Who has the highest mileage XC70?

[Astro14]

Just picked up a 2005 XC70 for $700. Currently has 344,000 miles on it and surprisingly, everything works (the body is in great shape too). It needs new tires and a wheel alignment by the looks of the wear on the tires. Slight wobble in the front end in the curves, so I am thinking wheel bearings and/or CV joints as well. Engine runs smooth.

Going for tires and a full inspection on Wednesday.

Wobble is more likely the front lower control arms. Those front bushings in the LCAs hold up for about 80,000 miles. I'm on the second replacement set on both the XC and the T5.

Have them check your strut bushings/spring seats as well.

Be prepared to spend a few $$ replacing all the front suspension components. They just don't last forever in this chassis.

Next worry, for me, would be the timing belt. When was it changed last? It should have a fresh belt, tensioner, and idler done at 315,000. It should have all three replaced every 105,000. I would suspect that it's running on a much older belt, and that belt (along with BOTH the pulleys) is in need of replacement.

Got service records on this? Or is everything a guess?

[N4655R]

Everything at this point is a guess. The only things I know about the vehicle is that it was owned by an Attorney that commuted from Asheville, NC to Charlotte, NC, 2-3 times a week. There are a few maintenance records logged in the back of the owner's manual, but only up to about 150,000 miles, then nothing. Other than that, the attorney traded it in for a Subaru as he thought the XC70 was going to start costing him money in repairs in the future and figured a new Subaru would be covered under a warranty.

I printed your post about the lower control arms and such and will give it to the mechanic doing the inspection.

[Astro14]

We love our XC and it's been a great car. There are a couple of Volvo-unique maintenance items - the LCAs are one of them. PCV system is another.

Timing belt is a common issue in modern cars. People blow them off when they see the $600 bill to replace them...and that's an issue for many high-mileage cars.

This engine is an interference engine - break the belt, and the valves hit the pistons.

Next thing to look for would be engine oil leaks.

I would recommend that you take a look at Howard's site: http://www.freewebs.com/howardsvolvos/

It's a well-organized chronicle of his experience with a 2001 XC. I've seen much of what Howard did. I think we all have.

[N4655R]

So, The car went for tires and a complete "go over" before getting an inspection. It appears that the wear on the tires were from the psi being too low. The bushings on the Lower Control Arms do need to be replaced as there is some dry rot going on there, but still passed the inspection. The mechanic kept calling me into the shop and each time I felt like, "Oh God, What did he find wrong". But each time it was because he could not believe that a car with 344,286 miles was so clean and rust & damage free. The mechanic was amazed at the great condition that the vehicle was in. I had the oil changed with synthetic oil and made an appointment to have the LCAs replaced. I also asked about the timing belt, and since I do not know when it was replaced last, I got an estimate of $640 for the replacement.

2005 XC70 - $700
Tires, Oil Change & State Inspection - $405
Lower Control Arm Replacement (Left & Right Front) & Wheel Alignment - $460

Total cost of the XC70 so far: $1565