ford galaxy

[rich.]

not quite a v70 but any love for this??
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/613326627.htm?ca=18_s

[TerryG]

2 problems;
1) the steering wheel is on the wrong side
2) it has 135,000 miles on the clock. That is almost as many as my daily

[Luxobarge]

2) it has 135,000 miles on the clock. That is almost as many as my daily

That's really not high mileage, I'm serious, not high at all.

Mine's done 150k and that's absolutely nothing compared to most others on the Volvo forum I frequent - there are quite a few over 300k and still running fine, and that's original engine and box, no "Trigger's broom" factor going on.

You're right about point 1) though.

And it's not a V70.

Cheers!

[JPB]

Volvo? Whatever. Looks like a useful wagon. I always thought that these were all dark red in colour though, at least before I read that ad I did. Seriously, there are three within as little as seven miles from here and all are that dark, maroony solid that looks really bad when it oxidises. I can only conclude that France has car buyers with more imagination.

[tractorman]

I know one or two around these parts and they seem like good motors. So much so that I am considering a Volvo to replace what has proved to be yet another unreliable Golf!

One suggestion - stay well away from VWs with PD engines (especially the 1.9s). I have discovered the hard way that the oil pumps shear and big ends go - not necessarily in that order - even on low-mileage engines (60K or so)!

[JPB]

Strange, our Passat and the Jetta that replaced it (07 plate and on a shade under 280k miles now) have only ever needed the usual water pumps at around 170 and 184k respectively, that apart neither has given cause for alarm. I like the 1.9pd, it's as clever as the short stroke, 1.6 16 valve engine in my mk7 Golf but could be used without the complicated ecu that a crd needs. On the other hand, the old 1.9 is a bit less lively but I don't see many taxi drivers having trouble getting the 40 miles from here to the airport in double quick time suffering oil pump trouble en route.

There must be some form of dark forces at work!

[tractorman]

Sorry to go off piste:

Try searching for VW PD engine or VW BLS engine - like I did when looking for another one for my Mk5 Bluemotion - and you'll realise that all is not well with BXE and BLS engines. The BLS is also used in the Caddies, so there will be a few about that are worked hard! The last Golf had an ATD engine that was doing nicely until a rock smashed the sump, but the current Golf - fine a fortnight ago, decided to expire last Friday. I was lucky - it didn't put a leg out, but finding another BLS engine from a local breaker produced a lot of sucking of teeth. I nearly bought a reconditioned one on eBay but checked the firm on Google and found more mentions of them on RAC, Watchdog and links to trading standards sites! I hope I have found a reputable supplier (checked with FER and other sites) - he's charging £2160 and I'll have to pay towing and fitting charges on top of that. I suspect the car isn't worth much over £4K, but would be worth nothing if I didn't fit an engine.

It does make me wonder if, like mine was, the other problem vehicles were on variable interval servicing. I changed to fixed as I don't do many miles (5K since May 2012!), so my oil changes are at the 2500 - 3000 mile mark!

I did note that this isn't mentioned on a certain VW forum, I suspect most of their members are somewhat blinkered!

[TerryG]

You may have noticed that the whole thread is a bit off piste

3k is pretty low for oil changes on a modern engine. I tend to do that on the RR and the mog but both of my moderns get it at 10k (which is still below the 15k ford suggest)

[tractorman]

You may have noticed that the whole thread is a bit off piste

3k is pretty low for oil changes on a modern engine. I tend to do that on the RR and the mog but both of my moderns get it at 10k (which is still below the 15k ford suggest)

I agree that it's low - but that's an annual change, not a mileage one! I was hoping to need the car more than I have (and I haven't seen it for a week, let alone driven it). I tend to go for 5000K normally, stretching it to about 7K with the last Golf (which was a PD but could use cheaper oil - no DPF). Another item looming with the Mk5 is a new DPF - I gather they last for 100K - 150K and I have 117K on the clock!

There again, I keep forgetting to do the big tractor's servicing - it must be three or four years since I changed its oil! However, I doubt if I've done 20hours in that time (and change should be 150hrs or so).

[JPB]

....It does make me wonder if, like mine was, the other problem vehicles were on variable interval servicing....

That would be my thinking.
Ours have always been given oil and filter changes at every 9,400 miles which equates to the recommended intervals (15,000KM) for the cars that used the older (not "long life") type of oil. For this reason the MK7 will have its first oil change at 9,400 and its oil will be replaced by the alternative (non "long-life") spec stuff, also Mobil 1 but without the claims to extra longevity. The tribology boffin at work has examined samples of both types of oil in minute detail and his findings suggest that the only difference is in greater quantities of detergents in the older spec, though for the first time ever, tribology learnt something from me when I pointed out that the prices are also very different!
The dealership itself advises customers not to take the long life oil option forward from that first change and I'm inclined to agree with their logic since the last time they had an issue with the old spec oil pump, that was from an engine that had been filled with the "long life" oil at its service. I have a student in placement at the same workshop so have an excuse to visit once a fortnight to complete his assessments.
The internet also has a way of amplifying fault report stats as good news tends not to be interesting and, given the quantity of these engines in use and that so many of these are taxis, it's inevitable that there will be some faults reported but the only information that is accurate is that based on long term use and it's no coincidence that many thousands of taxis using these engines tend not to end up at the side of the road with the oil pressure having dropped fatally, their operators may - in some cases - drive aggressively, take risks and break speed limits but the minicab drivers who stay in business are those who look after their cars better and I'm with them when it comes to deciding whether to go with the great long life oil myth or to have the engine maintained in a manner that far exceeds the requirements of that pointless long oil change interval. Oil change at 9,400 miles vs oil change at 18,800 miles/30,000KM = an extra £65 every 9,400 miles vs a broken engine at a mileage that shouldn't be too much of a reach for any modern motor and that as - sadly - you've found out the hard way, is rather more than the cost of the extra oil changes.

Regarding DPF life expectancy, the taxi trade (as a percentage of those workshop service punters) is getting through these at a rough average across the dealer group's brands from A to whatever begins Z (they have 300 main and 180 retail dealerships across Scotland and Northumberland and no, aren't Arnold Shark) of 250-300K intervals and that's expected as they wouldn't switch off when it's doing a forced regen. Later cars - depending on spec - complete the process after the driver has put the gearbox in Park, removed the key, locked and left the car which will then switch itself off and yes, that can be a bad thing in enclosed spaces such as underground car parks where that stink of burning rubber can cause people to call the fire brigade (please don't expect me to admit to how I found this out ) but even at that, it's a less counter intuitive new practice to get used with than having a car that needs to be connected to the mains when not in use, I expect the web will soon be filled with complaints about that.

BUT.... Why would there be a DPF on a MK5? Get rid of it by fitting an earlier MK5 exhaust system as you don't have to have one on there and there's a simple DIY replacement for its section of the loom, that's cheaper still than letting it regenerate even when the conditions might not be ideal.

Rich - buy the Mitsubishi/Volvo/DAF thing but don't break it!