1996 850 Turbo Considering buying/What to look for?

shutterbugstudio · Post by **shutterbugstudio** » 27 May 2007, 12:16

I have been a Volo owner for years. Gone from an 1800 to 240 to 740 and now considering an 850 wagon with 160,000. She just had front and rear brakes done. Ball joints. What else to look for on this model? ANy common failures? Any common questions to ask? Thanks for all your advice. God, I just love these cars! Wish I still had my (3) 1800s!!!

MadeInAmerica · Post by **MadeInAmerica** » 27 May 2007, 15:30

If it was me I would look for a long long list of repairs that the owner had gotten done to the vehicle otherwise you will have just inherited them. I do all my own work and have about 3 notebook lined pages of repairs. Each line is for a repair Ive done over the last 6 years.

If you dont do your own work this is what your looking at for these 2 repairs

The PCV system has to get completely replaced. Ballpark 500-$600
The Rear main seal leak. 800-$1200 for this

There are many more

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 28 May 2007, 04:51

You obviously have enough Volvo experience to know that maintenance records are a must. At 160k I would most certainly be looking for evidence of a timing belt change around 140k. Unlike the B-230 engines on your other Volvos this is an interference engine and a timing belt failure is a disaster. Other than maintenance items, the same stuff seems to fail on all of them eventually.

...Lee