Adding another Volvo to the driveway.

[mrbrian200]

Sister I live with. Her old VW died about a month ago (not technically dead, but it's time). She drove my S60 to work for a week. Then unsurprisingly set me loose to find her one. She wanted either a wagon or an XC90. Her budget is small. Of 15 or so candidates in her price range and within reasonable driving distance that popped up since I started watching this XC90 showed up last week about 100 miles away in Chicago area. 99k 2.5T AWD, dealer maintained. B4+SU done. Drove out and assessed, Runs/drives perfect/like new. DTCs clear. Minor cosmetic/wear and tear only. Took sis to look at it. Sold. Picking up Friday.
I didn't mess with the nav unit I was afraid if I closed the door/cover it would spring to life and the price might go up. Nav wasn't a prerequisite anyway. Small dealer I didn't get the impression they knew these vehicles all that well. They had no idea what a dice was.

http://www.downersgrovemotorsales.com/2 ... 480834.veh
As these dealer links will eventually stop working, attached pic also that will stay.

Having access to the china knock dice/software makes it a lot easier to recommend an older Volvo to a modest income family member. Especially considering I can get a good assessment of a vehicle on the spot/pre sale, and after sale the nearest dealers are 80-100+ miles in any direction and pricey (too many middlemen on parts side from what I gather) for a typical 3rd owner to cope with. I caught as of MY15- VIDA is cloud based subscription only. For now those vehicles are still under warranty. We will see how that shakes down as these new ones age/cross ownership and what level of diagnostics indy shops & DIYs have access via 3rd party tools. Might become no go's for anyone outside a market with a dealer presence. Volvo aren't the only ones locking things down. Industry wide this could get interesting in the next 5 years or so if prices are perceived as spiraling out of control and the masses start getting grumpy.

[mrbrian200]

LCAs on these aren't near as problem on these as they can be on the sedans, are they?
Looking into what 'preemptive' maintenance I may want to do to it when the weather warms.
Geometry of the LCA ball joint to the front bushing/rear camber bush looks to be 'optimal' as compared to the P2 sedans.
With that observation I think it's safe to leave the front suspension alone/as actually needed.

I'm coming up with rear shocks and go over the B+/ground key points like I did with my S60. I'm not coming up with much else. Trans fluid on the dipstick looks clean/new. Likely flushed when the B4 cover/update was performed (recently).
What I am not familiar with is the AWD driveline components and what, if anything, might be smart to do at this mileage?

[mrbrian200]

Boy this XC90 drives nice. Adjusted RR, was toe-in by a mile (eccentric bolt wasn't tight enough to hold in my experience on my S60). Probably some unknown shop adjusted and didn't get it torqued down enough. Those have to be pretty darn tight or the setting will change over time. Front end was centered but a rolling little toe out. Bushes all OE and in good shape. Whoa nelly does it track/handle down the bumpy side roads like a champ.

I really miffed my S60 with those aftermarket 'HD" control arms/bushes. Also discovering last couple months solid rubber front bushes bonded both to the arm and mounting post gets too stiff in sub freezing temps turning the front suspension into a board. In addition handling issues out of improper loading that stresses/floats the camber bushes (and the CA makes contact with the subframe/noise) Those particular aftermarket bushes need to go.

[beigg]

If I were a SUV person, I'd have that as a considered option to my search. Right now I am in the market to find a V50, but equipped with a manual gearbox. Would prefer just a FWD, but AWD might be ok.

[mrbrian200]

If I were a SUV person, I'd have that as a considered option to my search. Right now I am in the market to find a V50, but equipped with a manual gearbox. Would prefer just a FWD, but AWD might be ok.

Sis didn't absolutely need AWD but for the price/condition/mileage it wasn't a reason to pass up the car. AWD (any make/model, not just Volvo) can get expensive if you're not a DIY and have a problem, which many do.

When I bought my S60 my primary concern was chasing higher highway MPG which put me in a FWD 5-cyl low pressure turbo. If I had more $ I would have been eying a newer Drive-E equipped for certain.

I noted on this XC a moan & groan at speed felt and heard at the front left footwell I wasn't sure a noisy bearing or a bad tire went completely away when I adjusted front end/toe. For all I know it was the diff complaining too much tension between the front wheels or the angle gear (front to back). If that's possible then it would seem prudent to sort your alignment tech with a fine tooth comb on the AWDs.

Warning the following is somewhat ranty. According to maintenance records alignment had been checked recently-- at a dealer. Sort of scratching my head. Their site shows a Hunter Hawkeye Elite. Camera based system ah ha. I don't know whether its inherent fudge in the machine or techs don't know what they're doing I've sort of learned to avoid shops that use it. They never seem to get it right the first time. And sometimes the second try is worse not better. Toe setting seems to be a crapshoot on those I can do better with a laser attached to a carpenters level and a reflective target (such as a street sign 1000ft away after dark).

Edit: or the software directs techs to 'correct' minor non-adjustable caster/camber deviations which wouldn't generally present noticeable issues by adjusting the toe out of whack in an attempt to compensate. It is my opinion this does less to correct issues but instead 'piles on' another problem that becomes detrimental on bad roads and slippery conditions where the preferred characteristics dictate all 4 rolling straight ahead and parallel.

[beigg]

It's a tech not machine error, but that is my .02.

Might be looking at picking up that v50 I've been looking for. Just awaiting additional data/info/vin. I have a feeling they wont respond since I asked for a vin. People tend to get sale shy when they are asked to provide a vin.

[mrbrian200]

Yeah I avoid sellers/dealers that guard the VIN. Found this one at a small corner dealer in Downers Grove that's been in business for 30 years and A+ BBB, glowing yelp reviews etc. Those guys were a pleasure to interact with and seem to primarily seek/deal with older cars in excellent mechanical shape but due to cosmetic wont fetch high value at auction or retail. They pay the extra so that anyone can see the basic Carfax online before you even go to look. This one was primarily dealer maintained by both of two owners at the same dealer (Volvo if Lisle IL). Issues all relatively minor for a 13 year old car....dented RR door panel looks like a good candidate for paintless job, plastic trim around RH side mirror cracked (actual mirror is there and fully functional), alignment toe off, sat nav likely just needs taken apart and pickup lens cleaned (has a disc in it, can hear it spin up and try but doesn't read disc), bottom leather skins on both front seats needs removed and restitched. All relatively minor correctable without throwing a ton of $ at it. Even the timing belt was done (by the dealer about 6 mos ago). My inclination was to steer her into A Volvo but I wasn't absolutely set on. So happened at this moment in time for ~5k budget she had when I sorted for low mileage/ 200 mi radius and looking at vehicle history reports this was the first one that both looked like a solid candidate to me and suited her needs on about page 3.

[beigg]

Yeah I avoid sellers/dealers that guard the VIN.

I've in the past stuck it out to rationalize for a vin prior to coming out or just obtaining the vin on the spot and later checking it when giving it more thought after a few days of digesting the realities. Now, I don't ask a second time. If the vin is not provided after asking once, I move on.

Found this one at a small corner dealer in Downers Grove that's been in business for 30 years and A+ BBB, glowing yelp reviews etc. Those guys were a pleasure to interact with

That is rare to find with most preowned lots.

Even the timing belt was done (by the dealer about 6 mos ago).

A real nice plus!

So happened at this moment in time for ~5k budget she had when I sorted for low mileage/ 200 mi radius and looking at vehicle history reports this was the first one that both looked like a solid candidate to me.

I'm STILL looking. You'd think I'm trying to buy a house or something. Either stuff is not remotely within the criteria or the V50's I do find are beat to hell.

[mrbrian200]

Loaner car (relative's second car) she drove for a couple weeks between when death of the VW and picking this XC was a Ford 500 that has a DEI remote start system installed. She really really liked that. The 500 is also equipped with a key transponder/immobilizer system with a spare key permanently set in the bypass module.

It would seem to me a more secure way to approach this would be to have a new spare programmed to the vehicle but without cutting the key blade. This would prevent somebody from fishing it out of the bypass module, sticking it in the ignition and driving away (it wouldn't turn).

[mrbrian200]

I'm STILL looking. You'd think I'm trying to buy a house or something. Either stuff is not remotely within the criteria or the V50's I do find are beat to hell.

I see there aren't too many V50s for sale, even around Chicago or Indianapolis where I'd generally be tracking to find a nice used Volvo. Chicago is a big market for VCC. Looking for a -nice- wagon with would you consider a MB? They're quite popular in the little town I live. Widening up the search to include C350/E350s options open up quite a bit. MBs are quite popular in the little town I live, like Volvo once somebody has managed to pick a good one they tend to stick to them.