Service Issues: XC90 D5 engine DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)

Hi all,

I am the owner of a Volvo XC90 D5 diesel engine. I understand that this car has the very latest D5 engine.
In order to reach Euro4 emission requirements, this car is equipped with DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), which sounds fine ... on paper!

Recently my car has developped a fault that shows 2 messages on the car computer: Engine management fault and filter fault.
It started as a small fault and escaladed in the car being only driveable under automatic safe mode (ie: sloooooowly)
As the car is under waranty (purchased new in Jan 06), I brought it to Volvo Parkside in Orpington, Kent.
It took them 4 appointments to sort the problem. Well sort it might not be the proper word!

They explained me that this filter issue is actually not a problem but a feature of the car.

Here is a copy of the letter I was given this morning:

"On the new diesel engines from MY06 a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) was introduced to reach Euro4 emission requirements.
The DPF requires regeneration between every refuelling. The regeneration itself requires a warm engine and medium load (at least above low load) and roughly 10-20 minutes in this condition.

...

Whilst this is a state of the art system, unfortunately there is a no chance to cheange DPF regeneration strategy to avoid above"


This is quite unbelievable! Volvo is telling me that i must drive for say 15 mintues every refuelling to regenerate the DPF!
Surely this is some kind of a joke?
On one hand they place a filter to reduce particulates sent in the environement but for this to work properly, one must drive 15 mins (say 12.5 miles)!!

I would expect this regeneration process to entirely offset the aim of the anti-pollution filter?!?!

When I purchased this car, no one EVER told me that I would have to drive 10-20 minutes after every refuelling, had I known, I would have had second thoughts on purchasing it.

Do you guys find this acceptable??
Anyone else experiencing this?? Funny enough when I ask the dealer, I am told( as always) that I am the only person ever to suffer from this!