16 replies to this topic

[Volvo Virgin]

Just bought my first Volvo!!Just kind of fell into it while I was looking for a second car.Picked up a 99 S70 SLT w/ 58,000mi. for $8700 including a 2yr/24k warranty from a very motivated seller. Car is pretty clean and I will post pictures soon.I have tried to decipher all of the posts to figure out what to do first,but there is alot of different info.The car is quick,but sluggish off the line.What are the best upgrades to start with that will give me the most performance,but won't void the waranty or have the old lady complaining about spending too much money?

[98BRICK]

Welcome! SLT? Im not aware of a SLT? cood it be a GLT?

[Volvo Virgin]

uh....Yes.I am not as dumb as I look.It is a GLT.I went outside and looked.I wasn,t kidding when I said 'my first Volvo.Never even rode in one before yesterday.

[98BRICK]

uh....Yes.I am not as dumb as I look.It is a GLT.I went outside and looked.I wasn,t kidding when I said 'my first Volvo.Never even rode in one before yesterday.

dats ok...ur at the rite place...Volvo's still excite some of us.....99's are a little differnet than the 98's...but click on my pics of my glt in my sig...ive got a few bolt ons in my veh description

[V Tuning 850]

Well do you want handling or power? And it does have a turbo right? I was certain that some G;T's came with them, and some didn't.

Anyways....

Power:
1. Intake (K&N panel filter, EST's intake (if it will fit your app.), Custom made intake)
2. 3" downpipe (If you have a turbo)
3. 3" exhaust with a performance high flow muffler and CAT.
Have a shop custom make your exhaust, it will be cheaper in price.
4. ECU tune (ST, Upsolute,etc...)

Also I would do these power mods in that order or close to it. Always do the ECU tune last. That is what I am told.

These will give you the best performance in power gains.



Handling:
1. Strut brace (EST, IPD, OMP)
2. Lowering springs (EST, IPD, APEX, H&R,B&G, etc...)
3. New shocks/struts (Koni, Bilstein) if you have self leveling I am told this is hard to counter act. And you will have to go with a Ohlin's setup for a very exspensive price tag.
4. IPD anti sway bar kit (Best suspension mod in my mind)

These will give you the best performance in handling.

Exterior: 1. 17" rims and tires
2. IPD grille
3. window tint


Website: www.ipdusa.com
www.eurosporttuning.com
www.upsolute.com

[theunderlord]

uh....Yes.I am not as dumb as I look.It is a GLT.I went outside and looked.I wasn,t kidding when I said 'my first Volvo.Never even rode in one before yesterday.

dats ok...ur at the rite place...Volvo's still excite some of us.....99's are a little differnet than the 98's...but click on my pics of my glt in my sig...ive got a few bolt ons in my veh description

Welcome to Volvospeed my man!
Don't bother looking at Brett's GLT ... mine is the one you want to see... Click the Pic in the signature..

[theunderlord]

Just bought my first Volvo!!Just kind of fell into it while I was looking for a second car.Picked up a 99 S70 GLT w/ 58,000mi. for $8700 including a 2yr/24k warranty from a very motivated seller. Car is pretty clean and I will post pictures soon.I have tried to decipher all of the posts to figure out what to do first,but there is alot of different info.The car is quick,but sluggish off the line.What are the best upgrades to start with that will give me the most performance,but won't void the warranty or have the old lady complaining about spending too much money?

VV.... I have roughly the same car as you.... I've done a bunch to it, but was also lucky enough to have boughten it from a Microsoft Exec, so he bought all the expensive mods! The warranty thing may cause you a headache.... not sure what the details of yours are, but one of the biggest gains you get is upgrading or "chipping" the ECU which may void that nice warranty of yours. Search around the site, and the Sticky or Pinned topics and you'll learn a lot.

[Volvo Virgin]

Sweet!Mine is silver too.What happened to your rear spoiler tho?My S70 doesn't have one and it was the first cosmetic thing I was going to do.

[Volvo Virgin]

Yes,my car is a turbo!How much should I look to spend to do the performance upgrades you mentioned,and what kind of horsepower gains should I expect?

[V Tuning 850]

I am going to say total amount for the power upgrades, would be around $1,200-$1,500. I don't know what your stock HP and torque is now, and I really can't say what you will actually get, but you might see without the ECU tune, maybe 10-20 hp in gains, and when you do the ECU tune that should add another 30-40 Hp, so you might look at a total of 50 Hp in gains. Maybe, but I am not sure.

[Volvo Virgin]

V TUNING 850
THANKS FOR YOUR IDEAS.I BELIEVE STOCK HP ON MY CAR TO BE 190BHP.I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE FEEDBACK ON THIS TOPIC.

[prasamin]

1st things first....stage 0, boost gauge

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php?showtopic=7281

2nd would be bigger turbo, ECU, exhaust, intake (not in that order)

[spottieottie]

1st things first....stage 0, boost gauge

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php?showtopic=7281

2nd would be bigger turbo, ECU, exhaust, intake (not in that order)

I can only say that I second this. Stage 0= muy importante!!!
You will find much more from your mods when you have the basics dialed down, but it is more than likely you already have all of stuff up to date since it is under warranty.

Did you get it from a dealer?

Read your warrant coverage information becuase suprisingly most mods (conservitively speaking- stuff like intake, exhaust, and more) will not negate the terms of your warraty. If you are thinking about a chip it will be dangerous because this will be the most likely other than block and turbo mods to affect the warranty. I am not positive but a chip goes unseen to the dealer but still a big chance to take- warranties aren't cheap. Also wheels and suspension mods DO affect your warranty they are basically just concerned with things that will lead to bigger problems (IE. chip, wheels, lowering springs, bigger turbo- blah, blah, blah, blah ect. ) I wish you luck with your new Volvo and welcome!!! Oh, BTW enjoy the warranty while it lasts mine goes in 1K miles. GOOD LUCK

Edited by spottieottie, 31 October 2004 - 07:14 AM.

[Volvo Virgin]

A boost guage makes sense.I thought it was kind of odd when I realized the car was a turbo(the previous owner didn't tell me when I first test drove it)that it didn't have a guage.What kind do you advise for best accuracy and most reasonable price?

[theunderlord]

Sweet!Mine is silver too.What happened to your rear spoiler tho?My S70 doesn't have one and it was the first cosmetic thing I was going to do.

I took that ugly thing off there! Sold it to buy parts that actually help the car...

[theunderlord]

A boost guage makes sense.I thought it was kind of odd when I realized the car was a turbo(the previous owner didn't tell me when I first test drove it)that it didn't have a guage.What kind do you advise for best accuracy and most reasonable price?

Get an Autometer gauge... they're around 55 bucks and if you just plan on only having one gauge get the single pod from iPD, if you want to get more gauges, get the Lotek Triple pod ... see signature for details..

With all the mods that can be done to this car (without upgrading the turbo) you're going to be around 245-255 HP...

But yes.. accomplish stage 0 first, it's important to have everything running smoothly before you start throwing big expensive parts at your engine.

Edited by '98S70R, 31 October 2004 - 09:12 PM.

[V Tuning 850]

I second the Autometer gauge.

I just bought one from e-gauges, online. total was about $50 I think. I also got the IPD pod, it fits nicely in there.