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Nov 24, 2016 20:07:31 GMT
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Our old merc 190 diesel has been a great car, but it's going to need welding soon. I've been thinking of a change and found a very tidy volvo 850, 125k , great colour and a
Art from boot strut everything works apart from boot struts (cheap)
It has no tow bar, fsh and leather. Interior is mint, and had a lady owner. It's averaged 3k a year for the last 7. So, good idea? What horrors may lurk?
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Nov 25, 2016 19:12:21 GMT
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Manual or auto? The auto box is a known weak spot, just flush it through with fresh fluid and refill and it'll be fine. The pcv is the main problem, the kit is about £100 a and is very important to do. Bit of a pig as it's under the inlet manifold, I've had to do both of mine.... they are an easy and relatively inexpensive engine to tune, but if you have an auto the box won't take more than about 300bhp.... they are brilliant cars tho, so don't let me put you off, I certainly wouldn't sell mine!!!
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Nov 25, 2016 21:27:33 GMT
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Thanks for your reply, it's an auto. I will look up the pcv issue, why is it important to do? The auto fluid won't be in there long, although it may have been changed recently as it's well looked after.
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Nov 25, 2016 21:53:03 GMT
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The pcv is the crankcase vent, and it gets blocked up with crud. When the crankcase can't breath it forces oil out of the cam cover which then leaks all over the exhaust etc....
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Nov 25, 2016 22:51:39 GMT
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Thanks.....just been looking it up, looks simple enough, just getting to it!
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Nov 28, 2016 21:11:43 GMT
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Update......I bought it! No pics yet, but will put some up as soon as I can. I got £250 off the price as the ignition switch is a bit dodgy (common?) the discs could do with replacing and the sunroof sticks.
It's a T5, in GLE spec, cruise, climate control ( not sure about aircon as it's freezing outside) and it even has heated rear seats!
It's a joy to drive, I actually think the build quality outdoes the Mercedes, and I can't believe how quick it is.......it's mental!!
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Nov 28, 2016 21:13:29 GMT
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Oh yes.... the body is in great condition, and the interior (leather) is absolutely mint, I think it's had an easy 125k miles
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Nov 29, 2016 17:55:12 GMT
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Sounds good mate. The build quality is exceptional on these old Volvo's.... they are ridiculously quick standard, but there's a few things you can do cheaply to pep it up a bit... the ignition switch is a very common issue, I think I have a spare somewhere but it may be a week or so before I can locate it..... piece of advice, don't fit cheapo discs and pads.... ask me how I know 😖
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Nov 29, 2016 22:47:46 GMT
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Good advice on the brakes......the discs are horrible......not thin, but crusty! It's only done 300 miles in the last year so been sitting about. However, they do still work well.
Simon at Brookhouse volvo came to the rescue on the switch, he's been great for parts on the amazon, and very reasonable too.
I still can't get over how quick it is, not bad on fuel either considering the way it's been driven.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,191
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Sounds good mate. The build quality is exceptional on these old Volvo's.... they are ridiculously quick standard, but there's a few things you can do cheaply to pep it up a bit... the ignition switch is a very common issue, I think I have a spare somewhere but it may be a week or so before I can locate it..... piece of advice, don't fit cheapo discs and pads.... ask me how I know 😖 Absolutely. For the people who say they are all made in the same place I have noticed quite a difference between cheap items and pricier ones. Sometimes I have been surprised but not often, even with two cars that are the same, but one using OE branded and the other using genuine parts. I think the most surprising car I have been in poor brakes has to be the old Spitfire 1500 I owned and the Pug 106 GTI, where even purplevanman 's humble 106 1.1 on solid discs didn't seem too bad! Both the Spitty (on EBC Greenstuff surprisingly...) and the Pug on Apec pads had a solid pedal but neither did alot! The Midget and Mini outbraked both of them! |
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Last Edit: Nov 30, 2016 9:09:23 GMT by ChasR
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Looks nice, now the modifying begins  |
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Thanks! I'm not sure it needs modification, it's so quick as it is! It drives really well. This weekend I've put a new ignition in it, fixed the rear washer ( and finding out why the spare wheel well is wet) fitted new boot struts, got the sunroof working (lack of use) sorted the loose rear view mirror, and got the n/s heated mirror to heat up. The only thing left is to see if the aircon will work with a re gas. Considering it's lack of use I'm hoping that's all it is. It's booked in tomorrow for a test and gas.......fingers crossed!
The heater doesn't get that hot, but today I put it all onto auto on the climate control and it warmed up faster? I'm going to do a flush, and look into reading fault codes as it flashes the aircon lights to say there is a fault.......it all sounds very complicated from what I've read so far.
As of an outing to Haynes this morning, I can report that front and rear seat all heat up nicely!
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