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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
2016 Volvo V60 Cross Country D4 AWD Inscription Polestar
- Thread starter MR_Y
- Start date
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update @ 65,000km:
The car is due for its final free service (5 year/100,000km) next week Saturday (5 June). The plan expires in October.
Today, the driver side door lock switch breaks off and falls into the hole in the panel (picture below).
Admittedly, I do drive over some rough gravel roads and trim items like these may be likely (though not expected) to pop off.
This is the first time something has ever broken off on this car.
I don't know if this is an omen of more unexpected things going wrong (I hope not!).
Anyway, the cost to fix this (which involves stripping the entire door panel and fitting a new replacement switch) is R1,700.
Gladly, since the car is still on Maintenance Plan, this will be covered.
However, it is not smooth sailing yet - the car first needs to be booked in to assess the panel, pictures have to be taken of the fully opened panel and submitted to Volvo SA for authorisation, then the parts will be ordered.
I will take the car in soon for the authorisation check and then hopefully the new switch will be ready in time for the 5 June service.
I am not yet convinced that I need to fork out tens of thousands now for an extended Volvo warranty or maintenance plan, so let's see how things go after the plan expires.
In the meantime, the passenger door switch can be used to lock/open all the doors in the car (when inside) and the car does have auto locking on pull away (the passenger door switch illuminates when all doors lock).
The car is due for its final free service (5 year/100,000km) next week Saturday (5 June). The plan expires in October.
Today, the driver side door lock switch breaks off and falls into the hole in the panel (picture below).
Admittedly, I do drive over some rough gravel roads and trim items like these may be likely (though not expected) to pop off.
This is the first time something has ever broken off on this car.
I don't know if this is an omen of more unexpected things going wrong (I hope not!).
Anyway, the cost to fix this (which involves stripping the entire door panel and fitting a new replacement switch) is R1,700.
Gladly, since the car is still on Maintenance Plan, this will be covered.
However, it is not smooth sailing yet - the car first needs to be booked in to assess the panel, pictures have to be taken of the fully opened panel and submitted to Volvo SA for authorisation, then the parts will be ordered.
I will take the car in soon for the authorisation check and then hopefully the new switch will be ready in time for the 5 June service.
I am not yet convinced that I need to fork out tens of thousands now for an extended Volvo warranty or maintenance plan, so let's see how things go after the plan expires.
In the meantime, the passenger door switch can be used to lock/open all the doors in the car (when inside) and the car does have auto locking on pull away (the passenger door switch illuminates when all doors lock).
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MR_Y
Well-known member
Another update:
The plastic cladding (offroad protection black plastic) on the rear right wheel arch is starting to pop off.
From what I can gather, this is not necessarily a fault of the car (it is a 2016 model that has had no issues until recently), but rather an issue of me using the car more regularly over rough gravel roads.
I am using the below gravel road as a shortcut, as part of my commute.
The car does handle this well, from a mechanical standpoint, and it does not touch its underbelly, but I don't think the trim pieces were designed for this type of travel on a daily basis...
A bakkie (or bakkie-based SUV) may be the better answer, but I feel the Volvo still has some legs left.
The plastic cladding (offroad protection black plastic) on the rear right wheel arch is starting to pop off.
From what I can gather, this is not necessarily a fault of the car (it is a 2016 model that has had no issues until recently), but rather an issue of me using the car more regularly over rough gravel roads.
I am using the below gravel road as a shortcut, as part of my commute.
The car does handle this well, from a mechanical standpoint, and it does not touch its underbelly, but I don't think the trim pieces were designed for this type of travel on a daily basis...
A bakkie (or bakkie-based SUV) may be the better answer, but I feel the Volvo still has some legs left.
MR_Y
Well-known member
One of the reasons why I had to trade in my 320d...
MR_Y
Well-known member
So, this is actually a longer cut, distance wise, than the normal route. But, time wise it is a good 20 to 30 min quicker during morning traffic. If I left home earlier (6am), it would be fine to use the normal route. But, due to the school run I can't leave that early, so end up having to take this route.
MR_Y
Well-known member
The rural area I am planning on going to actually has better roads. The only catch is that there are no direct tar roads to it.
Where I am currently, the tar roads are so badly full with traffic, that the gravel road is the only other option (and this gravel road is rough)
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MR_Y
Well-known member
So, I went to Volvo Midrand and they made it seem like a big issue to get authorisation to fix the door switch and plastic wheel arch panel. I would have had to book the car in just to assess the issue and another booking for the repair, once authorised.
I then went to Tom Campher (Auckland Park Volvo) and all was sorted out on a Saturday, without even claiming from Maintenance Plan! They managed to fix everything in 20 minutes, without having to order any new parts.
Agree with @TurboLlew and others that Midrand service, in general, is far from ideal.
I then went to Tom Campher (Auckland Park Volvo) and all was sorted out on a Saturday, without even claiming from Maintenance Plan! They managed to fix everything in 20 minutes, without having to order any new parts.
Agree with @TurboLlew and others that Midrand service, in general, is far from ideal.
Cally77
Member
So you didn't even pay for the repair since they didn't make a claim?
MR_Y
Well-known member
Yes. No claim and no payment from me. And even if I didn't have a Plan, they wouldn't have charged me.
The didn't open a job card.
They see the value of the long game. Treat the customer well and know that they will likely come for servicing after the Plan expires.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update at 65,000km
Car was just serviced (last free service under Plan) at Tom Campher Volvo. This was the 5 year/100,000km service. This was a minor service (oil change and filters and basic safety checks).
Interestingly, in the service book (yes, the old school service book), there is a comprehensive appendix that shows you everything that needs to be done as part of each service. So, if you want to DIY or check on what a workshop has done, you can use that appendix as your checklist. It even states special maintenance requirements to be performed at specified higher mileage intervals for the Haldex AWD system, as well special attention for the 5 cylinder diesel motors.
Anyway, according to the above info, the next service at 120,000km is a major one. That checklist is 3 times the length of the 100,000km service. I will likely hit that service in June 2022 (unless I do higher mileage).
I am still in two minds if I should extend the Maintenance plan (R46k for 2 years/2 services, R67k for 3 years/3 services), extend just the warranty (R24k for 2 years/180,000km total), go the aftermarket warranty route (M-sure, etc.) or just leave it to fate and my future wallet. Let's roll the dice...
Car was just serviced (last free service under Plan) at Tom Campher Volvo. This was the 5 year/100,000km service. This was a minor service (oil change and filters and basic safety checks).
Interestingly, in the service book (yes, the old school service book), there is a comprehensive appendix that shows you everything that needs to be done as part of each service. So, if you want to DIY or check on what a workshop has done, you can use that appendix as your checklist. It even states special maintenance requirements to be performed at specified higher mileage intervals for the Haldex AWD system, as well special attention for the 5 cylinder diesel motors.
Anyway, according to the above info, the next service at 120,000km is a major one. That checklist is 3 times the length of the 100,000km service. I will likely hit that service in June 2022 (unless I do higher mileage).
I am still in two minds if I should extend the Maintenance plan (R46k for 2 years/2 services, R67k for 3 years/3 services), extend just the warranty (R24k for 2 years/180,000km total), go the aftermarket warranty route (M-sure, etc.) or just leave it to fate and my future wallet. Let's roll the dice...
MR_Y
Well-known member
Will drop you a PM.
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MR_Y
Well-known member
To be honest, I was a bit afraid of cutting my expensive Goodyear F1 Eagle SUV tyres (these are a bit road biased) on some of the sharper rocks. I am glad that this riverbed had mainly smooth pebbles.
I was following an Isuzu DMax and kept decent pace, just limited slightly by my 201mm ground clearance and 45 profile rubber.
When I returned back to civilization, I inspected the undercarriage and was glad that nothing was scratched. The next day, hit the N3 back to JHB and my TPMS showed that all tyre pressures were still fine.
