Love for the Volvo & T5 Tuning options.

[OGDB]

Hello Retro Rides. Once again I am in need of some superior guidance and assistance.


I needed to buy a larger vehicle because my R53 mini was well, too small! I've fondled with trucks and the MPG just wasn't worth the sacrifice for the mileage I covered. I would have loved a RS6 or RS4 but it was a lot of money to invest in something that I may not have gelled with, although the thought of a pokey estate was very appealing. I settled on a V70 Wagon with the T5 motor paired with a manual box. The cops drove them when I was a kid, which instantly makes them awesome. I found a local one which had very reasonable mileage, which seems a rarity and i have had it for a few months now. However there is an uncontrollable urge to alter the current state of my V70.


My model is the 250bhp model, it goes well, but I want it to go a bit better! I am also interested in bringing the thing closer to the ground and adding some better looking wheels. After all isn't that one of the reasons we are all here?


Has anyone had a tuned T5, if so what did you do and how did it run? I understand the simple modifications, allowing air into and out of the engine with a better flow is one of the first things that should be catered for. Are there any standard systems that can be altered to fit to allow a better flow? I understand that the "R" Downpipe and exhaust will fit but these carry a heavy price tag, are there any other alternatives? I understand cooling the air that enters the engine is also another way to create a better running turbo car, are intercoolers a rewarding instillation on these?


If you've had one, please share your experiences and if you have any input on how you created a more enjoyable driving experience it would be great to hear about it. Please also include the 850, i think these look fantastic but unfortunately I couldn't find a presentable T5 manual at the time.



Thanks.

[OGDB]

[norm75]

Get on volvoforums.org, apart from the knowledge on there they also have sales sections where you might be able to pick up some bits.

There is also t5d5 forum which probably caters for more orientated T5 content, haven't owned one just a v40 t4, father in law had a very tidy 850 t5 but both were standard.

[ironmighty07]

Shemtek Automotive Solutions are well recommended for tuning and things related to 5 Cylinder volvo engine builds. Had an exhaust built(turbo back including free flow cat) by Flux Fabrications(was neighbouring unit to Shemtek) myself for a 2009 2.5T V70 and its a sweet sound.

[Phil H]

My C70 T5 (2.3) has had a remap of some description and a long time ago based on the documentation (over 100,000 miles ago). Allegedly 290bhp - confirmed 33psi boost via OBD2 app at mid range and invoking kickdown (it’s an Auto) at around 57mph (I was towing the race car at the time) makes the front end somewhat skittish. Damned good fun though!

[backtothe80s]

Love my c70 T5. Manual and only 80k miles!!

The sc901 stereo is great. Less reliable than the v70 though, headlight fault, steering rack gone and abs issues. Full history too.

One day she'll be back on the road.

[Stu]

I like Volvos, and have had a few, including a V70 (phase 2) 2.3L T5 like yours will be if it's the 250bhp one. I've also had an 850 T5 (225bhp), and currently have a V70 (phase 3) but it's a diesel, D5 185bhp model. All mine have been standard from a power perspective.

I'd also recommend www.volvoforums.org.uk for lots of expert knowledge. They will tell you the first thing to do is a full service, with genuine parts if possible (particularly spark plugs) to make sure you're starting from a good baseline if you modify it. I found both T5s I had went like the clappers as standard when well maintained, but they can easily be tuned for a lot more power if you want to.

Wheel wise, be careful with width as the steering lock is appalling on the phase 2 T5 anyway due to the standard wheel width and steering limiters. Unless you enjoy doing three point turns at mini roundabouts, I wouldn't go any wider

Here's a few pics, my old V70:




850:




Current V70 (bit new for RR!):

[Paul Y]

I loved my 850 T5’s T5R’s and V70R. Had them as company cars in the 90’s all manual.All awesome.

My V70R was modified to around 290hp, from memory changing the exhaust made the biggest differences as the standard one was very restrictive when upping the boost and caused a few issues until it was replaced.

Brakes were the biggest challenge which would fade badly after a few heavy applications and warped the disks regularly. Or it just might have been me...

Would have another without hesitation.

P.

[ChasR]

I have the poor relation to this. A Ford Mondeo 2.5T.

Almost all of my Focus ST friends and T5 friends have mentioned remaps, intercoolers etc. etc. Somehow I have resisted! Not the way to no tune a daily at this place but prior to the lockdown I was doing 1500 miles a month and wanted it to last. On 180k, it's no spring chicken .

From what I understand the mods up to around 300BHP don't really change MPG much. In the Focus ST circles, some reckon they saw an improvement! My 850 T5 friend didn't see a change in MPG either. He reported it being around 27MPG as an auto.

[OGDB]

Thank you all very much for the replies. I didn't expect so much fondness for the large barges.

norm75 Thanks for the suggestions, I will go and have a look on there, see what is happening.

ironmighty07 I have heard about this place you mention but have heard varying reports. Seems like he doesn't like touching high mileage cars (which mine isn't) but can sometimes be hard to deal with? He is quite away from me, so if I am to take a journey up to him I would like to have a few supporting mods and get what I want done in one swoop rather than having to revisit.

Phil H Its nice to hear that some of these modified cars are reaching some pretty serious miles. I have had to change daily quite often in the past few years due to the car not being practical, hopefully the size of the V70 estate will be ample for a few more years to come. The fact your one is remapped and still going strong is reassuring.

backtothe80s Awesome looking volvo you have there. The audio in my V70 is actually quite decent. I am tempted to change it for something that is Bluetooth compatible and it would be fantastic if I could get some built in sat nav, however I hear some aftermarket stereos don't work with the OEM amp which can cause a significant downgrade in audio quality. I see that a "Connect2" style device is available, but at just over £100 and no satnav I am a little hesitant.


Stu That's right, I read a lot about "Stage 0" which is a refresh of all of the consumable parts and an initial once over of vac and boost lines, or something along those lines. I have a few areas to address on my own V70 before I pursue any performance routes however I guess I started this topic to gain an insight into what is possible if I chose to go down that road. The response seems well so that is reassuring. I have heard a lot of positive things about the D5, my main driving is very short drives around town very locally, the D5 just didn't stack up for what I needed from a car. If I was running some fair mileage, I think it would be my Go-To.


paul Y What a fantastic choice of company cars! I have been tempted to source some V70R calipers and swap over to the 4 pots, my standard brakes seem to be a bit hit and miss. I suspect I could probably improve this with a better disc and pad selection. I am very happy with my manual choice in the T5, however the auto seemed to be the more popular option. Lately I seem to be having a problem with my clutch return. I think I may have to join a Volvo specific forum and ask about its reluctance to return fully on occasion.

ChasR I have noticed your Mondeo in your build thread. I never realised they made these in the 2.5T option. I suspect this is the same engine which is fitted to some Galaxy (or was it the C/S-max) models? With fuel locally at 99p for the first time since owning the car I'm not too hung up on fuel costs, its fantastic but I am sure it also wont be very long lasting. A lot of the time I am around town in mine and fuel consumption is shocking at best. That said my work commute is so small I see it as a fair trade off to run something a little more juicy. If a remap produced more power, or even just made it a little less laggy, whilst returning a improvement in fuel consumption that would be fantastic!

[norm75]

Sticking rear calipers do seem to crop up on these so may be worth investigating if your brakes are hit and miss.
I've always found Volvo brakes to be very good (although not so much the foMoCo ones on my current V50) but I'm sure they could be improved with dot 5.1 fluid change, a set of braided lines and decent pads. I hear good things about carbon Lorraine CL5 + pads or performance friction pads but don't know if they do them for Volvo fitment.

I don't know what turbo the t5 runs, but on the t4 s/v40 that I had it is quite common for the turbo actuator arm to wear oval causing loss of boost. This can be overcome by undoing it and rotating 1/4 turn. There are a couple of Scandinavians running t4's with circa 700 hp and basically being a 4 cylinder version of the t5 gives you an idea of the potential these cars have.

[backtothe80s]

Thanks Big Tee. Its looks great and the drive is lovely!! I run a non turbo v70 auto as my daily and that's still going strong at 200k.




Audio wise, a good quality cassette adapter does the trick well, don't go for the halfords / belkin ones though.




Here's the daily doing what volvos do best

[juggernaut]

I had an 850R with a rare manual box way back when and I loved it, still one of my favourite cars I've owned. I bought it, well stole it really considering the receipts that came with the car from a newly banned from the road teacher who had spared no expense on it including exhaust, brakes, suspension and an uprated turbo and I think it was a Rica(?) remap, was many moons ago now so can't remember through the mists of time.

Anyway, was v fast indeed, don't know what sort of BHP it had but must have been way north of 300 as I had many a duel with my pal who had an E46 M3 as a company car at the time and I had no trouble whatsoever in beating him to Maccy D's, was a bit of a handful on the B roads mind but thats easily overcome by applying a bit of talent!

Wish I still had it really as they seem to be getting to the dreaded collectors item stage now, still, glad I had one and I would encourage you to get yours remapped and enjoy it as fully as you can whenever you can.

[sweep]

Excellent cars, I've had my 854 T5 for 6 years now, currently going through some minor restoration work.

I had an ME7 C70 manual T5 as well, biggest problem for me which ended up being the death of it was the ETM failing, available only through Volvo and have to be coded to the car, expect a £500+ job. Rear calipers can seize, yours should have the 302mm front brakes which are fairly respectable, a common upgrade for the smaller 280mm earlier cars, stick with genuine discs and pads.
I'd avoid off the shelf maps from RICA, they're a bit all-or-nothing, definitely see Shem or even Tim Williams if you can get hold of him.
Stock airbox is very efficient at well over 300 ponies, a big cone filter will just give you whooshy good turbo noises.

[backtothe80s]

My 99 C70, whilst lovely and fast, has spent more time off the road than on it. Current faults are CCM playing up, no headlights etc, abs issues and a goosed steering rack and pump. Super low mileage and comprehensive history. Yet the earlier 98 v70 has been great at double the mileage. Need the turbo back in my life though, just expensive fixes needed.

[Phil H]

ETM can generally fixed with a £75 sensor replacement - or rather I’m hoping so as it’s on my jobs list..