[Familyman 90]

They are straightforward...if youre clued up.

If you're not clued up then they really are quite complex and very easy to c*** up by an ignirant spanner jockey.

For example, off the top of my head...

...using only the correct A5/B5 oil, the software updates to which you allude, Haldex servicing, the use of genuine Volvo belts being the only suitable items, the original water pump only requiring changing every second belt change and then being replace with only a Volvo item...

...this is all stuff that you or I know about because we lurk in this dark corner of the internet, but your average Fred in a Shed that looks after Granny's Corsa simply not have the knowledge or the access to the knowledge/software/tools. They also don't have access the service bulletins, some of them very important, which a dealer gets or a specialist can pay to receive.

A specialist - XC or Volvo - or a dealer will.

Test it for yourself. Simply pick a back street or industrial estste garage at random now, ring them for a service quote and without dropping any hints ask them what oil they use. Go on, it's an eye opener. Then ask them the chassis number ranges of petrol engined XC90s are exempt from the cat test at an MOT. Then maybe ask them about the service bulletin on resealing CEM covers on 163's to prevent expensive water ingress and damage. This js all very important information, potentially crucial, and they simply won't have a clue.

Im a - retried - race engine builder. Sure, I could rebuild a gearbox, or even respray a car (I have done both on occasion), but im not an expert at either - you will be much better off going to someone that actually knows that they are doing than coming to me simply because im cheap.