General: Bought an XC90 with (don't laugh) no keys

[DaveL485]

Originally Posted by Bits

And check the tyres - I bought an 06 in Jan this year and had to replace all 4. It transformed the car.
Glad to hear you do your own work - same here. Luckily the u/s of my car is like new which, as you will know, is a big help when you come to undo things - so check underneath before you buy.

I'm well experienced in shabby undersides, you'll notice the presence of four French cars in the pics in my first post. On top of those I also have a 1990 Renault 21 and a 1986 Renault 9 so I am fully armed with kit to deal with every ****ty bolt, rusty nut and corroded joint. The Swedish battlecruiser, by comparison, is a dream.

Pertaining to other comments, I can't check anything, I've bought it totally blind I know its got around 120k on the clock (last mot April 19 @ 110k plus avg miles), I have about ten pics and that's it. For all I know the engine could be scrap, or mint. It could need...anything...everything....or nothing. That's reflected in what I paid for it which I may (or may not) reveal in due time

[John Brennand]

My bro-in-law "lost" a key/fob for his newish V70. He was in the dealers getting something else done and asked about a new key/fob. The manager aske if he was in the RAC/AA - he is in the RAC and has "key coverage". He called the RAC whist waiting in the dealership and they said - yep no problems - he handed the phone to the service manager and they completed the invoice or whatever right then. He did have to go back a few days later to collect it and have the car programmed - but no big deal and no charge !

[DaveL485]

AA Key assist is a no-go, they cant do it.
Tried several independant key/security places and no-go

Looking like dealer only, 100%, so looking like I need to wait for the DVLA to turn around the V5 (uh-oh) and then find an open dealership, unless the dealer will take my receipt of sale (which is a printed verifiable receipt from a reputable auction house).

In other news, I have now inspected the engine bay and the belts are intact, there is oil and water in it and I don't see anything major. It needs swirl flaps, probably an intercooler as I can see evidence of a leak and a damn good service as I suspect the cambelt is original and unchanged from the factory.

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by DaveL485

It needs ... a damn good service as I suspect the cambelt is original and unchanged from the factory.

Uh oh!

That is a big warning sign of neglect.

To ignore changing a timing belt means that standard maintenance has been ignored, which means that other things will also reflect the same level of minimal or missing maintenance.

[DaveL485]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Uh oh!

That is a big warning sign of neglect.

To ignore changing a timing belt means that standard maintenance has been ignored, which means that other things will also reflect the same level of minimal or missing maintenance.

Its about 20k miles overdue i reckon. I found a receipt in the car and got in contact with the garage that previously maintained it. They were very helpful and did say the previous owner was a bit shy on maintenance and his other car had a catastrophic belt failure. It has been interim serviced sparingly. Ill get it back on track :-)

I found an open dealer not too far away and drove over in person with my receipt of sale and ID, they have accepted it and have allowed me to purchase a key set. The car was delivered to them Friday afternoon to have it coded in...now waiting for a call from them to collect.
£313 per key so have bought one for now until I get the car up to code and I am happy with it/decide to keep it indefinitely.
Paul Rigby Volvo Birmingham thank you for your support

[Dastardly Diesel]

By the time you've paid for keys, belts, pumps and pulleys, and rectified any other deficiencies that you find along the way, you could have just bought a decent one to begin with.

[Harley Dave]

Bit harsh there DD

You don't know what he paid

Cheers

Dave

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by Harley Dave

Bit harsh there DD

You don't know what he paid

Cheers

Dave

Indeed, such a car with no keys and no history at auction could well sell for just 100 GBP

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Dastardly Diesel

By the time you've paid for keys, belts, pumps and pulleys, and rectified any other deficiencies that you find along the way, you could have just bought a decent one to begin with.

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

Indeed, such a car with no keys and no history at auction could well sell for just 100 GBP

For some of us it's about the challenge - taking on vehicle that seemingly everyone else has given up on and hasn't got what it takes to repair... sometimes it doesn't work out... sometimes you hit the jackpot. The person who sold it might just turn out to be the biggest loser in this.

[Thekilt]

@DaveL485 is that your Clio V6 ? pretty rare and worth a bit now too.