Geartronic Box on a 54 plate, will it be ok??

[Liddo]

I'm going to look at two 54 plate S60 D5's tomorrow, both with the geartronic box (that I'd like to try) one has towed, the other hasn't. Are the boxes ok on the newer 70 series, or could they be dodgey???

Something about the 55 box rings a bell

[LiamT4]

I thought it was mainly the earlier ones?
Wouldn't want one if it had been used as a tow car for a long time though.

[Liddo]

I'm thinking that, both cars are similar mileage, but the non tow car is massively specced, but £1500 pounds more! Maybe 1500 in the long run is a recon box? Hmmm, I love the look of both, but I dunno which to choose

[SomeBloke]

What sort of mileage are we talking here?

If you can get to see the colour of the oil it will tell you a lot, but having a manual myself I don't know if there is a dipstick on the slushmatic 'box. If you can, also sniff it, if it smells burnt walk away.

Ask the owner if the gearbox oil has ever been changed, if not, go for the non-tow car option. £1500 more now but a 'box will set you back about double that with fitting etc. From what I've heard you really need to be looking at factory recon, not some normal "transmission specialist" for a proper job.

Whichever one you end up with, head to your local Toyota garage for the gear oil, Toyota T-IV, which is exactly the same stuff Volvo sell you but at a fraction of the price (spec JWS-3309). Then get the gearbox oil changed, preferably flushed. Then change it every 30k or so. Cheap insurance.
http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12169
Worth reading.

[v70torslanda]

5 spd boxes are all the same. The wiring is different.

If he can't prove the oil has been changed then it hasn't.

If it flares between 2/3 on a light throttle walk away.

£3.5k to replace. I couldn't find anyone I'd trust to repair mine.