Help, looking to purchase a XC90 and looking for advice.

[cpu_man]

Good evening all, it's been around 8 years since I last logged into this forum (sorry), it's been along time but it looks like I might be joining you again.

Due to family expanding etc my BMW M5 has been sold and my BMW F11 535D M sport is in the process of being sold, and I am now in need of a good solid 7 seater that can handle the tough life of kids and holiday driving etc and out of my choise I really am drawn to the Volvo XC90.

I am a qualified master tec so most things on these I am sure I will cope on diag and repairs with however the thing that I am after is your guys input to the real word experience with living with a xc90.

I would be looking to purchase around a 2010 to 2012 xc90 D5 R design.

Could you guys advise what to look for from your guys ownership experience please?

Trim level whs t advise, I am an audio nut and I notice some either have HIGH audio, Premium audio etc, what's the difference.

What are you guys using for diag and coading, VIDS rings a bell?

How easy are retro fits like reversing camera if you have screen etc?

any help and advice though this process would be very much appreciated guys.

thank you.

[SwissXC90]

You definitely want to get VIDA, the factory diagnostic system. Readily available, and it will be like all your Christmasses have come at once as it tells you everything you need to know to work on, disassemble, reassemble and fix the car. Including all parts lists, and functional and technical descriptions. It's a godsend.

The later models after 2006 are very reliable

The sound system has 3 x levels:
Basic - not often seen, no external amplifier
High Power - with external amplifier
DynAudio Premium audio - with even better amplifier and more and better speakers (but check each speaker, they can blow)

Go for a system with built in Nav and Phone and then you can easily add the Camera: but programming is required.

I have a MY2009 R-Design with High Power audio and Nav and Phone and Backup Camera, all original Volvo. And rear seat entertainment (DVD player). It's brilliant. Try and get the DynAudio Premium system as well. The subwoofers were no longer fitted from 2006, so don't expect to find a subwoofer. there's more than enough bass anyway.

Watch for leaking sunroofs, they make the carpet wet underneath. The car needs to be bone dry, avoid anything that shows signs of wetness, especally as it can kill some electronics.

Watch for creaking, knocking suspension - more prevalent on >80,000km

Watch for lack of regular service, especially on a diesel. Make sure the inspections have been done regularly and all is present and correct in the service booklet.

The more switches fitted to the switch row (under the climate control), the more options you have. On my car, I have 6 out of the 7 switch positions used for options.

A useful option if you live in a hot area is the Rear AC (look for the switch) which is for the 3rd row of seats

In the UK almost all XC90s come with alarms, watch for an Alarm Service Required which is normally a failling backup battery in the siren

Look also for Volvo On Call (button under the hazard switch, which can be a lifesaver in an accident

Check the 3rd seat row comes out and clicks into place without any jamming. Check that the owner kept the car clean and tidy, you'll often find muck under the 3rd seat row.

Watch for any diagnostic troubles codes stored in the vehicle, you can retrieve the status (codes stored or not) on the instrument cluster without any tools. Exactly what codes are stored requires tools such as VIDA.

Watch for a good activing parking brake

On my 2009 XC90 in 2 years of ownership I've done the following:
2 x regular services
1 x tough vehicle inspection which failled on parkinng brake, requiring full renewal of discs and pads of the rear braking system (rusted through lack of use. Bad!)
Replacement of front brakes (worn, end of life)
Replacement of lower engine torque arm (worn out, end of life)
Replacement of transmission oil (preventative, precautionary, at 125000km)
Replacement of Xenon bulbs (old, end of life)
Replacement of 2 x minor taillamp bulbs (old, end of life)
Replacement of starter battery (old, end of life)
Replacement of one trim panel clip (was missing)
Replacement of batteries in the remote controls (old, end of life. My car has 3 x remote controls: nav, stereo, DVD player)
Replacement of motor cover rubber bushing (fell out, lost)
Fixed a rattle in left rear door speaker area causing vibration on some bass notes
Updated sat nav maps to current 2017/2018 maps
Cleaned injectors electrical connectors (causing very random misfire on cylinder fire)
Cleaned motor bay with a toothbrush, looks like new (was required for inspection)

One fault on my car still to fix:
Left hand wing mirror folding motor is jammed (currently I have disconnected the motor)

I monitor fault codes every month or so to see what is developping, not every logged fault code causes a warning light, but very useful over time to see what is happening. I use VIDA to do this and keep PDF printouts of vehicle fault status for later reference.

My car now has 127,000km on it, over nearly 10 years of life.

Great car, very reliable, only minor problems apart from my biggest surprise being the parking brake at inspection time.

[Chris79]

You have a fairly comprehensive response there!

I’m fairly new to the XC90 having bought one earlier this year, my experience was that generally they have been well used as family cars... that means scuffs, wear from tip runs and parking damage. I saw one at a dealer (Ford) which had been keyed end to end on top of the normal wear, that car also had a stuck tailgate handle.

In the end I found a 100k mike 58 plate Ocean Race with full dealer service history and decided I could live with some tatty trim (and replace as I find spares) over poorly kept - not that I’m suggesting that either is the norm and if you are looking for a newer car than me - that might not be a choice you need to make.

Interestingly I found the seats to be in terrible condition, the leather seems to not stand up to the sun like other brands. Personally I drew the line at cracks - mine are well lined and scratched.

Tows fantastically, loads of room, really comfy and quiet a pleasure to own so far.

Chris

[SwissXC90]

My leather seats are fine - normal wear but in very good condition.
The previous owner garaged the car all the time, and I do as well.
He also conditioned the leather regularly, and I do as well

It all comes down to caring for the car.

[Sweedes]

Good response from Swiss - almost completely same list I would have for my 2007 D5 sport :-)

When I bought mine I found below guide quite useful for inspecting the car at the dealer. Also, check if the car has been used for towing as it puts a lot of extra wear on the car e.g. does it have a towbar? does the towbar looks like its been used a lot? does the seller live on a farm or have a large caravan parked outside. Personally, I would avoid cars that have been used for regular heavy towing or only buy at a heavy discount.

Engine:

- start from cold, check for even idle and no blue smoke. Otherwise suspect injectors.
- check intercooler
- drive at a constant speed/revs and see if the engine 'pulses', again if it does = suspect injectors.
- only buy if full Volvo or known indy specialist history. Check belts and tensioners changed on time
- there should be no smoke screen behind the car on heavy acceleration. A bit is OK, but not too much!
- check swirl arm link under the bonnet (arm is cheap to replace, but not the parts in/on the engine)

Gearbox:

- A long (20-30 min plus) test drive is needed, as problems often only become apparent when the fluid is fully up to temps. If dealer doesnt allow, walk away. Check for flaring between shifts and knocks when going from D/N, N/D and when down-shifting on a feathered throttle.
- Axle ping is common - caused by loose drive shaft bolts, causing a ping sound when shifting between R/N/D at idle - new ones cost ~£10 and easy fit

AWD:

-Check it works, with all 4 wheels on the ground, get under the car and try to spin the main propshaft. If it spins = AWD broken.

Suspension:

- Knocks, clunks, bonks. Could be droplinks, engine mounts, g'box mounts, ball joints. They all wear heavily on the XC. Try lots of low speed manoeuvring and drive up and down a few kerbs to fully manipulate the suspension.

Brakes:

- Check operation of parking brake, if it doesnt hold the car or makes a grating noise from the rear budget for an immediate replacement of the shoes. This is a very common problem.
- The car should track and brake in a straightline. If not = suspect lower arms or track rod ends.

Steering:

- Check the PAS pump very carefully for leaks and operation at low speed.

Electrics:

- Suspect on older cars. Check the dash clocks carefully and make sure everything works incl. all the brake lights (dodgy brake lights are a common symptom of CEM failure).

- Check everything on the interior works, incl the operation of all 7 seats.

Body:

-There should be no rust. Check the exhaust front to back incl. the hangers mid-section.

Tyres:

-Id only buy with 4x matching, as thats a sign of a well looked after car.

Make sure its got two keys, replacements are expensive!


I would also add:

- Turn the steering from lock to lock whilst stationary with the engine ticking over - it should be smooth all the way with no "pulsing" sensation.

- By checking the Intercooler, the poster means look for oily deposits around the bottom of the radiator.

- A good service history with Volvo main dealer or recognised independent is very desirable but it is not a reason to be relaxed about checking the car over...

- Check the tyres carefully for even wear - wearing out the inside edge of the front tyres is common and a sign of incorrect tracking and/or worn suspension bushes.

- Brakes - the XC90 is a heavy car and is hard on brakes. Apply moderate braking from about 40mph with hands loosely on the steering wheel - there should be no judder and the car should stop in a straight line. Conversely on gently driven cars the rear brakes hardly get used so the discs can get rusty and need replacing to get through an MOT.

You will be lucky to find a "perfect" XC90, so go with an open mind and any minor faults use as a bargaining tool - but do your homework on repair costs.

[robsterpaterson]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm also considering an XC90. Up to 10 years old and diesel auto.
There are two localish, an '08 and a '10 plate both with around 75,000 miles and 'service history'. One has recently had a new turbo which starts my spider sense tingling - should it?

Looking at these replies, they seem quite reliable but are there any areas where Cadbury have made parts rather than Volvo??

[nu11eaf]

Obviously go for the best condition car but also check how much the road tax is on each model and if they are both good cars buy the one that has the cheaper road tax, the 08 185 hp model will most likely be very expensive to tax, the 2010 model may be a 200 hp model with cheaper tax.

[JADXC]

Hi,
i don't know if my experience helps but there it is :

We just bougt an Xc90 two weeks ago.
it is a 2007 Xc90, D5 185 hp, 6 speed auto, Sport model, Red passion colour, 140k miles/230k km, leather, navi, blue dashbord clocks, 19" wheels(summer), 17" wheels (winter), adaptive bi xenon, parking sensors front and rear, tinted windows,so on.

We went to the dealer to check it out and found theese :

- bad engine mounts (replaced all last week)
- rear parking sensors problem ( i haven't found it yet, the system is switched off)
- the valve cover gasket is leaking oil ( injector removal needed in order to change it, i'll change it soon)
- 8 year old battery (changed it last week, it wouldn't start anymore)
- uneffective wipers
- bad brake fluid

My wife dind't want it at first, thought that there are too many defects but i thought otherwise and convinced her and purchased it.

Having it for two weeks now we repaired:

- changed the engine oil 0-30 Volvo, oil filter, fuel filter, air, pollen(Mann)
- the cd player would not eject the disc, i removed it, took the disc out and
now it would't take one in...( i got srs air bag error at the end of the job)
- cleaned the air quality sensor
- the fuel flap would not lock, there was an issue vith the plastic gear, fixed
- changed all of the engine mounts(much quiter now and less vibrations)
- while changing the engine mounts, saw that the 4 brake hoses need
replacing
- Changed the battery (Varta 100Ah)
- it has a Viper alarm on it with the remote start option, it doesn't sound at
all, i will go to the viper dealer service to remove the remote start option
and fix the sound problem.
- i have to take look at the left mirror, it won't fold
- Friday i scheduled the tranny oil change, i got 8l of volvo jws 3309.
- we will change the timing belt kit and serpentine belt


that's pretty much it, it runs great and we are verry happy with it .

[seandodwell]

Any reason one should'nt buy a 3.2ltr XC90 SE Sport, it's clean awaiting test drive and U/s check over, anything apart from above one should look for?

[AB-UK]

I have a 2010 (my 2011) 2.4 Diesel Executive;
185bhp;
Electric Silver and Beige interior - slight wear mark on driver seat only.
65k miles;
garaged every night;
fully serviced by Volvo dealer;
current extended Volvo warranty;
(tempting fate here) no issues;

Not really intending to sell at the moment, but I could be tempted for the right offer