7 seat v70

[Nathan1979]

Morning all!
I’m new on here after buying a 2006 V70.
Love the car! My missus was nagging me to get another 7 seater aswell as the family ford S max.
I couldn’t be doing driving round in an suv or mpv so thought outside the box and found a V70 with the 2 occasional seats that lift out the boot floor.
They’ll only be used twice a week at the most so seemed the perfect car.
It’s by far the most comfortable car I’ve ever been in.
I just wandered if these seats in the boot were only ever factory fitted or if they could be retro fitted?
The reason I ask I just noticed on the V5 that it’s registered as a 5 seater?
Should I get this amended?
Nathan

[reggit]

If your tailgate has got a release handle on the inside it's most likely a factory fit 7 seater.

The seats are fairly easy to retro-fit, but the internal tailgate handle isn't often done at the same time.

Mine's a factory 7 seater and has that entry blank on the V5 document.

[Georgeandkira]

Is it really a 7 seater given that the seats are made for people under a certain height and/or weight and always called "child seats"?

In other words, do "child seats" count for the MOT document?

[Nathan1979]

Had a look earlier, it has got the release handle inside the tailgate so assume it’s always had the seats in there.
Not sure if the extra’s count then as ‘proper’ seats for DVLA purposes cause they are child seats up to 140 cm max height.
Do I need to inform insurance company though that it’s got them in I wander?

[reggit]

I didn’t as they are factory fitted and they know the vehicle details. Never used ours in the 18 months I’ve had the car and am likely to take them out so I can fit my subwoofer. Missus doesn’t agree though!

[DAN AT ADRIAN FLUX]

Originally Posted by Nathan1979

Had a look earlier, it has got the release handle inside the tailgate so assume it’s always had the seats in there.
Not sure if the extra’s count then as ‘proper’ seats for DVLA purposes cause they are child seats up to 140 cm max height.
Do I need to inform insurance company though that it’s got them in I wander?

Hi.
Probably best to double check with your insurance company just to be on the safe side.
Regards,
Dan.

[Nathan1979]

I will do. Thanks for all the speedy replies.
No doubt I’ll be on here asking more questions soon as I’m new to Volvo.

[Missing Lincs]

Just for info as it really doesn't matter but I have a slightly different understanding of when the extra seats were fitted. Certainly on early P2s it wasn't at the factory, it was a dealer fit accessory along with the inside tailgate release and an extra lock barrel on the tailgate outside (top right above the number plate facing down, behind a cover).
This was quite wasteful of parts as all the standard floor panels were thrown out when the seats were fitted.
The one part that doesn't often get retrofitted when the extra seats are 'sold on' is the outside lock barrel. There wouldn't be a lot of point fitting the old one as it is keyed alike to the rest of the car and a new one has to be ordered from a dealer.

[R-P]

I bought new seats from someone who bought a warehouse full of Volvo parts. I think the inside-bootdoor release was in the box, but I sold it on in the end without ever fitting it.

I did get some form from the Dutch government agency (or from Volvo TO that agency) saying the seats didn't have to be declared in the car-papers. I think it is due to it indeed not being full-size seats.

Strangely enough it was in English, so even though it probably has no value for your MOT, I am more than willing to send you a copy if I can find it (and is not lost on some old harddisk).


(Edit: found it together with mountinginstructions. It indeed mentions the maximum weight of 36kg per child and that it therefor can remain registered as a 5 seater)

[Nathan1979]

That’s really useful to know. Thanks for finding that information out.
My insurance is due on 1st September so I’m gonna check with whoever I choose to get the insurance with that it will be covered if I’ve got 6 kids in the car.
Will only be used twice a week in 7 seat mode but I’d rather be sure.
It’s so much better driving the V70 than driving round in a 7 seat mpv or suv all week. And By the time my youngest are too big for the back seats my eldest and her friends will be at high school so I won’t need to use them anymore. I’ll be keeping the car though, love it already after owning it for a week and a bit.
Couple of issues but it’s got a warranty on it for 3 months so hoping it can be sorted.