Just bought 2006 S60 2.5T AWD, 212K

[kcodyjr]

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Just picked it up yesterday. It'll probably take two weeks or more to get plates, thanks to the COVID.

Cosmetic issues: badly hazed headlights, old brake dust on the front wheels, severe pitting/flaking finish on the drip mouldings, minor paint pitting and rub-off on the front bumper, dirty looking driver's seat, minor dog damage on the rear seat.

Body issues: trunk won't latch, hood release is very hard and sometimes won't relatch. Both license plate brackets rusty, missing posts, missing nuts. Driver's door gasket hanging below door.

Mechanical issues: needs a complete brake job, no timing stickers so it needs that too. Tires almost 6 years old.

I think I know what I need to do about most of that:

Headlights: resurfacing kit. Replace if that doesn't cut it. Is a HID conversion practical on this model?

Brake dust: just ordered two specialty cleaners from Amazon, we'll see if one works. I've got a stiff nylon brush that'll fit on the end of my drill, if it comes to that.

Drip mouldings: not sure about this - do I remove, sand, and spray, or do I buy NOS replacements?

Front bumper paint blemishes: get the touch-up pen.

Driver's seat: not sure, it looks like they cleaned it thoroughly. Professional steam job?

Dog damage: it isn't bad, I'm thinking I'm totally okay if it LOOKS like it's been patched like an old pair of jeans. Upholsterer?

Guessing the hood latch issue is a sticky/rusty cable, though it could be the latches themselves. Remove, inspect, replace as necessary.

License plate brackets - will just replace with OE brackets from FCP, new nuts, new bolts. Will take the trouble to switch the front bumper over to the expanding nut setup rather than the "wood screw" style that's currently on it.

Door gasket - OE replacement on the way from FCP.

I'll just do a full timing job, including water pump, and cam/crank seals for good measure. It has green coolant in it, is that even correct? I'll just use a kit from FCP with the OE coolant.

It'll get an oil change, of course. Just this once, I'll use the kit from FCP with the OE Pento oil. What's the consensus about aftermarket oils for these years - is it still Castrol synthetic?

I'm thinking to put a set of Cooper sneakers on it, because although the Goodyears have good tread, I don't trust them that old, and one is a few years newer than the others. I've read that the AWD units take excessive wear when tires aren't replaced as a set?

Trunk issue - I'll try smacking the latch with a hammer. If not, I've read that's most likely a harness problem?

Brake job - I'm partial to the coated Zimmermans with the Akebono pads. I'll put in OEM e-brake shoes and hardware, and I'll carefully check out the cable ends while it's open. It stops straight, just not strongly, so I don't think there's any issue with the caliper pistons or slides.

I'd appreciate any comments of any kind, about anything related to this car, constructive or otherwise; but I'm particularly interested in anything I should look at that I've failed to consider.

Thanks,
- Kevin

[kcodyjr]

Followup: I do intend to buy a DiCE box and VIDA computer. I'm hesitant to go with the Chinese knock-offs, though. I realize it's pricey but I'm inclined to shell out for the OEM box, so that I can use it with a separate computer and a licensed current VIDA 3-day subscription to do any needed software updates or parts replacements.

Is euroautodiagnostics.com reputable, or should I stick with one of the dealership websites and get my own computer?

[erikv11]

Nice looking car! Here are replies to a few of your points.

Did you check if the AWD works? Get all four wheels in the air, put it in drive, the rears should spin.

On an 06 the AWD is not extremely sensitive to tires but I'd keep them close in treadwear. As you said 6 years is getting old, a new set is a good idea.

There is never any consensus on oil . But Castrol is very good yes. I use Rotella T6 synthetic 5W-40.

Brakes I agree with you. Also I'd pull out and grease the caliper slide pins.

Goos call on license plate holders. I bought a bag of like 100 stainless steel acorn nuts from McMaster Carr, replaced all the rusting ones on all my Volvos. The factory ones rust in salt states.

I don't have a full answer on the VIDA-DICE question except to say I have a knock-off and an old PC laptop and it works great. Was a little finicky to set up.

[kcodyjr]

Did you check if the AWD works? Get all four wheels in the air, put it in drive, the rears should spin.

I haven't checked it that way. During the test drive, I laid into the pedal pretty good to see if it exhibited any torque steer, and there was none. I'd expect it'd yank the wheel pretty good if the AWD wasn't working. I'll test it the way you suggest now too.

Brakes I agree with you. Also I'd pull out and grease the caliper slide pins.

Will do re: slide pins. The guy at FCP looked up the VIN and says it has the 286mm fronts, but I don't trust his computer. I'm going to pull one off and measure it just to be certain before I order any parts. I'd think that the upgrade to 305mm would be worthwhile, but consensus around the internet seem to think otherwise... but, of course, Uncle Internet never lies...

I tested the parking brake against 1st and reverse, and it holds the car in place against an idle. I didn't try revving it because it parks on the grass; at best I'd turf up the lawn and still not know if they held the car still. I'm considering skipping the e-brake rebuild on that basis... then again, what would it be, another 80 bucks? I should know better than to be cheap.

Goos call on license plate holders. I bought a bag of like 100 stainless steel acorn nuts from McMaster Carr, replaced all the rusting ones on all my Volvos. The factory ones rust in salt states.

Wish I'd thought of that before ordering the OE acorns. I'm not just in a salt state, I live on an island off the coast of Massachusetts, the saltiest of the salt states as far as I know.

I don't have a full answer on the VIDA-DICE question except to say I have a knock-off and an old PC laptop and it works great. Was a little finicky to set up.

I'm expecting the finicky software setup. My day job is in I.T., so all that's a familiar headache.

I know the knock-offs work well enough for most functions, but I also know they can't download software, which I might or might not care about. What I would care about somewhere down the road, though, is reprogramming modules - like, say, if I had to replace the climate control panel or the ECU out of the junkyard someday. Can the knock-off handle all that? Maybe I'm just not clear on what the limitations of the clones actually are?

Thank you for the reply.

[matthew1]

Good to see you back, Kevin. Congrats on the S60.

Castrol synth is becoming a standard, like Mobil 1 was. It's factory in my 2017 VW Alltrack for instance, so I bought it for my oil changes.

Question: do you or anyone in your area clean/spray off the underside of your cars to get salt off? It's not a big problem here, but they do use corrosive compounds in the de-ice material here, so I'm thinking about that.

[jonesg]

I know the knock-offs work well enough for most functions, but I also know they can't download software, which I might or might not care about. What I would care about somewhere down the road, though, is reprogramming modules - like, say, if I had to replace the climate control panel or the ECU out of the junkyard someday. Can the knock-off handle all that? Maybe I'm just not clear on what the limitations of the clones actually are?

Thank you for the reply.

You can use a clone with data transfer service instead of direct download.
Doodlebug here does it remotely.
https://www.datatransferring.com/volvo

[abscate]

Are you on the Vineyard? We summer on Cuttyhunk , the only Volvo we bring is buried in the engine room of our boat, though.

The brake upgrade is a feel good item, but won’t change brake performance one iota. There is nothing marginal on these cars brake systems from the factory.

[erikv11]

Are you on the Vineyard? We summer on Cuttyhunk , the only Volvo we bring is buried in the engine room of our boat, though.

The brake upgrade is a feel good item, but won’t change brake performance one iota. There is nothing marginal on these cars brake systems from the factory.

Stock brakes are pretty good but the difference is more than a few iotas. Drive a P2 R sometime, they have oversize brakes, you will likely change your tune. An R goes faster (drivetrain performance) *and* slower (brake performance).

[kcodyjr]

Are you on the Vineyard? We summer on Cuttyhunk , the only Volvo we bring is buried in the engine room of our boat, though.

I'm on Chappaquiddick. To us, the Vineyard is "the mainland."

[kcodyjr]

Good to see you back, Kevin. Congrats on the S60.

Thanks! It's nice to have a Volvo to work on again.

Question: do you or anyone in your area clean/spray off the underside of your cars to get salt off? It's not a big problem here, but they do use corrosive compounds in the de-ice material here, so I'm thinking about that.

Yes, we have a hose by the driveway for just that purpose, but it's not for de-ice material. If we get a decent storm at high tide, and then have to take the ferry across the harbor, we're splashing through sea water.

In fact, it's pretty rare that the snow lasts long enough for the plow to make it over here; and even when the road does get plowed, it's only the main road, because it's the only one that's paved. Hence, AWD... I tried to talk her into a used XC90 but she wasn't interested.