£862 Lighter

[S60Chris]

Originally Posted by Dancake

What type and quantity of transmission fluid did they use? £150+VAT seems extortionate.

No idea - assume Volvo spec stuff which I've heard is pricey. It was 3x units of the stuff. I think the sales chap mentioned 2 filters too when quoting, but there was no mention of this on the invoice.

Interesting watching back the dashcam footage of them flushing it - engine on, and it was flowing out of a pipe into a collection container. They did this a few times, cycled through the gears, test drove it and then checked the level on the dipstick.

May also be perception rather than reality, but gear changes seem 'smoother' since the flush (though it wasn't not smooth beforehand) and the engine revs through the gears better rather than just hold at 3,000rpm or so whilst accelerating. Maybe it's just me looking for changes rather than anything real though.

[S60Chris]

Originally Posted by greasyfingers

Geeeeze!

I've never taken a car to a garage; always done my own spannering. I'm scared to death of the time when these modern computer controlled cars go wrong in a way that is just not owner fixable.

Seeing what your bill came to, I think of all the money I've saved over the past 40 years, and wonder why I'm not a millionaire yet.

Just how do they reckon it took £170 worth of labour on a gearbox flush?

I bought a brand new X3 last year, and paid £1400 for a 5 year service pack that included brakes etc - because being a new car I daren't touch anything. I ended up eBaying the car before it even needed its first service. That was painful.

[Orca2]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought someone had bought a solid gold Zippo

Beat me to it, I thought it was a good reason to give up smoking, I really would give up if it wasn't for the health benefits.

[cookie]

proper flush is 12 litres, 3x4litres

should have got a quote from Rufe (FRF) for parts, and got dealer to match, would have knocked probably another 100 off bill

[OvlovS70]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought someone had bought a solid gold Zippo

Originally Posted by Orca2

Beat me to it, I thought it was a good reason to give up smoking, I really would give up if it wasn't for the health benefits.

Hello,
I thought at first it was going to be the price someone had been quoted for a new replacement cigarette lighter receptacle at the dealer!

The labour on the gearbox does sound a bit high but all in all, I think you have made an investment and it should be running sweet as a nut now.
I think as you have had a dealer service you will now be entitled to a years complementary Volvo Assist?
Cheer

[Mike1977]

Sorry were my eyes playing tricks or did you say you paid £64 for a mirror glass? If that's the case they have seen you coming. The glass costs around a tenner and takes about 30 seconds to fit.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by S60Chris

£64 fitted!

If there's that much money to be made, I might start up doing mirror installations.

It's always been a job I could see myself doing.

[Orca2]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

If there's that much money to be made, I might start up doing mirror installations.

It's always been a job I could see myself doing.

You want to take a close look at yourself mate.

[blueacid]

£862 sounds fairly hateful

To anyone else reading this, I've done my own fluid drain & fills. Since you were charged £150+£170+£64 VAT = £384 for the gearbox element alone, I paid:

TOOLS:
£30 for some axle stands
Borrowed a mate's trolley jack, let's say £40
£5 for an adjustable spanner
£50 for a Bahco socket set
£30 for a torque wrench from Toolstation
£10-ish in a hardware shop for a washing up bowl, measuring jug, length of silicone hose and a funnel (filling up via the dipstick which is a pain to get to at the best of times, hence the tube and funnel)
= £165 on tools which I can use again or sell

£1.39 for 10 aluminium crush washers from eBay
£48.99 for 9 litres of Carlube ATF-U from eBay

I've done two drain and fills; the oil coming out was nearly black the first time and Sunday-Roast Gravy Brown the second time. I've only about 2 litres left of new ATF so I'll need to buy some more before doing a third change.

However, I'm up to £200 so far; plus I've learned a load! I will (soon) post pictures and a guide, it's really not that tough to do the whole procedure.

Cheers,
Blueacid

[martinrpeachey]

Mirror glass - £12.50 from partsforvolvosonline.com