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Hi all, recently bought an 05 S60 D5 auto with 26000 miles on it, i've since put a couple of thousand miles on it and it seems a nice car to drive, but what do the BR's think of these cars and what is there to look out for in the future, regarding engine, gearbox, suspension etc, thanks for your views.
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I have an 01 petrol S60 with almost exactly 100,000 MORE miles than yours and it still drives beautifully. Engine is silky smooth and responsive, and the chassis still feels taut. These cars are really engineered to last.
I bought it from a friend 2 months ago, and have put 3,000 miles on it so far without missing a beat. Looking through the service history, front suspension bushes are a frequent-ish replacement (done twice), as is the top engine mount, but that's different on the diesel anyway. Oh and it really munches light bulbs! Other than that, mine's pretty much only had routine servicing. Original cambelt made it to 97k as Volvo suggest, clutch was replaced at just over 100k, alternator went at 120k (the only breakdown suffered by the previous owner in 50,000 miles of use and, possibly by sheer coincidence was the day after a Volvo dealer had replaced the auxiliary drivebelt).
I believe the D5 is one of the better diesels for reliability, but don't know too much about it. There are people on here far more knowledgeable than I when it comes to these things.
Enjoy the car.
Cheers
DP
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Until very recently I had a D5 S60 S (163hp version) which I owned from new as a company car. It proved reliable and comfortable (although the ride was unforgiving, even on 16" wheels). Cracking engine which just got better and better fuel consumtion-wise as the miles racked up. I never reset the calculator and I believe it calculates the average over the past 1,000 miles if you do that. When I traded it in I had 55.8mpg as the average. And I did not drive like a nun. Far from it.
The change to Michelin Pilot Primacy HP's added almost 5mpg and improved quietness and also lasted 25,000 miles on the front - the single best thing I did was fit these to replace the Pirelli's.
Supremely comfortable seats for 1,000 mile round trips, good sized (but awkward access) boot. All in all I was a happy bunny. Apart from routine servicing nothing went wrong although a trip to a local garage instead of either a dealer (or at least a Volvo specialist) was a bad idea as they used the wrong oil and filter which then resulted in a low oil pressure warning that took a while to sort out. Paint was prone to chipping with stones on the front bumper, not helped by such a flat front bumper.
Great under-rated cars that are an elegant, infrequent sight on the roads. Something I liked very much.
Enjoy it!
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Just out of interest, what wrong oil did they use?
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No idea. When I started getting a sticking oil pressure sensor the dealer advised that the oil seemed to be of the wrong viscosity and anyway the wrong oil filter had been fitted. Aparently one without a non-return valve. Did not investigate too much but sounded plausible as other colleagues who used the same garage also reported problems and a seemingly high degree of muppetry from the garage we were advised to go to. We all stopped going there.
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Hi prm36
I have also recently bought the same car on a 54 plate with 48k. The car does indeed drive well but it really is a fidgety ride around town comapred to my previous 406 which was sublime in terms of comfort in town. The s60 comes out on top on the motorway for me as it is effortless, dont you think?
I hate the poor turning circle, but can live with it has it is such a substantial car with real presence!!
I would be very interested in the best tyres for this car if you want comfort as your main priority, i have pirelli p7 all round at the moment. Currently using TOTAL excelluim premuim deseal.
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Hi naik72, yes the turning circle is tight but i'm getting used to it now, i agree the suspension is a bit harsh on bumpy roads ( and i've got 18's on this one ) but sublime on the motorway. Do you know what year Volvo did away with the stop/neutral function on the auto, because i can feel the box engage as i lift off the brake very slightly, i was told it might have been 01/02, but i can definately feel it engage as i lift off the brake, although with my foot on the brake when engaging D i feel it go into gear. Also just replaced my first tailight bulb, bought a job lot from Halfords, i know i'm going to need them.
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I can't help with the auto problem as mine was a manual, but I would buy a job lot of front headlight bulbs, not so many rears (my first rear one went the day I was trading the car in). I replaced 7 front bulbs in total over 3 yrs, 87k miles and they are almost impossible to do yourself. Halford's generally refuse also unless they have a plucky guy determined not to be beaten (I found 2 over a year who would).
I don't recommend trying it yourself as getting a clip back in is like advanced surgery to do. You Volvo dealer can disable to daytime running lights to save bulb wear but I liked the feature in never having to think about turning lights on or off. Regarding you oil question I have answered further back in the thread.
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Thanks Slightlyfatdirector, i just switch to side lights, hopefully saving the headlight bulbs, just have to remember to turn them off though, at the moment its ok because im still looking back at the car when parked until the novelty wears off.
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On my old V40 turbo (bought new in 2000) it was possible to turn the running lights off permanently, there was a little footnote in the Volvo owners manual that showed how to do it.
I can't remember the sequence, but it was a combination of turning the ignition on, putting the master light switch to a certain setting and actuating the dipswitch.
The lights would then operate as in any other car -- i.e. when you wanted them.
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If you want to turn the running lights off on these you have to go to a dealer who will plug it in to a computer and do it. I don't see the point to be honest, at least you can't forget to turn on your lights!
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I'm experimenting with the lights at the moment.
My car was bought at two years old, the original dipped bulbs went at 2.5 years. Now been running on replacement bulbs for 1 year. I switch to sidelights before I put the ignition on as I reckon starting with the dipped lights on are what cream crackers the bulbs. After starting I then move the switch back to 0 for DRL.
OP question was what to look out for on these cars.
I think its been covered before however, bottom wishbone bushes, drop links allround, top engine mount, gearbox mount and rear exhaust hanger about cover it.
Edit: Oh and the front brake discs seem to be made from recycled 1970's FIAT and Lancia bodypanels.
Edited by gmac on 13/05/2008 at 20:20
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Edit2: Check the fuelflap is locked when you return to the car (before unlocking the car) having been away more than 10 minutes. The lock is a plastic pin with a plastic cog which sheds gearteeth.
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I'm looking at a 01 S60 D5 with 140,000miles and a full Volvo SH. Would this car be a bad buy? I believe that these cars do very high mileages.... Any opinions?
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Pete - have a look in forum search for the dialogue a few of us S60 owners had with DP before he bought his well-used but sound 2.0T a few weeks ago. That should cover most of what you need to know.
One thing occurs to me about yours, though - I'm not sure the D5 engine was offered until 2002; I was looking for demonstrators in April and May that year (finally got my D5 delivered in October) and they were thin on the ground.
That said, I could not be more satisfied with my D5. You don't say what transmission you're looking at; I don't like the automatic (although plenty here do) but the manual is quite magnificent, makes a melodious noise and regularly gives me 46-48mpg. I'll also be swapping its two remaining P6000s this week for Primacy HPs, so I'll see if I can replicate SFD's experience on four of those.
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just bought a 2003 D5 a couple of days ago and love it!
its got 135k on the clock with full dealer SH
with things like the top engine mount and bushes being the likely cause for anything to go wrong would it be worth while taking out an idependant warranty? I can get the Platinum www.warrantyworks.co.uk/carPlatinum.jsp for £280 for the year.
Anyone had any experience with these sort of things?
I'm always dubious with insurance companies looking for the first way out of paying!
cheers
Edited by nordeuk on 10/07/2008 at 13:42
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