Running costs

Here you can talk about the joy owning a Volvo 480 brings. Non-technical discussions take place here, like what is the difference between an ES and a S version.

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jifflemon
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Running costs

Post by jifflemon » Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:23 pm

Bit of a random post (but hey, you'd expect nothing less!)

Imagine you've just bought your 480 (or perhaps are looking at buying one). What have you got in store in terms of running costs?

Some assumptions:
1) Everything is knackered. And unless you've got history or documented evidence to prove otherwise, it will be knackered.
2) You're going to be doing the work yourself.
3) You may be able to save a few pounds on the parts, I've shopped for simplicity, not eeked out every possible bargain.

And so, onwards!

Lets start with a nice service - we want to make sure our beastie runs factory fresh right?

Image

So, thats a big full service. Timing belts, drivebelts, the whole shooting match. I've left of transmission oil change just because, but that's about £168 worth of parts in her majesty's sterling.

So, we can go fast now, but can we stop?

Image

Brake fluid and hoses not included, but probably should be. Handbrake cables will be shot... so, bye bye another £95.

So, we're starting and stopping, but can we get around a corner?

Image

There goes another £310 but we've got quite a nice handling car now! does seem to be lacking in grip....

The cheapest "decent" branded tyres I could find, were these:

Image

and so, assuming your fitting and balancing them yourself (we all own a tyre machine and balancer right?), we can wave goodbye to £177

So, in summary, there's roughly £750 to spend on getting a car mechanically right.

That's before any bodywork, lights, any joyous electrical work or the common "they all do that sir" problems.

This is what feeds into my "buying" decisions, and what drives me insane when people think their shed of a 480 is worth £1k, when excellent ones are struggling to sell for £2k.

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MisterH
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Re: Running costs

Post by MisterH » Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:28 pm

I run the toyo tyres on mine and they are actually really quite nice. I don't think my car was ever 'knackered' but the handbrake is a bit odd, having to pull it up quite hard to get it to properly engage, but that could just be me. Sometimes it is 'half-on' with some brake applied but not all. Something to look into?



Also, we don't have a tyre fitting and balancing machine and I am not sure many people will do, especially amateur enthusiasts who most new owners will be probably, the 480 is a good 'starter' classic
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

jifflemon
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Re: Running costs

Post by jifflemon » Fri Jun 26, 2020 2:28 pm

MisterH wrote:
Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:28 pm
I run the toyo tyres on mine and they are actually really quite nice.
I'm not suggesting they're "cheap" tyres, just that they're the cheapest branded tyres I could find. If someone wants to trust their car to some no-name-less-grips, that's their choice. I look for a little more in a tyre than "Round and black" :lol:
MisterH wrote:
Fri Jun 26, 2020 1:28 pm
I don't think my car was ever 'knackered' but the handbrake is a bit odd, having to pull it up quite hard to get it to properly engage, but that could just be me. Sometimes it is 'half-on' with some brake applied but not all. Something to look into?
I'd suggest pulling the rear brakes apart and resetting them.
Covered that in the green turbo thread:
jifflemon wrote:
Thu May 28, 2020 8:35 pm
Even if you're not replacing the handbrake cables, slacken the central adjuster all the way off and remove the cable end from the arm.
Winding the rear caliper back requires popping the adjuster cap off (and we had one seized cap! Seriously, copper slip people!!) and winding the adjuster back 4 or 5 turns, then using a caliper tool to push the piston back, before doing it all again. I got about 3-4 complete turns before the piston needed pushing back. Once backed all the way, pop on the pads (with copious amounts of copper grease), insert the sliders (red rubber grease) and the anti-rattle spring (copper grease in the ends).

Then, go and jump up and down on the brake pedal at least 10 times. And I seriously mean jump on it! The pressure to the rear brakes gets limited, so you want super hard presses to make the brakes work.

Once we've got the brakes seated, follow the standard handbrake adjustment procedures and you've got a perfect working handbrake.

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brinkie
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Re: Running costs

Post by brinkie » Sat Jun 27, 2020 11:49 am

May I strongly advise against using 15W40 mineral oil in a 480? It needs at least semi-synthetic 10W40 (A3/B4 spec) and a Turbo should run on fully synthetic 5W40. See Volvo specifications in the manual if you don't believe me. 10W40 will set you back an additional 10 quid, though.
Also, spark plugs and front brakes are dependent on whether you drive a Turbo or not. (Spark plugs may also differ for early 1.7 engines, not sure)
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

jifflemon
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Re: Running costs

Post by jifflemon » Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:42 pm

Apologies, was doing super quick shopping at polarparts.de and based it on a two litre! You’d think they’d (and me) would know better! :lol:

Was just to give an idea of costs, not an actual shopping list!

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MisterH
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Re: Running costs

Post by MisterH » Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:37 pm

brinkie wrote:
Sat Jun 27, 2020 11:49 am
May I strongly advise against using 15W40 mineral oil in a 480? It needs at least semi-synthetic 10W40 (A3/B4 spec) and a Turbo should run on fully synthetic 5W40. See Volvo specifications in the manual if you don't believe me. 10W40 will set you back an additional 10 quid, though.
Also, spark plugs and front brakes are dependent on whether you drive a Turbo or not. (Spark plugs may also differ for early 1.7 engines, not sure)
Am I right in thinking it is an oil that's hard to find over here? When we did a full fluid service we had to import some Elf oil from France for the gearbox at least, it felt special
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Alan 480
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Location: Aberdeen

Re: Running costs

Post by Alan 480 » Sat Jun 27, 2020 6:07 pm

MisterH wrote:
Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:37 pm

Am I right in thinking it is an oil that's hard to find over here? When we did a full fluid service we had to import some Elf oil from France for the gearbox at least, it felt special
our local motor factors had the correct spec oil in stock at £5 for a litre, I only bought one, nobody seemed interested in a bulk buy at 'that cost' :-(
decent stuff as well, OK COMMA, but correct spec.

Odd that the spark plugs are NOT NGK ZGR??? that seemed the closest i could find to the OEM spec BPR 6ES or BPR 7ES seem too short a nose?

the lower wishbones seemed 'cheap' , only an observation

but anyway you can rack up a grand in blink of an eye . .. .

sum of parts is greater than the whole???

or is that the reversed proverb :wink:

Alan
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

jifflemon
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Re: Running costs

Post by jifflemon » Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:10 pm

MisterH wrote:
Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:37 pm
Am I right in thinking it is an oil that's hard to find over here? When we did a full fluid service we had to import some Elf oil from France for the gearbox at least, it felt special
Gearbox oil is a bit finicky to find - Elf Tranself NFJ 75W-80 Gear Oil is apparently the stuff.
Alan 480 wrote:
Sat Jun 27, 2020 6:07 pm

Odd that the spark plugs are NOT NGK ZGR??? that seemed the closest i could find to the OEM spec BPR 6ES or BPR 7ES seem too short a nose?

the lower wishbones seemed 'cheap' , only an observation

but anyway you can rack up a grand in blink of an eye . .. .

sum of parts is greater than the whole???

or is that the reversed proverb :wink:

Alan
Again, is just a rough reference - Don't get hung on a specific parts/part numbers.

The rough idea is, you can easily spend £1k on getting a 480 to a good mechanical baseline condition. If it's not had any of the above jobs done, you've an idea on what it'd cost. Give the age of the cars, all of those jobs are highly likely to need doing.

Oh and those wishbones are actually very good! I actually quite like Polarparts as a supplier.

Alan 480
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Re: Running costs

Post by Alan 480 » Sun Jun 28, 2020 9:01 am

jifflemon wrote:
Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:10 pm

Again, is just a rough reference - Don't get hung on a specific parts/part numbers.

The rough idea is, you can easily spend £1k on getting a 480 to a good mechanical baseline condition. If it's not had any of the above jobs done, you've an idea on what it'd cost. Give the age of the cars, all of those jobs are highly likely to need doing.

Oh and those wishbones are actually very good! I actually quite like Polarparts as a supplier.
agree wholeheartedly on how easy it is to spend £1000 on getting it 'tidy' :(

I mad ethe comment about £50 wishbones as I'd seen them at £120 EACH , although I think I paid about £120 for a pair, the drop links, ball joints and postage (but about four/five years back)
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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brinkie
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Re: Running costs

Post by brinkie » Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:00 am

Bought my 480 in 2014 for € 1500. Spent € 600 for parts and labour immediately after for the first service and repairs (fluids, spark plugs, brake discs, brake pads, engine mount), MOT fail on suspension arm mounts so decided to have the entire suspension front & rear replaced (springs, shocks, all stabilizers and bushes, rear axle rebuild) which was € 1400 including labour. Spent more than the price I've paid for the car on repairs and maintenance within a year of purchase, but now it's 6 years later and all those replaced parts are still holding. Aircon rebuild was € 750, wheel arches and rear bumper rebuild and partial respray was € 1400 and I've had the driver's seat rebuilt for € 250. New set of Vredestein tyres for € 360 fitted (both car and tyres Made in The Netherlands :lol:).
Car has done over 200,000 miles but looks and drives better than most 480's that have done half that mileage. :hopping:
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

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Re: Running costs

Post by nicklee » Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:49 pm

...and if you buy a car with a Teves MK2 ABS then you can throw in another 200-250 quid for the hydraulic accumulator! Unless anyone ever found a supplier other than Jaguar... :D
1992 Paris Blue 480 ES

Alan 480
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Re: Running costs

Post by Alan 480 » Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:59 pm

nicklee wrote:
Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:49 pm
...and if you buy a car with a Teves MK2 ABS then you can throw in another 200-250 quid for the hydraulic accumulator! Unless anyone ever found a supplier other than Jaguar... :D
look on bright side, if it was a part for a Mk2 Ford Escort you could probably add a zero, check out reversing lights on E-bay or how about an expansion bottle, usually a tenner, nope if it was fitted to a Ford Xr2 or 3, then seen them at nearly £80 !!!! :shock:
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Running costs

Post by Alan 480 » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:00 pm

nicklee wrote:
Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:49 pm
...and if you buy a car with a Teves MK2 ABS then you can throw in another 200-250 quid for the hydraulic accumulator! Unless anyone ever found a supplier other than Jaguar... :D
look on bright side, if it was a part for a Mk2 Ford Escort you could probably add a zero, check out reversing lights on E-bay or how about an expansion bottle, usually a tenner, nope if it was fitted to a Ford Xr2 or 3, then seen them at nearly £80 !!!! :shock:
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Running costs

Post by Alan 480 » Mon Jul 06, 2020 7:01 pm

nicklee wrote:
Fri Jul 03, 2020 3:49 pm
...and if you buy a car with a Teves MK2 ABS then you can throw in another 200-250 quid for the hydraulic accumulator! Unless anyone ever found a supplier other than Jaguar... :D
look on bright side, if it was a part for a Mk2 Ford Escort you could probably add a zero, check out reversing lights on E-bay or how about an expansion bottle, usually a tenner, nope if it was fitted to a Ford Xr2 or 3, then seen them at nearly £80 !!!! :shock:
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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