S40: advice on model spec

[borzio]

Hi, first post so thanks in advance for help.
I've got option to buy a S40 1.6 se registered April 2004..it has 21k on the clock (genuine as I know the seller and his ownership,old chap bought car and hardly used it due to illness).

I've read that it is a phase2 model but don't know how to tell if it is one from the end of the -2004 era or the newer 2004 + era. Is there an easy way to tell either from the VIN or obvious changes that separate these models?
Also, I read on one of the stickies that the timing belt should be replaced at 8 years or 80000. As this is a 10 year old car is the belt beyond its useable lifespan?

[DXMachina]

Hi & welcome

The simplest thing to tell what sort of S40 you are considering is to look at our cars - like the green one in my signature text. Thats a 2001 Phase 2. Does the nose look the same as yours? Obviously mine's the estate V40 but everything forward of the rear doors is the same. Plenty straight lines where the 2004-on model has curves


If the tail has curves like on this one it's a 2004-on model and this is the wrong forum really..

If the vehicle has done 10 years on one cambelt it is definitely due an immediate change. To the extent of buying the car and driving it with low revs straight to the garage. Most cambelts would last well past 100K if not changed, but it isnt worth the risk

These are good cars and with so low a mileage would last a long time but consider: 1.6 litres is a small engine and these are heavy cars. If you want fuel economy it is the worst of the lot and you will average around 30mpg. Paradoxically the larger the petrol engine the better the fuel economy.. 1.8 16v engines give better economy, 2.0, 2.0T and 2.0T4 models are better yet but the crown is taken by the sometimes troublesome 1.8GDi / 1.8i which has a lean-burn Mitsubishi engine

[borzio]

Thanks again, from your info it looks like your photo of the earlier edition.

Thanks also for the cambelt advice, I'll get that done pronto if I buy it and it hasn't been done already. The mpg is off putting and I'll have to weigh that against the newness of the engine.
The rest of the car is excellent with leather upholstery, the only flaw being the steering wheel whose leather cover has shredded.....pity that but no great problem.

[Matt86]

Originally Posted by borzio

Thanks again, from your info it looks like your photo of the earlier edition.

Thanks also for the cambelt advice, I'll get that done pronto if I buy it and it hasn't been done already. The mpg is off putting and I'll have to weigh that against the newness of the engine.
The rest of the car is excellent with leather upholstery, the only flaw being the steering wheel whose leather cover has shredded.....pity that but no great problem.

Steering wheel is simple to replace with a basic tool kit and I'm sure people have some replacement ones available if you wanted to replace it

[borzio]

Thanks Matt I'll bear that in mind.

For interest only do you know which engine the 1.6 is based upon? The rocker cover just has Volvo on it and I've heard but I'm not sure if this is the same as the Focus engine? Any way of telling?

[DXMachina]

If your car looks like ours, the 1.6 is a 4-cylinder version of the 2.0 5-cyl engine from the Volvo 850 / V70. A fully swedish design

The 2004-on model would have a Ford 1.6, and a Ford Focus chassis.

[borzio]

Good to know, thanks to all for your advice.

I couldn't resist the S40 and have now bought it, so now I'll get the cambelt seen to this week.

Finally, I'd like to ask about replacing the cambelt: 3 garages have quoted for the job and all 3 insist that the cambelt kit including water pump and rollers should be installed. Is this necessary given the rollers and water pump have only done 21k? would a cambelt itself be sufficient until the 80000 mark? Or am I just being cheap? (be kind!)

[DXMachina]

There is some debate on the longevity of water pumps.

Personally, I've taken several cars to very high mileage (200K+ with one of my Mondeos...) and I've never changed a water pump on any of them, or had one fail.

Some change them every cambelt change. Gives great feeling of safety but may not gain them much

Consensus of moderate opinion is every other cambelt change - IE every 160,000 miles. Pumps dont wear out with age, just mileage. I wouldnt worry about it if I were you. But not everyone will agree with me on that.

[v40alex]

The original Volvo water pump is known to be good for a pretty long time (100K minimum, more like 150-200). If they replace it, you will get a worse spec one so I would stay with the one you've got.

Yes, get the cambelt done on the grounds of age, but I would think you shouldn't even need to get the tensioner replaced, that should be good till 80K.

[gordonr]

hi m8 dont know if you have had a quote from volvomax in glasgow?
they have been excellent anytime i have went there