D5 drivetrain swap

[ferg55]

Evening all, some techincal advice please on something I'm considering...

I have been offered a low mileage 2007 S80 D5 Geartronic (185hp) of same year / engine / gearbox as my current one, and for a giveaway price. It's been meticulously maintained, and recently had timing belt and brakes done.

But it's nowhere near the spec of mine, which has some nice options like upgraded Sovereign hide, BLIS, 4C chassis and the optional turning version of the xenon lamps. However mileage on mine is at around 265k miles, and its in need of a new timing belt etc, new brakes, one driveshaft is clicking, a front wheel bearing is just beginning to rumble. The engine is quite noisy now, and the gearbox has "character". I'm happy to spend money on it, but wary that anything I spend could be only short lived if the engine / gearbox are nearing the end of their life.

So I'm considering buying the other car and having the entire engine/gearbox/running gear and front suspension/brakes etc transferred over to mine, all still bolted to the donor cars front subframe where possible and dropped out in situ and transferred over. I presume the steering, cooling & a/c system could come too. I'd benefit from a lot of low mileage components this way, and I'm assuming it would be a fairly straight forward job for a competent mechanic, but I'd welcome your views. I'd also like to confirm how straight forward it would be for a garage with VIDA to get the ECM/TCM etc to talk to the modules in the rest of the car - presumably a routine procedure as per any other engine / gearbox replacement?

I'm not sure yet what I'd do with the remainder of the donor car, but likely sell it as a whole for breaking.

Appreciate there's plenty of argument as to whether it's worth the cost, but as I said my S80 if fairly unique. Plus it only had one previous owner, I've become attached to it over the years and with a toddler and house renovation I don't have the time or appetite to look at replacement cars, especially with prices as high as they are. So I will either replace what needs doing individually, or do something like the above which, whilst undoubtedly more expensive, could be better value overall. I also like the idea of restoring my old S80! So just interested on advice surrounding the feasibility rather than whether it'd be worth it

Thanks in advance.

[XC90Mk1]

It’s physically possible isn’t it. But the cost of the new car, and far more importantly the amount of time required would allow you to replace and renew anything of wear in your current vehicle. Let’s also not forget you have a high milage reliable car with no guarantee the newer lower milage one will be as reliable.

For me, if I was retired, worked part time etc I may give it a go (I wouldn’t but you could).

If I was working full time etc and had a busy life I wouldn’t contemplate it to end up with the same engine configuration with worn parts at the end.

[apersson850]

Remember that you can't change the car config just like that. It either takes Volvo's cooperation (they'll not do it) or quite some insight into the system.
Without updating the car config the computers will not talk to each other properly, when you change the setup your car has.

[ferg55]

Thanks for the reply XC90 - I wouldn't be doing the work myself, I'd entrust that to a Volvo indy most likely. Yes it'd cost, but I could start replacing only the bits that need doing and that cost will soon add up even before I consider an engine & gearbox overhaul. In that situation, I'd be left with the rest of the running gear still at 265k miles and therefore with unknown longevity. My gut feeling is transferring everything over from the donor car, in situ, still bolted to the front subframe, would be a fairly straight forward job, the benefit being all important components are replaced including engine and gearbox, rather than just a few. I reckon it'd cost me around an extra £1k over and above replacing just the essential bits that need doing (belts, brakes, wheel bearing, driveshaft) which I'd consider worthwhile.

Can anyone advise on how straight forward this would be?

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by ferg55

Thanks for the reply XC90 - I wouldn't be doing the work myself, I'd entrust that to a Volvo indy most likely. Yes it'd cost, but I could start replacing only the bits that need doing and that cost will soon add up even before I consider an engine & gearbox overhaul. In that situation, I'd be left with the rest of the running gear still at 265k miles and therefore with unknown longevity. My gut feeling is transferring everything over from the donor car, in situ, still bolted to the front subframe, would be a fairly straight forward job, the benefit being all important components are replaced including engine and gearbox, rather than just a few. I reckon it'd cost me around an extra £1k over and above replacing just the essential bits that need doing (belts, brakes, wheel bearing, driveshaft) which I'd consider worthwhile.

Can anyone advise on how straight forward this would be?

Yes, Graham at Horton Cars. We're all amateurs.

[ferg55]

Originally Posted by apersson850

Remember that you can't change the car config just like that. It either takes Volvo's cooperation (they'll not do it) or quite some insight into the system.
Without updating the car config the computers will not talk to each other properly, when you change the setup your car has.

Hi apersson, please can you explain more? I presume an indy with VIDA would be able to get the ECM/TCM to talk to the rest of the car - engines and gearboxes get changed routinely. Likewise, any other "coded" component - perhaps the steering box?

[ferg55]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Yes, Graham at Horton Cars. We're all amateurs.

Yep, I thought I'd give him a bell. Thanks.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by ferg55

Yep, I thought I'd give him a bell. Thanks.

Tell us how long he sucks his teeth for!

[apersson850]

Originally Posted by ferg55

I presume an indy with VIDA would be able to get the ECM/TCM to talk to the rest of the car - engines and gearboxes get changed routinely.

Yes, I read the post on my phone and misunderstood it a bit. I got the impression that you wanted to transfer functionality like 4C from a car that had it (obviously) to a car that had not. But now I realize you are just moving things that are equivalent. Do you then even need to move the controllers?`At least you are moving the same kind of controllers, not adding things that weren't there from the beginning. Then you don't change the configuration, and everything is much easier.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by ferg55

Thanks for the reply XC90 - I wouldn't be doing the work myself, I'd entrust that to a Volvo indy most likely. Yes it'd cost, but I could start replacing only the bits that need doing and that cost will soon add up even before I consider an engine & gearbox overhaul. In that situation, I'd be left with the rest of the running gear still at 265k miles and therefore with unknown longevity. My gut feeling is transferring everything over from the donor car, in situ, still bolted to the front subframe, would be a fairly straight forward job, the benefit being all important components are replaced including engine and gearbox, rather than just a few. I reckon it'd cost me around an extra £1k over and above replacing just the essential bits that need doing (belts, brakes, wheel bearing, driveshaft) which I'd consider worthwhile.

Can anyone advise on how straight forward this would be?

I have changed engines before On a vehicle, gearbox etc etc and no to be done properly by a good garage it won’t be £1,000 (engine and gear box yes, easily 1k), but to start adding in 4c and such like not a chance.

If you are pulling out the engine and gearbox you would want to change cam belts, fluids, have they both ABS? Wiring looks, oil coolers etc etc. There are always subtle differences that add up.

I thought you meant to do it yourself.

I would imagine that a dealership doing it is a no. I would also expect most competent dealerships to refuse to do it.
I am really interested to hear how you get on? It may be that the garage are more interested than me but I would say no straight off.

Let me know how you get on and only go to a very reputable place as I am sure you know.