D5 engines 163bhp unreliable ????

[Tannaton]

You've been reading the Beano or something. Volvo 5 cylinder diesels from when they were introduced in the 850 where a VAG derived unit up until 2002 when the Ricardo engineering designed Volvo unit was introduced. The early cars with VAG engines where badged Tdi and the Volvo powered. 2002 on cars badged D5. The first incarnation of the D5 with 163 BHP is probably the most reliable mass produced Diesel engine made.

The reason you read obout problems on here is no one posts that they got in their car this morning and it started first time...........

[AndyJudge]

I ran a 2005 D5 163 for 4 & a bit years & 80k miles & it never ever skipped a bit or let me down.

I would add that I got the Beastie with 95k on the clock to start with so 175k miles with just general maintenance can't be too shabby.

Pretty sure the engine would be good for another innings of the same sort of mileage it was just the known area's such as suspension bushes that were letting the old girl down.

[Rooster]

The D5 engines are just about bomb proof, it just odd stuff bolted to them that causes odd issues,

I would say they are far more reliable than alot of other diesel units produced by other manufacturers

[Thassos]

Hi tannaton,

Interesting that it was Ricardo who did the engineering on the D5 , are they the lot on the south coast ? (think I've passed their door many times !),

[yoda960]

I think there is a huge difference in volume of cars sold with each engine, the older audi engined cars are pretty rare now considering, but I see a couple of 163 D5 engined cars every day at least on my travels!

More cars on the road = more reported problems, doesn't mean they are unreliable

[Bonefishblues]

The VAG 1.9PDI is a great engine, the 2.5 not. See plenty of the former, few of the latter.

[Minormatt]

Originally Posted by Thassos

Hi tannaton,

Interesting that it was Ricardo who did the engineering on the D5 , are they the lot on the south coast ? (think I've passed their door many times !),

Ricardo are all over the world, but their base is in Shoreham, next to the airport - you can see it from the A27 (next to the estuary).

I haven't had my 163 E3 D5 long enough to comment on reliability - but I got it because my research suggested it was the best all rounder to have in terms of MPG, reliability and power.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Minormatt

Ricardo are all over the world, but their base is in Shoreham, next to the airport - you can see it from the A27 (next to the estuary).

I haven't had my 163 E3 D5 long enough to comment on reliability - but I got it because my research suggested it was the best all rounder to have in terms of MPG, reliability and power.

This may be of interest. Its 15 years old now but still a good read:

https://www.ricardo.com/Documents/RQ...2-2002-EN.pdf]

I have it in my head that the Volvo D5 engine was first assembled in Italy but I can't recall where I might have read that...

[Tannaton]

....oh yes I almost forgot. I got into my XC90 D5 this morning (157k on it now) and it started first time! In fact it has never failed to start in the 3 years I've had it...

[Darlo 1]

Today i have driven my d5, nothing went wrong.