New V70 owner: advice needed!

[graphnic]

Originally Posted by simboc2004

Definitely get the 163bhp upgrade if you - even more is better too :-)) Mine's running about 185bhp now and it pulls much better from low revs with a gentle remap.

I did see some independent remaps offering 185bhp/450Nm. I'm always a bit wary but I know a lot of people do it. Who did yours?

[apersson850]

Originally Posted by griston64

I thought the 180bhp D4 was the newer 4 pot engine

It depends on year, market and drivetrain.

In 2012 in Sweden, Volvo had two D3 engines. One 2-liter 5-cylinder with 163 hp and one 2.4-liter five cylinder with - you guessed it - 163 hp.

This put the marketing guys in a bad position, as it was difficult to explain why a customer should choose a more expensive engine, when it still was just that same D3. Well, it wasn't, but it looked like that.

So Volvo took the clever decision to rename the 2.4-liter 5-cylinder 163 hp engine to D4, to set the difference compared to the 2-liter 5-cylinder 163 hp engine.

This put the marketing guys in a bad position, as it was difficult to explain why a customer should choose a more expensive engine labeled D4, when the top power output was the same as for the D3.

So Volvo took the slightly more clever decision to modify the 2.4-liter 5-cylinder engine to output 181 hp and 400 Nm, to make some difference compared to D3 engines. Easier to explain, and still below the D5.

Note that this applies to the Swedish market. Other markets may have been different.

Anyway, there's quite a significant difference in perceived performance in both daily driving and when towing a caravan, when I compare our two XC70.
Both are automatic AWD cars with the 2.4-liter 5-cylinder, but one is a D4 (181 hp/400 Nm) and the other a D5 (230 hp/470 Nm).

[graphnic]

Originally Posted by apersson850

It depends on year, market and drivetrain.

In 2012 in Sweden, Volvo had two D3 engines. One 2-liter 5-cylinder with 163 hp and one 2.4-liter five cylinder with - you guessed it - 163 hp.

This put the marketing guys in a bad position, as it was difficult to explain why a customer should choose a more expensive engine, when it still was just that same D3. Well, it wasn't, but it looked like that.

So Volvo took the clever decision to rename the 2.4-liter 5-cylinder 163 hp engine to D4, to set the difference compared to the 2-liter 5-cylinder 163 hp engine.

This put the marketing guys in a bad position, as it was difficult to explain why a customer should choose a more expensive engine labeled D4, when the top power output was the same as for the D3.

So Volvo took the slightly more clever decision to modify the 2.4-liter 5-cylinder engine to output 181 hp and 400 Nm, to make some difference compared to D3 engines. Easier to explain, and still below the D5.

Note that this applies to the Swedish market. Other markets may have been different.

Anyway, there's quite a significant difference in perceived performance in both daily driving and when towing a caravan, when I compare our two XC70.
Both are automatic AWD cars with the 2.4-liter 5-cylinder, but one is a D4 (181 hp/400 Nm) and the other a D5 (230 hp/470 Nm).

To make it even more complicated, after the facelift in 2013 we (in the UK) had a D4 4 cylinder with 179 bhp and 295.00 lbs/ft (with the 8 Speed Geartronic, rather than the 6). I don't know much about it, other than my local Volvo independent specialist was far more enthusiastic about the D3 136bhp and hence my decision was made.

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by graphnic

To make it even more complicated, after the facelift in 2013 we (in the UK) had a D4 4 cylinder with 179 bhp and 295.00 lbs/ft (with the 8 Speed Geartronic, rather than the 6). I don't know much about it, other than my local Volvo independent specialist was far more enthusiastic about the D3 136bhp and hence my decision was made.

Who is your local independent specialist?

[graphnic]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

Who is your local independent specialist?

Avalon in Sywell. I don’t want to misrepresent them however, it was mainly a conversation about the D3 and I happened to mention I was also considering a 4 cylinder, which had seen a slightly harder life. It’s possible we were speaking at crossed purposes and certainly in very general terms.

[Baffler]

I wasn't too impressed by the 10 bhp gain from the Polestar against the €800+ price tag so investigated alternatives. BSR in Sweden have some serious upgrades, albeit you have to fit it yourself, and Voltech in Glasgow offer both a stage 1 & 2 RICA tune and Polestar tuning. I think a spin to Scotland could be on the cards

[graphnic]

Originally Posted by Baffler

I wasn't too impressed by the 10 bhp gain from the Polestar against the €800+ price tag so investigated alternatives. BSR in Sweden have some serious upgrades, albeit you have to fit it yourself, and Voltech in Glasgow offer both a stage 1 & 2 RICA tune and Polestar tuning. I think a spin to Scotland could be on the cards

It's £550 currently here, and on my D3 it's a 20% increase in BHP, and an improved Greatronic mapping, so a little more tempting. I don't blame you for looking elsewhere with those figures.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by Baffler

I wasn't too impressed by the 10 bhp gain from the Polestar against the €800+ price tag so investigated alternatives. BSR in Sweden have some serious upgrades, albeit you have to fit it yourself, and Voltech in Glasgow offer both a stage 1 & 2 RICA tune and Polestar tuning. I think a spin to Scotland could be on the cards

Voltech cannot do Polestar. It's main dealers only

[Baffler]

Originally Posted by griston64

Voltech cannot do Polestar. It's main dealers only

https://www.voltechautomotive.co.uk/polestar-tuning/

So they take the car to Volvo on your behalf?

[simboc2004]

I used Superchips for my remap - they offered 185bhp and it is excellent - not too much power and very drivable (though still defeats the traction control quite easily!). Celtic Tuning offered a boost from 163bhp to 215bhp (and 455Nm torque), but I decided to go with a smaller increase with the aim of longevity...!

As a side note I finally got my Jetex twin pipe stainless steel exhaust (now discontinued) fitted yesterday and it has made a difference too (Jetex claimed +10bhp) - I think it just lets the engine get rid of the gasses better, which then makes for sharper throttle response and pickup. I really notice the difference, particularly from low revs, which I didn't expect.