Recently purchased my first Volvo

SacredHeart · Post by **SacredHeart** » 08 Mar 2025, 19:25

Earlier in February I was in a dire situation and needed to purchase a car more quickly than I would have liked and was fortunate to find a very clean 2006 Volvo S60 2.5T AWD with just under 127K miles on it. The owner had ordered the car new and was the only owner. The car was regularly maintained first by the dealer that he bought it from and then the last 5 or so years from a local mechanic that was more reasonable. I have the maintenance records from the time with the mechanic during which he only drove it about 25K miles. This is my first Volvo. I am rather impressed and really like the car so far. He gave me his Haynes Owners Workshop manual for the car that he must have picked up a little later because it says 2000 to 2009 Petrol and Diesel. Between that, the internet and the cars manual there is plenty of information with not all of it the same. I have a couple of general questions that I have not found answered directly here yet. I plan on doing whatever work I can on the car to get what should be done, done to either keep or get it running well. I have already replaced the timing belt, water pump and pullys because I did not know when that had last been done and sounded like the best place to start. As far as replacement parts, are there places where Volvo parts are better or recommended over OEM? I notice that a Volvo fuel filter is $46.83, A Mahle is $32.09 and a Bosch is $15.93 with more in between and one less on FCP Euro. Generally on my other cars I do not go with the cheapest but a name that I know which is usually not the the name on the car. With this car I am really green and could use some advise. It is not about the fuel filter specifically, this is just a for instance and the first thing I was planning on tackling just to get under the car for the first time. I am sure this type of thing will come up consistently as I work on the car. I am sure that the OEM parts will be fine. I am mainly worried about some thing that I might want to go with the specific Volvo parts if known.

Another thing that I find differing numbers on is the frequency of changing the oil. Haynes says, 1 year or 10,000 miles. The manual says 7500 miles or 12 months. Obviously I can change it before then, but I am wondering if people keep to that? I have had cars that would not last that long in between oil changes meaning I would run the car out of oil if I waited that long. I normally try to use longer millage full synthetic and change it around every 5,000 miles or every other season. I am sure that is fine here, but I am just curious about these cars since they seem to say longer is not an issue obviously depending on how and where you do most of your driving.

On a side note, I have really enjoyed driving this car in this first month. Other than some trouble this week with my tires (nail and a valve), I have enjoyed most everything about the car. It is really clean condition wise and comfortable. The exterior has no obvious major blemishes. I am sure that more will come up as I get into the car, but just had a couple questions and see that you all are very helpful and knowledgeable about these fine cars. Nice to meet you all and hope to be around for a good long time enjoying this car and the Volvos to come.

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 08 Mar 2025, 19:53

Welcome to the club.
Honestly, the only good advice here-buy from FCP and it will make your long time ownership way more enjoyable financially if you planning to keep the car for long(it will not be cheap to keep it on the road, but neither is MY2010 Prius). I prefer to buy OEM when the price is not differ too much. Or OE if available and the price is too good to justify OEM box.
In terms of oil changes I prefer 5k max or 1 year whatever comes first(some people will advocate for oil analysis and so you can be more environmentally friendly, but it is up to you)

Post by **Krons** » 08 Mar 2025, 20:22

Welcome! You have a great car.

Once sorted I do oil changes every 4-5000 miles with full synthetic. I’ve bought three 2.5Ts that needed 2000 mile intervals with Marvel Mystery Oil to de-sludge them due to previous owner doing longer intervals. They came around but I changed oil based on color for the first several changes…just did my 2005 XC90 2.5T at 2000 miles today as oil was dark and I’m trying to sort out a leak. A look under the oil cap gives a general indication of sludge on the screen and the cap bottom.

I would do a glove test to verify the PCV is functioning well, the engine should draw a vacuum. Change the PCV asap if the crankcase is pressurized or you’ll push seals out.

FCPEuro is tough to beat with lifetime warranty. I’ve had good results with TRQ suspension parts and CV shafts.

SacredHeart · Post by **SacredHeart** » 09 Mar 2025, 10:14

I did the old glove test this morning and it seems to be operating the way that it is supposed to be. It did not blow up and had a little suction. I am going to order all of my filters/parts from FCPEuro and start changing everything I can so that I know where these parts all stand.

One neat thing is that I even got the Window sticker for the car which the guy I bought it from was really proud of. It does not have every bell and whistle, but he purchased the Climate Package (Heated Seats,/Headlamp Washers/Rain sensor), Premium Package (Leather Seating surfaces, Power Glass Moonroof/Power Passenger Seat/Real Wood Inlays, Rear Shelf Speakers, Sport Package (17" THOR Alloy Wheels, Speed Sensitive Steering/Sport Seats/Geartroinic Transmission) and Wood Steering Wheel which adds a really nice touch.

My car is Black with gray interior and looks great. I used to live and work in St Louis (2004-2008) and I used to walk on my lunch hour and I used to walk by a Volvo dealer and I always thought the white cars were particularly good looking. While I am grateful and happy with what I have, I think that the white with the cream interior is particularly attractive.

I think that I have only seen Leather in this model so I am not sure if the Leather Seating Surfaces in the Premium Package are different from standard Leather Seating or if there is another option (not Leather) that I have not seen.

Post by **cn90** » 09 Mar 2025, 15:15

Welcome...

- All of your concerns etc are in forum, just search for it.
- "OEM" is not necessarily Genuine.
- Best is to search forum for brands (best bang for the bucks so to speak). Most of the time, these names will come up: Bosch, NGK, Behr, Mahle, INA, Conti, Aisin etc.
- I assume you replaced the timing belt also? Conti is the name.
- Water Pump should be Aisin (or Hepu) and nothing else.
- Vendors are:
1. Fcp
2. Autohausaz
3. Rmeuropean
4. eBay: look for NOS parts, not Chinese junks.
Dealers also sell parts on eBay.
5. Amazon: avoid if you can. On a side note, why buy from a guy (together w El0n) that is destroying the US?

SacredHeart · Post by **SacredHeart** » 09 Mar 2025, 18:21

Thank you for the help. I meant to say timing belt. That is what was replaced. Thanks for all of the help.

SacredHeart · Post by **SacredHeart** » 10 Mar 2025, 05:59

I also just noticed the DIY and specs link at the top of this page which has many answers to my questions.