The wife's new daily/family bus. Volvo content <3

[Jekyll]

TBH i dont the think the clio is bad on fuel but anything thats better than that is a plus. Really liking Volvo's atm.

Im pretty sure im getting rid of the clio after much pondering and i think a Volvo will be its replacement.

 

[...]

Reading your other post i would avoid the s40/v50 the v50 was the worst volvo i have owned and i hated it

Focus based and the focus its built on is better

The d5 s60 however is a fantastic barge

I have had 2 5cylinder diesels now 1 d5 and 1 d4

 

[McGherkin]

Reading your other post i would avoid the s40/v50 the v50 was the worst volvo i have owned and i hated it

Focus based and the focus its built on is better

The d5 s60 however is a fantastic barge

I have had 2 5cylinder diesels now 1 d5 and 1 d4

The C30 and S40 are both epic, the V50 I've no experience of but I can't imagine it being any different seeing as it's pretty much the same car.

 

[...]

The diesel was aweful my mates t5 isnt so bad but the fit and finish on both of the cars i have experience of is far from epic

The volvo built s60 is a different league

 

[McGherkin]

the fit and finish on both of the cars i have experience of is far from epic

Dunno then. I can tell you that everything has been superbly put together on mine and the neighbour's S40. If anything it's a bit over engineered.

 

[...]

If you have experience of other volvos you will spot the more ford than volvo feel

The s60 and 80 are much better screwed together as are the newer stuff

The focus based cars never really cut it

 

[McGherkin]

I don't go much on the new china era Volvos, there's a lot of people having problems with the new XC90 that I've noticed.

My experience of other volvos is mainly 740s, 850s and a 440. Which is a bit of an unkind comparison.

 

[...]

The 740 and 850 were also really well screwed together

Not had any issues at all with my 2 v60's

 

[Mr R.]

Scott, hows the volvo going? Pros and cons and any more info on it would be great. (Fuel consumption, tax, etc + price paid?)

PM if you prefer.

Hey bud.

Very well thanks, its been bloody great we are over the moon with it mate.

So Tan's getting about 41 mpg around town but she only does 2 miles to work, a bit of running around and trips to Lakeside so no big miles. She doesn't do "fuel saving" so you may get a few more with a lighter foot.
When we went away we had all 4 of us in it, a boot full of stuff and a take full of fuel and i was getting 54mpg with the cruise control set to 70mph.

Road tax is £290 for the year. On the road the car is great, so smooth and quite. Its no rocket ship but its got quite a bit of low down grunt, once it gets going it fly's along at speeds you don't realize your doing.
Its no PH1 Clio but for a big car i think it handles quite well, the turning lock to lock isn't the best and its a little bit harsh on pot hole roads but on the motorway its epic. Its the most comfy car i think ive ever been in, im looking forward to doing a long trip in it next year (want to go to Scotland) As ive said before, as a family car its perfect and i couldn't think of anything else i could have bought for the money.

Because these car's are now old what i found is its hard to find one with full service history, this car has full main dealer history and the previous owner was a bit like myself. :blush:

Mark, if you want to come and have a look at the car, go out in it, have a drive etc then feel free bud.
All i will say, if your going to buy a later S40 then buy a petrol one, the diesel engines are made by Renault.

Ill text you what we payed. :smiley:

 

[McGherkin]

Where in Scotland are you planning to go Scott?

 

[Typhoon]

Nice buy there Scott.

 

[Chrisgti6]

All i will say, if your going to buy a later S40 then buy a petrol one, the diesel engines are made by Renault.

Which engines are Renault built? I'm fairly certain all the diesel lumps other than the D5 are PSA/Ford/Mini engines?

 

[Dan@SJM]

I would say that its a bit shorter, but in her head its alot shorter.

That's fine with me bud.

All of 20mm shorter lol. I liked my v70, but it just didn't tow as well as I wanted it to.

 

[Jekyll]

Scott, I can't stop looking at this!

First you inspired me to get a ph1, and now a S60! Next thing you know I'm going to shave my head and go up to a 34 waist!



*34+ X amount

 

[McGherkin]

Needs spotlights

 

[Mr R.]

Needs spotlights :wink:

The head lights arn't the greatest tbh so its time to buy better bulbs.

There H7 for the head lights, HB3U for the main beam and capless 501 for the side lights.

So im thinking these for the side lights.
http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/mtec-3-1w-led-501-w5w-t10-capless-wedge-sidelight-bulbs/

Or these.
http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/osram-501-w5w-6000k-led-bulbs-pair/

Then these for the main beam.
http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/mtec-9005-hb3-12v-65w-super-white-hid-class-upgrade-bulbs/

And these H7 for the head light.
http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/mtec-h7-12v-55w-cosmos-blue-xenon-effect-upgrade-bulbs/

Thoughts @McGherkin @Dr Jekyll

Is there any other i should be looking at?

 

[ForceIndia]

Got mtech in the wife's meg. They looked xenon colour, but really dull. Less light output than standard. Changed them for the top philips bulb, massive improvement.

 

[McGherkin]

I'd be going for OSRAM Nightbreaker Ultimate bulbs, every time. Just the best output you can get.

Sidelights, either of those will do. I only have generic cheap led ones in mine. For the sidelights, which are essentially aimed at oncoming traffic, I don't see much point in having massively overpowered bulbs. I'd go for the OSRAM out of the two, but you can get bulbs off ebay far cheaper than that.

 

[Mr R.]

Got mtech in the wife's meg. They looked xenon colour, but really dull. Less light output than standard. Changed them for the top philips bulb, massive improvement.

Thanks for that, these ones bud?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/V...495282a1e457f0ad2809302d6760159d7d34d7&000384

 

[Mr R.]

I'd be going for OSRAM Nightbreaker Ultimate bulbs, every time. Just the best output you can get.

Sidelights, either of those will do. I only have generic cheap led ones in mine. For the sidelights, which are essentially aimed at oncoming traffic, I don't see much point in having massively overpowered bulbs. I'd go for the OSRAM out of the two, but you can get bulbs off ebay far cheaper than that.

Thanks mate.

These for the main?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/V...723d0c1c5245de9be823164f2815d923695efd&000384

 

[ForceIndia]

Thanks for that, these ones bud?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/V...495282a1e457f0ad2809302d6760159d7d34d7&000384

No, the x-treme vision. I've used night breaker before, they're pretty much as bright as the philips but didn't last as long (4 bulbs in one year in a focus). But not sure if that was a problem with the car or the bulb.

 

[McGherkin]

Thanks mate.

These for the main?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/V...723d0c1c5245de9be823164f2815d923695efd&000384

Yeah.

@ForceIndia That sounds unusually poor.

 

[ForceIndia]

Yeah.

@ForceIndia That sounds unusually poor.

They were ebay purchases, so maybe not genuine?

 

[McGherkin]

Possibly. Obviously to get the output the life is shortened, same as the Phillips, but not to the extent that you should be changing 4 bulbs a year.

 

[Jekyll]

Scott, don't buy the HB3 bulbs. I have them spare from my ph1 that I can send you FOC :smile:

I'd be looking at the Cree sidelight bulbs on there as they are great. I had a set on the ph1 and are bright and white.

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/501-w5w-5w-cree-canbus-led-extremely-bright-sidelight-bulbs/

Also, I have those Mtec (cosmos blue as my full beam) but I'll be totally honest, I dont think they are that good against my H7 6000k HID's, but that's because the output on the HID's are great IMO.

 

[Jekyll]

I also have some Philips H7's you welcome too. Unsure on what ones but I can send them to you with the Mtecs if you want?

 

[Mr R.]

Scott, don't buy the HB3 bulbs. I have them spare from my ph1 that I can send you FOC :smile:

I'd be looking at the Cree sidelight bulbs on there as they are great. I had a set on the ph1 and are bright and white.

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/501-w5w-5w-cree-canbus-led-extremely-bright-sidelight-bulbs/

Also, I have those Mtec (cosmos blue as my full beam) but I'll be totally honest, I dont think they are that good against my H7 6000k HID's, but that's because the output on the HID's are great IMO.

I also have some Philips H7's you welcome too. Unsure on what ones but I can send them to you with the Mtecs if you want?

That's very bloody kind of you mate, let me at least cover the postage?

What HB3 do you have Mark?

So this is what i was going to buy.

Head lights.
http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/philips-h7-12v-55w-x-tremevision-130-more-light-twin-pack/

Main.
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/V...723d0c1c5245de9be823164f2815d923695efd&000384

Side.
http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/501-w5w-5w-cree-canbus-led-extremely-bright-sidelight-bulbs/

 

[Jekyll]

No way Scott, your a mate!

The Mtec's are these in HB3:

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/mtec-9005-hb3-12v-65w-super-white-hid-class-upgrade-bulbs/

The Philips are H7 but insure what ones.

I had osram nightbreaker unlimited and swapped them for the Mtecs and I thought the Mtecs were better. That's my opinion and that was in the ph1. Both sets are in my toolbox doing nothing so drop me your address Scott and I'll send them all out this week. At least this way you can try them before you commit to other bulbs

 

[Mr R.]

Thanks for the advice guys, in the end ive bought these.

2015-11-24_05-59-50 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Dr Jekyll (Mark) was kind enough to drop off a pair of MTEC HB3's to me last night which has been fitted to the main beam.
Thanks again mate, very very kind of you.

New vs old side light bulbs

2015-11-24_06-00-03 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Massive difference with just the side lights on.

2015-11-24_06-00-16 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

 

[Jekyll]

Your welcome my bald beauty

 

[Mr R.]

Still loving this but it needs a bloody good clean, a couple of weeks ago i had the front pair of winter tires fitted (we got these in with the car) so bring on the snow. :smiley:

Yesterday i fitted the new headlamp wiper blades and removed the alarm siren. Its a common problem at this age for the back up batteries to fail and this flags up a error message on the dash "Alarm system service"
The alarm siren is a sealed unit, to replace is around £170 from Volvo but there's a video on YouTube showing how to replace the battery's but cutting the alarm box open.
I took the box to work and cut it open only to find that the battery acid had leaked over the insides, its now bin food!!

Ill keep an eye out for a working s/hand unit.

2015-12-06_07-07-01 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Had to part remove the wheel arch liner which is held in with pop rivets. :down:

2015-12-06_07-13-43 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

 

[Mr R.]

Still loving the car load's, i had it serviced in January by a local Volvo specialist who also replaced one of the front ABS rings which is fitted to the outer CV joint.
We was getting a traction error on the dash and it turned out that the old one was cracked and spinning.

On the MOT it was flagged up that there was very slight play in both inner steering arms, so i replaced them.

I bought the tool and the arms came from ECP, quite an easy job to do.

2016-04-11_07-41-55 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

2016-04-11_07-41-17 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

TRE removed and the gator.

2016-04-11_07-41-30 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Old worn unit removed.

2016-04-11_07-42-17 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

2016-04-11_07-42-37 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

New shiny one's ready to be fitted.

2016-04-11_07-41-41 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Once both arms where fitted the car went to have the tracking done. While i had the car up in the air with its wheels off i noticed that the front brake hoses where showing signs of cracking.

2016-01-10_08-38-21 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Both front hoses where replaced, i also replaced both rear's just in case. However there where no signs of cracking on them.
The rears are not the easiest to do but i got them replaced in the end.

2016-04-11_07-39-50 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

All done, pig of a job.

2016-04-11_07-40-40 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

The above work was done back at the beginning of this year, this weekend im going to replace the rear brakes along with the hand brake cables.
The hand brake is at its highest point and still not working, the rear discs are showing signs of age so i thought i may as well replace it all.

2016-07-27_05-41-57 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

2016-07-27_05-41-48 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

 

[JB21]

I loved my old D5, horrendous colour in burgundy but is still in my top 3 cars over stuff of similar age and shape like the MPS6 and ST220... they're not quick but just satisfying if that makes sense, think its the comfort and the waftability of them. Easy to work on as well.

 

[Sprinting Clio]

Make sure the levers that attach the handbrake cable to the shoes are not seized, its quite common

 

[Mr R.]

Yesterday i decided to tackle the rear brakes on the Volvo as i had a free day with no customers cars to valet, first thing was to jack the rear of the car up nice and high as i would be laying under it replacing the handbrake cables.
The next job while i was still nice and clean was to remove bits of the interior, the bottom of the back seat had to come out and the center counsel.

Nice new bits. :smiley:

20160730_120518 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

20160730_102804 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

I had already adjusted the handbrake a couple of times so i knew something wasn't right.

This confirmed my thoughts.

20160730_101004 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

20160730_100952 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Next job was to remove both rear disc's, i don't think that they have ever been replaced.

20160730_141721 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

20160730_141740 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

20160730_113905 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Once the disc's where off the condition of the handbrake shoes was quite good, if i wasn't so fussy then i could have cleaned them up but for the sake of £25 for a genuine Volvo set then i didn't think that is worth the risk.

Old shoes.

20160730_113853 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

And this is the reason why the handbrake was so crap, the end of the cable is sized into the plastic part and the steel outer part has collapsed.

20160730_115451 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

20160730_115459 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

Before i removed the old cables i tied a length of wire onto the end. Once it was out i then tied this onto the new cable which my son sat in the car and pulled the end of the wire to guide the new cable back in.

New cable going in.

20160730_120912 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

And in.

20160730_133306 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

New shoes fitted.

20160730_144037 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

New disc's fitted and handbrake adjusted, we now have 2 clicks and the handbrake feels great.

Gave the caliper a clean and fitted the new pads.

20160730_170325 by Scott Raven, on Flickr

So that's another job off of the list, the next job is to replace the rear shocks. They are not leaking but look very old and rusty, again they have never been replaced in 122k.
After i've replaced the shocks i'm going to do a auto box oil flush, this should make the gear changes alot smoother and its another job that has never been done.

 

[Mr R.]

Make sure the levers that attach the handbrake cable to the shoes are not seized, its quite common

Thank's mate, it was the handbrake cable that had failed. :unamused:

Do you work for Volvo? :wink::smiley: