S80: General Buyers guide 2007/8 2.4D Geartronic

[Parisien]

Sold the V70 last year, now considering a 2.4 diesel Geartronic, trawled quite a few pages but didn't find out a lot.

Can anyone point a half dozen issues to consider on inspection, are they mostly mileage related or design faults, any guidance appreciated.

[Kev0607]

The 2.4D is the “detuned” version of the D5’s. Its still a D5 engine with 163bhp, but has less power than the 185bhp version. If you see “2.4D” badged on the back, it’ll be a 163bhp version. The ones badged “D5” are the 185bhp versions.

Buy one with full service history if you can.

Assuming you’re buying a car with over 100k on it, ensure that the cam belt, auxiliary belt & auxiliary belt tensioner have been replaced. If any of these fail, you’re engine could be practically destroyed & it’ll cost a fortune to rebuild. So you need to see proof, like a receipt, paperwork or a stamp in the service book. Don’t just assume they’ve been replaced because the person selling the car says they’ve been replaced.

Listen for any clunks over bumps. Top mounts on the front struts are a common failure. Not expensive parts, but you have to take the struts out to replace them.

If you hear any squeaking from the rear end, that’s likely the rear sub frame bushes. It’d cost £300 in an independent garage plus the alignment fee, so not much change out of nearly £400.

Test all the electrics. Check the air con works, electric seats, folding mirrors etc.

Bring the car for a good drive & let the transmission get up to temperature. Feel/listen for any clunking into gear. It shouldn’t do this when warm, but when cold, gear changes won’t be as smooth until the fluid gets hotter. If you do buy one, make sure you change the transmission fluid regularly.

Windscreen bonding is a common failure. So if you see water on the dash or notice wet footwell’s, this is likely the culprit. You’ll need to get the windscreen resealed to fix it.

[Parisien]

Kev0607, thanks for fulsome reply, when did they put DPFs of their diesel engines? Where there issues with EGRs etc as they are diesel engines? And Geartronic box's, when do the give bother, looking at two, one has 110k, other 150k, thanks

[Tannaton]

All what the chap above said, but at that age the cambelt and auxbelt should have been done regardless of mileage. If there's any doubt, get them done as it's super important.

Also as said check all electrics - stereo, windows, door locks etc. they are not unreliable or problematic but can be costly to fix if they do go wrong.

They do have EGR's and DPF's (as do all E4 cars) but they are very well engineered installations and rarely give trouble on otherwise healthy engines (the vast majority of blocked DPF's are usually caused by another issue rather than use). That said, a good quick motorway or A-road blast for 15-20 mins every month or two will not go amiss.

Also when checking the gearbox, then the car is properly warm, whilst stationary and your foot firmly on the brake move the lever from P to D and then back to P and then R and then P etc. waiting about 2 seconds between shifts - you should feel or hear any significant clunks or thuds.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by Parisien

Kev0607, thanks for fulsome reply, when did they put DPFs of their diesel engines? Where there issues with EGRs etc as they are diesel engines? And Geartronic box's, when do the give bother, looking at two, one has 110k, other 150k, thanks

From 2006 I believe. If you’re looking at a newer shape with a euro 4 engine, it’ll definitely have a DPF. Generally, they’re very reliable… you do need to take the car on a decent motorway run every so often to clean the soot out. Driving around town & diesels doesn’t fair out too well, so make sure you give it a good spin every so often.

EGR’s are also generally reliable. They can be cleaned though if needs be.

If the transmission fluid is changed regularly, it can easily last for years & years. My dad has a 57 plate V70 with nearly 160k on the clock & the gear charges are silk smooth. He gets the fluid changed though… the key is maintenance. I wouldn’t say there’s a set interval as such for the transmission giving trouble, but they’re generally very reliable. The TF80-SC transmission (6 speed) is made by Aisin (a Japanese company). This transmission is used in Toyota’s for example, but I can’t stress enough that you need to maintain it.

[Parisien]

Thank you guys, very re-assuring and welcomed information, will ensure I take note of all to check and note during test drives on Saturday.

[Parisien]

Both cars only come with 1 key, main dealer only supply , approx cost?

[reggit]

Originally Posted by Parisien

Both cars only come with 1 key, main dealer only supply , approx cost?

Somewhere north of £300 for a replacement key and remote. It’s all built into the remote housing on the P3.

[Parisien]

For something now 15yrs old, now much older technology, they don't endear themselves to older car owners with a price like that, unacceptable really

[Tatsfield]

If you really like the car and feel that it would be good value for money, tell the seller that you want to buy the car but that you have to have two keys and if he supplies the car with two keys, you'll buy it. The only thing working against you currently is that second hand cars are becoming a sellers market in the current global silicon chip shortage which is reducing the number of new cars which can be produced and delivered. It's your call to risk losing the car and the seller's to risk a sure sale for the cost of a second key, but he's not going to tell you how expensive they are as he would be putting you off the sale!