High mileage C30 - thoughts

ToomanyVolvos

Needing a manual C30 for my daughter. Been looking for some time in the lower end with budget considerations.

Then this popped up:
Check out this Volvo C30.
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Volvo-C30-2009/SSE-AD-5216270

A T5 was of course preferred but not required and this fits the budget range, BUT:

1. 200K KLMS

2. Timing belt done about a year ago and dealer did not do the water pump - WTF!!! Does this dealer expect the same water pump to do over another 100K on the same pump!!!! Bloody disgrace they've not done this IMO and it'll be a ticking time bomb. Probably just take my chances and accept that if the pump eventually causes a belt failure I'll be needing a stat write off from pickles for an engine swap.

3. Oil only changed at 15K intervals ?. Previous owner did this on my XC90 (2.5T) with half the KLMS and it's got sludge and oil leaks even after most seals replaced and the PCV system replacement. These are no B230 motors.

4. Original CLUTCH ?. Owner must be a good driver but at 200K I'd not be expecting it to last much longer. I imagine this will be circa $1000 plus parts.

5. At 200K I'd be expecting the cooling system to be ratshit. Given that not even the water pump has been touched all the other bits are probably well past end of life and without a coolant level sensor (what were they thinking ?) these are another ticking time bomb. There is a full cooling system kit for these from FCP, so I'll assume that will be one of the first things needed.

My feeling is this car will have huge "maintenance" items that should be covered off and even then some big bills will be looming with clutch etc.

Should I consider this with a lowball offer and expect some big bills ahead or just hold out for a T5 with half the mileage for a couple of thousand extra?

Philia_Bear

Imho slightly underpriced and most of your fears are unfounded on a 2.4i car from 09

ToomanyVolvos

Philia_Bear;129099 wroteImho slightly underpriced and most of your fears are unfounded on a 2.4i car from 09

I know there is value, and it's what I need. I particularly appreciate its apparent garaging. It's more whether a lower KLM unit is better value given the high repair costs.

Wouldn't I be right to assume a 200K clutch is 90-95% worn out? (And that'll be expensive)

Likewise bits like the thermostat housing etc are rooted to 200K? Consequences of failure = very bad day.

And the timing belt.... Who spends 1000-1500 on a timing belt service and doesn't spend an extra say 150-200 on a pump that is capable of causing a timing belt failure?

I've spent HUGE $$$s trying to put my XC90 right and she still cannot be parked in my driveway because of oil leaks.

Philia_Bear

Details....

WP life is generally around 325K KM (200,000 miles) or more, not changing it is IMHO a non issue on a regional car, and doing it on the second t-belt is fine

Oil changes at 15k on the 2.4i are fine if mostly highway

Clutch... 200k as a regional car... probably has less wear on it than a city car with 50k

Cooling system... coolant looks perfectly fine and the tank looks pretty good, the expansion tank is a known fail point and not much else on the 2.4i

Aircon not working is my only wondering of Why its not been fixed considering $$$ point

I'd rock it at $6k without blinking considering its got the updated interior etc of an 09....

pauljloz

Nice
As above. Wp at second change and tank main issue. Suspension bushes?

I'd haggle on the ac as thats the bigger risk buy you might get lucky on this.

ToomanyVolvos

I was aware of the premature wear on the A/C compressor shims and the need for them to be adjusted. Done properly I expect that's a few $'s too. Just all in all I feel there could easily be 3-5K thrown at it in the next 20K KLMS.

Probably wouldn't bother with the air conditioning shims until other work is being done in that area.

Philia_Bear

ToomanyVolvos;129109 wroteI was aware of the premature wear on the A/C compressor shims and the need for them to be adjusted. Done properly I expect that's a few $'s too. Just all in all I feel there could easily be 3-5K thrown at it in the next 20K KLMS.

Probably wouldn't bother with the air conditioning shims until other work is being done in that area.

I really don't see that much being put into it at all

PaddlerEd

My old V70 had 225,000 miles on it.... and I suspect the original clutch... I did 50,000 miles with it.

ToomanyVolvos

PaddlerEd;129111 wroteMy old V70 had 225,000 miles on it.... and I suspect the original clutch... I did 50,000 miles with it.

I'd always thought a clutch was a 50K-150K item depending on driving ability/style and traffic environment. To hear original at 200K sends shivers downy spine thinking it's due any day.

PaddlerEd

50 to 150k km or miles? My V70 was north of 300,000km at the end....

pauljloz

V70t5 was at 220k when sold.
It was fine and city driven

Vee_Que

Dual mass flywheel and city driving means clutch, but 200k from a clutch is carefull driving.

Spac

Our Mazda has 363,000km and counting on the original clutch. Including towing bike trailer around a fair bit.

Stuff like clutches are far more about how they are used than how many kays they have done.

ToomanyVolvos

Spac;129138 wroteOur Mazda has 363,000km and counting on the original clutch. Including towing bike trailer around a fair bit.

Stuff like clutches are far more about how they are used than how many kays they have done.

Holy crap. Not sure what's more amazing, the clutch or that you've spent 363K in a Mazda 3.

Spac

It is a 6, and we have only owned it for the last 90,000km/three years, but it is a great car.
7.6litres/100km, is nice to be in, nice to drive, and hasn't caused us any grief - even when the alternator shat itself a couple of weeks ago, it still got me 400km before it stopped (which I figure is ample warning for most people).