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New to the XC90 fold, bye XC70

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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 13:24   #11
AlainBrighton
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I'm running winter tyres at the moment some nice Vredestein Wintrac which I had on last winter and they were great. Towed a caravan from Stornoway to Glasgow last January and passed loads of vehicles stuck in the snow. Summer tyres are Continental ContiSportContact 5 which were on the car when I bought it. Never had a problem with any of these...

Magic Blue Pearl, it's one of these colours that unless the sun shines on it then it just looks like another black car






Black or Blue???
Although I am Chinese, I was born in the Netherlands so the Vredestein brand being used in Scotland makes me proud :-) For you it feels like a definite improvement on the CrossClimates ? Fitted them on all of your cars ?
Do you keep two sets of alloys or do you swap the tyres on 1 set of alloys ? I was told it would not do favours to the life of the tyre but have no idea if that is a myth or not ....

And what an amazing colour your car has, arguably the best colour out there. I noticed in one of your pictures that you posted on your own thread the shadow of a (semi-)professional photographic setup and the quality of your pictures is amazing !
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 13:56   #12
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I have two sets of wheels and tyres so change them over when the weather changes, but here in Scotland 7°C (the temperature Winter tyres are of benefit) and lower temperatures last a long time so the Vredesteins are on from late October until April.

Not a professional photographer, if I was I wouldn't find it so difficult to make the XC90 look blue in my pictures. I like to take time to compose my pictures, move the clutter out the way and try to only have in the image what is important. Not always possible but a little time and effort hopefully pays off

A few of my efforts to try and capture the colour (mostly unsuccessfully)

This captures the colour perfectly on the bonnet edge




Would never say for definite if the car was blue in these pictures






Yes the same car and that looks very black...



There is a lot of sparkle in the paint which causes the light to reflect in different ways making it difficult to take a good photo

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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 14:44   #13
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I have two sets of wheels and tyres so change them over when the weather changes, but here in Scotland 7°C (the temperature Winter tyres are of benefit) and lower temperatures last a long time so the Vredesteins are on from late October until April.

Not a professional photographer, if I was I wouldn't find it so difficult to make the XC90 look blue in my pictures. I like to take time to compose my pictures, move the clutter out the way and try to only have in the image what is important. Not always possible but a little time and effort hopefully pays off

A few of my efforts to try and capture the colour (mostly unsuccessfully)

This captures the colour perfectly on the bonnet edge




Would never say for definite if the car was blue in these pictures






Yes the same car and that looks very black...



There is a lot of sparkle in the paint which causes the light to reflect in different ways making it difficult to take a good photo

It looks purplish blue in the light and not being a professional photographer you have done an amazing job taking these pictures ! Blue in the light, black in the dark, sounds excellent to me ! Dark interior for you ?

As for the tyres: just came across this test (Autobild is the German sister magazine of Auto Express I believe, read the test in German but this is a link to the English version:
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article...-Tyre-Test.htm
Bridgestone Allweather control A005 does pretty well too although the testers did not share our experience with Aquaplaning but this might be a newer version of the Michelin CC SUV than the one you had, I had the CC 1st generation.

My issue with the Vredestein is that they have not been rated as a winter legal tyre in Germany and Switzerland which is where I will do between 10-20% of my driving :-(

Have to research this any further.

You must get a good mpg out of a 185bhp manual D5, do you not ? My first check at the pump was 44 liters out of 316.0 mls, averaging 32mpg ......
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 18:04   #14
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Would have been almost 3 years ago I bought the Michelin tyres so no idea whether they were 1st get or not

According to the OBC the XC90 has averaged 35mpg since I bought it (I've never reset it) although it was up at over 36 until I towed the caravan. I manually checked several tanks and the OBC was just over 1 mpg out so close enough



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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 19:00   #15
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Would have been almost 3 years ago I bought the Michelin tyres so no idea whether they were 1st get or not

According to the OBC the XC90 has averaged 35mpg since I bought it (I've never reset it) although it was up at over 36 until I towed the caravan. I manually checked several tanks and the OBC was just over 1 mpg out so close enough



Only 1mpg off is not too bad at all, in my old XC70 the difference was about 15-20%

And with the towing and all, even being a manual and a D5 185 that is a rather good score I would say ?

Any other improvements you made on yours ?
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 20:25   #16
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Default Front parking sensors ....is a XC90 pre-wired for this ?

Wondering if there is anyone here who has retrofitted front parking sensors and if so, if there it is pre-wired ? Think all come with rear fitted sensors but pre wired would hopefully mean less interference and no need for an additional speaker .....
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Old Dec 15th, 2019, 23:22   #17
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Thank you again for sharing all your knowledge, also during my quest !

Although I had hoped just retrofitting a pair of adaptive Xenon headlights from another XC90 would have solved the trick, experiences like yours make this forum so valuable as it appears the solution of someone as ignorant as me could only result in money wasted. What is a CEM ?

I will never do any towing but even then I feel changing the oil would be just a precaution. I read in a thread somewhere to get the Aisin Warner oil (is it a Aisin Warner or ZF gearbox ? ) and your suggestion about the sump dumps sounds like the best solution yet I live near to the seaside in the city center of Brighton so location is not ideal and besides, I need someone to give me directions on how to do this. Purchasing the right oil through eBay is easy, knowing how to do this under supervision is essential. My knowledge stretches only to financial governance and compliance :-(

Will check the thread on the EcoContacts and might use them as summer tyres if they have got enough life in them but still need the AllSeasons or winter tyres for my gallivanting in Germany and the Alps where winter tyres are mandatory ...... As above mentioned, I have mixed experiences with my 1st gen Michelin Cross Climates on my XC70 .... I read somewhere on Odysseus thread that someone had a good experience with Yokohama. Pirellis were not performing well in terms of endurance and economy and I am leaning towards either Michelin, Goodyear or Continental for their all seasons tyres ...

Was just wondering, are you able to tell me what the VIDA has in terms of functions and if someone as ignorant as me who wants to know more about the diagnostics of its car, has any use to own one ?
OK....

I have seen and fitted some H7 HID conversions that have worked very well. However you should only convert the dipped beam, and leave the main beams as halogen - this is because HID's can take 4-5 seconds to strike up and reach full light output - which means they are not suitable for signalling (flashing your main beams). On cars with factory HID's - there is usually a halogen bulb to supplement the HID one for mean beam.

Many MOT testers at smaller garages will pass cars with HID conversions if the beam pattern is acceptable, but under the rules they should be failed.

The CEM is the Central Electronic Module which is the "master computer" for the car and controls many functions.

The gearbox is a Aisin Warner TF-80 (SC). Some people say it is sealed for life but the reality is the fluid does need changing every so often - but Volvo for some reason known only to them do not include a change in their service schedule ("arduous use" excepted when it is 36k). Everyone on here who has done it reports improvements, I think when SwissXC90 did it he had a clutch problem anyway. Changing the fluid will improve any gearbox, but it wont fix a broken one.

If you do a sump dump - the easiest method - just remove the drain plug and let the fluid come out into a bowl - when it's stopped coming out replace the drain plug and measure exactly what you have removed by pouring it into a measuring jug. Replace with exactly the same amount of new fluid. If you do this 3 times with a few hundred miles of driving between, you will have around 85-90% new fluid in the box. Each sump dump usually releases around 3.5 - 4 litres. You will need to buy the correct torx bits for the level plug and filler and a 17mm hex drive for the drain plug.

This video shows how to do it - though you don't need VIDA and you don't need to check the level if you replace exactly the quantity that you have removed. 99 times out of 100 you can reuse the washers as well.

With regard to tyres if you are prepared to run 2 sets then full winter tyres will be better than the Cross Contacts - Vredestein Wintrac and Nokian's are very popular on here, but I've just ordered a set of Cooper Discoverer Winter (235 60 18) from Tyreleader for just £335 - these will go on my XC60 but I have the tyre's predecessor (Cooper Discoverer MS2) on my XC90 and they have been absolutely brilliant - I've run them all year round for 5 years. If you go anywhere muddy then you might want to look at a winter tyre with a all terrain tread bias like the Cooper Weathermaster or General SnowGrabber.

Finally - VIDA - if you know what you are doing with a diagnostic tool then it is the must have software for a Volvo. It's what the dealers use and there is nothing you can't do at home apart from software upgrades and security related changes.
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Old Dec 16th, 2019, 18:25   #18
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OK....

I have seen and fitted some H7 HID conversions that have worked very well. However you should only convert the dipped beam, and leave the main beams as halogen - this is because HID's can take 4-5 seconds to strike up and reach full light output - which means they are not suitable for signalling (flashing your main beams). On cars with factory HID's - there is usually a halogen bulb to supplement the HID one for mean beam.

Many MOT testers at smaller garages will pass cars with HID conversions if the beam pattern is acceptable, but under the rules they should be failed.

The CEM is the Central Electronic Module which is the "master computer" for the car and controls many functions.

The gearbox is a Aisin Warner TF-80 (SC). Some people say it is sealed for life but the reality is the fluid does need changing every so often - but Volvo for some reason known only to them do not include a change in their service schedule ("arduous use" excepted when it is 36k). Everyone on here who has done it reports improvements, I think when SwissXC90 did it he had a clutch problem anyway. Changing the fluid will improve any gearbox, but it wont fix a broken one.

If you do a sump dump - the easiest method - just remove the drain plug and let the fluid come out into a bowl - when it's stopped coming out replace the drain plug and measure exactly what you have removed by pouring it into a measuring jug. Replace with exactly the same amount of new fluid. If you do this 3 times with a few hundred miles of driving between, you will have around 85-90% new fluid in the box. Each sump dump usually releases around 3.5 - 4 litres. You will need to buy the correct torx bits for the level plug and filler and a 17mm hex drive for the drain plug.

This video shows how to do it - though you don't need VIDA and you don't need to check the level if you replace exactly the quantity that you have removed. 99 times out of 100 you can reuse the washers as well.

With regard to tyres if you are prepared to run 2 sets then full winter tyres will be better than the Cross Contacts - Vredestein Wintrac and Nokian's are very popular on here, but I've just ordered a set of Cooper Discoverer Winter (235 60 18) from Tyreleader for just £335 - these will go on my XC60 but I have the tyre's predecessor (Cooper Discoverer MS2) on my XC90 and they have been absolutely brilliant - I've run them all year round for 5 years. If you go anywhere muddy then you might want to look at a winter tyre with a all terrain tread bias like the Cooper Weathermaster or General SnowGrabber.

Finally - VIDA - if you know what you are doing with a diagnostic tool then it is the must have software for a Volvo. It's what the dealers use and there is nothing you can't do at home apart from software upgrades and security related changes.
Thank you again, Tannaton, will let the mechanic know. Would it make sense to use the Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited or Laser as a main beam H7 bulb as it is supposed to be a xenon-effect'ish halogen bulb if I am told correctly ?
I have learned that I have to stock quite a few of these bulbs, unlike my old XC70 which had standard Xenon and from 110K - 175K in 6 years never needed any change so I carried a £95 worth of Osram Xenarc D2Rs in my boot for nothing ;-)

Is my assumption correct that the canbus is the cabling network that leads all components to the CEM ? And that if the CEM does not accept a new piece of hardware it will not work ? Almost like Windows ? :-) And Vida is a sort of Explorer that let me do diagnostics, read messages and with that I can set the mirrors on automatically folding when locking the car, switch on the lights after locking the car and all these little things ? Or do I have to be as advanced as members as Swiss XC90 to be able to adjust the personal settings ?

Sump Dump sounds great, the Volvo Indie in Southwick near Brighton alike all dealers and indies adviced not to touch it until I would encounter issues but I still feel I am leaning in your direction: to prevent issues that sump dump method might sound ideal. Might be best once I have returned from the Netherlands in a month.

Am leaning towards the same setup as 4x4 and yourself, the Conti Ecocontacts in summer (if there is sufficient thread on it) and winter tyres for the colder/wetter season, especially with the requirements for Germany and Switzerland. Would you know if the XC90 can have the 235 65 R17 108h alloys ? Used ones are on offer by the dozen in the Netherlands, apparently the size of choice for winteruse over there but I have not seen that here and was wondering if it would be good. They look like they are Camulus yet in 17" and I can buy a used set for as little as EUR 80 so for that I think I like to have a go to have two sets of tyres and wheels, Would not hurt me when reselling, I believe ......
Are the Cooper and General tyres more like semi off road with likewise profile ? I come across the occasional muddy and grass paths and fields around my girlfriend and with the Michelin Cross Climates on the XC70 (they were only a few months old) I got terribly stuck in a muddy field in Herefordshire somewhere in March and they needed a Ford F150 to tow me out. I just wanted to turn and these tyres were not helping at all :-(

Where do I get a VIDA ? And is there any requirement to the specifications of the lappie used or will any couple of year old one do ?
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Old Dec 19th, 2019, 13:38   #19
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Congratulations on your purchase Alain and the car sounds great.

I’ve no idea on retrofitting xenon lights but sounds potentially complicated. Another cheaper option might be to upgrade the bulbs and/polish the headlight lenses.

I don’t have front parking sensors either and it annoys me. Why do I have massaging seats but no parking sensors?! I’ll be interested to hear if there’s a good/cheap/easy solution to this.

Gearbox oil change question is tricky. My firm instinct was to have mine changed but two trusted Volvo independents have cautioned against this, so who knows? High mileage not withstanding I think my XC90 has led a pretty easy life - no towing or drag racing - so maybe that’s a factor? Like I said, instinct said change, experts (who would make money off the oil change) said don’t. For now I haven’t touched it.

What side steps did you order?

I’m thinking Michelin Cross Climates for my next tyres.

You’ll pay a lot to keep that Volvo main dealer history intact. If I were you I’d find a good independent and use them instead. Anyone in the know will see their stamp as being just as good as a Volvo one and you’ll save hundreds of pounds, definitely offsetting any additional depreciation.

Do you have OneDrive? I link to my phone photos from OneDrive and you can choose the size to display.

Congratulations again on the car and hope it serves you and your family well.
Re the front parking sensors: just went to Dinnages in Worthing to have my batteries in both fobs replaced (£120 and out of curiosity asked what front parking sensors would cost .......they quoted me around £821 and a bit so guess I will have to ask a electrician or so to help out there ....is there anyone who know if the 2012 XC90 comes pre-wired for the front sensors ?

Side steps fitted, pictures soon to follow .......

Will keep you updated, traveling over to Netherlands tonight, will get some quotes from Volvo main dealers there for the front parking sensors.

Will also visit this outfit for Xenon:
retrofitlab.com
Apparently one can order a complete set specifically to replace the H7 halogen headlights for EUR 246 excluding installation.
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Old Dec 19th, 2019, 14:33   #20
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just went to Dinnages in Worthing to have my batteries in both fobs replaced (£120

.

Are you honestly saying that you have paid £120 for someone to replace two CR batteries in the car's key fobs????
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