the new one few weeks back.
So nearly said this - but knew "halo" had just bought one. Again I agree with "poorer" quality. My view is they will not be as hard-wearing. But moaning aside, they have nice interiors. PS Also agree on the 18s - stick with 17s, new one has 18s and not only is it lethal in the snow the rides just not up to the same relaxing standard set by the old one.
I do have one thing in my favour tho - that new twin turbo diesel is a peach
Seight_Returns said:
I hear good things about the new 205bhp engine too. Enjoy my 185 D5 very much - but it's a bit flat until it picks up a bit - which I'm told the new twin scroll turbo thingy addresses nicely.
What sort of mpg are you seeing for the 205 GIII D5 ?
Mine didnt show any flat spots, but then I suspected it was mapped as it was v nippy.What sort of mpg are you seeing for the 205 GIII D5 ?
Its funny, the TT feels more linear where the old D5 unit was a long haul to get wound up. The two turbos work well together and you get instant go @ 2,000 rpm, then once you hit 3/3.5k RPM you feel the second bigger turbo moving you even faster.
Overally much nicer, some drop off in boost between 2nd and 3rd however which can be annoying but mine is manual. Flip side is that I dont feel the top end is as good, but then compared to a single turbo thats to be expected.
I have the 1st Gen 205 - the newer ones have been tweaked I think with better MPG.
So far I can get around 42mpg, which to be honest in a 200 BHP big estate, driving with a purpose at times isnt to be sniffed at.
I ran an 05 manual D5 165 bhp for 30k miles and had no reliability issues. The car was my 3rd Volvo and with the exception of the crashy ride over potholes due to the 18" rims and 40 profile tyres (they did look good though), it was just normal servicing and a pair of brake pads. My budget wouldn't stretch at purchase to the newer engined model by the way
I've got a 53 plate s60 D5 - not had it long and had a fuel pump failure , which has been a bit of a ballache but not horrendous. Replacement pump was a couple of hundred quid , but I've noticed a tiny leak which I think is just down to needing some new gaskets on the inspection hatches in the tank. Once thats sorted, fingers crossed I'll be golden !
Sold my last V70 with 225k miles on it and only ever had regular service items and a couple of suspension parts, current 2007 S80 2.4D (the saloon version of the V70) is on 144k miles and not had a single thing to replace yet apart from the power steering pump under a recall, just goes on an on.
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