V70 Suspension: Shock absorbers and a car supermarket in Northampton area

[whisky16]

I have bought a month ago a Sept 2005 V70 D5 auto from a car supermarket.

It had done 34,000 miles, verified by the supermarket they tell me.

It was a one owner company car, and it is like new, so I beleive mileage correct.

They told me it was defect free, after I bought it the new MOT said shock absorbers were 'misting' and would soon need repalcing.

They had ripped off the advisory note.

after some dispute the supermarket promised to do it, they said they had the got the correct shocks in stock.

They had the car for a day.

Went to pick it up, told they had ordered the wrong shock absorbers, since then they have not contacted me, that is 9 days ago.

Are there different shocks for 2005 D5 auto, or am I being given the run around .
They said mine were ' self levelling'

Am I the only one to have had a bad experience with a car Supermarket.

Thanks

[Chris_Rogers]

'misting' shocks is a new one on me!

[Andy]

So the rear shocks are the issue?

Self levelling shocks (nivomats) for the P2's are horribly expensive and when I last looked only available from Volvo themselves. The profit in the car is probably being eaten by the purchase of these replacement parts. I wouldn't be surprised if they offered you another car and then sold this one to someone else who was unaware of the issue.

Picture:
http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...e.php?pID=3541

If/when you do get your car back look under the back and make sure they look like the picture- if they don't they've put standard ones on, which would be naughty as they would need to change the springs as well!!

I bought a two year old Passat @ 70k miles from a supermarket, its now done 150K and is still going strong so they are not all bad.

[whisky16]

No it is the front shock absorbers that are 'misting' (leaking I suppose)

[Andy]

Only the rears are self levelling.

[whisky16]

Well................. maybe they never got them in at all.......!!

[Chris_Rogers]

I think I'd take it for a second opinion.

I'd be surprised if the Volvo original front shocks want replacing after 34,000 miles.

You may be better off leaving the Volvo original shocks on rather than let them fit some cheap after market parts and possibly not line up the front suspension properly afterwards.

[whisky16]

I am not mechanic, the MOT test station discovered the 'misting' since examined by independant garage, advised they will need changing.

if they are leaking I presume there must be a safety issue.

There is a film of oily stuff over the front alloy wheels, not over the back ones, so I assume it is from the 'leak'

Why they are like this after 35,000 miles I do not know.

[John_C]

Does the car have any service history to back up the milage? Front shocks needing replacement at 35k miles/4 years is unusual to say the least. Who was the previous owner on the V5 as you may be able to contact them if there is no history.

If you haven't already done so I'd check the advisories on the previous MoT to make sure there are no other nasty surprises on it. You can check online here:

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/

[whisky16]

I have the previous service records, and checked the last MOT on line

There is nothing to indicate it is anything other than a genuine car.

Volvo quote £495 for each shock absorber, plus fitting and an alignment check, looks like £1,300 in total. Scarey ??