Bit of pampering on my 855 T5...

[kmb]

So yesterday morning the old tank got some Meguires love, two bucket shampoo Gold Class, NXT Tech Wax after some careful mark buffing with ScratchX and a touch up pen where required... the old girl scrubs up OK, I've also now done 500 miles on the remapped Oblark ECU, feels excellent, very progressive mapping with peak boost now 15psi instead of the std 9.7psi

Took a mate out in it yesterday, greasy road traction was not the best on full boost, but the sounds from the stainless exhaust were awesome

Intention is to make this car as close as possible to mint condition, but mechanically sound and a little better/quicker than standard, all on a tight budget - it's just a well serviced car (full volvo service history) with 136k miles, cat back Powerflow (no back box), ITG filter element, and an Oblark mapped ECU.






It's worth adding that I used 3 coats of Plasticare on the front and rear bumpers, these were nearly white and very shabby, I'll report back on how it weathers, but after initial heavy rain and 3 days it still looks great at this stage.

My boring work Audi took second stage, as seen sulking in the first pic

[oblark]

Green cars always scrub up well

Looking good

[AndysR]

Looking smart! Nice job, looks like an honest example and good base for your plans.

[kmb]

Thanks chaps, it will only do 2-3k miles a year, brake refresh probably the next task, although I just drove 700 very uninteresting miles down to my place in France, so not back UK side for 3-4 weeks. I'll scour Ebay to make sure any nice little treats don't get missed

[Saaamon]

Looks a great example, like the rear mud flaps and those rear lights appear to be in excellent condition.

[kmb]

Thanks, the mud flaps do cut down on a load of muck and spray, probably not to everyones tastes but functional. Rear lights are unmarked, the car is very straight all around!

The only faults I can find on it after 3 months ownership are that it sounds a bit whiney on start-up from cold, as soon as it starts and runs a minute it's gone, drivers side bolster has some wear, needs a few bulbs behind the dual zone temp dials (prob a pain to do and not worth the worry)... the rest is surprisingly tidy.

I should have taken some under bonnet pics as it's like a new car under there!

[AndysR]

Thanks, the mud flaps do cut down on a load of muck and spray, probably not to everyones tastes but functional. Rear lights are unmarked, the car is very straight all around!

The only faults I can find on it after 3 months ownership are that it sounds a bit whiney on start-up from cold, as soon as it starts and runs a minute it's gone, drivers side bolster has some wear, needs a few bulbs behind the dual zone temp dials (prob a pain to do and not worth the worry)... the rest is surprisingly tidy.

I should have taken some under bonnet pics as it's like a new car under there!

Mudflaps were one of the first things I fitted to the rear of mind

Climate control bulbs are a doddle to replace they're capless 286 bulbs and can be bought from most motor accessory stores

Looks a great example, like the rear mud flaps and those rear lights appear to be in excellent condition.

Do it

[kmb]

Might have to get the bulbs sorted on next return, was just bothered I'd break something getting access.

The start up whining noise seemed to be resolved with a very quick squirt of WD40 around the belt/pulley, but will check belt tensions and things when I have some time.

[Saaamon]

Might have to get the bulbs sorted on next return, was just bothered I'd break something getting access.

The start up whining noise seemed to be resolved with a very quick squirt of WD40 around the belt/pulley, but will check belt tensions and things when I have some time.

The belt is self adjusting.

[AshDVS]

That scrubs up really well!

[WOODY T5]

Top job looks very nice

[kmb]

The belt is self adjusting.

Thanks - That's another job saved

Could anyone confirm how to get at the bulbs behind the climate adjusting dials (also the air con switch, if easy)? I could not find much via the search.

[kmb]

I think this will be my next modification to reduce boaty floaty feel!

http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=3582

Original Volvo part so still standard looking

Seems reasonable at under £80, although anyone know if this strut brace can be bought cheaper elsewhere, or with any discount?

[Ettienne]

Shows the quality of these cars.

The yellow can be a real pita as the paints quite thin

[jdavis]

Looks great that!

[oblark]

Whats the trim level ?

eg - is it a GLT or CD

[kmb]

Whats the trim level ?

eg - is it a GLT or CD

It's a GLT, I was quite surprised on a frosty morning to find the wing mirors nicely heated and clearing, tilt/slide sunroof also works perfectly.

[Saaamon]

Try Frf volvo Swansea with c3 discount code, I recently bought a strut brace from them.

I haven't actually had the ecc panel out but I believe you remove the radio by pushing the two long bits each end all the way in, they pop out then pull on them and the radio can be removed, then the ecc just pulls out probably with a tug, people do say to mind your fingers so mite be worth using a cloth.

[AndysR]

Thanks - That's another job saved

Could anyone confirm how to get at the bulbs behind the climate adjusting dials (also the air con switch, if easy)? I could not find much via the search.

Climate control is held in place to the dash with spring clips, to remove what you need to do is pull the radio out of the dash enough so you can get your hand inside and up behind the climate control unit. If you press on the unit, what you are doing here is pushing the unit out from behind, you will encounter some resistance but that is how its removed. A word of warning I'd suggest a towel or something to protect the centre console as once they pop they can come flying out of you're not careful. Once the unit is out unplug it from the loom and along the side you will see 4 screws near the front of the unit. Once you remove the screws you will then be able to pull the front of the climate control unit off the backing, just be careful as you do that as it's wired into the circuit board inside the unit so won't come all the way out but will do enough for you to get your hands on twist the lamp holders anti-clockwise and the holder will come out and you can remove and renew the bulb. In the words of the Haynes manual refit is reversal of removal

[kmb]

Good advice, thanks - I do have a Haynes manual for the car, this was found in the boot floor compartment after I bought it, so I can look at the pictures in there as well.

However, every time I do something from a Haynes manual I find stubborn bolts, strange tamper proof bolts and things that say 'just unclip and remove' which usually involve dropping the engine out to get access... often missed from the seemingly simple instructions.

Of course, it might just be that I'm an incompetent mechanic!