Ownership Thread - 2012 XC90 Executive
 

As the title suggests this is the first post in a thread I'll use to document the ownership experience of my new car, a used XC90.

It's a late 2012 Executive, in dark grey with dark grey leather. It has 183,000 miles and a comprehensive history. I'm the second owner.

It's the same car discussed on this thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=292264

I picked it up this afternoon from the trader in Essex and drove the hour or so back to Cambridgeshire having first brimmed the tank with V Power Diesel. A very comfortable trip spent enjoying the massaging heated seats and pondering why the sat nav didn't seem much different to that fitted to the 2005 S80 I'd owned some years previously. While on the subject of the nav, the lady giving the directions sure is stern compared to the comparatively happy-go-lucky chick in the Toyota derived systems I've been used to.

The sound system is fantastic though, and the music streaming from my iPhone over Bluetooth sounded great with lots of clarity and depth of sound.

Unfortunately, today was a grotty rainy day and not one that lended itself to lots of pictures, but here are some once it was home and on the drive.

https://4amdjw.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none

https://ddfqna.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none

https://51diva.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none

https://pk6vvw.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none

https://d6ylpw.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none

I'll get some better pictures on a nicer day following a thorough wash and wax.

Aside from mechanical checks, I definitely want to try and get the navigation updated. It looks as if it's still running maps from when it was new.

https://tnwqsg.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none

Are the ~£20 discs I see on eBay the best option for this? What sort of changes might I expect from a later (2018?) disc? Just newer maps?

Plus, the lack of the washer (for want of a better expression) on the driver's side door lock bothers me a lot more than it should.

https://ddfpna.bl.files.1drv.com/y4m...&cropmode=none

I've seen these on eBay for a fiver, but even this seems a lot for such a small piece of plastic. Any other suggestions? Scrap dealer I guess?

I have the Volvo booked for an interior detail tomorrow morning. This should freshen up the slightly grimy dashboard and whatnot. I'll try and get some before and after pictures.

Thanks for looking!

Give FRF a call - listed in one of the general pages here - and see what Volvo charge. I did it for a blanking cap for the boot area and it wasn't silly money. You will know its the right bit then = peace of mind, etc

In respect of the door pin plastic ring thing - I had the same issue with mine - seems Volvo ones are plastic covered platinum!

I took the remaining ones off and carefully replaced them with a stainless steel flat washer of the appropriate size (of which I have loads) and a tiny bit of superglue to hold them on.

Looks good and is a nice contrast to the black door trims. Obviously each to their own in terms of preference.

It looks a lovely car and due to it's mileage has been bought presumably at way below it's normal market value.

This in turn effectively leaves a decent pot of cash to keep right on top of it and with proper maintenance should still provide very reliable motoring despite it's miles.


Nice car.:teeth_smile:.

Map updates are readily available in all the usual locations: official through the dealer, and unofficial through where-ever.

The newest 2018 map disc (2 DVDs) is sold as a 2018 update:
Map P/N 32214049 AA (shown on DVD as "Includes map 32214049")
Map version AEU_06_201701A, which is a 2017 map DVD, released early 2018
SW version 00002308/02400 (unchanged)
DVD Name EU-3350-00_1 (and EU-3350-00_2 for DVD2)
VCC part no 32214046 1748
Data Version 17/05/16/01 (which is 16.05.2017)

Your navOS version is currently 2104/2400
This means system 2400, version 2104 (I'm guessing one reads this as v2.104)
The current version is 2308 (v2.308)

You may or may not have Postcode search on your navOS version
So a map update may bring you the postcode search.
otherwise, we do not know what changes the navOS update brings.

The map data contains normally millions of map changes (for Europe)
Whether a map change affects you is purely dependent on where you drive, and how often streets change in that area.

In May 2016 I documented the entire update process from a 2010 map to a 2015 map (with map data from December 2014) here:
https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=250874
I went from a very old 2009 version 1630/2400 (v1.630) directly to v2.308

In April 2018 I documented the update process from the 2015 map to the 2017 map (with map data from May 2017) here:
https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=280267

The updates appear to be in 2 year cycles, we can expect the next update to be released at the start of 2020, with map data from around May 2019

So you would DEFINITELY benefit immediately from a map update, as it would take you from a 2012 map to a 2017 map, which is a 5 year leap ahead in map data!

Thanks for the responses and kind words, and I most certainly defer to your expertise in the field of the navigation, SwissXC90! Great advice and I'll be ordering a disc soon.

I had a useful phone call with a Volvo indy I trust and have used before (Kings of Witcham) about a check over and servicing. We had a long chat about the car, the age, the service record, and so on.

The basic thrust of the conversation was it doesn't need a timing belt as it's not due for another 30,000 miles. It doesn't need an engine oil change as that was only done by Volvo 1,500 miles ago. It doesn't need the gearbox or Haldex oil changing unless it's showing problems (which so far and touch wood it isn't), so there's no need for them to do anything to it for now. This is quite some advice from an indy who would have been quids in from the work and definitely means they are in my good graces for future jobs.

I will however be keeping a close eye on the gear changes and other things and take appropriate action should issues arise. I'm definitely not averse to spending money on the car to fix problems but I'm not going to spend cash when I don't need to.

I spoke with the trader where I bought the car who seemed hopeful the second key may yet arrive. Assuming he's being honest, and at this point he has no reason not to be, the second key often comes through from his supplier eventually, as the fleet back office staff work through their backlog. Therefore I'll give it a month or so before I stump up the £300 Volvo want for a new key.

I also called the offices of Sir Robert McAlpine who owned the car previously in an effort to track down the missing luggage cover. It turns out the car was previously used by one of their directors (and was on the plate 9MCA - probably worth more than the Volvo was new) and the contact was a chauffeur who no longer works in the business. The trail has therefore gone cold on this one. Ah well, it was worth a shot.

In other news, the detailing people came and and did a thorough clean of the interior. I was half thinking I've wasted £100 on the basis that they might not be able to get much of the grime out but OH MY GOODNESS. The filth they got out the head lining alone was disgustingly impressive. I have a feeling they'll be uploading pictures of the work to their own website which I will link to when it's available, but rest assured I now think it was an absolute bargain. Two people here for 2.5 hours and all I had to provide was electricity (and two cups of tea), and the car interior is transformed.

Thanks for reading.

I would still change the gearbox oil as a matter of course.

If the box is performing faultlessly at present, now is precisely the time for this bit of preventative maintenance.:regular_smile:

I didn’t actually know you could get updates like that, thanks! I have just ordered a disc set and really looking forward to it.

Mine is a 2012 and I don’t have post code entry.

To the OP have you thought of a gear box oil change?

I changed the gear box oil in my 2012 xc90 and it was black at 68k miles. Full history and no tow bar. I would have thought it a great time to change. Do it yourself, it’s real easy.

Interesting thread. I will follow.