XC60 D5 Service History Missing.

[Bagheera]

Thanks to those who responded to my previous thread on Volvo safety.

I'm now spoken to a dealer on an XC60 D5 (five cylinder), 95k with a service history as follows:
9k Volvo MD
20k Volvo MD
31k Volvo MD
43k Volvo MD
53k Volvo MD (2019)

95k Independent (2024)


Everything else checks out on the car. Would you buy based on the gap in history with this engine? Thanks

[GrahamBrown1]

There are plenty about, if it’s the car you want, right spec, colour etc then I wouldn’t say it was a deal breaker for me personally but it would have to be spot on in every other respect.

It does read as tho the car has done 40,000 miles without an oil change, perhaps the owners did it themselves. It will have to of visited a garage for mot at some point. It will have been warning them on the dash of service over due for the past years/ 40k miles i think the chances of it not seen some sort of oil change would be rare. If the owner hasn’t taken care of it there is usually signs else where as well. Is its general condition of a well looked after car?

Tyre brand to me normally tells its own story. If its got cheap and nasty on then it’s maintenance probably not been at the top of the list.

Also the latest service should have been the full cambelt service including auxiliary belts and tensioner. If this hasn’t been done and isn’t part of the sale of the car I’d be walking away anyhow.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Thanks to those who responded to my previous thread on Volvo safety.

I'm now spoken to a dealer on an XC60 D5 (five cylinder), 95k with a service history as follows:
9k Volvo MD
20k Volvo MD
31k Volvo MD
43k Volvo MD
53k Volvo MD (2019)

95k Independent (2024)


Everything else checks out on the car. Would you buy based on the gap in history with this engine? Thanks

I highly doubt its done 40k without a service, but like the person said above, that's how it looks. It could have been done DIY though, which isn't a bad thing, but just a pity there's no records... it happens I guess. 95k is nothing on a 5 cylinder Volvo, its not even run in...

At 95k, you're approaching cam belt and auxiliary belt replacement territory by miles (or if its 10 years old already, then its due anyway). You can easily budget £400+ for that nowadays.

If it was me buying it, I would want to also see evidence that it had a cam belt/aux belt replacement. Or if it hadn't, I'd be stipulating getting it replaced as part of the deal or getting a fair chunk off the asking price.

Have you checked the previous MOT history on the car? Make sure that you aren't buying something with a list of problems as long as your arm. Check the brand of tyres and the tread depths. It should have decent brands on. As mentioned above, if there's cheap tyres on it, that usually means maintenance wasn't a priority. You don't want cheap tyres on any car, but especially not a big SUV.

Make sure you bring the car on a good test drive, listen for any clunks or rattles over bumps. Test all the electrics, check the air conditioning works and the heater. Check all the doors open and lock as they should. Look for any warning lights on the dash. Have a look underneath to see if there's anything leaking or any rust.

Don't jump into it, have a good look around it before you commit.

[mannyo1221]

its possible that there may have been history for the missing years, but the invoices may have been destroyed for GDPR reasons if they had a name / address on them. its a shame if there is no stamp in the service book as it appears from the outside that services were skipped.

That last receipt you have may not have a name / address on it, hence why it still exists.

[Bagheera]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

I highly doubt its done 40k without a service, but like the person said above, that's how it looks. It could have been done DIY though, which isn't a bad thing, but just a pity there's no records... it happens I guess. 95k is nothing on a 5 cylinder Volvo, its not even run in...

At 95k, you're approaching cam belt and auxiliary belt replacement territory by miles (or if its 10 years old already, then its due anyway). You can easily budget £400+ for that nowadays.

If it was me buying it, I would want to also see evidence that it had a cam belt/aux belt replacement. Or if it hadn't, I'd be stipulating getting it replaced as part of the deal or getting a fair chunk off the asking price.

Have you checked the previous MOT history on the car? Make sure that you aren't buying something with a list of problems as long as your arm. Check the brand of tyres and the tread depths. It should have decent brands on. As mentioned above, if there's cheap tyres on it, that usually means maintenance wasn't a priority. You don't want cheap tyres on any car, but especially not a big SUV.

Make sure you bring the car on a good test drive, listen for any clunks or rattles over bumps. Test all the electrics, check the air conditioning works and the heater. Check all the doors open and lock as they should. Look for any warning lights on the dash. Have a look underneath to see if there's anything leaking or any rust.

Don't jump into it, have a good look around it before you commit.

Thanks for the replies all.

Is this the D5 engine that should have the aux belt tensioner replaced too?

I've agreed what is a good price and got my indy to quote for the Cambelt at £427 - your guess was pretty much spot on. The only thing that's holding me back is this gap in history.

I very much agree, that in 5 years, it must have had an oil change. Somebody would have paid 20k+ for it so can't imagine they wouldn't have given it some basic maintenance somewhere but it definitely wasn't Volvo from 2019 onwards.

Let's just assume it hasn't had an oil change in that time - would you still buy if you were happy with everything else? Would a D5 tolerate it? 4 years overdue and 40,000 miles.

I know from my experience in owning a Ford 1.6TDCi with the DPF/turbo issues that frequent oil changes were significant in preventing the issue so wouldn't touch one without full traceable history. I don't have the smae knowledge of D5's!

MOT History is good. ABS fault a few years back, x 1 TRE, brake pads. Nothing much to be concerned about that I can see.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Thanks for the replies all.

Is this the D5 engine that should have the aux belt tensioner replaced too?

I've agreed what is a good price and got my indy to quote for the Cambelt at £427 - your guess was pretty much spot on. The only thing that's holding me back is this gap in history.

I very much agree, that in 5 years, it must have had an oil change. Somebody would have paid 20k+ for it so can't imagine they wouldn't have given it some basic maintenance somewhere but it definitely wasn't Volvo from 2019 onwards.

Let's just assume it hasn't had an oil change in that time - would you still buy if you were happy with everything else? Would a D5 tolerate it? 4 years overdue and 40,000 miles.

I know from my experience in owning a Ford 1.6TDCi with the DPF/turbo issues that frequent oil changes were significant in preventing the issue so wouldn't touch one without full traceable history. I don't have the smae knowledge of D5's!

MOT History is good. ABS fault a few years back, x 1 TRE, brake pads. Nothing much to be concerned about that I can see.

What year is the car you're looking at?

The 5 cylinder engine is very good... they're pretty much bulletproof (if maintained).

The gap in history wouldn't be a deal breaker for me personally, but I wouldn't be jumping at it straight away either. I don't believe its done 40k without a service, but it looks that way on paper. Would the car go that long without one? I reckon it would, not that I'd advise ever going that distance without servicing. Look after a car and it'll look after you. If it did do 40k without a service, I wouldn't think it would be running too well... filters would be dirty, oil wouldn't be in a great condition either. I wouldn't advise leaving it that long, that's for sure. I think its been done though, but no proof... catch 22 really.

For me personally though, I can see money needing to be spent on the car straight away and I wouldn't jump at it. I'd really do my research first and make sure I was 100% happy with it before buying...

For example, its most recent service at an independent, is there record of what was actually done on the service like an Invoice that says exactly what was replaced? I can only assume that it hasn't had a cam belt if you phoned to get a quote elsewhere. Maybe the cam belt has already been done by the indy earlier this year? Have you checked? I assume there's some kind of Invoice or stamp in the book. You could always phone the garage that did the service, give the reg and ask them what they did... just a thought (if there's no paperwork available, but there's a stamp in the book you can use to contact them). They should have record of it on their system.

Your garage of choice has gave you a quote of £427 for a cam belt service... is that a Volvo Specialist or a trusted garage? If its a Volvo Specialist, they should replace the cam belt, idler pulley, aux belt, aux belt tensioner and air con belt. All need to be replaced.

Is the dealer willing to take something off the price based on the fact its got a service history gap? Or would they not replace the cam belt/other belts/tensioner as part of the deal? (if it hasn't been done).

For example, when I bought my car, I knew it needed a cam belt, plus all the other belts. The garage (not a dealer) weren't prepared to do it, so I said there has to be some leeway on the price, knowing I'd have to spend a few hundred on it straight away for peace of mind. I got the price of the full cam belt service knocked off the car... I wasn't walking away without getting something in return, or at least trying anyway. If they said no and weren't willing to accommodate in any way, I would have walked away.

If the car meets all your requirements and you're happy with everything, then ultimately its your decision as to what you do. I'd be inclined to do a bit of haggling to get a better deal and checking through the history a bit more. Is there a warranty being offered with the car, or any other perks?

[Bagheera]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

What year is the car you're looking at?

The 5 cylinder engine is very good... they're pretty much bulletproof (if maintained).

The gap in history wouldn't be a deal breaker for me personally, but I wouldn't be jumping at it straight away either. I don't believe its done 40k without a service, but it looks that way on paper. Would the car go that long without one? I reckon it would, not that I'd advise ever going that distance without servicing. Look after a car and it'll look after you. If it did do 40k without a service, I wouldn't think it would be running too well... filters would be dirty, oil wouldn't be in a great condition either. I wouldn't advise leaving it that long, that's for sure. I think its been done though, but no proof... catch 22 really.

For me personally though, I can see money needing to be spent on the car straight away and I wouldn't jump at it. I'd really do my research first and make sure I was 100% happy with it before buying...

For example, its most recent service at an independent, is there record of what was actually done on the service like an Invoice that says exactly what was replaced? I can only assume that it hasn't had a cam belt if you phoned to get a quote elsewhere. Maybe the cam belt has already been done by the indy earlier this year? Have you checked? I assume there's some kind of Invoice or stamp in the book. You could always phone the garage that did the service, give the reg and ask them what they did... just a thought (if there's no paperwork available, but there's a stamp in the book you can use to contact them). They should have record of it on their system.

Your garage of choice has gave you a quote of £427 for a cam belt service... is that a Volvo Specialist or a trusted garage? If its a Volvo Specialist, they should replace the cam belt, idler pulley, aux belt, aux belt tensioner and air con belt. All need to be replaced.

Is the dealer willing to take something off the price based on the fact its got a service history gap? Or would they not replace the cam belt/other belts/tensioner as part of the deal? (if it hasn't been done).

For example, when I bought my car, I knew it needed a cam belt, plus all the other belts. The garage (not a dealer) weren't prepared to do it, so I said there has to be some leeway on the price, knowing I'd have to spend a few hundred on it straight away for peace of mind. I got the price of the full cam belt service knocked off the car... I wasn't walking away without getting something in return, or at least trying anyway. If they said no and weren't willing to accommodate in any way, I would have walked away.

If the car meets all your requirements and you're happy with everything, then ultimately its your decision as to what you do. I'd be inclined to do a bit of haggling to get a better deal and checking through the history a bit more. Is there a warranty being offered with the car, or any other perks?

Thanks Kev for such a detailed reply.

The update is that I've bought the car after a bit of haggling and it will be delivered next week. It's from a reputable independent dealer and I do have confidence that it's a good solid vehicle. You're right about spending money straight away but regarding the Timing belt, I feel far more comfortable having my own mechanics do the job. I've also asked them to give the car a thorough inspection. They'll be changing the Aux belt and the aux tensioner too.

Have I taken a gamble? Yes, a calculated one. Hopefully this one will pay off. Time will tell and I'll update the thread.

At least though, after 22 years of wishing, I'm now a member of the Volvo club.

Spoke to Volvo UK today trying to find if it's had the Polestar upgrade before I sort insurance - it's showing the badge but they've said to speak to a dealer directly so that's next on the to do list.

Thanks for all your help on both threads! It's been invaluable

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Thanks Kev for such a detailed reply.

The update is that I've bought the car after a bit of haggling and it will be delivered next week. It's from a reputable independent dealer and I do have confidence that it's a good solid vehicle. You're right about spending money straight away but regarding the Timing belt, I feel far more comfortable having my own mechanics do the job. I've also asked them to give the car a thorough inspection. They'll be changing the Aux belt and the aux tensioner too.

Have I taken a gamble? Yes, a calculated one. Hopefully this one will pay off. Time will tell and I'll update the thread.

At least though, after 22 years of wishing, I'm now a member of the Volvo club.

Spoke to Volvo UK today trying to find if it's had the Polestar upgrade before I sort insurance - it's showing the badge but they've said to speak to a dealer directly so that's next on the to do list.

Thanks for all your help on both threads! It's been invaluable

You're welcome... I wish you luck with your new purchase.

Like I said, ultimately it was your decision. I wouldn't have missed out on a good car either, despite the history gap. It sounds like you got a deal with a bit of haggling as suggested, so at least you walked away with a car at a price that you were happy to pay.

With regards to the belts, don't forget the air conditioning belt. You may as well replace that too. D5's this era have 3 belts... the timing belt, the auxiliary belt and the air conditioning belt. You may as well get them all changed if a garage is doing it. Use quality parts if you can, ideally Volvo or quality aftermarket and not the cheap junk from brands you've never heard of.

If you ever need help, post a thread and I'm sure me, and others, will point you in the right direction if we can.

This is a great forum. Its my pleasure to help people where I can. I know I've been helped on here!

[DaveNP]

Originally Posted by Bagheera

T... but regarding the Timing belt, I feel far more comfortable having my own mechanics do the job. I've also asked them to give the car a thorough inspection. They'll be changing the Aux belt and the aux tensioner too.

Have I taken a gamble? Yes, a calculated one. Hopefully this one will pay off. Time will tell and I'll update the thread.
...

I think buying any car is always going to be a bit of a gamble but you've moved the odds in your favour as much as you can by buying from a reputable dealer and then getting a mechanic you trust to do some work and give it a look over. I did similar (many years back) and when the mechanic did find the beginnings of a problem the dealer stepped up and got it sorted. Here's hoping your story is one without the slightest hiccup, welcome to the world of Volvo.

[Bagheera]

Originally Posted by Kev0607

You're welcome... I wish you luck with your new purchase.

Like I said, ultimately it was your decision. I wouldn't have missed out on a good car either, despite the history gap. It sounds like you got a deal with a bit of haggling as suggested, so at least you walked away with a car at a price that you were happy to pay.

With regards to the belts, don't forget the air conditioning belt. You may as well replace that too. D5's this era have 3 belts... the timing belt, the auxiliary belt and the air conditioning belt. You may as well get them all changed if a garage is doing it. Use quality parts if you can, ideally Volvo or quality aftermarket and not the cheap junk from brands you've never heard of.

If you ever need help, post a thread and I'm sure me, and others, will point you in the right direction if we can.

This is a great forum. Its my pleasure to help people where I can. I know I've been helped on here!

Originally Posted by DaveNP

I think buying any car is always going to be a bit of a gamble but you've moved the odds in your favour as much as you can by buying from a reputable dealer and then getting a mechanic you trust to do some work and give it a look over. I did similar (many years back) and when the mechanic did find the beginnings of a problem the dealer stepped up and got it sorted. Here's hoping your story is one without the slightest hiccup, welcome to the world of Volvo.

Thank you, Gentlemen. It's good to be here!

Yes, sorry, forgot to add in the A/C belt. All three will be done and they're also checking the difference in price if we use genuine parts although if not , still OEM.

I'll let you know how it pans out and will try and remember to post a picture although I'm sure you know what an XC60 looks like....!

Not had much success in getting dealers to return my call re Polestar. Other than the badge on the back, are there any clues under the bonnet or on the car?