Volvo Service Price Indicator - Beware!!!
 

Folks, just a heads-up not to use the Volvo Service Price Indicator tool at https://www.volvocars.com/uk, as it's not fit for purpose. I've just discovered that my ten year service on a 2009 S40 2.0D is going to cost me over £1,000 more than I'd anticipated!!! The Service Price Indicator shows that only a basic oil, oil filter and cabin filter change are needed, at approx £250, but Volvo service technicians are adamant that the vehicle needs the two belts replacing, as well as other sundries, despite the fact that Volvo's online tool indicates that these belts don't need changing until 12 years/150k miles. I'm not impressed. I hadn't budgeted for this, and am going to have to defer the service until May, when the vehicle is actually ten years old. I previously used this tool before having the vehicle serviced last year, so this discrepancy has existed for at least twelve months, possibly a lot longer. I can't believe that nobody has previously noticed and flagged this up. What would happen if you used the Service Price Indicator, but had the vehicle independently serviced, and the timing belt snapped somewhere between 10-12 years or 125k and 150 miles?! Very sloppy of Volvo, and it has greatly inconvenienced me.

You drive a 9 year old non-premium representation of the marque that any reputable garage could easily maintain, so I fail to see exactly how you've been greatly inconvenienced. Stick with Volvos current service regime and have the work carried out by an independant. Staying with Volvo for your servicing is not cost effective. You won't get back most of what you've put into the car when it comes to selling it. Aside from that, £250 for a basic oil, oil filter and cabin filter change is absolute madness.

The inconvenience is that, due to other demands on my resources such as a narrowboat i co-own with my partner, i had not set aside an additional £1k for this service. Or, to put it another way, i do not have the money. If the Volvo Service Indicator, which, it appears, is frankly wrong, and highly misleading, had been accurate, i would have budgeted for this expense during the past year. As it is i now have to delay the service until May when, due to the original owner actually having the first two services done within a year, the car actually reaches ten years old and thereby falls due for the ten year/125k service. Since i only do between 6-8k miles per annum and the actual mileage since new is only just nudging 70k, i am going to take a chance that the belt doesn't snap in the next few months and that the oil will be ok for nearer 18 months rather than 12. I agree with your view regarding Volvo's service costs up to a point, but the main dealer service does come with Volvo expertise, Volvo HQ software updates, and, moreover, comprehensive breakdown cover which is worth about £100. This makes the £250 service cost look better value, and although i accept that this major service could be done considerably cheaper by an independent specialist, it's not the sort of work i would want bodged.

That's fair enough, but I can tell you now that there are thousands of non main dealer mechanics and technicians who could service your vehicle just as well, if not better than Volvo. I could understand your logic if it was a 3 or 4 year old car, but at 9 years I honestly believe it's just money down the drain. If you had your car serviced at a reputable independant, you wouldn't be online complaining about the price of servicing. In fact you'd probably be able to afford Volvos' £1k service quite easily.

Theres also a whole load of not so great independents who skimp on the basics like lubing the bonnet latch meaning you get a nice shock when it pops at 80MPH (fortunately in my case the secondary catch held it) and using pattern parts that don't last.

That said, I'm sure my belts service at a dealer came in at around £700 and that included the water pump that they said they wouldn't normally do but it felt notchy.

£249 on essentially an oil servicer is just silly, why anyone uses volvo to service their car after its out of warranty is beyond me. Same service at my local volvo indy (that uses volvo parts) cost me £114 all in , my volvo dealer quoted £245+vat, quote for the timing belt was also extortionate, sure quote was near £800 from there, vs about £400 from the volvo indy. Probably something to do with £85+ vat labour rate at volvo vs £35 at the volvo indy.

Froggyted - Im not gonna comment on sense or lack of it as for servicing it in main dealer - its up to you entirely and Im sure if you do it for a reason. Its widely known main dealership service prices are ripoff and "peace of mind" is only an illusion as basic service duties are usually done by apprentices etc, but parts are always correct and high quality.
But as for "extra costs" its sometimes a gamble - maybe they advise on changing belts was based on actual condition of those and not fixed dealer recommendations? Maybe there is a logic to the quote, or maybe they are trying to get money off you - cant say, but defo would be adviseable to have another (trusted) mechanic to have a look at it...

Just a word from myself - my car had timing belt+WP done by dealership less than 2 years ago. few months ago, WP failed and service told me "1 year warranty on parts only, go F*off..." basically. So what was gained by having it done by dealership for twice the cost of indie mechanic?...

Taking a gamble on a timing belt is not a very wise decision and could end you up with an even bigger cost. fair enough the car never told you or the website but all you need to do is pickup a maintanance manual or look online when these things are due and you will know what is coming up.

unless a dealer gives you an exceptional service then continue using them but if not then dont bother. I used to use the dealer in leamington spa because they knew the car, were very friendly, I got a nice courtecy car and they let me bring my own cheaper parts ... since coming to truro the dealer here are not friendly and I dont trust them with ripping me of so I just go indy now.

If you dont want the dealer to get it done then get a cost up from an indy or buy the parts yourself and get a garage to fit it for you (cheapest option)

A car cannot tell you its costs in the future you just have to plan for everything. This form is great for vehicle mileage and what people have had / changed worn etc etc

Volvo list the timing belt change as 12 years 150k, but Ford list it as 10 years 125k for the 2.0 DW10. Unhelpful when the different manufacturers that use the engine don’t agree on the intervals. I would recommend the Ford service schedule http://www.etis.ford.com/fordservice...cheduleForm.do and see the details for a 2008 Focus Duratorq MSP6 for the 10 year 125k on a Focus Powershift which is the same platform the V50 uses for reference.

Best way not to get shafted by the Stealership:star-wars-smiley-00

Go to an Indy and use Genuine/OEM parts for the T-belt/Aux belt, tensioners, idlers, and waterpump. I'd imagine no more than £400 really, if not less.

If you've got the kit and the know how (Haynes Manual/YouTubehelp on here), you can do the service yourself, it really isn't that hard...
The only thing which is tricky is priming the fuel pump on that engine, and doing the cabin filter if you can be bothered.

Yoda would say "Save a fortune, you will.":star-wars-smiley-02