Volvo XC90 - talk to me

[randomshenans]

I'm eyeing up a cheap hack to do a trip to the arctic circle and taking a scandinavian car back to it's roots seems fitting.

The XC90 seems like a great option...

I found a UK one which is a 2004, 4WD, manual 2.4D

Also has a tow bar and 10months MOT.

I'm not looking for a peach, I'm looking for something that will make it 6000km without imploding on me.

Anyone got any experience of them? Things to look out for?

 

[randomshenans]

Ended up keeping the old Toureg for those jobs and tidying it up a bit. Hasn’t ever put a foot wrong.

I bloody love a toureg. The v10 would be mint!

But this has to be a scandy car! I'll have a check on the things you mentioned but might well have just bought myself one with 10months MOT... maybe... Well, in fact, I have. I just haven't paid the man yet.

 

[randomshenans]

The 4WD system doesn’t work on most of the older ones, not sure if you’d need it or not for your trip but definitely something to bear in mind.

Thanks man! I'll defo have a look at it. My trip isn't until the end of the year, so this will give me time to tinker and make sure anything works that is needed. I can't imagine I'll be wheel deep in snow, but you never know

 

[randomshenans]

What's your budget? Does it have to be the XC90? Would an XC60 or even the V60 do? The V60 has AWD in T6 and D5 variants and a decent ground clearance.

To premise of the video series is a sub 1k car... so... haha and I just shook the hand of someone to part with their XC90 which has 10months MOT, new tyres all round, full history, which was up for 1560GBP... for 990GBP.

Guys name is also Ross, told him what I was doing. He's moving to Spain so needs to shift it before then. As his name was Ross, it was a given

Let's see how it goes...! I love a ****box

 

[randomshenans]

Ross's are the best.

Yes we are fellow Ross!!

Yea, will do full service on it for sure and give it a lot of pokes.

Amazing! Nice job. Look forward to hearing about it, fingers crossed you got yourself a hidden gem there.

Will report back. It might be a dog, but I'll pay for it in full and fly over to get it like a total mug, and then drive it 11hrs back home to mine!

Don't you have a perfectly good faketaxi, broken S3, broken range rover stuck in another country or an Aygo to choose from?

I do drive the taxi a fair bit to be fair around here, but it needs some welding on the fist sized hole in the sill.
The S4 has a vacuum leak but is on the list to go in the garage this year to have the last repairs done (spraying some bits) and then she should be drivable for fun... but she gets 5-10mpg when I'm hooning it, so I'm not sure 6500km is a good idea.
The Aygo is SWEET! I have a supercharger from a VW 1.4TFSI to take it to 120hp, and in the 800kg it should be fun. I also have coilovers and widearches going on it soon. I'm going to be driving it to Holland but that's only like 600km. It also has no A/C so in the arctic circle it's not ideal
You'll be pleased to know I have a list of other cars / videos that will suit my degenerate car buying... hahaha

More advice sites on this cars page.

Thanks man!

 

[randomshenans]

He’ll have a shock when he comes here and the same car is €5000. I was real close to buying a 2007 before I got the Sportage.

Yea, tell me about it! I told him this is why I got it from the UK not France. It's the same here. I only really want to use it for this year, so might not even import it. Will use it a year, park it up with the other degen mobiles covered in livery

Pray share!

Hahaha I'm not sure anyone wants to know that.
They range from possible, to all out goals

• Obviously Scandinavian car to the Arctic Circle was this one.
• 3 BMW Minis (red, blue, white) to do my own Italian Job road trip in Italy with some mates.
• Cheapest RX8 I can find (told you degenerate)
• Want to do a "Cheapest German car from Germany" as well, not sure which example of a car it'll be
• LR Defender to drive to Moroccan desert and mountains.
• Driving an RX7 back from Japan.
• Driving a supercar back from Dubai

Goals.
But I obviously have a list outside of that, which I generally just really want lol

B5 RS4 Black Avant, like an older brother to mine
Mk1 Golf 20VT mint one.
to name a couple!

I’d just be nervous in general.

Mate it's a sub 1k car from 2004, 20 ******* years ago now?! Driving 6500km! Nervous?! hahahaha




******** it.

 

[randomshenans]

So far I've done Mexico to Miami in an old Range Rover Sport, Texas to Monterrey in an old Rolls Royce, and various mountain / off roading trips in old Defenders and Jeeps. This year I want to buy something Bentley / Rolls like in the UK, drive it around Europe for a bit, then ship it back over to Mexico. I'm also planning an off road Rolls Royce build this year and a drive from Monterrey to Alaska in 2025, although that will be in something relatively modern.

If you ever do some stupid **** with cars in Europe, let me know. Since I split with the wife it's been amazing to be able to just do as much random stuff as I like. I'd be there in a heartbeat for a leg!

 

[randomshenans]

And there's me thinking you might miss her!

Haha we get on really well, to be fair. I see her probably 4 times a week sometimes. I'm still going to Thailand with her (and the kids) in Feb, so it's good we can communicate. Plus, she now can't give me **** for impulsive stupid **** I do. Bonus.

I've just booked a one way ticket to LHR with BA for the 3rd Feb. Used some avios so cost me 37CHF in the end, so bargain.
I'll get the train / coach down (coach is actually quicker and cheaper and goes to the same place) - Coach is 14quid.

Messaged the guy and he said he's 5mins from the bus / train station (same place) so he'll come pick me up.

Now... wonder if I can pick up a car trailer while I'm here I think that has to be on the list since that will make life so much easier collecting random ****!

 

[randomshenans]

This will be the intro for the XC90 video. I'm going to try this year. I mean, do the best I can and keep trying to put the best out there I can. Let's see where it all goes.

All the build/ collection / breaking videos will be on there, but the other main epic trips and adventures will be on my other channel @randomshenans, which is on there anyway.

 

[randomshenans]

She is completely filthy. Drivers window doesn't go up the whole way. A lovely knocking under load (possible engine mount or lower wishbone bush), cracked rear light, front lights need a polish. Whole car needs a severe detail.

But still made it 1175km in the last 24hrs!

 

[randomshenans]

Glad it’s back. Looks decent enough from that picture.

It's a great picture...

Haha it's paint is now matt, not smooth. Let's put it that way. There is mold on the inside... it will look so much better with a full detail, that's for sure.

 

[randomshenans]

I bought them as I wanted a cheap old car that wouldn't let me down and - touch wood - haven't been yet!

It sounds terrible when you're in low gears on the gas or up a hill on the gas, so think it's something like a bush / mount issue, because if it's not on load or moving, the engine is smooth as anything! With a few things done it'll be so much nicer than it is.

I mean, working air con, working electric seat, working cruise control!

 

[randomshenans]

Sounds like a mount, my first V70 did that, to be honest I lived with it! - quite a common problem with them as they age - my current one is starting to show signs of the same issue but at the moment at least it's barely noticeable even with the radio off.

Yea, I read all about the mounts yesterday. Since I'll be going pretty far and it's damn noticable, I'll be changing it out. Same with the head unit that doesn't work. I have one lined up that's a double din and works with wheel controls etc / android auto. Since when adding that, I'll add the reverse cam too (never normally bother) but the headlining is sagging and the A pilars are peeling (and they're both beige, but everything else is black) so I'm going to take it all out and retrim them. I've ordered some nice black headlining material online for 50quid. There is no sunroof, which makes it much easier.

I'll get it up on some jack stands in the garage and see what is causing the knocking and replace that as soon as I have cleaned it all up. I have all service items for it, too.

 

[randomshenans]

Torque mount maybe.

Either way, it's going to be some sort of perished bushing/mount, so not really one to worry about.

Yea, that's what I figured. It'll be something like that. The box feels nice, as does the clutch and engine, so has to be perished rubber / mount. All on that seem pretty average and not too expensive to fix.

My list of things to sort on it, is currently:

• Polish headlights (eventually I'll replace lens & put in LHD projectors)
• Rear light cracked (50quid ebay)
• Fix vibration / rubber issue
• Remove, clean and refit both side steps (drivers side bolt rusted out so not attached)
• full exterior detail inc. refinishing and touch up of black parts
• Fix window drivers side (hoping I can just manually reset the up position)
• Fix rear parking sensors (if one sensor goes the whole system throws an error, 30quid ebay)
• Fit double din stereo
• Remove headlining & re-cover
• Remove A + B pillars and re-cover
• Full interior deep clean
• Fix fold in mirrors
• Swap out sun visors & grab handles for black ones

That's about it, really. They're all pretty basic things and nice to haves vs. needed but will make such a huge difference to the car and how it looks and feels. For the few hundred cost of all that, it'll make it such a nice space to be for some decent long trips.

 

[randomshenans]

- [If Auto] Gearbox fluid level - ignore any volvo "filled for life" nonsense and change if dark
- [If Diesel] Swirl flap linkage and actuator (car still runs if it pops apart, but with less power)
- Torque mount (as you already found)
- Front lower ball joints
- Power steering pump bearing seal (leaks for 20k, then suddenly dumps all the fluid)
- Plugs that push onto headlight bulbs burn out, replace with later volvo ceramic items.

Legend, thank you! I'll make sure I look at all of these as a part of my "what's broken with my XC90"

 

[randomshenans]

No worries In all the years he has had XC90s & 70s he has yet to be left at the side of the road - hopefully you have the same luck!

Now you've said it...

haha I'm sure it'll be fine here, it's more the 6500km arctic weather that concerns me, but I'll make the old thing ready!