V70: General Buying tips / DPF advice

[Chris308]

Hello, I'm new to the site and I'm here because I am going to look at a V70 D3 Geartronic SE at the weekend and was hoping you could give me some tips as to what to look out for. This is to replace my 3 year old Alfa Romeo Brera.

The car is only 8 months old with 24k miles so should be as new really.

I don't do a lot of miles - about 15 motorway miles to work every day and about 10-12k miles a year total. As my mileage is low I have always had petrol engines in the past but have read about DPFs being a problem if you only do short trips. Is this something I should be worried about?

Thanks in advance

[Ninja59]

motorway miles should be okay because of the speed involved a diesel will warm quickly at 60/70.

[clivea]

I was worried to hell when I heard the DPF horror stories but I've had mine for nearly three years and 32 k miles without any DPF problems. I live in a rural area and find it hard to get her over 1500-1700 rpm for any time but I don't in general do very short trips. Your motorway commute will see you right and you can always go into manual to keep the revs over 1800 rpm. Also make sure it's had all recall changes as some involve regen software modes and sump oil levels, plus the aux drive belt tensioner.

[Chris308]

Thanks for the replies.

I haven't had a diesel for a long time but have read horror stories about DPFs. I'm probably worrying over nothing.

I will check out the recalls, although it was a Volvo owned car so it should have been sorted.

[krzemien]

I wrote about this in this thread earlier: http://volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=167325

No issue here after two weeks of local only driving (2 x 3.5 km to/from work every day) - have not seen dreaded message at all in the last 26 months.

Admittedly, I usually drive somewhere further during weekend, so one would assume that things get cleared...

I had only one problem, with temperature sensor in DPF chamber that failed around 40k. Fixed under warranty - no problems since then.

[Chris308]

Thanks for that. The thread above and the AA article in the thread has put my mind at rest. There was so much complaining about DPFs in the Alfa forums that I am thankful I have a petrol engine in mine - until I have to fill it up, which is too often.

The V70 I am looking at also has ventilated seats - are these any good?

[krzemien]

Ventilated seats? Of course! I've tried them with envy as my colleague has them fitted and this is one of the must-have accessories I will be looking forward to having specified in the future: gently warming in winter (so: no pan-fry feeling) and nice breeze-through in summer (so: no sticking to the surface regardless of temperature in the cabin).

[Chris308]

Went for a test drive yesterday and it was like a new car, as it should be.

Unfortunately, it didn't have ventilated seats after all but it was still a good deal so I pick it up on Tuesday.

This will be my first diesel for a long time (although I do occasionally drive my partner's Focus Diesel) and I really liked the smoothness of the D3 5 cylinder engine combined with the automatic. It also sounded good for a diesel - not tractor like. I am looking forward to getting more than my current average of 23MPG over the last 20,000 miles!

It will be hard to hand over the keys of my Alfa as it has been a fantastic car to own and is still one of the best looking cars around in my opinion, but the Volvo makes far more sense in reality

[GrantA]

Originally Posted by Chris308

Went for a test drive yesterday and it was like a new car, as it should be.

Unfortunately, it didn't have ventilated seats after all but it was still a good deal so I pick it up on Tuesday.

This will be my first diesel for a long time (although I do occasionally drive my partner's Focus Diesel) and I really liked the smoothness of the D3 5 cylinder engine combined with the automatic. It also sounded good for a diesel - not tractor like. I am looking forward to getting more than my current average of 23MPG over the last 20,000 miles!

It will be hard to hand over the keys of my Alfa as it has been a fantastic car to own and is still one of the best looking cars around in my opinion, but the Volvo makes far more sense in reality

Oooooooo ventilated seats eh oop now that is luxury, shame you haven't got them!!(said with a Yorkshire accent).

On the subject of the DPF I have been told by a Volvo Techy that if you do short journeys just make sure that once in every 500 miles or so you drive the car at the speed limit (60mph or 70mph) for about 20 mins and that will heat the DPF enough to burn off any soot deposits. I have followed that advice since I bought my XC70 D5 and so far no problems or warnings. With your motorway mileage you shouldn't have any problems. The D5 engine has its own "off beat" roar when you press the go juice and is very pleasant to hear, you will find it no slouch either - not as responsive as the Alfa but it doesn't drink fuel at 23mpg either.

Enjoy!!

[big square car]

I have a 2009 V702.4D for almost a year.I do mostly short runs to town (7 miles)
and in the local rural area.About once a week I do a 20 mile mostly motorway
and dual carriageway run when I give it a good 'blowout'. I mostly use BP
regular fuel and Castrol Edge. So far no problems