Volvo V90 D5R or E400d?

[moj91]

My W204 C250cdi has done me well for the past 8 years, but its time to move on.

I felt like a change from the Merc and looked at a Volvo V90 D5 AWD RDesign. Which I was suitably impressed with, if not so much the 4cyl diesel, adequate and mappable outside warranty, but possibly not quite enough. I tend to keep cars for their lifecycle.

I have a holding deposit on a pre reg'd one at the moment, but I'm wondering if it is the right choice or if i should stay with merc as I've found a slightly used E400d for the same price as the new volvo.

Whats the reliability like on the W213s at the moment? And the New OM656 engine? I really don't want to be buying a lemon out of warranty.

Thoughts welcome! Thanks!

 

[robin.large]

No idea where you are located but don't forget the huge car tax hit on new cars - I did and I was shocked!

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[moj91]

No idea where you are located but don't forget the huge car tax hit on new cars - I did and I was shocked!

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Does that apply to pre registered too? Dealer said not, maybe they are telling porkies...

 

[Wighty]

Does that apply to pre registered too? Dealer said not, maybe they are telling porkies...

Cars over 40k new have big tax for 4-5 years (?) , even If you buy it after a couple of years for 20k.

 

[Binnedit]

Yup

List price of £40k+ is an extra £335 on top of the normal RFL for 5 years

 

[moj91]

Yup

List price of £40k+ is an extra £335 on top of the normal RFL for 5 years

Looking like something im going to have to cough up for. The v90 and E400 are basically the same tax band, but the e400 is a lot more engine!

Mainly now trying to find out if the new OM656 is likely to be long-term reliable. (150k+)

 

[Dean Fletcher]

E400d all the way. Unless you want to look like a school teacher (present school teachers exempt obviously )

 

[robin.large]

Does that apply to pre registered too? Dealer said not, maybe they are telling porkies...

They aren't actually lying. New cars are subject to a first year increase in VED if up to £2395. This is usually added to the OTR price on registration and is probably what the dealer refers to. However from years 2 to 6 there is an added 335 for any car with a list price over £40k (no matter what you paid)....

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[grayb]

From what has been said on here previously, the OM656 engine is too recent to have much track record yet. Nothing has been mentioned about problems so far. We are keen to try one...
My other half has done some research on the 4-cylinder Volvo diesels and they do seem to give problems after a few years.

 

[CumbriaJon]

Can’t comment on the Volvo but I have an E400d estate and it’s great. Engine is fantastic, still get decent economy, lots of toys and things and plenty of space.


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[moj91]

From what has been said on here previously, the OM656 engine is too recent to have much track record yet. Nothing has been mentioned about problems so far. We are keen to try one...
My other half has done some research on the 4-cylinder Volvo diesels and they do seem to give problems after a few years.

I've done some digging, asked around over the past 48hrs, seem to have found little about the volvo engine, but some hints at issues a little down the line, which is a concern. A friend of mine had a GLC400, seemed to have a lot of engine issues, but he works for MB corporate and gets a new car every 3 mths, so that one has gone now.

 

[moj91]

Can’t comment on the Volvo but I have an E400d estate and it’s great. Engine is fantastic, still get decent economy, lots of toys and things and plenty of space.


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What milage is it on? If you dont mind me asking. Any other issues with the w213 platform?

 

[bembo449]

I really like the current Volvo styling and the interiors and just beautiful but from reading the above its less about the cars your looking at and more the .Gov robbing folk blind of tax

 

[CumbriaJon]

What milage is it on? If you dont mind me asking. Any other issues with the w213 platform?

Only 3,500 miles.


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[grayb]

I've done some digging, asked around over the past 48hrs, seem to have found little about the volvo engine, but some hints at issues a little down the line, which is a concern. A friend of mine had a GLC400, seemed to have a lot of engine issues, but he works for MB corporate and gets a new car every 3 mths, so that one has gone now.

For a start: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=107708

 

[moj91]

From a tax perspective, i think i'm stung either way, everything i'm looking at has around a £490p/a tax cost for the foreseeable. Clearly nothing to do with emissions and just the treasury trying to scrape some £££ out of everyone.

The EGR issues with the Volvo's - the general consensus is that 18/19 model year cars onwards are not affected, unless anyone knows any better? I'm looking at a '20 year model, pre 112mph limiter. My diesels get well run, so rarely have any carbon/dpf build up issues.

The volvo does do it for me over the W213 on that alone, I find the W213 bland and the interior claustrophobic and under-par for Mercedes build quality. However my friends are reminding me that they think i will find the D5 Volvo too slow for my liking, and i won't be able to map it until out of warranty (3 years) so i'm still somewhat unsure on what i want to do.

 

[grayb]

I find it hard to compare a 6 cylinder engine with a 4. If I wanted to compare the cars I would start with an E220.
I have never heard of an MB with DPF issues.

 

[moj91]

I find it hard to compare a 6 cylinder engine with a 4. If I wanted to compare the cars I would start with an E220.
I have never heard of an MB with DPF issues.

They aren't comparable in that sense. 6>4 cyls.
I know of a few, mine has on a few occasions failed to self regen, even when parameters were met to do so, a forced icarsoft regen seemed to resolve the issue. Still original DPF though at 140k +/-. Others i know of in MB are due to too many short journeys/driving with the fuel light always on/not resolving faults.

 

[grayb]

They aren't comparable in that sense. 6>4 cyls.

But that is what I thought you were doing? A 4-cyl Volvo against a 6-cyl MB... No contest for me.

 

[moj91]

Thats the thing. The 4cyl Volvo D5 is 'enough' but the allure of the W213 with an I6 is creeping in. I'm also looking at a 530d but we have had issues with BMW over the past decade and i'm weary.