2013 V70 D3 high miles opinions
 

I went out for a drive in a 2013 D3 G/T yesterday and was pleasantly surprised with how well it drove for it's 143k miles, it is business ed spec so has plenty of options albeit no leather. It is very tidy with just a few chips around the top of the rear bumper and a few marks to the gear lever surround.
I checked the paperwork out and it is 1 owner with full history, Volvo up to 110k then the last 2 were from independent. My concern is a receipt for work to the top end, new lifters etc which the trader says was for tappet noise, not from timing belt issues. My concern is that the receipt makes no mention of replacement timing belt or aux belts.
Does anyone have experience with the 2 litre 5 pots doing big miles without issue or indeed what problems I should be aware of? I am aware of the aux belt breaking and taking the timing belt with it but other than that, I can't seem to get much more information.
I could do a deal at £5300 but that is the top end of my funds and although it feels good value, I would have nothing left to cover any bills for work required for a month or 2.

Could moderator please move this from the for sale section, my bad!

Any chance of contacting the people that did the work and ask them whether it was done? Ask the trader to do it?

I bought my similar age XC70 (at the time) with 146k and have since done 30k without any issue. It had a prior good service history. Admittedly it is the 2.4l but that is only likely to add more stresses to the engine.

Thanks for your reply Puffster, I could contact the garage who carried out the work I suppose and I’ve looked at their Facebook profile with nothing but glowing reports. I did offer him 5k for the car which he couldn’t accept but has now been back in touch after being let down.
Unfortunately for him, I am currently in the Vendee on 2 week holiday but will contact him when I return but it also now turns out that it only has 1 key.
I’m tempted to leave it as there are plenty available in my price range, just not such a current model with business edition spec. I’m pretty tempted by some similar mileage E class Mercs for similar money now, I think I will just chill back on my hols and start some test drives when I return.

To be honest, a timing belt & aux belt replacement is reasonable price wise on Volvo's, especially if you get the work done at a local independent specialist or a trusted garage. Although, I'd like to see a stamp or receipt for a timing belt replacement on a vehicle with that mileage too. If he's not prepared to accept your offer of £300 below the asking price, which would near enough pay for, or certainly contribute to the works that need to be done, then I'd be prepared to walk away & I'd tell him that. Afterall, you said this was at the top end of your budget, so any reduction in price will benefit you. Another way to look at it is that the seller has been back in contact with you, so he obviously hasn't forgot your offer. If its the car you want, the spec you want etc... I'd give him a number you're comfortable with & basically say take it or leave it. The ball is in your court, he wants the sell the car & you're willing to buy it at the price price. The car is £5,300, you offered £5k & he wouldn't accept it at the time. However, now that interest has fell through, he might be prepared to be a bit more negotiable on the price. Personally, I'd offer £4,700 & see what he says (With a view to paying £5k max). It might seem cheeky, but you have to negotiate the best deal for yourself. If there's no joy from that, walk away & you'll find something else. At least you know you tried to get the best deal you could!

You mentioned E Class Merc's, certainly a lovely car. However, you have to bear in mind that parts/running costs are expensive on these vehicles.

If it's only got 1 key it will cost you around £300 for a new one so factor that in.
This includes the key, reprogram the car the new and existing key so that the lost one will not operate the car. Unless you physically change the door locks nothing can be done about the manual keys opening the car but it could not be driven away with the missing key. A fate that befell a daughters boyfriend when he baught an audi A6 with one key.

Paul.

Thanks for the good advice, I did end up walking away in the end, just something didn’t feel quite right and in my experience that is always a sign move on and forget. I have now preemptively placed a refundable deposit on a 2013 D5 SE Lux manual with 145k with full history (serviced every 8 months). My only issue is distance, it’s in Sussex so a long way from me but after lengthy discussions, I’m happy to travel for what appears to be a very well looked after Volvo. They are on holiday until the middle of next week and we travel back from the Vendee’ on Thursday so presently trying to arrange for a viewing on my way back up if he can arrange for someone to be there in his absence, it would certainly save a biggie the following week and earache from my significant other!

I drove 6 hours to view my current car and another 6 back home, then did the same thing the next weekend to pick it up. Worth the effort for me.

Paul.

I’m just hoping I can find someone willing to come with me so I don’t need to make two journeys, my wife certainly doesn’t wish to so I’ll try a bit of bribery with a friend like paying for a slap up dinner or beer

A little update, the deal with the Sussex car fell through as he sold it while I was still on holiday and then wouldn't respond to my emails, ho hum.
I have viewed 2 since then, a manual 13 plate D4 which drove well but is due both the timing belt and tensioner replacement which can be negotiated with price wise but alarmingly the paint is peeling from the front bumper due to a poor respray which was apparently done due to numerous stone chips, real shame as it drove so well, it would not be a cheap fix to get the belts done and the bumper done properly.
I have just returned from driving a 10 plate D3 geartronic which although a bit grubby inside is a very tidy car at a good price. It had a replacement engine several months ago after the tensioner had failed and took the timing belt out, unfortunately there is no service book with the car so I will do some digging with Volvo to see if there is anything on their records. The price is very fair so hopefully it will have a good history.
I must say that the more up to date features of the 2013 car has thrown me a little as I do like the extra gadgets like music streaming etc. but not sure I would want the hassle of booking it in for a paint job even if I could get a big discount off his price, though he seemed to accept it will be worth much less less than the asking price.