Little mods to the Volvo's handling

[FarmerPug]

406exec - I haven't driven a 406 for 2 years, I used to have a 1999 exec like yours but had just about everything that could go wrong happen to me

nothing wrong is happening to me, unless i actually add something in which case the thing i add goes wrong suprisingly fast. I think im slowly overcoming it.

[GeordieBoy]

Main problems I think with HDi's is when the clutch goes, its costs a bomb, as you should replace the DMF, so from a dealer about £1k.
They also have BSi and other electrical problems.

[FarmerPug]

But what happens if i buy this lexia thing, it will keep dealer visits to 0, as for the clutch id just put a solid flywheel in and enjoy the spare change on something more useful.

[Welly]

I'll make a little list of my horrors.......

Rear engine mount
Eggsauce flexi and CAT (linked to above)
Intercooler Hose (linked to above)
Radiator cooling fan replaced (sending MIL light up)
In-tank pump failed
Bottom pulley failed
Numerous throttle position sensor faults
Two Air Con Condensers
Two snapped springs
EGR valve
Every single bit of the eggsuace system replaced at various points.

It wasn't a happy affair overall

[FarmerPug]

with a lexia though hopefully any electrical thing can be sorted, i only define a car unreliable if it cant be fixed

[mjb]

But what happens if i buy this lexia thing, it will keep dealer visits to 0,

My Lexia doesn't stop me spending £100s in parts at the dealers... For the last couple of years they've not even needed to ask my name when ordering stuff... Apparently I'm their only non-trade "regular", even though I still buy as many parts 2nd hand or from eurocarparts as I can...

as for the clutch id just put a solid flywheel in and enjoy the spare change on something more useful.

The flywheel's a tiny part of the cost of a clutch change, which is an extremely labour-intensive job. Changing an engine is faster and easier.

with a lexia though hopefully any electrical thing can be sorted, i only define a car unreliable if it cant be fixed

Completely wrong. It won't "fix" anything unless you change something such that the car needs reconfiguring. It'll only HINT to (not tell) you as to what might possibly be wrong. There's very little it does in the way of diagnostics that you can't do with a multimeter, and if you don't know what to do with the multimeter, you won't know how to interpret PP2000 and as such will be just as bad as a bad garage, replacing things that aren't broken

[FarmerPug]

Im not going near dealers anyhow, for parts theres
eBay

[jasper5]

Had these bits fitted last week at the same time as me new brake pads all round.

Volvo OE strut brace (£39.00 from the stealers)


IPD Anti-Sway bar



New Kumho KH31's all round, asymmetric tread, these saved me £228.00 over the Continentals I looked at but these Kumhos are getting brilliant reviews and came 3rd out of 14 tyre makers in a recent German Auto Bild test so thought I'd try some and yes they are fantastic (and very quiet)



The handling is *completely* transformed in a straight line the car sits planted and tracks straight and true. It used to kind of roll from left to right over some roads (like rocking from side to side) which felt weird and uncomfortable but this has gone. Cornering hasn't been tested fully due to the weather but I can feel the back end is tight with limited body roll. The car no longer crashes over bumps or down holes and the front no longer takes a nose dive under braking.

Over all a massive improvement to handling and overall comfort, very very pleased. The car feels like it should have done when leaving the factory.

My mechanic charged me £60.00 to fit all the pads and the two sussy parts

Sounds good My son tells me they fit these as standard on a lot of Volvos, but not all.
BTW my son came home with a revised list of correct engine oils for Volvo, along with correct oil capacities, some of the newer diesels with the FAP system need to have a lower level than from the factory (there's a recall to drain out some oil) apparently, engines are being damaged when regeneration occurs
You would get on well with my son, he's very passionate about Volvo

[FarmerPug]

welly does your volvo have the volvo sat nav, any pics of it coming up out of the dash?

[Welly]

Cheers Jasper, I know about the oil thing on Diesels - weird though as it sounds like the eolys fluid gets into the sump

406exec - no it doesn't have the sat nav that was (another) very expensive option unlike the £375.00 winter pack which some numpty didn't bother ordering on mine......loosing the heated seats

[FarmerPug]

Dont tell me volvos are option based as well, i thought they did trim levels.

[Welly]

Mine's an SE it starts off with S then there's Sport (18" wheels and body kit) and R-Design (similar to sport but with fancy seats and dash dials.

The rest is up to the person ordering the thing and includes things such as Laminated side windows, Bi-xenons, Sat Nav, Dolby Surround and a coating on the radiator that converts traffic pollution into clean air

[FarmerPug]

when buying a new car it would be better to order all the options it makes it more special.

[Welly]

when buying a new car it would be better to order all the options it makes it more special.

You'd certainly make it more desirable, not sure about being worth any more in real terms? I think as it becomes second-hand these options you forked out for become 'bonuses' to the next guy

[FarmerPug]

I know that they are technically worthless, but if your a private buyer who isnt bothered about the resale values why not fork out the extra and have a car that is more comfortable rather than caring about its value 5 years down the line. A new car is a luxury item and you deserve to add the extras on it, so it can be enjoyed all the more. In the case of my second hand motor im glad someone paid the extra for the exec, i sure as hell didnt have to pay much extra for all the exec extras in the used market. But why does so many vws on the used market have sh*t specs, how often does anyone see a golf with climate control.