2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport— ON BORROWED TIME?

[Drstock56]

I paid $4500 for this car 13,000 miles ago. I put on new Yokohama tires, replaced all filters, replaced spark plugs, and replaced brake fluid. There are no fault codes, and two independent mechanics that I trust gave it a clean bill of health. It’s an 8 or a 9 out of 10 in appearance inside and out—Passion Red with black leather. It’s a hoot to drive, rust free, and shiny.

So what’s the problem? It’s got 265,000 miles on it. Spouse is worried I’ll get stranded somewhere. Thinks I should sell it before it hits 300,000 while I can still get some decent money for it. I’m thinking that even over 300,000 miles, it will be a good rebuild project for someone.

I’m new to Volvo’s, so I’m not sure what would be the best strategy. Opinions and ideas appreciated.

[R-Pow3R3d]

I think the idea that it will just randomly strand you after 300k is kind of nonsense. It's a used car, so like any used car, things will need replacing intermittently, but if it's in good working order and well cared for, there's no reason to think it's just going to stop working. Drive that baby in to the ground.

[88domer]

Agree 100%. I got my ‘11 V8 last year with 135k, put ~25k this year, and plan to keep doing so for the next decade at least. As long as my family doesn’t total them (which, frankly, I’m okay with - that’s why I buy Volvos instead of more health/life insurance), I keep ‘em forever.

BD

[ggleavitt]

At this mileage and making the assumption that the angle gear is original, try not to romp on it in the wet with the wheels turned too much. That's about the only thing I think would be a big $$ surprise.

Serp belt and rollers need to be
I'll guess that you don't have a deep history on this vehicle, would be interested in knowing what service has been performed over the last 11-12 years and what parts have been replaced.

[Drstock56]

I am the third owner. The first owner drove it 30k miles. The second owner had it for the next 220k miles. He sold it to me with a service record receipt folder an inch thick. Receipts for Oil change every 3k miles, tires, brakes, all the routine maintenance stuff. It seems like the guy took it to the shop for even minor cosmetic issues. I only recall some suspension work, but nothing major.

[ShadowDancer]

I am the third owner. The first owner drove it 30k miles. The second owner had it for the next 220k miles. He sold it to me with a service record receipt folder an inch thick. Receipts for Oil change every 3k miles, tires, brakes, all the routine maintenance stuff. It seems like the guy took it to the shop for even minor cosmetic issues. I only recall some suspension work, but nothing major.

An 1" thick service history folder, quantitatively, is nice but you'll want to parse through the receipts and examine what exact services have been done.
At 265K miles, I wouldn't be inclined to keep throwing money into a vehicle unless it's a hobby vehicle or has some sort of non-monetary value.
A car is a mechanical device and all mechanical devices wear down and have usable life's before the economics of keeping it running no longer make prudent or fiscal sense.

That said, is a car with higher mileage more prone to breaking down and leaving you stranded? On average, yes. So your spouse's concerns are rooted in fact but where they are off is in an arbitrary number between Now & 300,000 mi being the break down point.

Their idea that you should sell it while you can get decent money for it, also off. Decent money left the station 65,000 miles ago. The XC90 is just not special enough for a 4th buyer to hand over decent money for a vehicle with 265K miles on the ODO. So my view is, if you like it, drive it until the wheels fall off BUT set-up a financial threshold and be disciplined in adherence
(e.g. If this car cost me more than $1,500 a year to fix, I'm letting it go)

[MyVolvoS60]

I paid $4500 for this car 13,000 miles ago. I put on new Yokohama tires, replaced all filters, replaced spark plugs, and replaced brake fluid. There are no fault codes, and two independent mechanics that I trust gave it a clean bill of health. It’s an 8 or a 9 out of 10 in appearance inside and out—Passion Red with black leather. It’s a hoot to drive, rust free, and shiny.

So what’s the problem? It’s got 265,000 miles on it. Spouse is worried I’ll get stranded somewhere. Thinks I should sell it before it hits 300,000 while I can still get some decent money for it. I’m thinking that even over 300,000 miles, it will be a good rebuild project for someone.

I’m new to Volvo’s, so I’m not sure what would be the best strategy. Opinions and ideas appreciated.

I'll let south park answer your question.....Clearly no one is a mind reader, and if the car has been properly maintained, there are a slew of Volvo's out there that have reached 1 million miles. Irv Gordon had 3.2 million miles on his P1800.

[ggleavitt]

An 1" thick service history folder, quantitatively, is nice but you'll want to parse through the receipts and examine what exact services have been done.
At 265K miles, I wouldn't be inclined to keep throwing money into a vehicle unless it's a hobby vehicle or has some sort of non-monetary value.
A car is a mechanical device and all mechanical devices wear down and have usable life's before the economics of keeping it running no longer make prudent or fiscal sense.

That said, is a car with higher mileage more prone to breaking down and leaving you stranded? On average, yes. So your spouse's concerns are rooted in fact but where they are off is in an arbitrary number between Now & 300,000 mi being the break down point.

Their idea that you should sell it while you can get decent money for it, also off. Decent money left the station 65,000 miles ago. The XC90 is just not special enough for a 4th buyer to hand over decent money for a vehicle with 265K miles on the ODO. So my view is, if you like it, drive it until the wheels fall off BUT set-up a financial threshold and be disciplined in adherence
(e.g. If this car cost me more than $1,500 a year to fix, I'm letting it go)

I disagree. Key differentiator in my opinion is the service binder and the attention paid to the vehicle.

The quoted above is coming from a first time Volvo owner with a "truck" that has a cockeyed headlight- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...hts-Still-Work , a broken shifter claw- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...t=shifter+claw , a flaky ICM- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...Is-My-ICM-Dead, and a noisy READ- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...Throttle-Coast. Not trying to discount an opinion but I do think it's important to put that opinion into perspective.

[Yusefkhan]

Agree...interested in learning more about what service was completed. Also, AAA is your friend!

Always good to hear about high mileage xc90 v8 (especially good cosmetics too) Id love to see a 300000 volvo high mileage badge on a '90 too.

[pilotmass]

I have a 2005 with 250k on it. Son is going to Europe in January. It's coming off the road and getting sold. Time to move on.

[91shelby]

I have an 07 with 216k on it and I'm about to do the valve cover gaskets and alternator, I plan to get it as close to 300k or even over before I sell it. I love it! There's a fellow on here who has a s80 with the same motor/mostly same drivetrain with 315k+ on it. Locally I've seen multiple xc90 v8s with over 250k on them. I would definitely go thru the service records and look for serpentine belt tensionor and alternator replacement as those will be the more expensive surprises if they already hadn't been done. But I'd say drive it and enjoy it!

[ggleavitt]

I have a 2005 with 250k on it. Son is going to Europe in January. It's coming off the road and getting sold. Time to move on.

I'll likely be doing the same with the '05 (197k) this spring after semester break, not because it's got issues (does not) but the daily driver is no longer around and the vehicle should go to someone who will use it with more regularity. Still runs and looks great (less 1qt per 3k oil consumption and the door dings).

[ShadowDancer]

I disagree. Key differentiator in my opinion is the service binder and the attention paid to the vehicle.

And as I wrote, "...you'll want to parse through the receipts and examine what exact services have been done."

A thick stack of receipts is meaningless if all they amount to is oil changes and basic repairs, and yet the major services have been missed and/or major parts with known expected lifespans have not been replaced. if these have been missed, with 265K on the ODO, a new owner is on borrowed time and has to factor these items into their cost of ownership equation - but more importantly their own repair or replace thresholds.

I bought my XC with over 140K mi and took time to thoroughly examine the highly detailed service history that came with the truck. After review, it was clear there were some things that either were not done or could not be verified. So, if I took ownership and wanted to mitigate breakdown or major failure, a need to address about $2,500 worth of parts & services I deemed as mechanically critical was apparent. Had the tally been any closer to $4,000, I would have walked away from the purchase.

The risk-to-expense-to-value ratios would have failed my tests. But I respect that everyone has a different number; "value" is unique to what the owner feels they're getting out of the vehicle and not just the dollar amount published in the Kelly Black Book.

The quoted above is coming from a first time Volvo owner with a "truck" that has a cockeyed headlight- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...hts-Still-Work , a broken shifter claw- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...t=shifter+claw , a flaky ICM- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...Is-My-ICM-Dead, and a noisy READ- https://forums.swedespeed.com/showth...Throttle-Coast. Not trying to discount an opinion but I do think it's important to put that opinion into perspective.

The passive undercut GG is sophomoric. What does any of this have to do with the price of tea in China?
This is my first Volvo - it's far from my first vehicle. Probably more around my 16th if you want to throw motorcycles into the mix.
The question the OP posted may be about his XC90, but my response is applicable to any non-HD vehicle. Volvo isn't immune to basic engineering, materials sciences and physics.

The minor issues, which you were so gracious enough to ferret up, I've had were because I clouted a deer (ABL failure), was a known weak point (fragile shifter claw - same issue in my old BMW), an ICM that God only knows why it stopped working - then suddenly began working again, and finally a new noise that started immediately AFTER I took my car in for service (which could very well be something the mechanic did wrong. It's the holidays and I don't have time to take it off the road right now).

None of these have been mission critical faults, but of course, in my experience, little annoying niggles and small failures that mount up all within a year of one another, can sometimes bring that tingly sensation on the back of your neck. The "Is this the precursor to the 'big one'?" and "should I get maybe get out of this?" question pops into your head.
Anyone who has ever owned an Audi or BMW, which I have both, knows exactly what I mean. But with Volvo, I'm willing to give the vehicle more leeway because of its reputation and of course there's great documentation here as to what years to avoid and big-time trouble points and problems.

That aside, this tone you come across with quite often ... I dunno, man, something is beginning to tell me you're the guy people have sparse conversation with at parties. I'm sure you are a great guy though and your heart is in the right place.

[SpitzeStrom_Terp]

Another 200,000+ XC90 V8 chiming in here (just turned 200 last week). My vehicle looks great cosmetically due in part to me rarely having passengers (despite having 7 in the family), and the car not having seen a winter prior to 2015 when it came over to the east coast from California. I put about 30k on it annually as my primary daily driver (purchased at 60k miles), so I'm planning on keeping this one going as close to 300,000 or further as I can. It meets all my needs in a vehicle, and is unique enough with the V8 and installed features that it will keep me interested in driving it until I absolutely cannot - due to whatever disaster takes it off the road.

Having invested so much time and research in reading the forums, familiarizing myself with the maintenance of the XC90 V8, and getting the car to exactly where I want it with the suspension and tweaks here and there, makes me sad even thinking of being without it.

If I had a passion red V8 as the OP does, I wouldn't think twice about driving off into the sunset of 300,000 XC90 miles..

[DavidV]

Another 200k mile club member here (2007 3.2 AWD). I bought mine with 120k and have put on about 82k. Other than elective mods, brakes, tires and oil, I've really only had to do coil packs as a repair item. The car looks far too new, inside and out, despite its age and mileage for me to consider it as having one foot in the grave. It doesn't burn any oil, pulls hard, and shifts smoothly, so I don't see it declining in a big way any time soon.

[ShadowDancer]

For the record, I bought my XC90 with the specific intent of hitting 200K and would make more of a "feels" based judgement about continuing ownership beyond 225K.

[Drstock56]

Oh, boy! You guys sent me back to that service folder. I’m embarrassed now that I had not done so before posting. All major repairs and replacement done at the Volvo dealer. The previous owner spent a fortune on this car in the past 100k miles. I’ll post a list later today.

Also, thanks for all the feedback and encouragement. You guys have been great. Love the feedback.

[Drstock56]

Transmission replaced (internal failure) and rear main seal 163k
Serpentine belt and rollers 169k
Replaced alternator (new design required heat shield and air duct ?) and battery 175k
Replaced right rear wheel bearing 182k
Ball joint kit and right outer tie rod 190k
Replaced one TPMS sensor 247k
Valve cover, intake manifold, and timing cover gaskets and seals 250k
Front and rear pads and rotors 251k

[R-Pow3R3d]

Transmission replaced (internal failure) and rear main seal 163k
Serpentine belt and rollers 169k
Replaced alternator (new design required heat shield and air duct ?) and battery 175k
Replaced right rear wheel bearing 182k
Ball joint kit and right outer tie rod 190k
Replaced one TPMS sensor 247k
Valve cover, intake manifold, and timing cover gaskets and seals 250k
Front and rear pads and rotors 251k

Trans replaced - Excellent!
Serp & Rollers - As gg said, every 120k or so, so this will be coming due again soon
Alt & Battery - Excellent!
Replaced right rear wheel bearing - Means left will be coming due soon if not also done
Ball joint kit and right outer tie rod - Means left will be coming due soon if not also done
Replaced one TPMS sensor - Other 3 will probably need done by next time you do tires if not done previously
Valve cover, intake manifold, and timing cover gaskets and seals - Excellent!
Front and rear pads and rotors - These should be good for a while

That list hits some major items. The one outstanding question would be the Angle Gear. Since the trans was replaced, it's possible you got a new collar sleeve at that time. Hard to know what all they might have done, but hopefully it will have extended the AG's life.

[John C]

Replaced right rear wheel bearing - Means left will be coming due soon if not also done

Nah, right front will be next... (Right hand drive cars wear the left side first.)

[RS250 Chester]

I'm approaching 200K on my 06 2.5.

The car has been great mechanically. Nothing has failed; replaced parts on the recommended intervals (timing belt, water pump, etc). The car keeps chugging along. I have spent a lot of money over the last year because I should have replaced some stuff earlier, like the struts, controls arms and coils. All three of those items were original on the car...lol. As for the motor and transmission, the car is rock solid.

I am going through some other issues as the car ages, I don't think its Volvo specific, just age. For example, shifter claw in the gear selector column just broke; fuel pressure sensor is sending error codes; bad blower fan resistor; etc. Nothing major, just stuff happens with age.

The car has never left me or my family stranded.

[kiwiV8]

Nah, right front will be next... (Right hand drive cars wear the left side first.)

very interesting! I currently have a little wheel bearing noise I can't pin point whether it's right front or rear... but lines up nicely with your observation!

[John C]

Don't you guys drive on the left side? That should wear the left bearings first. (Statistically speaking.)

[kiwiV8]

is it due to tighter left hand turns? or the wider right turns...thus higher speed when turning stressing the left?

[John C]

No, pot holes. The center of the road is smoother.

[kiwiV8]

I drive over cat's eye all the time too... sturdy bearings though, noisy yet no movement, really stumped, probably need a lift. Thanks John C!

[John C]

I've got one I can't ID either...

Statistically, though, the ones on the curb side usually fail first.

[R-Pow3R3d]

I've got one I can't ID either...

Do em all!

[John C]

Do em all!

When it gets to the point where I have to take a shot gun approach to fixing a car it's time for that car to go.

[ZZZZZZZ]

Unless you're buying new, you're ending up with unknowns. Better to stick with what you have because you know what it needs.
IRAN method.
Inspect & Replace As Neccessary.

When it gets to the point where I have to take a shot gun approach to fixing a car it's time for that car to go.

[Drstock56]

Well I got the AAA extended tow coverage on the XC90, so the spouse is happier.

[R-Pow3R3d]

When it gets to the point where I have to take a shot gun approach to fixing a car it's time for that car to go.

That's not shotgun. It's just putting them all on the same replacement schedule.

Well I got the AAA extended tow coverage on the XC90, so the spouse is happier.

I use my AAA Gold membership to get my cars to the Volvo Indy who is 60 miles from my house because it's inconvenient to have to drive there. lol

[ZZZZZZZ]

Agreed!
On indy's being far away, I miss the preferred one that was walking distance on the other side of town.

That's not shotgun. It's just putting them all on the same replacement schedule.
I use my AAA Gold membership to get my cars to the Volvo Indy who is 60 miles from my house because it's inconvenient to have to drive there. lol

[kiwiV8]

do wheel bearings actually go bad? My parents used to have this 90's Honda Legend and that thing clocked up some crazy mileage without replacing any wheel bearing at all it was nuts...

[Masscomguru]

I have replaced a front left on my 3.2 and a right rear on my V8. Both failed shortly after major impacts of potholes. That being said, the 3.2 I let got at ~220k and that was the only one, the V8 is coming up on 130k.