Owners with High Mileage XC90's

[chb]

How big a job and how expensive is it to do the shocks on the XC90?
I think mine would benefit from new dampers.

Is it a possible DIY job?

What else needs to be changed?

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by JimG

Roy, if you used a main dealer for servicing would they change the shocks or wait for them to become defective? Do you replace yours with Volvo shocks or different?

Cheers,

Jim.

I doubt the shocks would become defective in that they wouldn't work at all. I did 165,000 miles on the shocks on my 940, but the handling was terrible by then. I would never leave them so long again. I'm still not sure why I did that. Nobody will tell you to change the shocks unless they fail to work at all.

Shocks are in constant motion and wear like out like tyres do. They do it slowly and in the same way you don't notice the deteriation in grip with your tyres you tend not to notice the handling isn't as good as it was.

When my shocks were done it was found the front springs and seats were also worn and so they were replaced at the same time. The improvement and quietness over bumps was dramatic and that was at 55,000 miles.

I think DIY would be fine if you are competant at such things. The labour cost to change wasn't that high though in realtion to the cost of the rear shocks.

I had all genuine Volvo parts fitted and I think the front ones were about £250 but the self leveling rears were more like £950. I thought it was worth it when I drove the car though. It felt like new again.

[JimG]

Makes a lot of sense, especially for the larger vehicle like XC90s or if you're regularly carrying a lot of weight in the car.

Thanks Roy.

[Matt B]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

but the self leveling rears were more like £950. .

Wow, thats a lot of dosh for rear suspension. Isnt all suspension self-levelling?

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Matt B

Wow, thats a lot of dosh for rear suspension. Isnt all suspension self-levelling?

If you mean on the XC90. Yes it's standard on them.

Just looked at a 55 plate D5 with 296,000 on the clock. Daughter needs a car.

[bluey_xc90]

Pretty to easy to do it yourself - especially if have an impact wrench. Not that difficult just take it slow and make sure properly on axle standards when you do it.

If you can get hold of a set of rear springs for a non self levelling car then the rears are much cheaper - about £80 each, and in my opinion give a much better ride. They are Sachs dampers as standard so fitting the OEM Sachs supertouring shocks is cheaper than the dealer prices.

[Stevio]

I've just bought a one female owner, 54 plate, 64k, full main dealer service history + a full service and MOT when I bought it three weeks ago.

I've got to to say I'm starting to think I've a got a dog. There's an intermittent fault on the radio and parking sensors - they go off after two minutes and then come on randomly - forums tell me it's the ICM but of course, the dealer can't replicate the problem so can't diagnose it....yet.

What they did find by accident is that the 4WD hasn't been working and it requires a new part.

It's also developed an intermittent groaning noise at my feet when the wheel is locked either left or right. They tell me this is not something to worry about.

And then today, the seat belt reminder warning light on the dash comes on along with the audio warning when I'm driving with the belt on. The audio varies between two completely different sounds.

Other than these things (and pretty crappy mpg, but thats a given) I love it and so want it to be with me for years.

So, high mileage or not I'm not sure it makes a difference. I'll tell you in a month how I'm getting on.

[Ron_XC90]

Hi Stevio,

Sorry to hear about you issues and hope they are covered under warranty.

Should the ICM be faulty, it can be repaired, rather than replaced for >£1000

Stupid question, but when the seatbelt light came on, you didn't happen to have something on the passenger seat? I remember my wife when she had her car 1 day and went to garage angry about the seatbelt light... caused by her handbag on the passenger seat...

Good luck with getting the issues resolved

[theonlysbf]

xc90 d5 122000 miles car brought 2008 with 22000, use it everyday 3000 miles a month varied driving in the southern england.
Eats front tyres for breakfast putting 34psi helps about 15k per front set 25 on the rears
Remap (£500) best money spent
2 sets front discs
1 set rear discs
4 sets front pads
2 sets rear pads + 1 set parking brake shoes
3 top engine mounts (£60)
both lower engine mounts (£100 each)
intercooler rad (£250)
lower front wishbones (£130 each)
front and rear tie bars
front windscreen
cam belt (pretty cheap)
battery (£100)
ball joint
rear bearings (£100 each)
finally needs new gear box @ 121000 miles (£4300)
I average about 36mpg winter if I use non supermarket fuel and 34 if not and 32mpg in sumer using air con, I do manage to get 40mpg on the way down to spain.
best car I have ever owned shame about the auto box

[JimG]

What went wrong with the gearbox? Do you tow a lot? Seems unusual to me that the gearbox should fail at that mileage.