How Reliable are Older Volvo XC60's with 100k+ Miles?

[Stone Free]

Bought my 2013 XC60 SE Lux Nav (2.4 - 161bhp - Facelift) in January 2018 with 102k on the clock & have covered approx 35k since.
I have it serviced by the local Volvo dealer once a year & as for repairs:

New EGR & Check Valve
New Tailgate Struts
New No1 Injector
New Relay (due to a faulty diode) - it was off the road for 12 days
New Front Suspension Spring

Yes, I've spent a few bob on it, but don't feel inclined to replace it & work on the premise that hopefully I'll now get a lengthy period of trouble free motoring. It's a solid, comfortable & a fairly powerful motor, with good carrying capacity too when needed.

Guess it's the luck of the draw at the end of the day.

[88fofo]

I think I'm loosing my hope getting an XC60...


Today I went to look at one with 150k miles just to see what they look like at these miles & what I can expect ,The engine was rattling and close to toast.

Than I went to see one with 190k miles ( one owner car, full extensive service history etc, from the paperwork It was the kind of car one would dream about having....) well..
It was completely broken and on it's last legs, the engine sounded like it was about to fall apart any moment.

So far I have seen 7x XC60's of various years & Mileages.
- 4 of them were totally broken with obviously knackered engines
-1 had smoking engine
-1 had signs of something off with the engine, but still some life left in it- but not something I would purchase

Only 1 sounded/looked rather ok with no obvious faults that you could see right away apart from the owner absolutely skimping on servicing/not changing timingbelt and other crucial stuff..

And That's after sorting through tons of XC60's online where you could see that they are junk without having to go and see them after checking their history/MOT/ or talking with owners about them.


Am I really crazy for not wanting to give up and try to get one even after seeing that 90% of them have absolutely crap engines?
What the hell is wrong with these cars that they have such massive problems as they age?

[Zebster]

I find it hard to believe they're really that bad! What engines are you looking at?

[Sotosound]

No car will survive to a high mileage in good order unless it's cared for and properly maintained. So if you are coming across a lot of dodgy examples then it's probably due to neglect and nothing more.

The best examples are likely to be kept by their owners and not put on the market in order to dodge hefty bills.

To get a really good example, you might do better to buy from a Volvo specialist. My local one (sadly not local to you, however) tends to choose only the best examples, and then fixes any issues prior to selling them fully serviced and with a warranty.

He only has one for sale right now, with 122k on the clock.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/dealers...asc&model=XC60

Looks nice.

[Deck1ng]

Maybe it’s time to change the search parameters. https://www.huttonbros.co.uk/used-cars ,
Have a look here, Volvo indi.

[Auto Addict]

Originally Posted by 88fofo

I think I'm loosing my hope getting an XC60...


Today I went to look at one with 150k miles just to see what they look like at these miles & what I can expect ,The engine was rattling and close to toast.

Than I went to see one with 190k miles ( one owner car, full extensive service history etc, from the paperwork It was the kind of car one would dream about having....) well..
It was completely broken and on it's last legs, the engine sounded like it was about to fall apart any moment.

So far I have seen 7x XC60's of various years & Mileages.
- 4 of them were totally broken with obviously knackered engines
-1 had smoking engine
-1 had signs of something off with the engine, but still some life left in it- but not something I would purchase

Only 1 sounded/looked rather ok with no obvious faults that you could see right away apart from the owner absolutely skimping on servicing/not changing timingbelt and other crucial stuff..

And That's after sorting through tons of XC60's online where you could see that they are junk without having to go and see them after checking their history/MOT/ or talking with owners about them.


Am I really crazy for not wanting to give up and try to get one even after seeing that 90% of them have absolutely crap engines?
What the hell is wrong with these cars that they have such massive problems as they age?

No you're not crazy and the D4 / D5 are NOT crap engines. What's makes any used car/ engine crap is poor maintenance, especially as these get older and people still think 18K miles between oil services is OK (which it isn't and never has been, not even when these were New)
I SOLD my 2009 D5 SE LUX Manual AWD few weeks ago with 156K miles on the clock, FSH (Volvo main dealer up until 2016) Fresh 12 months MOT (without any advisories), no oil / coolant leaks or drips and it run like a Champ

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by 88fofo

I think I'm loosing my hope getting an XC60...


Today I went to look at one with 150k miles just to see what they look like at these miles & what I can expect ,The engine was rattling and close to toast.

Than I went to see one with 190k miles ( one owner car, full extensive service history etc, from the paperwork It was the kind of car one would dream about having....) well..
It was completely broken and on it's last legs, the engine sounded like it was about to fall apart any moment.

So far I have seen 7x XC60's of various years & Mileages.
- 4 of them were totally broken with obviously knackered engines
-1 had smoking engine
-1 had signs of something off with the engine, but still some life left in it- but not something I would purchase

Only 1 sounded/looked rather ok with no obvious faults that you could see right away apart from the owner absolutely skimping on servicing/not changing timingbelt and other crucial stuff..

And That's after sorting through tons of XC60's online where you could see that they are junk without having to go and see them after checking their history/MOT/ or talking with owners about them.


Am I really crazy for not wanting to give up and try to get one even after seeing that 90% of them have absolutely crap engines?
What the hell is wrong with these cars that they have such massive problems as they age?

At 100k the bores and heads and such will have no really wear and tear. Of course over the next 50k, as with any product made from Ford, volvo, Mercedes and rolls Royce the bearings will reach their service life/end of life. The bushes will also be at the end of their life and you will experience these failures.

All these parts are probably £15-£50 to buy but around £75-200 to fit.

You will need a new cam belt and aux belt unless it’s been done (officially it’s 10 years or 108K. I would expect the second set of pads AND hence rotors etc. Also clutch will go if you get a manual.

I bought my XC90 at 63,000 and it’s now got 110,000. I keep detailed service records and it has cost me £2,000 in full for all works etc including consumables such as tyres but excluding fuel.

I changed the winch at £100 on the spare whee (I broke it - don’t ask &#129315 and did the auto transmission service myself. I age only fitted genuine Volvo parts from the dealer in that time including

Rear discs, pads and fluid
Auto transmission service
Countless oil services and all filters twice
4 Michelin cross climates
Etc etc.

Will you buy a great car at 100k plus. Yes, with absolute ease. Will you need considerable work to keep it going. Yes, of course, all the components are designed for 120,000 to 150,000 miles or so. Shocks etc etc will need to be done. If you are not working on this yourself walk away or buy new as you don’t want to be running a £40,000. Plus car at 100k without preventative maintenance and repairs.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by 88fofo

I think I'm loosing my hope getting an XC60...


Today I went to look at one with 150k miles just to see what they look like at these miles & what I can expect ,The engine was rattling and close to toast.

Than I went to see one with 190k miles ( one owner car, full extensive service history etc, from the paperwork It was the kind of car one would dream about having....) well..
It was completely broken and on it's last legs, the engine sounded like it was about to fall apart any moment.

So far I have seen 7x XC60's of various years & Mileages.
- 4 of them were totally broken with obviously knackered engines
-1 had smoking engine
-1 had signs of something off with the engine, but still some life left in it- but not something I would purchase

Only 1 sounded/looked rather ok with no obvious faults that you could see right away apart from the owner absolutely skimping on servicing/not changing timingbelt and other crucial stuff..

And That's after sorting through tons of XC60's online where you could see that they are junk without having to go and see them after checking their history/MOT/ or talking with owners about them.


Am I really crazy for not wanting to give up and try to get one even after seeing that 90% of them have absolutely crap engines?
What the hell is wrong with these cars that they have such massive problems as they age?

Not meaning to be rude but what’s wrong is you. The engine was derived in 2002 and my 2012 and all others are not that refined. Not were they when new in 2012 to be fair.

If you have listened to 7 cars and they are all tartly then that’s either your assessment (I.e these motors are a little gruff and noisy under acceleration) or you have literally experienced a million to one coincidence finding all the ruined 60s at 100k.

[Deck1ng]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

Not meaning to be rude but what’s wrong is you. The engine was derived in 2002 and my 2012 and all others are not that refined. Not were they when new in 2012 to be fair.

If you have listened to 7 cars and they are all tartly then that’s either your assessment (I.e these motors are a little gruff and noisy under acceleration) or you have literally experienced a million to one coincidence finding all the ruined 60s at 100k.

Will also depend on budget, if your not wanting to pay a lot, you won’t get a lot.

[88fofo]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

Not meaning to be rude but what’s wrong is you. The engine was derived in 2002 and my 2012 and all others are not that refined. Not were they when new in 2012 to be fair.

If you have listened to 7 cars and they are all tartly then that’s either your assessment (I.e these motors are a little gruff and noisy under acceleration) or you have literally experienced a million to one coincidence finding all the ruined 60s at 100k.

I have also looked at few 20-30k mile ones just to know what to compare against, they were smooth and all ok
It's not that hard to spot a wonky engine if you have some sort of experience knowing what is good/what is not and have worked & taken apart quite a few cars yourself...

I just can't believe it was a coincidence that 6 out 7 , 100k+ ones were trash.
I have used cars that have had 250k miles without much problems, I solely believe miles are just a number if you take good care of the car and it's a solid model to start with.
For some reason I thought volvos are one of those, or only the old volvos were like that?