Buying a 2012 with 55k on it, dealer serviced until recently. Last two years with an independent import shop according to the carfax. . I called the shop and they said the current owner ( getting it next week) needs front brakes and rotors and the owner refused this at her last oil change. So that is $500 since I cannot due it myself because I am flying in to buy this. When can I expect to have to do the rears?
As far as the Transmission goes what is recommended? Should I go to Valvoline and have them suck out and replace the old fluid due to age? Any negatives on that process with these cars ?

Thank you,

 

Start by checking out the factory maintanance schedule - you'll see the next major service is at 60K. Nothing was required for the most recent services other than inspections and oil changes so no big deal not doing at a fully qualified shop.

https://volvornt.harte-hanks.com/man...nty-Manual.pdf

Re the transmission, from the manual: "Check automatic transmission fluid level only if an external leak is identified. Volvo recommends changing automatic transmission fluid every 52,500 miles / 84,000 kilometers, only on vehicles used for towing, or when a message displays in the Instrument Panel Text Window."

Not sure which transmission the car has, but if its the 6 or 8 speed autos, the shop needs a VIDA DICE set up to set the level at the correct operating temperature. these transmissions don't have a dipstick - they use an overflow tube to set the level via the inner drain plug (check out the vids on YouTube, its a very similar process as the VW/Audi DSG uses)

As to needing brakes, really depends on what the inspection said - really worn with grooves in the rotor is different from 4mm on the pads...

To note, the other big maintenance item on the 5 cylinder Volvos is the timing belt which for most are due at 10 years/120K miles whichever comes first (something to be aware of for next year)

https://www.volvotechinfo.com/index....ltInterval.pdf

What I'd also recommend is to check the maintenance history for brake fluid flushes and any history of coolant changes. A good rule of thumb is to flush the brakes every 2 years and refresh the coolant (distilled water flush only) every 5 years. You can also do the power steering fluid every 5 years using the turkey baster method (pull out as much fluid as you can, start the car, go lock to lock then repeat 2-3 more times).

 

Thanks for the great info. I did a little research and found the Trans is 5 speed made by Aisin which is a Toyota partner. I have had my Lexus trans fluid changed by Valvoline twice and it has been performing great.I am thinking doing the Valvoline fluid exchange or switching over to the Aisin fluid if I decide to do the drain and fill once a year.Working from home I find that I am not driving a whole lot, maybe 5k per car per year

When I get the car it is going on a 2,100 mile trip home via a few stops on the way via Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas so it's going to be hot.

I am thinking I should be running 5-40. I live in Nashville so thinking that would work year round since we get hot in the summer. However the chart in the manual says 5-30 is fine for the 2012. In the 2007 manual I saw posted it says "Operation in hot climates When temperatures exceed 86° F (30° C) in your area, Volvo recommends, for the protection of your engine, that you use a heavier weight oil, such as such as SAE 5W-40 or 0W-40. See the viscosity chart".
Recommendations here would be greatly appreciated.

 

I don't see much downside to using 5W-40, particularly if you like to use name brand synthetics (Castrol/Valvoline etc) and plan on driving to AZ or TX. Interesting question is what to do with a low mileage car (I share that same issue - I now drive about 5K a year) so I change oil once a year even if I don't make it to the service interval. It was a lot easier when I would do 2x a year and could change oil weight in the spring/fall :-) If you have a 5 speed transmission, then you likely have a dipstick (sometimes they can be hard to find as they are way down low) which means you can check fluid level and color on your own. (see YouTube for some vids on a "paper towel" test of your trans fluid). Most important thing is to use the correct transmission fluid spec - again that's in the owners manual. As you noted the Aisin transmissions are common with Toyotas - the 5 speeds use JWS-3309 (same spec as Toyota T-IV ) so just make sure your shop uses the correct fluid.

 

Picked up the car in New Mexico. The owner told me it had 17's on it but it had 18's with some newer Continental DWS tires that turned out to be a good combo. Car also had the adaptive HID headlights option and rain sensor. The only thing the owner knew was that it had keyless entry and ignition.

Drove to Phoenix to see some friends and then on to Dallas before heading to Nashville. Car did great, Very comfortable and pretty decent handling. I
got better than expected MPG doing about 84 most of the way. I did notice that when flooring it on the freeway the car pulled well but it felt like the engine missed slightly at high RPM's. This only happened over 80 and is not reproducible at lower speeds. So it could be my imagination due to bumps in the road, (I have been driving AWD or rear wheel drive cars for the past 20 years so the feel is a bit different from front wheel drive pulling vs pushing). I should check the mounts, Rubber parts in the desert don't do well.

Prior to buying the sellers shop told me it needed new front brakes so I had them do that before I got there. Small Volvo specialist. He put on Autozone "Gold" rotors and pads. I was not crazy about him doing that, but did not have time to order something else. The "gold" rotors say they have a higher carbon content and a three year no warp guarantee. Turned out to be a very good combo. I did a fair amount of twisty driving with some large grades in Arizona and the brakes had very good bite. The pads feel the same to me as the Akebono's I have been buying, and better than Brembo pads ( lot's of dust).

So next I will start on the Fluids and coolant as recommended.

I am also thinking about the Hilton Tune , or maybe the TDI box. But that will come later once I know I have everything else is good.