How many Miles should a 2004 D5 automatic Xc90 go? Our mechanic says it's almost dead

Bought this car a year ago and love it. Passed it's MOT last week but was having trouble with starting so they replaced the alternator and now seems all good. Full service history.

Anyway - bought this on the advice of a friend with an Xc70 under the idea that as long as we looked after it it would go and go. It has 165,000 miles on it. We use it to drive from London to Wales (250miles) about twice a month and about 20 miles 4 times a week. The mechanic said that with that many miles on it it's days are numbered - what do you guys think?

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Originally Posted by darkdayzandrainbows

Bought this car a year ago and love it. Passed it's MOT last week but was having trouble with starting so they replaced the alternator and now seems all good. Full service history.

Anyway - bought this on the advice of a friend with an Xc70 under the idea that as long as we looked after it it would go and go. It has 165,000 miles on it. We use it to drive from London to Wales (250miles) about twice a month and about 20 miles 4 times a week. The mechanic said that with that many miles on it it's days are numbered - what do you guys think?

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In a statistical sense, he's probably right. But statistics can't predict each vehicle's lifespan. It might also have to do with the fact that 2004 year was the first year of production for the XC90. Is the car garaged or parked outdoors? You can expect minor irritants, such as the anti-theft alarm complaining with a "service needed" message, the headlamp bulb sockets going daffy, and plastic parts breaking. You could encounter an expensive failure, such as the rack & pinion steering, a transmission repair, EVAP system repair, AWD, or computer module failure. If you're lucky, you'll spend about $1K per year on maintenance, and in 3 years be looking at 200,000. It could go either way.

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Originally Posted by pbierre

In a statistical sense, he's probably right. But statistics can't predict each vehicle's lifespan. It might also have to do with the fact that 2004 year was the first year of production for the XC90. Is the car garaged or parked outdoors? You can expect minor irritants, such as the anti-theft alarm complaining with a "service needed" message, the headlamp bulb sockets going daffy, and plastic parts breaking. You could encounter an expensive failure, such as the rack & pinion steering, a transmission repair, EVAP system repair, AWD, or computer module failure. If you're lucky, you'll spend about $1K per year on maintenance, and in 3 years be looking at 200,000. It could go either way.

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One of the predictors that a Volvo will "go long" is that the owner does not allow "Check Engine" to remain lit up and unattended, deceiving himself into thinking only one problem is responsible.

Friend of mine has an original D5 165 with 350k miles, still going well with not serious failures during its lifetime.

My 185 has 145ks, still drives like a new car. Both have been scrupulously serviced and maintained, and have been attended to immediately at the first sign of trouble. We're both expecting g years kf service from them yet.

But...

Not everyone maintains a car so thoroughly beyond a certain age. There are plenty of D5s that are borked by the time they've done 150k, so it's a piece of string question. Yours has the potential to deliver many more years and miles of service, and the potential to cause headaches. You wont know until it's done it.