2006 S40 T5 - Should I buy

Post by **LamboSE5** » 18 Jul 2015, 14:24

Hey everyone. Well I don't know too much about S40's - especially newer model years. But I know, as with every make/model, there are years to avoid.

What can you tell me about this particular year.
Its a 2006 S40 T5 with 130,000kms and it's a Manual (it's not AWD). Asking 4500.
I haven't seen it yet. Just want the real details from the community that know

Thanks for any information.
Regards for now.

Post by **LamboSE5** » 19 Jul 2015, 16:01

..I checked for a forum section for "should I buy" or similar but I couldn't find one - the closest forum area/threads I found didn't have any applicable threads or advice.

Can anybody give advice on the S40's please? And/Or maybe link to where that info might be?
I'm supposed to look at said car tomorrow

*edit: one specific thing I wanted to know; I read that one certain model/year/engine of S40 has an integral turbo. So I'm trying to figure out how to know which...cause that sounds unappealing - but I don't know if it's desirable or to be avoided.

Thanks

Post by **LamboSE5** » 23 Jul 2015, 12:35

S40 owners..of similar year..anybody?

I'm reading some stuff I can't verify but sounds bad about S40. Mainly (big) electrical problems, and leaking AC's and sunroofs being pretty common complaints..?
Who's got information/advice,.. experience with S40 please?

Post by **precopster** » 23 Jul 2015, 14:47

Have you checked carsurvey..org ??

Lots of owner appraisals and quite a reliable source because of high numbers of reports.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 09 Aug 2015, 22:49

I have a 2005 V50 AWD T automatic and it has been pretty good. Yes, sunroof leaks. If you buy it read the posts with how tos and clean yours up immediately or it will leak. Not a deal breaker, just address it and maintain it. The key system on the 05 has issues, prior owner fixed mine and I have had no issues. Prior owner did the alternator and so far that is fine. I did the starter, having mine rebuilt as the one I bought was the wrong type. Rebuild was $100, took 2 hours, and other than a tough install, read the how tos again, it was a small issue. My shocks were totally shot at 94k, I used KYB strut packs for a Mazda 3 and did each corner for about $140. I also did control arms, Dorman - I believe same as Ford Focus. Basically I did the entire front for each corner. For the rears I went with OEM shocks and changed both. Ride quality back to normal. I also did both front wheel bearings ($120 a corner), not a bad job, just make sure what you buy works with the ABS, must have the magnet. I also did a dump and fill on the transmission - this is the well known and bullet proof AW55/50 - plenty of write ups on it. I used Toyota fluid - 5-6 quarts so about $40.00. Also did the timing belt at 95k for mental comfort, it is a typical Volvo engine - no surprises here. I did the tensioner and pulley, but not the water pump. My XC70 went 180k on the OEM water pump so I figured if I get even only 40k more on the initial water pump I can do a complete service and get the car well over 200k before I need to address it again, assuming I still own the car. Other than that the car has had no issues. Note this car was bought fairly cheap at 94k and the things I did, are not that irregular and were no that expensive. I don't think I spent more than $1k in parts to get everything back into shape. I am very confident the car is now properly maintained, although I do have to do the other transmission part fluids. Hope that helps.

Post by **LamboSE5** » 13 Aug 2015, 16:47

SuperHerman wrote:I have a 2005 V50 AWD T automatic and it has been pretty good. Yes, sunroof leaks. If you buy it read the posts with how tos and clean yours up immediately or it will leak. Not a deal breaker, just address it and maintain it. The key system on the 05 has issues, prior owner fixed mine and I have had no issues. Prior owner did the alternator and so far that is fine. I did the starter, having mine rebuilt as the one I bought was the wrong type. Rebuild was $100, took 2 hours, and other than a tough install, read the how tos again, it was a small issue. My shocks were totally shot at 94k, I used KYB strut packs for a Mazda 3 and did each corner for about $140. I also did control arms, Dorman - I believe same as Ford Focus. Basically I did the entire front for each corner. For the rears I went with OEM shocks and changed both. Ride quality back to normal. I also did both front wheel bearings ($120 a corner), not a bad job, just make sure what you buy works with the ABS, must have the magnet. I also did a dump and fill on the transmission - this is the well known and bullet proof AW55/50 - plenty of write ups on it. I used Toyota fluid - 5-6 quarts so about $40.00. Also did the timing belt at 95k for mental comfort, it is a typical Volvo engine - no surprises here. I did the tensioner and pulley, but not the water pump. My XC70 went 180k on the OEM water pump so I figured if I get even only 40k more on the initial water pump I can do a complete service and get the car well over 200k before I need to address it again, assuming I still own the car. Other than that the car has had no issues. Note this car was bought fairly cheap at 94k and the things I did, are not that irregular and were no that expensive. I don't think I spent more than $1k in parts to get everything back into shape. I am very confident the car is now properly maintained, although I do have to do the other transmission part fluids. Hope that helps.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. Actually, when comparing the s40 I was considering to others on kijiji for sale, I found an '06 s40 t5 awd manual but it was in a different province.
Anyways,
-Sunroof: so is it some type of drain function/passage that gets clogged and you have to clear it? I can't imagine designing a sunroof seal that needs to drain through a tubing passage -- 'just seal the GD thing". haha.
-Key system: not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean there's issues with, from what I remember from test drive, the plastic key? The key is plastic thing you put in the dash right? It's not a key?
What is the issue(s)?
-Is the alternator a "known issue" or are ya just giving me your experience of your purchase? And the starter too, just a data point?
-Yours is automatic transmission? The AW55-51 (wiki)?
I think the '06 in question has the B5254T3 engine and the M66W (manual) trans. I don't know if that's a good trans or not..

If I could get this car for $3000 I wonder if that's a good deal. It needs a inner cv boot from what I've gathered so far. Maybe a couple suspension parts (not shocks or struts though).

I guess I was mainly wondering: Is this just a model/model year to avoid. You know what I mean? Like that certain year range of S60 - for example.

I don't know what happened to the multiquote function - but thanks for the "carsurveys.org" suggestion as well precopster.