I HAVE A 07 S60 2.5T I WANT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT FASTER WITHOUT VOIDING MY WARRANTY OR KILLING MY WALLET ANY IDEAS OR BETTER YET TRIED AND TRUE MODS?????? I'AM NEW TO THIS SITE.THANK YOU

Welcome to the forum.

1. You want to complete what is called STAGE ZERO. Which can be found in this thread linked below.
http://www.volvoforums.com/m_38606/tm.htm
You will also want to get a boost gauge that can read at least 25 In Hg / 25 PSI.

Stage Zero is a must do item before upgrading.

2. What is your budget?

3. What is your Hp goal?

We should start off with this to better assist you in your venture. And as far as voiding your warranty I don't know which parts would, but it wouldn't surprise me if Volvo didn't allow any mods. They are picky like that and each dealership is different in what they do and how they act.

I can tell you some parts that most people do though and in the order you should do them. Of course Stage Zero comes before all of these.

1. Intake, K&N panel filter or an EST intake, Possibly an IPD USA intake if they make one for the s60 models and or go custom.

2. 3" mandrel bent downpipe to a free flowing CAT. Also look into the aftermarket compnies listed in the above link for downpipe options.

3. 2.5" mandrel bent catback system with a free flowing muffler such as a BORLA or Magnaflow. Also look into the aftermarket compnies listed in the above link for catback options.

4. ECU Tuning. IPD USA, RICA and BSR PPC are the three most popular and most respected and well thought out and developed ECU tuners on the Volvo aftermarket. I would highly reccommend either of them. You can also go with smaller companies like Upsolute or SpeedTuning USA but their tunes are not as developed and personally if I didn't get a good deal on an ST USA tune I would have gone RICA or IPD USA.

*You will see the most gains with the downpipe and ECU tune.

Also nothing is going to be cheap. So don't expect to get away with spending like $500 and be done everything.

-Downpipe: $300-$1200, depends on if you go custom or prefabbed.

-Catback: $300-$2,000, depends if you go custom or prefabbed.

-Intake: $200 around

-ECU Tune: $325-$1000

-Stage Zero: $500 around

forgot the boost gauge, full AEM kit runs you 300

ORIGINAL: BuildinAs70

forgot the boost gauge, full AEM kit runs you 300


No I didn't if you would care to scroll back up and read.

my budget is @ 200.00 right now and hoping for @10-15 hp gain I was looking at the down pipe but heard it will void my warranty plus she is a bit pricey. thank you for the help I am new to volvo but not in other product lines "I'am a parts manager at a ford dealer"

WILL A INTAKE KIT DO THIS AND IF SO WHICH ONE IS BEST??? ANYONE TRIED ONE HAVE GOTTEN GOOD RESULTS?

ORIGINAL: bretm

my budget is @ 200.00 right now and hoping for @10-15 hp gain I was looking at the down pipe but heard it will void my warranty plus she is a bit pricey. thank you for the help I am new to volvo but not in other product lines "I'am a parts manager at a ford dealer"


Your budget is way low and wont buy you much if anything. I suggest you save save save.

Your Hp goal is low as well. I would think your looking for more then that. If that is all your really looking for it is a waste to spend money on your car to add performance.

ORIGINAL: bretm

WILL A INTAKE KIT DO THIS AND IF SO WHICH ONE IS BEST??? ANYONE TRIED ONE HAVE GOTTEN GOOD RESULTS?


No an intake will not net you that much Hp. It may net you 2-8 Hp max. I have an EST intake and I like it, but it isn't going to net you 10-15 Hp.

I have also heard the trannys on the s60 won't hold up to much more than stock hp have you seen this is it true? your est kit were did you get it and could you even feel a diff in performance?

Truth is i would like more pwr than that but worried about trany going boom and dealer not covering it

ORIGINAL: bretm

I have also heard the trannys on the s60 won't hold up to much more than stock hp have you seen this is it true? your est kit were did you get it and could you even feel a diff in performance?


I pretty sure the s60 can handle more power then it makes stock.

Secondly you need to utilize the link I provided you. Like I said it will help you out a lot in your venture into the Volvo aftermartket world.

EST = EuroSportTuning

To be honest there might be a slight more throttle response but that is about it. It is mainly for looks and sound. You may gain 2-5 Hp, may 8 max. Truly it isn't worth it. Just get a K&N panel filter or other performance panel filter and save your money.

If you want real Hp your going to have to pay for it and nothing in the Volvo world is cheap. So save your money then buy.

It is awesome talking to a actual tech I appreciate your time and advice on this.

YOU THE MAN

ORIGINAL: bretm

It is awesome talking to a actual tech I appreciate your time and advice on this.


I'm not a tech at all. I have just been modding my Volvo's for a few years now and have been on many forums and just know what's up in the modding world.

YOU STILL THE MAN! I WENT ONTO EST AND I'AM TRYING TO CONTROL MY EXCITEMENT, ME LIKE POWER PROGRAMMER:)

EST is a nice site.

ORIGINAL: bretm

my budget is @ 200.00 right now and hoping for @10-15 hp gain I was looking at the down pipe but heard it will void my warranty plus she is a bit pricey. thank you for the help I am new to volvo but not in other product lines "I'am a parts manager at a ford dealer"




First you need to find a mod friendly dealer. Volvo is notorious for denying claims that should not be denied when dealing with aftermarket products.

From what I've read, I've not seen a common issue with s60 trannys. I would think with a few typical mods you would be fine. If anything I would worry about the angle gear if you have AWD. I don't know if it's the same down the s60 range, butwith the R, that is the weak link. Hope that helps

I would probably go with a BSR chip then, if something goes wrong u can reprogram your car to the factory settings and they wont know at all. then when u get it back, reprogram it back. run you about 1000$ is the down side :( lol...upside is dealer wont know, and it will add significant gains

The est intake is a rip off...bmc's carbon intake is wayyy better...I've had the est intake for almost a year and I judt got a bmc intake for my s40 and the power and response is way more present....the est robs you of soo much power when its warm out, i'd rather have a restricted air intake then a hot one thats for sure....

ORIGINAL: mcguij1

The est intake is a rip off...bmc's carbon intake is wayyy better...I've had the est intake for almost a year and I judt got a bmc intake for my s40 and the power and response is way more present....the est robs you of soo much power when its warm out, i'd rather have a restricted air intake then a hot one thats for sure....


*Your correct, it does allow the hot air to get drawn in. However someone did dyno test with an EST intake and they got around 5-8 extra horses. Which for an intake is pretty good especially on a Volvo.

*The BMC CDA is a good intake, I would like to see dyno's for it. However it is very exspensive and hard to find. I know (VP) Viva Performance sells them, but they are mostly out of stock. As of right now they are completely out of stock in all catagories.

*The best setup even though it is restrictive is the OEM setup. Just put a K&n panel filter or OEM panel filter or other "PERFORMANCE" panel filter in there and you should see a gain of maybe 2-5 horses and slightly better throttle response.

I agree s70....the oem is the best right now.. I know at least with the s40s they heat up fast, and any of these aftermarket intakes don't help since they're not cold air setups...honestly though, if I had the money i would dump the est in a second and get the bmc...i def felt a little difference in power with the est but most importantly it was the sound that I got it for..but the reason the bmc is hard to find is due to its performance, the foam insulation is the closest you'll get to heat reduction in a intake setup without making your own cold air...the est works great for me at least in the cooler weather, but driving around with it last summer it might have sounded good but it didn't help the heat situation one bit.

I have heard taking the screen out of the front of and in the maf sensor would help improve air flow anyone tried this???????????????????????????? oh yeah my car has 7,000 miles on it sostage0 doesn't apply yet.

ORIGINAL: bretm

I have heard taking the screen out of the front of and in the maf sensor would help improve air flow anyone tried this???????????????????????????? oh yeah my car has 7,000 miles on it sostage0 doesn't apply yet.




Yeah you heard about it but it is pointless and stupid. DO NOT DO THIS. If you suck something in your screwed.

yea thats just ghetto style...wait till you have money and do things right...dont forget your not driving a honda, nothing is cheap in volvo world.

ORIGINAL: bretm

I have heard taking the screen out of the front of and in the maf sensor would help improve air flow anyone tried this???????????????????????????? oh yeah my car has 7,000 miles on it sostage0 doesn't apply yet.



At least in mine, its just a metal mesh screen. Removing it won't do anything.

What it will do is allow crap to get into the system. That is why it is there.

Yeah, we heard you the first time. MY point was that it is not restrictive in the first place, so removing it has no performance benefit, not that I didn't know why it was there.

Not everything is a contradiction to you personally.

ORIGINAL: S70driver

What it will do is allow crap to get into the system. That is why it is there.


I'm sorry, why is it there?

Suck "crap in" isn't that why we have AIR FILTERS????????????????????????????????

ORIGINAL: bretm

Suck "crap in" isn't that why we have AIR FILTERS????????????????????????????????


Yes, but there is always a possibility. Also you wont see any gains by doing this anyways. You run the risk of major damage.

point taken.

if my car had a warrenty ide beat the **** out of it. brakes, call the dealer, hey yea it happened again, ok cya in a few with the flatbed haha

Im sorry but quite frankly if anyone is that determined to screw up there car, go for it...its like me saying why do they put walls around a fort? It's just common sense, this isn't a debateable topic guys!

How about these down pipes i hear about is there much to gain. ALSO IS IT HARD TO INSTALL? or would a cat back system be better?

See your other post....

You will see the most gains from a Downpipe and ECU upgrade. A catback system is a good idea too but you wont see as much of a gain from it as a Downpipe.

seriously, you should get a solid plan, and get one thing at a time and do it right...dont just jump from taking your maf apart to getting a downpipe...wait till you have the budget and start getting your parts and then when you're ready to have them installed you'll do the ecu tune...

ORIGINAL: mcguij1

seriously, you should get a solid plan, and get one thing at a time and do it right...dont just jump from taking your maf apart to getting a downpipe...wait till you have the budget and start getting your parts and then when you're ready to have them installed you'll do the ecu tune...




I agree 100%. Bretm,your questionshavebeen answered several times over in all of your posts. Figure out a money/hp goal, and do some researchto figure out what you want to do. From this topic alone you can decide what will give the most "bang for the buck".

You said you work at a Ford dealer, won't anyone there help you?

They claim they no nothing about volvo.YES I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE MAF AND HEARD IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA SO I'AM LOOKING AT EXHAUST IT'S CALLED FIGURING THINGS OUT. I COLLECT AS MUCH INFO AND MAKE A DECESION BASED ON MY INFO.I KNOW NOW WHAT I WANT TO DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

WOW just trying to figure things out don't get your panties in a bunch.I can see why this site is so popular now

ORIGINAL: bretm

They claim they no nothing about volvo.YES I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE MAF AND HEARD IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA SO I'AM LOOKING AT EXHAUST IT'S CALLED FIGURING THINGS OUT. I COLLECT AS MUCH INFO AND MAKE A DECESION BASED ON MY INFO.I KNOW NOW WHAT I WANT TO DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP



Good, now you can stop asking the same questions and cross posting. And stop yelling, it's not polite.

:)haa haaa ha, I thought these forums were to get together and talk about stuff

ORIGINAL: bretm

"I'am a parts manager at a ford dealer"


Well, you must be a manager if you can't figure anything out on your own, and no one where you work will help you.:D

GOOD STUFF I LIKE IT.S70 IS A SMART GUY.SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED A HUG.

ORIGINAL: bretm

S70 IS A SMART GUY



Yeah, that's why he deletes posts and locks topics when he is wrong or disagreed with...

SO DO YOU OWN OR HAVE DRIVEN A S60R AND IF SO IS IT ALOT FASTER THAN THE 2.5T I LOOKED ON VOLVO WEB AND I DON'T SEE THEM FOR 08?





OH AND THE NICE THING ABOUT MANAGEMENT IS I MAKE THE BIG BUCKS!

Ahh, the material to work with....but I'll be nice.

Seriously though, read through some of the recent topics under "intake, headers, ehxaust" and elsewhere...remember your "tried and true mods" topic, you'll see I have an S60 R. So yes, the advice I gave/suggestionsare first hand knowledge. I never drove a 2.5T, and it depends on what you consider "alot faster".

'07 was the last year for the R.

ORIGINAL: bretm

GOOD STUFF I LIKE IT.S70 IS A SMART GUY.SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED A HUG.



Ok, maybe sarcasm won't be deleted.....
Yes he is a genius, andI don't swing that way
[sm=funnypostabove.gif]

YOU GET MY P.M.?

ORIGINAL: bretm

YOU GET MY P.M.?


No, someone must have deleted that too...

ORIGINAL: S60 R

ORIGINAL: bretm

YOU GET MY P.M.?


No, someone must have deleted that too...


1. I know your talking about me.

2. I cannot delete people PM's to other people so don't even play that card.

3. If you have a problem with me deleting posts maybe you should think before you post. Most of your posts I delete are...

A. Irrelevant to the conversation.
B. Inflammatory to me. Which I don't accept and will deal with it my way.

4. If you have a problem with it come to me about it instead of posting it around the forum and if you don't feel like you can come to me about it, go to another mod and or the admin. I wont deal with your crap and what I will do is remove it from this forum as I please.

And yes I am going to close this thread so no more crap is posted in here. Got it, good. Once you calm down I will reopen it until then it stays closed.