200k miles dealer trade sale

[12V50D3Auto]

Hi. A dealer is selling a 200k miles 2012 V50 D3 auto for 3500 it's got full main dealer service history. Are these good for the money, its had the timing belt done and I've yet to see the service history but it's a huge folder of receipts.

I've yet to see if the gearbox has been serviced but being a very reputable dealer I assume it is completed will wait till I view the cars history book.

I'm coming from a 2005 SEAT Altea 2.0tdi with 250k miles of trouble free driving and have a bit of $$ as back up should anything happen, when inspecting the car what should I look out for.

[M4ss4]

Originally Posted by 12V50D3Auto

Hi. A dealer is selling a 200k miles 2012 V50 D3 auto for 3500 it's got full main dealer service history. Are these good for the money, its had the timing belt done and I've yet to see the service history but it's a huge folder of receipts.

I've yet to see if the gearbox has been serviced but being a very reputable dealer I assume it is completed will wait till I view the cars history book.

I'm coming from a 2005 SEAT Altea 2.0tdi with 250k miles of trouble free driving and have a bit of $$ as back up should anything happen, when inspecting the car what should I look out for.

I think the gearboxes are sealed for life so don't generally get any love. I haven't had any personal experience with the gearbox but I do have the geartronic on my
XC60 which I quite like.

I had a V50 for a while and liked it. There is another thread in progress at the moment "advice for inexperienced car buyer s40" is what it is called.

There is loads of info in that thread which is relevant here.

Mine only ever needed basic stuff and munched the miles. I loved it to be fair it was a 2005 so not quite the same as what you are after.

I wouldn't be put off by a average mileage model as the one you mention.

There are lots of V50s around for £3.5 - 4k with lower miles if you are bothered..

Someone else will be along to add something about the powershift gearbox (i think that is what comes on a D3..)

[12V50D3Auto]

Thanks for reply and Sorry should mention that's 3500 euro not pound sterling based over in Ireland.

[M4ss4]

Originally Posted by 12V50D3Auto

Sorry should mention that's 3500 euro not pound sterling based over in Ireland.

Ahh fair enough. So just over £3k, for the money it doesn't sound bad. Certainly worth a test drive and a bit of poking around. The C30 Certainly a nice car to live with imo.

I paid £4k for my c30 only a couple of months ago. It is only on 90k and a similar age to what you are looking at.

You can give it a test drive and see how it fits

[john.wigley]

Sorry, but while I have no experience of this particular model, I can endorse the value of a trade sale and the high mileage capability of Volvos.

My Linda bought a 10 year old 744 GLE as a trade sale in 1998 with 180k on the clock for £2k. The dealer also had one with 70k up for £3.5k. Linda ran hers for 16 years, taking it to 250+k miles, with no major issues.

Go into it with your eyes open as you are and a trade sale can make a lot of sense.

Good luck! Regards, John.

[12V50D3Auto]

Thanks John lovely story about your wife's experience with her volvo I'm hoping for a similar experience.

I'm a commuter and get the train mostly but live in a rural village on the far outskirts of Wicklow so will be doing a lot of country road and motorway driving at the weekends.

I think this car has the 163bhp engine but more importantly a 5 cylinder engine, as from what I've been told they are reliable and have a nice tone to them, having spent the last 14 years in my altea 2.0tdi im looking forward to a relaxing drive and a bit of extra poke to over take when required.

My only major concern is the gearbox, how much would I need to put aside for a replacement and why on some sites are they saying gearbox oil change every 60k.

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by 12V50D3Auto

My only major concern is the gearbox, how much would I need to put aside for a replacement and why on some sites are they saying gearbox oil change every 60k.

The problem with Volvo gearboxes is the fact that there is a self perpetuating myth that the " Gearbox is sealed for life " or " Volvo recommend not changing the oil"

Neither of these statements are even remotely correct and if you do buy it I would have the gearbox oil changed immediately ( it will be filthy ) and then change it say every 40k miles.

Do a search for " sump dump " ( my choice ) or Gibbons method.

With that mileage I would lean towards sump dumps.

The myth has killed more Volvo gearboxes than a fluid change ever has.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by 12V50D3Auto

Hi. A dealer is selling a 200k miles 2012 V50 D3 auto for 3500 it's got full main dealer service history. Are these good for the money, its had the timing belt done and I've yet to see the service history but it's a huge folder of receipts.

I've yet to see if the gearbox has been serviced but being a very reputable dealer I assume it is completed will wait till I view the cars history book.

...r.

as mentioned above, never trust "sealed for life" assurances from dealers. Yes, Volvo consder them "sealed", yet its easy and adviseable to replace oil in those. Same with my Manual gearbox or diff oil. Volvo says "naaah" and then you get black gunk flowing out of it..
Getting it of private dealership or authorised Volvo? 200k miles is a LOT for 7 y old car, mine is 2005 and not even 155k yet. are you sure its not kms? (still a lot).

[Welton]

Originally Posted by LizardOfBodom

200k miles is a LOT for 7 y old car

If a business used it that's 'only' 28,500 miles per year, I know a lot of business drivers and sales reps doing 40K.

[12V50D3Auto]

Yeah it's a lot but its a one owner and presumably a repconfirm 200k or 316k in km. I'm going in eyes wide on it checking everything.

Pre test drive
- Check bodywork
- Check boot and interior
- Check dash lights
-brake disk wear, pad wear.
- Start car check exhaust smoke colour
- Listen for turbo issues noise etc
- Check all electrics (all windows, and aircon are working
- Check odbc reader for error codes
- Check levels, coolant, oil, brake fluid, open air filter housing check filter for dust.
-raise each wheel and check for play
-raise front of car check for oil leaks
-check CAT is present and no welds on exhaust
-check chassis lines up
-check engine bay lines up, any knocks / welds on chassis

Test drive
- Check steering column for knocking
- Check car drives straight and doesn't pull to one side.
- gearbox changes smoothly, in manual and auto modes.
-turbo pulls well, listen for whistles and vac leaks.
-idles correctly at low and high temp.
- long test drive check for surge or drops in performance.

Paperwork
- check history receipts for
1. gearbox oil and filter change.
2. Suspension work.
3. Services on time.


- get a receipt

- run history report - done and clear.