Back to Volvo....

eternal optimist · Jan 23rd, 2018, 11:43

It started with an Amazon estate - quickly followed by an early 145S I had restored. A gap, then a 240 Torslander then after a while, a late 960 estate. Having had a couple of Saab 9-5's, I've just bought a late 2003 XC70 D5 SE. One owner and 128k from new. All the things I first look for in buying a car - original dealer plates front and rear, an honest, unvaleted engine bay, matching, branded tyres (Pirelli Scorpions in this case) and a really tidy interior. Oh, and 13 stamps in the book, every service with either a dealer or specialist.

I paid £2150. Hadn't gone out intending to buy another car, but having bought one for my brother, I spotted the guy I bought my brother's new car from was also selling this one.

Job 1 is to sell the Saab and make space on the driveway, then figure out what I've bought. Currently doing c. 2,500 miles a month, so I guess I'll soon find out!

Cam belt was last done at 74,000 in Feb 2011. So I'd guess at 7 years I might as well get a new belt on - tensioner and water pump as well? I don't think the D5 is a hugely expensive belt change?

Georgeandkira · Jan 23rd, 2018, 12:13

54,000 on your 7 year old T-belt seems a little early to change.
No diesels here so others will be along with pertinent advice.
Sounds like a good catch. Good luck with it.

outnumbered · Jan 23rd, 2018, 12:14

Check to see if clutch slave has been done if it's manual.
Rear core plug from rubber to metal.
Depending on what month the Dim could be a issue .
Good luck with the car .
There are a lot of good members on the forum who will help .
Also there are a lot of good you tube how to vids .
Mike

eternal optimist · Jan 23rd, 2018, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by outnumbered

Check to see if clutch slave has been done if it's manual.
Rear core plug from rubber to metal.
Depending on what month the Dim could be a issue .
Good luck with the car .
There are a lot of good members on the forum who will help .
Also there are a lot of good you tube how to vids .
Mike

Thanks

Auto - but I guess that swaps one set of problems for another. I'd usually do a filter change and flush on an auto box - but this is so tidy, and it's never had a tow bar fitted that it might not be an immediate priority.

What's the Dim?

Georgeandkira · Jan 23rd, 2018, 13:18

DIM = Driver's Information Module. Gramps would've called it an instrument cluster.
There are known problems with weak solder joints on earlier versions.
Removal is quite easy and there are people/companies which service them.

ETM = Electronic Throttle Body. Pretty sure the '03's had the old style mylar wiper which wears out. One symptom of a bad one is erratic idling. There has been plenty written about these. As above, rebuilding services are available.

mrdave2003 · Jan 23rd, 2018, 13:38

I gather the Volvo water pumps are pretty bullet proof so I'd put that on the maybe pile.
I didn't change it on my mums D5 and thats got 170K on the original one, still felt OK

Sounds a nice car, and not a bad price, here's to many happy miles!

eternal optimist · Jan 23rd, 2018, 16:41

Thanks for the clarification on the acronyms - I need to forget all my Saab ones and learn some new ones!

emailed the garage who've been looking after it - Nomansland/Volvotec near Salisbury - to see what work had been done recently.

Got the following list from them

16/3/11 MOT/Service/Cambelt 73917
22/2/12 MOT/Service 84288
12/2/13 Lower Arm/Front discs & pads/MOT/Service 93414
3/4/13 Handbrake Shoes
13/2/14 MOT/Service/Engine mount 100938
3/2/15 Service/MOT 107648
10/3/15 Alarm Siren 108002
16/4/15 Intercooler 109330
3/9/15 Front coil springs/1 x tyre 112397
8/2/16 Service/MOT/ Rear washer jet 115100
18/2/16 Rear Discs & pads 115250
20/2/17 Service/MOT/Tyres 121369
27/9/17 Steering rack 125900

Currently on 128,281. Looking forward to picking it up and starting to use it. Oddly enough, there's no tow bar, no dog guard, and no tray/liner for the boot. See my wanted ad....

CaptainSlow337 · Jan 23rd, 2018, 16:44

I view no tow bar as a good thing

eternal optimist · Jan 23rd, 2018, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainSlow337

I view no tow bar as a good thing

Generally, I agree - except it's much easier to move my small trailer around when I have one. I prefer to fill that with garden detritus than the back of the car.

Georgeandkira · Jan 24th, 2018, 00:09

There are four holes waiting for a trailer hitch. Two are empty.

Two are being used to hold up the end of the exhaust system. After removing the two you swing it down and set the hitch against the body then add the exhaust bracket.
My car had a thin metal panel (scuff guard?) crossing the center of the run which needed to be removed. No biggie.

Jan 23rd, 2018, 11:43	#1
eternal optimist Master Member Last Online: Yesterday 13:55 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reading	Back to Volvo.... It started with an Amazon estate - quickly followed by an early 145S I had restored. A gap, then a 240 Torslander then after a while, a late 960 estate. Having had a couple of Saab 9-5's, I've just bought a late 2003 XC70 D5 SE. One owner and 128k from new. All the things I first look for in buying a car - original dealer plates front and rear, an honest, unvaleted engine bay, matching, branded tyres (Pirelli Scorpions in this case) and a really tidy interior. Oh, and 13 stamps in the book, every service with either a dealer or specialist. I paid £2150. Hadn't gone out intending to buy another car, but having bought one for my brother, I spotted the guy I bought my brother's new car from was also selling this one. Job 1 is to sell the Saab and make space on the driveway, then figure out what I've bought. Currently doing c. 2,500 miles a month, so I guess I'll soon find out! Cam belt was last done at 74,000 in Feb 2011. So I'd guess at 7 years I might as well get a new belt on - tensioner and water pump as well? I don't think the D5 is a hugely expensive belt change?

Jan 23rd, 2018, 12:14	#3
outnumbered Lunatic from Wakefield Last Online: Apr 16th, 2023 06:33 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: wakefield	Check to see if clutch slave has been done if it's manual. Rear core plug from rubber to metal. Depending on what month the Dim could be a issue . Good luck with the car . There are a lot of good members on the forum who will help . Also there are a lot of good you tube how to vids . Mike __________________ 2012 volvo xc90 Executive Buccaneer Bermuda 2021

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Jan 23rd, 2018, 12:13	#2
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 16:59 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	54,000 on your 7 year old T-belt seems a little early to change. No diesels here so others will be along with pertinent advice. Sounds like a good catch. Good luck with it.

Jan 23rd, 2018, 13:18	#5
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 16:59 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	DIM = Driver's Information Module. Gramps would've called it an instrument cluster. There are known problems with weak solder joints on earlier versions. Removal is quite easy and there are people/companies which service them. ETM = Electronic Throttle Body. Pretty sure the '03's had the old style mylar wiper which wears out. One symptom of a bad one is erratic idling. There has been plenty written about these. As above, rebuilding services are available.

Jan 23rd, 2018, 13:38	#6
mrdave2003 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 1st, 2024 11:08 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sudbury (Suffolk) View Photos By: mrdave2003	I gather the Volvo water pumps are pretty bullet proof so I'd put that on the maybe pile. I didn't change it on my mums D5 and thats got 170K on the original one, still felt OK Sounds a nice car, and not a bad price, here's to many happy miles!

Jan 23rd, 2018, 16:41	#7
eternal optimist Master Member Last Online: Yesterday 13:55 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reading	Thanks for the clarification on the acronyms - I need to forget all my Saab ones and learn some new ones! emailed the garage who've been looking after it - Nomansland/Volvotec near Salisbury - to see what work had been done recently. Got the following list from them 16/3/11 MOT/Service/Cambelt 73917 22/2/12 MOT/Service 84288 12/2/13 Lower Arm/Front discs & pads/MOT/Service 93414 3/4/13 Handbrake Shoes 13/2/14 MOT/Service/Engine mount 100938 3/2/15 Service/MOT 107648 10/3/15 Alarm Siren 108002 16/4/15 Intercooler 109330 3/9/15 Front coil springs/1 x tyre 112397 8/2/16 Service/MOT/ Rear washer jet 115100 18/2/16 Rear Discs & pads 115250 20/2/17 Service/MOT/Tyres 121369 27/9/17 Steering rack 125900 Currently on 128,281. Looking forward to picking it up and starting to use it. Oddly enough, there's no tow bar, no dog guard, and no tray/liner for the boot. See my wanted ad....

Jan 23rd, 2018, 16:44	#8
CaptainSlow337 Senior Member Last Online: Mar 6th, 2020 09:54 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Southampton	I view no tow bar as a good thing

Jan 24th, 2018, 00:09	#10
Georgeandkira Premier Member Last Online: Yesterday 16:59 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hackensack	There are four holes waiting for a trailer hitch. Two are empty. Two are being used to hold up the end of the exhaust system. After removing the two you swing it down and set the hitch against the body then add the exhaust bracket. My car had a thin metal panel (scuff guard?) crossing the center of the run which needed to be removed. No biggie.

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