V70 seatbelt....

[Alabama Mac]

Hi all,

I’ve just purchased a 2006 V70 and it’s great !!

Thing is I need a new nearside rear seatbelt and have been quoted £600.... jeez. I hope this ain’t a sign of things to come with Volvo ownership

[Sotosound]

Who quoted that?

Also, where exactly is Morton?

[Oak]

Welcome!

You may find more helpful replies in the P2 section (up to 2007 models in the UK) and not the P3 (2007 onwards) that this section is?

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=19

[Tony Rama]

Originally Posted by Alabama Mac

Hi all,

I’ve just purchased a 2006 V70 and it’s great !!

Thing is I need a new nearside rear seatbelt and have been quoted £600.... jeez. I hope this ain’t a sign of things to come with Volvo ownership

Get a second hand one. A new one is second hand as soon as you use it.

[Familyman 90]

Id no more trust a second hand seatbelt than a second hand condom. You've no way of knowing if its been used in anger and restained someone in a smack. The odds are would probably be fine, but I wouldn't gamble a human life on it.

A very quick scan of Google shows new Volvo items are available for about £190. Get the part number off the old one to be sure, then settle down with a cup of tea and do some web investigation.

[TeamG]

Originally Posted by Familyman 90

Id no more trust a second hand seatbelt than a second hand condom. You've no way of knowing if its been used in anger and restained someone in a smack. The odds are would probably be fine, but I wouldn't gamble a human life on it.

A very quick scan of Google shows new Volvo items are available for about £190. Get the part number off the old one to be sure, then settle down with a cup of tea and do some web investigation.

So would you change all five seatbelts in any used car you purchased?

[Familyman 90]

Ridiculous question.

Its easily apperent whether a car has been in a serious smash.

It is not at all easy to determine whether individual component from a car has been in a smash.

[TeamG]

Originally Posted by Familyman 90

Ridiculous question.

Its easily apperent whether a car has been in a serious smash.

It is not at all easy to determine whether individual component from a car has been in a smash.

Not at all - people are caught out regularly buying used cars that have been repaired following serious accidents. There is an entire UK salvage market that thrive on this (with a wide range of YouTube channels covering typical work). Many of these are unrecorded accidents and these cars attract a premium in the salvage world as they retain more value.

And the used parts market also thrives. How would you know that any seatbelt on any used car you buy hasn’t been changed with a part from ebay due to the original becoming frayed, damaged, dirty etc?

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by TeamG

Not at all - people are caught out regularly buying used cars that have been repaired following serious accidents. There is an entire UK salvage market that thrive on this (with a wide range of YouTube channels covering typical work). Many of these are unrecorded accidents and these cars attract a premium in the salvage world as they retain more value.

And the used parts market also thrives. How would you know that any seatbelt on any used car you buy hasn’t been changed with a part from ebay due to the original becoming frayed, damaged, dirty etc?

Your last is a very good point that I had not previously considered, 'TeamG'. I bought my Saab 9-3 ragtop 4 years ago at 11 years old with 80,000 miles up. I had no idea if it had ever been invoved in an accident - certainly none were recorded - or even an emergency stop. I suppose that I placed my trust in the dealer in that respect.

Two years into my ownership, the driver's seat belt buckle jammed, trapping me in my seat. I ordered a replacement from a reputable Saab breaker on EBay and had it fitted by a trusted garage. It has since proved to be reliable and efficient in use. Did I do right, or should I have replaced it with a new one - always assuming that I could find one, that is?

Regards, John.

[ferg55]

Originally Posted by TeamG

How would you know that any seatbelt on any used car you buy hasn’t been changed with a part from ebay due to the original becoming frayed, damaged, dirty etc?

You don't - but the chances are fairly slim. But with a used belt off ebay, the chances of it coming from a crashed car are quite high. That's not a risk I'd want to take.

Funnily enough, I had this exact situation with our 2013 Mokka, which we bought 3 years ago from a "proper" Vauxhall dealership 2nd hand. It had a frayed drivers belt - nothing sinister as there was no evidence of it being a crashed car, it was just a bit worn on the edges. So I asked for it to be changed as it was going to be my wife's car and knew she wouldn't like it. When I went to pick the car up a few days later, I checked the label on the "new" belt to check it had been changed as agreed - it had a 2015 manufacture date. So I asked the salesman why my 2013 Mokka had a "new" belt with a 2015 manufacture date, and after a bit of stumbling he admitted it had come from a "donor car". Needless to say I insisted for it to be changed with a brand new item, which I checked again when I picked the car up.