Anyone interested in a 1996 Volvo 850R wagon?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:15 pm

I've not tried to sell this car yet but wanted to put it out to the club first to see if anyone is interested in the car locally. I bought it 20 years ago this month, and it's time for it to go. Asking $3400 with either the Pegasus R wheels (currently on car) or the original Volan R wheels -- whichever isn't chosen I plan to sell separately. See: http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?296689-1996-855R-original-owner-need-opinions-on-value

As an aside, has the Swap and Sell section been setup as private yet?

Edit: new price is $2900 as is for anyone local interested -- see my post down below

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2016 4:03 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

As an aside, has the Swap and Sell section been setup as private yet?

I have emailed Zach about this, but haven't heard back from him yet.

Richard

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2016 4:07 pm

Mileage and pictures Chuck? Have the valve stem seals been replaced? The last time I saw it (admittedly a long time ago) your daughter autocrossed it and it appeared to burn some oil after idling a bit. - AB

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:03 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Mileage and pictures Chuck? Have the valve stem seals been replaced? The last time I saw it (admittedly a long time ago) your daughter autocrossed it and it appeared to burn some oil after idling a bit. - AB

That was 10.5 years ago! She drove it in her first autocross in the fall of 2005. Valve stem seals are original. It uses maybe 1.5 qts per 5000 miles (oil change interval). No leaks. Mileage was just electronically read yesterday (167k, see the link in my post above as it has the details and pictures) as the mechanical odometer is stuck at 154k. I have the odometer gears and may get around to replacing them.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:08 pm

Aaron ,

In addition to the swedespeed forum link with pics above, here is a dropbox link with a lot more pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/03sb6p2f7r4ppel/AAB-0w0BT87gKCXKShCFIqN0a?dl=0

Regards,
Chuck

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:33 pm

My bad on the link Chuck. I forgot our work internet cuts out and blocks some internet links. - AB

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:51 am

My wife still misses our 850 wagon. I was the one that picked up the Borbet wheels from you a long time ago and saw the wagon at that time. I'm guessing you are not looking for an e39 wagon?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:45 am

Chris Halweg wrote:

My wife still misses our 850 wagon. I was the one that picked up the Borbet wheels from you a long time ago and saw the wagon at that time. I'm guessing you are not looking for an e39 wagon?

Yep, I remember Chris. This 850R has been a great workhorse all these years. I just picked up an E91 that is in decent shape for 103k miles, so no thanks on the E39.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:06 am

Having had a few offline conversations with some Swedespeed members, one item that always comes up is the PCV system and whether it's been replaced. I don't think it ever has been, and OE Volvo parts to do the job are $154, and it takes a couple of hours to do: http://www.ipdusa.com/products/4984/114174-pcv-breather-system-kit. Given that the car has seen 5k mile oil changes it's entire life with quality synthetic oil, perhaps that's why I've not seen an issue yet with it.

Given the feedback I've had from Swedespeed (they're thinking $3k-4k as is, $5k+ with paint fixed and a few other things) and given that it needs new tires, I'm going to start marketing it at $3200 on Ss, so if anyone local wants to look at it and drive it, etc, I'll sell it for $2900 now.

I have two choices with this car it seems at this point:

Choice 1:- (a) buy new tires (another question that comes up as I've pointed out in that thread they will soon be needed imo, i.e. car just passed NC "inspection" which is meaningless); (b) do the PCV; (c) have the hood, driver's door and fender painted.

Choice 2: sell it at what the market will clear at...a market order.

I think I'm going to choose #2, put up an ad on Swedespeed at a decent starting point ($3200 is going to be my starting point) and over time mark it down until the fish bite...sort of a reverse auction.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:46 am

Chuck, I've forwarded this info to my son since he's looking for some decent transportation. I'll let you know what he says...

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:08 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Chris Halweg wrote:

My wife still misses our 850 wagon. I was the one that picked up the Borbet wheels from you a long time ago and saw the wagon at that time. I'm guessing you are not looking for an e39 wagon?

Yep, I remember Chris. This 850R has been a great workhorse all these years. I just picked up an E91 that is in decent shape for 103k miles, so no thanks on the E39.

This is the only Volvo I would want to own. I assumed I was done with them since they are aging out, but this one keeps drawing me in. I think I've tried to get you to sell it at least twice before when we were looking for wagons.

The wife says the 525iT is too under-powered and I agree for sure. Our 528iT manual was tolerable, but this auto is a different story. She liked our 850 Turbo even if it was on it's last legs. I just have a hard time with idea of replacing her current daily with a car that is 7 years older. When I showed her the pictures she did like it though. Sorry for the rambling, I'm just trying to talk my way out of it. I should probably just look for a well maintained e39 540.

FYI I have done PCV on our old wagon. It was not too hard, but having an extra set of hands would help. Especially when you need >2ft of extensions to get some of the intake manifold bolts off underneath IIRC.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:18 am

Chris,

I would look for a well-maintained E91 if you're choosing between a BMW and Volvo wagon. The E9x platform, normally aspirated engines, is a very reliable platform. If you can find a well-maintained, cared for, 2007-2009 E91, it will likely be in the $8k-$12k range. The one I just bought was 10k. It's smaller than the E39 or 850 however, but would likely be a lot less trouble (and more fun to drive).

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:37 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Chris,

I would look for a well-maintained E91 if you're choosing between a BMW and Volvo wagon. The E9x platform, normally aspirated engines, is a very reliable platform. If you can find a well-maintained, cared for, 2007-2009 E91, it will likely be in the $8k-$12k range. The one I just bought was 10k. It's smaller than the E39 or 850 however, but would likely be a lot less trouble (and more fun to drive).

Yeah, I see e39 touring guys phasing out of the platform and transitioning into the e91. With my budget, I need to make more of a lateral move for now. I was not planning on changing anything unless something happened to pop up. I was in a bit of a hurry to get our current e39 as the wife was getting annoyed with driving the Jeep for several months while I sold our 528iT 5spd. Our current wagon is fine, but it's hard to argue when the wife wants more horsepower. I'm happy she has some appreciation for cars.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:36 am

Chris Halweg wrote:

The wife says the 525iT is too under-powered and I agree for sure. Our 528iT manual was tolerable, but this auto is a different story.

agreed, changing from the 528 to the 525 on the e39 was a terrible move from BMW as it lost ~30ft/lb of torque. I also find the brakes are a bit sloppy as compared to Pam's e91 touring. Night and day difference between the e39 and the e91 in regard to drive-ability. That said, the e39 is relatively easy to work on. I'd be very happy w/ the car if I could just find a decent iPod player converter for the head unit. Radio sucks....

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:49 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Chris Halweg wrote:

The wife says the 525iT is too under-powered and I agree for sure. Our 528iT manual was tolerable, but this auto is a different story.

agreed, changing from the 528 to the 525 on the e39 was a terrible move from BMW as it lost ~30ft/lb of torque. I also find the brakes are a bit sloppy as compared to Pam's e91 touring. Night and day difference between the e39 and the e91 in regard to drive-ability. That said, the e39 is relatively easy to work on. I'd be very happy w/ the car if I could just find a decent iPod player converter for the head unit. Radio sucks....

Yeah, that was a typical BMWNA bizarro move. The E46 330i debuted in 2001, so they should have simply put the 330i's M54B30 in the E39 touring when they did the E39 update for 2001. Why not? Cost-wise, from a base materials standpoint, it's likely identical to the 2.5L version.

E39 brakes are a strange sort I guess. I had changed to Stoptech BBK up front on the M5 about 10 years ago, but just recently sold those to Brian Marks for his crazy supercharged M5 touring. The M5 has upgraded "M" calipers/rotors all around, etc, but after switching back to the those, it's back to the slightly mushy initial feel which is typical (zero air in lines, bled very well, normal behavior for E39).

THSCC Forums

Anyone interested in a 1996 Volvo 850R wagon?

Who is online