New barge - Volvo 850 2.5 10V

[MrDuke]

So thanks to the heads-up from StillOrange a few weeks ago, and with apologies to the SVM for disturbing the natural order of things, this arrived today:

 

 

More photos tomorrow, but it'll probably never look quite that smart again. Unless I go out in the rain and take another grainy b&w shot, I suppose.

 

Apparently it's either a GLT, SE, or S. None of these really mean anything though, as nearly all cars were individually specced by buyers. Mine has heated half-pleather seats, A/C, traction thingy, front fogs and several other controls that I'm not completely sure about yet. The interior was a full-on biohazard zone when I got it - I started vulging it earlier but had to stop when it got dark.

 

Awesome drive - never had a FWD Volvo before, but it does remind me of my beloved 740 in a weird way, and not just because it's huge. The seller did say that it needed a good service (although he has done the cambelt) so I was fairly gentle with the pedal, and didn't bother trying it in sports mode, but I reckon it'll pick up its heels nicely if needed. Also a winter mode on the box, which is gr9 4 omgsnokaos, or just for mingebaggery I suppose.

 

Problems which I already knew about were:

• blowing exhaust - as in properly blowing, sounds like a VW camper
• knackered struts on the tailgate
• weirdly non-functioning dipped beams
• scratched paintwork - actually not as bad as I feared, 99% should polish out nicely, there is some lacquer damage on the doors though
• broken headlamp wipers, which I'll probably get rid of altogether tbh

Problems which I have had fun discovering are:

• many blown dash bulbs, all over the place, including inside the actual stereo. According to the VOC forum this is completely normal
• sticky handbrake - squeals like a pig at low speed
• possible knackered front dampers - felt like it was bottoming out over a fairly gentle raised crossing in the village, needs further investigation
• annoying rattle from underneath somewhere - hopefully something simple like an exhaust hanger or heat shield

 

So plenty to start fettling with, and overall I'm dead chuffed with it, well worth the paltry sum I paid. If I'm very very lucky, I might even be allowed to keep it.

[danthecapriman]

Another Volvo joins AS. Excellent purchase!

[MrDuke]

Yeah, one of the insurance comparison sites gave me an option of GLT or SE, another company informed me it was an S (which I've never heard of) and some others just call it a 10V. As you say, hardly any of the non-T5 models had extra badging anyway.

[CreepingJesus]

Very nice, I'm well jealous. Want some genuine Volvo wheeltrims? I've got a stack of the x70 kind in 14" size: they'll get binned otherwise, probably.

[Guest Hooli]

I like that, 850s are the best of the FWD ovlovs.

[MrDuke]

Very nice, I'm well jealous. Want some genuine Volvo wheeltrims? I've got a stack of the x70 kind in 14" size: they'll get binned otherwise, probably.

They would definitely come in handy once I've destroyed the horrible things it's currently wearing. How much do you want for them?

[Shep Shepherd]

The tailgate struts on the 850/phase 1 V70 are a bit of a sod to replace. Guess how I know? 

[CreepingJesus]

15" surely.

That is correct, I was half asleep when I typed that! Will be the right size though, 850/x70 steels are all the same diameter at least.

 

£5 for postage Mr D? I'll need to count them, but I think there's 7 all told. I got four from R9UKE of this parish a while back, and lost some along the way!

[MrDuke]

Ideal! PM me your details and I shall furnish funds.

[cms206]

I have a P-reg 850S 2.5 auto and an early L-reg 850GLT 2.0 manual and they're more or less the same spec; half leather, electric front windows, sunroof, no A/C, no front fogs... only differences between mine are the S has cruise control, a boot spoiler and 16in wheels which were shared with the 850AWD, those IIRC were standard fit.

 

The 2.5-10v is more or less the same power output as the 2.0-20v but has a lot more low down torque. An 855 was on my shopping list for a family wagon as both of mine are saloons but the cheap S60 came along so it came instead.

 

850s feel like a proper Volvo in a way modern ones don't, but they really do drive well. Well bought man!

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[MrDuke]

No photos today - excellent* Sunday public transport means I've had to drive back into Holyhead to swap cars for work tonight, then I'll be picking up the 850 tomorrow AM, assuming they can be bothered sending some buses through my village.

 

Headlights have me stumped - I'd assumed it was a dodgy dash switch as they're a known weak spot, but pulling it out and disassembling it showed no issues at all. Also, the rear lights and high beam work perfectly well. Just no dipped or sidelights. No blown fuses and only one blown bulb (apparently - I'll try with 2 new ones tomorrow just in case). I really hope I don't have to start using a multimeter, because apart from making sure wires are in one piece and contacts are clean, I have literally no idea how electricity even works.

 

Also discovered some extra seats in the boot with no wear on them, so I might be able to flog them for a few pennies. The extra seatbelts look half-arsed and clutter the view anyway.

[MrDuke]

Have some more Volvo:

 

 

 

I think that's about as clean as it'll ever be. It's been clayed, SRPed, and linseed oiled to within an inch of its life, and looks passably OK for it. Loads of the scratches came out, the lacquer damage down the side turned out to be some weird residue after all, and the bleached-grey plastics are almost the right colour again. Happiness.

 

I've also started OMGMODDING it (somethingsomethingRetroRidessomethingChoppedSpringssomethingSceneTwatblahblah):

 

 

 

Inside no longer looks like a builder's van and is surprisingly well-preserved, although it could still be a lot cleaner. I'm puzzled by the weird combination of leather armrest/wheel and vinyl seat edging.

 

 

 

In more practical news, I had the bright* idea of removing the trim strip under the rear screen - it doesn't actually seal anything (Volvo didn't bother with it on the V70) and had starting splitting and looking tatty. It's composed of a metal U-section with a rubber coating... and also acts as a moisture trap - so much so, that the entire length apart from a few inches at the ends has turned to cornflakes, and is virtually impossible to fully remove:

 

 

I'll probably just bung some silicon in there to cover it up. Meh.

 

 

In more cheerful news, I found a receipt for a cambelt change 4k ago, so that's one less thing to worry about. I also managed to un-brick the stereo (having entered the wrong code 3 times) and if I'm lucky, the main dealer will give me the right one without bumming me for the privilege. Oh, and I finally managed to extinguish the bulb warning on the dash. Yay.

 

I really need to service it, but genuine Volvo parts are as pricey as you'd expect, and I'm trying to decide how much of a tightwad I can get away with being. Allegedly, these engines are very picky with ignition parts, whereas oil doesn't seem to matter as long as it's the right weight. A proper ATF flush will be high on the list in any case.

 

 

Tune in next time, when I will be attempting to shovel thermal filler into the hole in the exhaust, as well as trying to find out why the ABS keeps triggering when I turn left.

[3VOM]

I have a pair of headlamp wipers which may fit that car if you are interested.

[Guest Hooli]

I'd be thinking ABS sensor with a cracked wire on a front wheel for starters.

[MrDuke]

I have a pair of headlamp wipers which may fit that car if you are interested.

 

Thanks for the offer    I need to check if the spindles are seized (they often are) - if not, I might well be interested.

 

 

I'd be thinking ABS sensor with a cracked wire on a front wheel for starters.

 

Yeah, I'll probably be poking around behind the wheels to begin with. It tends to happen in car parks when I'm turning quite sharply, which would fit with a damaged wire I guess.

[Guest Hooli]

I had the same with a front sensor on the XJ40 I used to have.

[mk2_craig]

Changed the struts on Dads tailgate a few years ago, wasn't that bad a job though I did manage to KRAK one of the plastic covers. Has yours got a working odometer?

[cpjitservices]

[3VOM]

I'd be thinking ABS sensor with a cracked wire on a front wheel for starters.

Failing that isn't it these Volvos that the ABS unit connector plays silly and the fix is to wedge something down the side of the ABS unit? (To keep the contacts squeezed together).

[MrDuke]

Changed the struts on Dads tailgate a few years ago, wasn't that bad a job though I did manage to KRAK one of the plastic covers. Has yours got a working odometer?

 

Yeah, they're quite brittle - I'll warm them up with a heat gun before removing them. Mileage and trip are both working fine.