13 replies to this topic

[jo346820]

Hey all,

Here's an off the noggin question:

Whats the longest you've gone without doing a non-routine maintenance on an 850?

So, basically excluding anything on the list of "what to do at this mileage"...

Anything, including replacing lights etc. counts.


...reasons behind why I'm asking this question below....





I've bought my car now 10k ago, and I've been fixing little things here and there since I bought it. Those little things continue...I've got silverstars that need to be put in since one headlight is gone....my driver pass. seat back broke literally less than 2 weeks after I shelled out $200 for my pass seat back...tires are getting low on tread....

and I just passed 120k. I got a tune-up coming up by 130k, including probably a samco kit since one of my intercooler hoses already blew off once (I retightened it but I think my hoses leak doing boost). And then a timing belt at 140k...

and most of these are just normal maintenance. I don't want this car to nickle and dime me for the next 30-40k

[JehovArob]

My dad was talking about how he had read an article about how the best way to own a car is buy it used about 2 or 3 years old, and get rid of it before it's more than, I think it was 6 years old just so you don't have to worry about the bigger issues and all of those kinds of things inherent to an older car.

So, I suppose you just have to ask yourself if you really want that 850 badly enough to do all of this maintenance on it or if you have to money to have it continuously maintained by someone.

[jross]

Honestly? I usually go ~ 5k miles between services, and I don't usually have to repair stuff in the meantime. These last 10k or so have been a bit different, but it's mostly me to blame for that. Right now, I just need to replace my heater core & the passenger headlight lens, as well as fix my (screaming) rear brakes. I've got alot of mod-related work I'm in the midst of, but that hardly counts

[edit: I've got 150k miles on my 1996 855R, and I boy, do I drive it ^__^ Not beat-on-it style, but it's been through a bit. Two recent examples (ie, from the last 2-3 weeks):
1) Broke both passenger-side retaining bolts on my rear anti-sway bar
2) Discovered the car has a fuel-cut @ 7k RPM (don't ask, and no, I'm not doing it again to get pics)

Edited by jross, 03 January 2005 - 02:12 AM.

[theunderlord]

If I'm not maintaing or cleaning, or doing something else to my car every week, i'd be impressed. Half the fun of havin the damm car is keeping it up. or is that just me?

[JehovArob]

If I'm not maintaing or cleaning, or doing something else to my car every week, i'd be impressed.  Half the fun of havin the damm car is keeping it up.  or is that just me?

Oh, no. I definetly enjoy it as well. But, I'm just wondering if (especially when I have less time on my hands in the future, unless I get a good job that will let me have a lot of time) it will become less enjoyable in the future.

[jo346820]

Having just started a good job that I will be in for awhile, I question a few things about keeping the volvo...mainly they revolve around regular maintenance. If twice a year I have to spend $250 maintaining it, no big deal. $500 a year plus maintenance is worth it for this car, IMHO.

However, I'm definitely topping that for this year, and this coming year is definitely looking like a $1000+ year as well...

it's a tough call...

[turbobrick]

i dont think twice at throwing money at the car, its what i enjoy... even if it gets to be expensive its my choice


besides... you can always make more money

Edited by turbobrick, 03 January 2005 - 05:08 AM.

[BeachRat]

However, I'm definitely topping that for this year, and this coming year is definitely looking like a $1000+ year as well...

it's a tough call...

It's been a $1000+ winter break for me. I was looking at receipts, etc and saw that on average, I spend about $150 a month on my car, gas and insurance aside. Granted, I'm reparing while upgrading so it's more expensive than just plain maintenance. I love my car, so I don't mind treating her right. We all have the dream of doing every possible thing to the machine but right now I'm happy with a subtle pampering.

[98V70BASEBOY]

Over the last two years (from 56k to current 105k on the odo), I've saved $2000 on labor alone by doing most everything myself. Of course, during that time, I can add up the receipts for parts (including filters, oil, etc) and that alone is $2200. Considering I put about 25k a year on my car, I've spent at least 20% of my total on oil changes alone. Everything else has been normal wear items like tie rods, control arms, tires, heater core, brakes, tune-up parts, etc...

I don't consider ANTYHING I've replaced to be out of the ordinary.

Fun to work on and even more fun to drive! I love my Volvo!

BB

[theunderlord]

Over the last two years (from 56k to current 105k on the odo), I've saved $2000 on labor alone by doing most everything myself. Of course, during that time, I can add up the receipts for parts (including filters, oil, etc) and that alone is $2200.  Considering I put about 25k a year on my car, I've spent at least 20% of my total on oil changes alone.  Everything else has been normal wear items like tie rods, control arms, tires, heater core, brakes, tune-up parts, etc...

I don't consider ANTYHING I've replaced to be out of the ordinary. 

Fun to work on and even more fun to drive!  I love my Volvo!

BB

BB's got a great point... the money that you save doing things yourself (from learning how to on this (or maybe other ) sites is how I justify to myself that I can spend the money on new intercoolers and turbos..

[JehovArob]

Yup yup. And, plus, if you're like me, you just want to know how it all works in the first place, so why not save yourself the money by doing the work yourself as well.

[BeachRat]

Yup yup. And, plus, if you're like me, you just want to know how it all works in the first place, so why not save yourself the money by doing the work yourself as well.

I concur. This car is just what I needed to satisfy the gearhead/tinkerer in me. I like to get my hands dirty figuring out the innerworkings of the volvo.

[850drag]

Well usually I just go for the regular service, so far nothing extreme besides mods of course.
my service though is not the same as the required one:

do oil change every 3,000 miles along with coolant and trans flush.
replace spark plugs fuel filter etc every 4,000 miles

and so on

[KLS]

Jo,
It all depends. Lights burn out and parts break at any time. Tires are right there for all to see, and brakes are easy enough to look at by pulling a tire off. I frequently do nothing for a year, then two or three things demand attention.

My routine maintenance schedule:
I do oil and filter @ 5000,
spark plugs on my turbo at 15,000,
distributor cap & rotor, air filter, ATF flush @ 30,000,
plug wires @ 60,000,
timing belt @ 70,000,
idler pulleys & water pump @ 140,000
brake fluid flush & renew, coolant flush & renew, power steering drain & renew @ 2 years


Ken