Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 how do you tell?

[foggyjames]

Outstanding guide, Sion - thanks!

Just a couple of "I think you'll find..."s....

1.7 was 1986 MY ("mk3", for Rich )
Rear wash-wipe was never standard (and was only common for the UK market, anyway - virtually unheard of elsewhere)
My 79MY car has "1.4" wing badges. I suspect that's market-specific.

cheers

James

[360beast]

345DL you know your stuff.
That was a brilliant set of info, I'd say that's worthy of a sticky thread all on its own

[volvomania]

Sorry to have to disagree with you guys; the purists among us use a different Mk indication:
Mk I : 1976-1978 (daf style dash, no side indicators repeators, old nose cone, short style bumpers, metal window and roof trim, no central vents in the dash, front licenceplate mounted under the front bumper...)
Mk I are quite rare nowadays and are therefor overlooked by most enthusiats.
Mk II: 1979-1981 ( Volvo style dash, side indicator indicators on the wing, old nose cone, short style bumper, metal window and roof trim, central vents in the dash, front licenceplate mounted in the front bumper)
Mk III: 1982-1985 (long style bumper, old style hatch (rubber inserted screen), new multipiece nose, side indicator indicators on the wing)
Mk IV: 1986-1991 (long style bumper, new style hatch (bonded screen), new multipiece nose, side indicator indicators in the front bumper )

[Logan360]

We never really got anything other than the later model over here. a few phase2's but my 5 have been 3's. and dam it if i had of known that rear window washer was rare i would've taken it off my 89, instead of just using the switch for it as a start switch.

[macplaxton]

Originally Posted by volvomania

the purists among us use a different Mk indication

Not you too!

[345DL]

Thanks for the comments guys, I'm surprised that there aren't more corrections!

I'm a bit hazy on post 86 models as the styling disn't change very much, and in particularly 360s, so my guide is nowhere near comprehensive.

James, you're right about 1.7 for MY'86, sorry for that error, I will edit the post later (I can't seem to work out how to do it at the moment). However, according to my brochures, rear wash/wipe was standard for all hatchbacks in the UK market for '87 onwards.

As you suggest, there are market differences too, such as different trim levels (L, DLS) that we didn't get here, but as I'm UK based that's what is easiest for me to concentrate on.

[mollusk]

Akchewaly - I fink yewl find -

Rear wash wipe was standard from '86' year model (UK market) introduced at the same time as the glued in rear screen with the washer jet through the glass.

Could be specified on earlier cars but was a dealer fit accessory (wash rear wiper only - there was no wash facility). When I fitted one to my '84' I used a 245 tailgate jet mounted through the 'C' pillar.

Foggy is quite right (also very rare) standard rear w/w was a perculiarity of the UK market.

Mac.

[foggyjames]

Whether or not the 76-81 cars need to be split into two groups is a debate which I'm sure will rumble on for some time, but for me it's about the general "look" of the car, rather than anything too detailed (as Rich says, something changed pretty much every year, if you want to be accurate about it). On that basis, I like to lump Robbert's "mk1 and mk2" together, as they broadly look the same...and it's intended to be a quick reference for people not quite as sad as the rest of us.

Of course there are differences, but I'd argue that the changes in 81/82/83 model years ("middle" bumpers in 81, front-end facelift in 82, late-model dash in 83) are just as notable as the 78/79 changes...so where do you draw the line? The most convincing argument I've heard yet for putting in a split between 78 and 79 is build quality! I'm sure this will be discussed at great length over beer, well out of earshot of impressionable members of the opposite sex...!

Mac - I wish to contest the rear w/w point! My 87 MY (86 D reg) 340 GL had no rear w/w, and then there's this fella... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120966323940 (although I'm curious about what "the only one in the UK" is supposed to be about...).

cheers

James

[foggyjames]

Regarding editing, BTW...you can only edit for 10 minutes or so after the initial post. That was put in place after people were going back and changing posts during arguments, making a mockery of the whole thing. I can change it if you like...?

cheers

James

[volvomania]

Originally Posted by foggyjames

Whether or not the 76-81 cars need to be split into two groups is a debate which I'm sure will rumble on for some time, but for me it's about the general "look" of the car, rather than anything too detailed (as Rich says, something changed pretty much every year, if you want to be accurate about it). On that basis, I like to lump Robbert's "mk1 and mk2" together, as they broadly look the same...and it's intended to be a quick reference for people not quite as sad as the rest of us.

James, if you want another argument then so that you can distinguish between MkI and MkII, let me put it then more bluntly;
MKI: majority of the interior and mechanical parts are of DAF design and DAF looks.
MKII: majority of the interior and mechanical parts are of Volvo design and Volvo looks. The MKII is also less prone to rust compared to the MKI's.

As for saying "as they broadly look the same" is like saying that an 850 and a V70 are identical.......I don't agree.