Dilemma - R reg 940 MOT failure - advice please..

[Sally Cavanagh]

Originally Posted by bgarston

Out of interest which garage is this? The nearest I can think of in Bristol other than a main dealer is Elite Automotive Services in Bedminster. After that, the next nearest non franchised dealer I guess is Shipham Motor Company in North Somerset and then after that Fishers Volvo in Gloucester. I ask as I need some work doing on my 940 and whilst I am fairly handy it's my daily and I simply don't have time to get it all done.

Elite is the garage which quoted £60 to diagnose the ABS fault and quoted £280 (including VAT @20%) to repair it. Possibly they are anticipating that it will be difficult to remove and replace. But £133 (excl. VAT) of that quote was for the sensor itself...….

Elite is not my regular garage. I took my previous Volvo est. (940 Wentworth) to there not long after I got it and found them very expensive compared to my usual garage - so generally don't go there. Their hourly rate for labour was higher for example....

I've no idea what the other non-franchised Volvo garages in the Bristol area are like in comparison as I've never used them. Good luck with getting the work done.

I see that you also have a Big Aubergine!

[AllHailKingVolvo]

As has been noted, this seems like a lot of money for some relatively simple work. I've never replaced an ABS sensor, but all the other work stated as a fail or advisory I've done myself on my various 2/7/900 cars over the last few years.

I run a '96 940 estate and bought a full genuine Volvo cat-back exhaust from my local main dealer for under £300 earlier this year. Took under an hour to fit it, including removing the old one. The fit of the new exhaust was perfect, unlike the various crappy systems I've had from ECP and the like over the years.

Brake discs and pads are a simple fix, generally whenever I buy a Redblock era car I replace all discs and pads as a matter of course (they're usually tired) but the PO did it on my 940 shortly before I bought it, so I haven't this time. For discs and pads for my last car (740 saloon) the whole lot cost me under £200, and was a 2.5hr job to fit them all, service the calipers (clean, push pistons back, grease slide pins and reassemble) flush the system through with fresh brake fluid and bleed it all.

If you're not DIY friendly, Its a case of finding the right garage. Modern plug'n'play diagnostic centres tend to avoid cars like ours, (or quote exorbitant figures to encourage you to buy a modern disposable sh*tbox!), But the right mechanic will relish the chance to work on one of these. My local indie guys love it when I bring my cars in, as they're simple, old-school cars with loads of room in the engine bay and an easy proposition for somebody with traditional diagnostic skills. In all honesty, I usually have the problem diagnosed before I take them in, and only use them for big jobs that I can't carry out in my driveway.

Don't scrap the Big Aubergine...you'll never find a modern car that's as well built, capable of gigantic mileages, dependable and faithful, at least not without spending a gigantic amount of money.

My reason for running these cars is that whilst they might not be miserly fuel sippers that can park themselves and read you the long-range weather forecast in forty different languages, they're brilliantly practical and cheap to run, characterful, unbeatably reliable and incredibly well built cars. I've always looked forward to driving every 2/7/900 car I've owned, and have done a gargantuan amount of miles in them, without ever, once, being let down.

[Sally Cavanagh]

Originally Posted by AllHailKingVolvo

As has been noted, this seems like a lot of money for some relatively simple work. I've never replaced an ABS sensor, but all the other work stated as a fail or advisory I've done myself on my various 2/7/900 cars over the last few years.

I run a '96 940 estate and bought a full genuine Volvo cat-back exhaust from my local main dealer for under £300 earlier this year. Took under an hour to fit it, including removing the old one. The fit of the new exhaust was perfect, unlike the various crappy systems I've had from ECP and the like over the years.

Brake discs and pads are a simple fix, generally whenever I buy a Redblock era car I replace all discs and pads as a matter of course (they're usually tired) but the PO did it on my 940 shortly before I bought it, so I haven't this time. For discs and pads for my last car (740 saloon) the whole lot cost me under £200, and was a 2.5hr job to fit them all, service the calipers (clean, push pistons back, grease slide pins and reassemble) flush the system through with fresh brake fluid and bleed it all.

If you're not DIY friendly, Its a case of finding the right garage. Modern plug'n'play diagnostic centres tend to avoid cars like ours, (or quote exorbitant figures to encourage you to buy a modern disposable sh*tbox!), But the right mechanic will relish the chance to work on one of these. My local indie guys love it when I bring my cars in, as they're simple, old-school cars with loads of room in the engine bay and an easy proposition for somebody with traditional diagnostic skills. In all honesty, I usually have the problem diagnosed before I take them in, and only use them for big jobs that I can't carry out in my driveway.

Don't scrap the Big Aubergine...you'll never find a modern car that's as well built, capable of gigantic mileages, dependable and faithful, at least not without spending a gigantic amount of money.

My reason for running these cars is that whilst they might not be miserly fuel sippers that can park themselves and read you the long-range weather forecast in forty different languages, they're brilliantly practical and cheap to run, characterful, unbeatably reliable and incredibly well built cars. I've always looked forward to driving every 2/7/900 car I've owned, and have done a gargantuan amount of miles in them, without ever, once, being let down.

I'm really grateful to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my post... this one has particularly struck a chord with me.

All the replies have hit on at least one or other of my thoughts and things I've been agonising over for a while now... and the advice about whether or not the potential repair bill was about right or too much and sourcing parts has also been extremely helpful - Thank you, everyone

This post gets to the heart of the issue for me - you just can't beat the 940 estate for build, drive and the fact that they rely on mechanics rather than 'electronics' ...…. 'Volvos.....they're boxy but they're good!' to quote Dudley Moore from an 80s film I can't remember the name of!

Funny thing is I never saw myself as a Volvo driver... but I've been well and truly hooked on the 940 for at least a decade - when I get in a different car it feels like getting into a tin can. And I know my kids are comfortable and safe in the back...they love the Volvo too!

With the help of forum members who've replied to my thread... which has taken me on an insightful journey covering engineering, economics, ethics, politics and much more... I'm getting a plan together, which starts with a second opinion from a local Volvo enthusiast (also a Volvo forum member) and a mechanic they know...

I'll keep you all posted BUT one thing I'm sure about is that I'm going to avoid scrapping the Big Aubergine if I possibly can.... And I may well be changing my choice of garage!

[Laird Scooby]

Excellent news Sally! How many of todays new cars will still be running in 20 years time? Almost none as they're not built to last. Stick with what you've got and keep it going, it's much cheaper in the long run!

[volvo always]

Thats great news!

I like my 1996 Volvo 940 estate too. Reliable, easy to work on and mine is a true work horse. Now covered a mere 203,000 miles.

I do have a modern Toyota hybrid estate. Bought as more fuel efficient, zero tax.

The biggest thing for me with new cars is safety. Safety has moved on massively in the last 25 years. The 940 (updated 740 from 1982) was good in it's day but safety of the modern car structure is vastly strengthened where needed.

At least the Volvo 940 has excellent visibility to enable you to avoid an accident and has ABS Brakes and a drivers air bag. You may be the safest driver.

James.

[tofufi]

As a minor update, I discussed this with a neighbour who runs a garage nearby (who will be seeing the car next week).

Without seeing the car, they reckoned the work required would be rather less than £1700 - and possibly less than £1000. But obviously without seeing what is needed it's impossible to quote accurately.

Fingers crossed we'll know more next week and the big aubergine will live to fight another day

[tofufi]

For what it's worth, my neighbour has quoted them £800 including MOT to do the same work. That's a proper garage, not a mates rates cash in hand type job.

Seems £1700 was rather steep!

[Laird Scooby]

That's a bit more like it Jim! If that includes the MoT and it's a fixed quote, i think if i was the OP i'd probably go for it given the list of what needs doing.

[Sally Cavanagh]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

That's a bit more like it Jim! If that includes the MoT and it's a fixed quote, i think if i was the OP i'd probably go for it given the list of what needs doing.

Originally Posted by tofufi

For what it's worth, my neighbour has quoted them £800 including MOT to do the same work. That's a proper garage, not a mates rates cash in hand type job.

Seems £1700 was rather steep!

I can confirm that the Big Aubergine will be repaired, MOT'd and back on the road very soon... and for a lot less than £1700. Many thanks to everyone

[griston64]

Great news Any pics of old Eggplanty ?