$10,000 S80 Challenge Topic is solved

[pgill]

A few more picture to show the latching mechanism for the mirror, the latches for the plastic cover and the compass

[Steve H]

Thanks for the pictures. It is hard to understand where the clips are on the deco black cover are and the way the mirror mounts. The first time I took mine off rotating the base left to make it release was hair raising wondering if I was going to break it. I sent the company you used 2 different emails asking if they did Volvo mirrors about a year ago and they never responded. I am glad it worked out for you. Volvo really needs to change suppliers of rear view mirrors. I have had multiple auto dim mirrors from other car makers and never had a problem. Both of my 2008 Volvo's mirrors look like crap.

[pgill]

Steve,

I am glad that you liked the pictures, I removed everything blind and I would have liked to see some pictures before I did it.

The person that runs the company is named Scott. I called him to confirm how long the repair would take.
His phone number is on the Website.
Give him a call if you have any concerns.
Note: he isn't a big talker, have your questions ready.
But he is very knowledgeable.

Say something like what you wrote above
1. Another Volvo Owner with a 2010 recently used you service and he is very happy
2. I just wanted to confirm that you would be able to repair my 2008 mirror
3. I don't have a compass but I might have a light sensor, which service should I select?
4. What if I don't like the compass can I select the $99 service and make it disappear? (assuming that the light sensor is separate from the mirror)


You get the idea

Good luck

Paul

PS I don't know how old Scott is but someone of my vintage I would expect the following

Emails - responded to in about a week unless I am busy then likely never
Texts - responded to slightly more frequently than Emails
VoiceMail - Responded to in about a day or never
Facebook: posts, messages, whatever - ignored for at least a year but more likely three or four
MVS replies or DMs - Almost always the same day unless I am in an Airplane at the time you posted then it might take as long as 36 hours

[abscate]

PS I don't know how old Scott is but someone of my vintage I would expect the following

Emails - responded to in about a week unless I am busy then likely never
Texts - responded to slightly more frequently than Emails
VoiceMail - Responded to in about a day or never
Facebook: posts, messages, whatever - ignored for at least a year but more likely three or four
MVS replies or DMs - Almost always the same day unless I am in an Airplane at the time you posted then it might take as long as 36 hours

[pgill]

MVS Readers,

I wanted to share some information about the

GLOVE TEST

Note: the glove test is a simple way to confirm that the PCV system is actually applying a slight Vacuum to the Engine.

Perform a crankcase ventilation test according to VIDA. Using the tool specified in
VIDA, the gauge will seem “out of range”. Normal PCV vacuum at idle for the Si6 and
Si6T engines is between -0.2 kPa and -1.0 kPa.

If you convert the kPa to PSI you will see that the Vacuum pressure is very small.

To make this measurement easier Volvo owners use a disposable glove on the oil fill port.

Here is my S80 at idle (with a working PCV, I passed the TEST)

I recommend checking at least once a year to confirm that the PCV is working correctly.

If you find this interesting then click on the link below the Video is really funny.

https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic37372.html

Take care

Paul

[pgill]

Cost update 10/1/2021

Total Vehicle Cost (excluding, wheels, tires, fluids and filters)

$3100 --- Depreciation (Purchase price $7400 - Present value $4300)
$62.53 --- (31401556) --- Booster O-rings
$40.35 --- (DENSO 5344) --- Sparkplugs
$58.28 --- (LR006071) --- Thermostat
$00.66 --- (LR001505) O-ring for 30713530
$24.29 --- (30713530) --- Coolant hose
$68.85 --- (31272677) --- Oil Filter housing
$18.92 --- (LR006076) --- Idler pulley
$18.92 --- (LR006076) --- Tensioner Pulley
$08.97 --- (PK060473 CONTITECH) --- Aux Belt
$112.70 --- (LR021634) --- Motor Mount
$23.24 --- (30680474) --- Torq Mount
$15.76 --- (UD1306) --- Front Brake Pads (Amazon close out price, typical price is ~$75)
$523.23 --- AC repair
$43.37 --- Overdrive pulley ProParts Sweden 28436803
$323 ---- Radiator (Prem Air type)
$281 --- Radiator Fan (Siemens / VDO)
$34.4 --- (31272732-MFG14) BOSCH Fuel Pressure Sending unit
$11.61 --- (31300263) B+ Battery Clamp
$00.00 --- Loaner Battery from the Land Rover (Note: it is slightly too large and the cover only latches on one side)
$156.00 --- Mirror repair


Total $4993


Assuming that nothing expensive breaks then the biggest cost for the next Seven Years will be depreciation at about 1.5% per month. The Challenge is a 10 year Challenge and I purchased the S80 almost 3 years ago.

Note: I will stop depreciating my S80 at $2000. Because it should be worth that much when it is 18 years old if it is in very good condition and everything works.

But the most important part is that everything works and the car is very safe and really enjoyable to drive.

[abscate]

You are sliding down the easy Green ski slope of depreciation vs the new Car Owner sliding down the Financial Razor Blade.

[pgill]

MVS Readers,

Today I modified the only part of my Volvo that disappointed me.

I do feel that Volvo should have considered good headlights a safety feature and my 2010 S80 3.2 should have come with the HID lights as standard equipment.

I do understand that the 3.2 is the Entry level S80 but it is still a premium vehicle.

Here is what I did

I purchased some H8 GTR Ultra LED 2.0 bulbs. These bulbs are the same size for the Fog Lights and for the Low beams. I am using them for low beam light right now. In the future I could switch these to the FOG lights.

GTR_LED.jpg (98.18 KiB) Viewed 1342 times

a 2015 BMW with standard halogen lights
(the S80 stock was slightly worse than this)

a 2009 Audi with Factory HID Headlights
I expect the factory Volvo HID are equivalent to this

And here is my S80 with LED Bulbs

I do think that the factory (Audi) HID is slightly better at putting out a consistent amount of light but the LED bulbs in the S80 are so good that I can't notice that difference while driving. And the Whiter color of the LEDs is really nice.

One thing to remember is that the Audi HID is a projector headlight and the S80 and BMW headlight are reflector style. This difference is a significant contributor to the difference in light pattern.

I did get the bulbs on sale.

Full Retail is $264

I purchased mine as an open box return and I only paid $120.

I think I only get a 30 day warranty.

So someone didn't like them but I love the new lights.

Take care

Paul

[pgill]

MVS Readers,

The pictures that I showed for my LED headlight upgrade were taken with my cars pointed down slightly. It is easier to see the light pattern this way.

However the picture I took dont do a great job of showing the change in brightness.

Here are some results from a company that did testing (these results convinced me to purchase the LEDs)

This picture better represents what the Headlight look like on the Road, before and after.

Here is the Video

Note: the first half of the Video is for Projector style headlight and the second half is for reflector style (My S80 has the reflector style but I actually prefer the projector style slightly, the difference is very subtle and I wouldn't be surprised if others felt the opposite way)



Take care

Paul

[pgill]

MVS Readers,

I got to drive the S80 the other day in the rain and it is so easy to control this car even if the road surface is slippery.

On the day I went out there were cars that had slid off the road in multiple places along my journey, but in the S80 I never felt that I was in any danger. Not even a hint of over-steer or under-steer. Full disclosure I did grow up in a place where it snowed every winter and I suspect that the people I saw in the ditch probably did not.

One last point here in California we don't have annual safety inspections. So there is no one to tell you that you tires are dangerously warn. I guess the CHP (State Police) will let you know when they find you in the ditch.


I did notice that the windshield wipers were making more noise than I remembered from last winter.

So today I installed new Wiper blades.

Note: if this doesn't alleviate the noise then I will lubricate the linkage. (Obviously I expect this to work which is why I did the wipers first)

I do like the service position for the wipers

To get to the service position shutdown the engine and lift up on the wiper arm.

Here are the wiper I selected

Take care

Paul