My New Car

"Future Heap Owner" (aperiodic)
03/08/2019 at 19:44 • Filed to: I have satisfied my need for swede, volvo, Volvo V50, New Car

I bought it! I’m now the proud owner of a red, manual wagon. I’m very happy with this. (Update: more photos at the end.)

Specifically, it’s a 2005 Volvo V50 T5 AWD. It’s not in perfect condition (a few dings, scratches, peeling clear coat, and warped rotors), and I definitely overpaid a bit. But it hit all my criteria and then some, so given that there were no major problems or red flags, I went ahead and did the deed.

In my few weeks of searching, I have not found another turbo Volvo wagon less than 20 years old that *didn’t* have a leather interior. Plus, it’s actually a color (and almost orange, too), unlike apparently 90% of V50/70s. I’m glad I found this one, and that the buyer ahead of me decided not to buy it to learn how to drive manual in Seattle hills & traffic.

My immediate plans are to figure out how to put in an aux input ASAP, which may involve upgrading the amp and/or speakers (I’d like to hear any advice people have to give on this front). I’ll also be taking a good long look under the hood to see how much of a pain working on this thing might be, but hopefully I won’t have to for a while.

I’m sitting in a Les Schwab while it gets an alignment (it pulls left a bit, and this was called out on the inspection). AMA!

DISCUSSION (75)

For Sweden > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 19:47

Three posts and no pictures of the interior?!

Honeybunchesofgoats > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 19:47

Crutchfield is your friend.

Steve in Manhattan > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 19:51

Love the car, love the color - more photos please!

Spanfeller is a twat > For Sweden
03/08/2019 at 19:52

You can clearly see the interior though the windshield...smh.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 19:54

I just bought an XC70 of the same vintage. I’m getting a bluetooth adapter that takes the place of the CD stacker.

Specifically this one, but there’s a few similar things around. They do a cheaper AUX only as well: (edit, I mean this is the one I’m getting for my car , check compatibility for your own vehicle)

https://cushieaudio.com.au/product/grom-bt3/?attribute_option=VOL01B3

Future Heap Owner > For Sweden
03/08/2019 at 19:55

I’ll add some after the alignment is done. Pretty decent shape, except for a rip on the driver’s seat bolster and some stains on the headliner (PO had four young children, so I’m betting they had something to do with those).

Future Heap Owner > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
03/08/2019 at 19:56

Ooh, sweet, thanks! I looked at what Grom Audio had (have used them in several Toyotas), and they only had a $300 full Bluetooth thing, which I don’t care for.

Future Heap Owner > Steve in Manhattan
03/08/2019 at 19:56

They will come

For Sweden > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 19:57

If you have any tips on repairing a thinning bolster let me know!

Chariotoflove > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 19:58

Congrats!

Future Heap Owner > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
03/08/2019 at 20:00

Hmm, they might have different audio systems. The V50 stereo uses fiber optics which seems to complicate things significantly.

Future Heap Owner > Chariotoflove
03/08/2019 at 20:00

Thanks!

facw > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:00

I’d check compatibility on that one. The Grom site seems to want to sell you the MST4 rather than the BT3 for V50s. I’m pretty happy with the BT3 kit I’ve used in my first-gen S40 and S60s though.

Future Heap Owner > facw
03/08/2019 at 20:02

Did installing that involve bridging fiber optic cables?

TheRealBicycleBuck > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:03

Congratulations!

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:04

yeah it’s pricey for a bluetooth adapter, though the price you pay to keep it looking OEM I guess.

I still might have buyers remorse for not going the fascia + aftermarket headunit.. would have been cheaper as I already have a bunch of bluetooth JVC’s

facw > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:05

The BT3 was just a cable from the BT3 that plugs into the CD changer port on the head unit, connecting a T -tap for power, and screw a ground to the back of the head unit. Super easy. The only question is whether the V50 uses the same ports, or if it needs something else.

Future Heap Owner > TheRealBicycleBuck
03/08/2019 at 20:06

Thank you!

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:06

you’re right, the website has a compatibility search.
The correct one for you would be this one https://cushieaudio.com.au/product/grom-mst4/?attribute_option=VOLSO4

for that price I would have replaced the fascia and head unit instead.

Future Heap Owner > facw
03/08/2019 at 20:09

It seems like the P1 V50 uses something different, because installation requires bridging fiber optic cables:

For Sweden > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
03/08/2019 at 20:20

interesting

Future Heap Owner > Honeybunchesofgoats
03/08/2019 at 20:23

No, they aren’t.

Kinja'd!!!

facw > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:25

Yeah, that sounds like a bit of a pain. If it fits a double-DIN without too much trouble that might be a better route. Wouldn’t be at all shocking if the V50 shares its head unit with Ford and/or Mazda.

Tristan > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:26

Woohoo!

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:31

Kinja'd!!!

Me and my red, manual wagon congratulate you on your purchase of a red, manual wagon.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:33

That’s on you. Cruthfield is love.

Future Heap Owner > For Sweden
03/08/2019 at 20:44

Kinja'd!!!

Happy now?!

For Sweden > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:44

pretty

Future Heap Owner > Steve in Manhattan
03/08/2019 at 20:49

Got a few sunset photos in literally 1 minute before the sun dipped below some clouds:

Kinja'd!!!

Future Heap Owner > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/08/2019 at 20:51

Thank you very much! Do we have a secret club?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:56

Si.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:57

Dang son

Tapas > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 20:58

Congratulations!

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 21:00

Oh shit nice brother!

Sovande > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 21:08

3" downpipe, stainless cat back, Do88 intercooler and a tune and you can push over 300hp and 375 torques out of that engine. And it sounds good too. Make us all proud.

Oh, and sorry about the oil change process, it's ridiculous.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > facw
03/08/2019 at 21:22

They don’t share audio equipment with Ford or Mazda. This is the era of the $15,000 secret-handshake extra-optional Dynaudio stereo in the C70, even the base Volvos of this vintage have massively over-engineered and extra-complicated stereo systems.

The special C70 (not the one with the “factory option Dynaudio stereo”, but the ones with the wink and small briefcase full of $100 bills) system started with the chassis in white being sent to Dynaudio’s facility in Denmark where the body panels and interior were specially treated and hand assembled by a team of Dynaudio and Volvo techs in a single-bay anechoic chamber and preliminarily tested. They were then sent back to Sweden for final mechanical assembly, then sent back to Dynaudio again where the system was tested and tuned on each individual car by nerdy Danish sound engineers. I think there were something like 27 individual drivers in the system and nearly 3000 watts of amplification... all of it controlled by proprietary software a suite running on special audio hardware that offered servo-control of fully two-way communicating digital amplification with frequency-domain maintaining active phase alignment.

Yeah, splicing fiber-optics is pretty much par for the course on mid-2000's Volvo stereo modifications.

facw > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/08/2019 at 21:27

Interesting. The S60/V70/XC70/S80 of that era all don’t mess with the fiber, but I guess the S40/V50/C70 and maybe the XC90 do.

wafflesnfalafel > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 21:27

very nice, love it - you are now in the .00 00001% of the population that will ever drive a manual, turbocharged 5cyl car.

functionoverfashion > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 21:33

On the aux input... I hate to be the bearer of expensive news but there’s really no easy way on that car if it’s anything like my wife’s 2005 S40. The “head unit” is like an early infotainment display so you can’t ditch it because it also serves as the HVAC display and controls for other settings. But there was no external CD changer so no input that way either . It’s not easy, but can be done. That was my single biggest complaint about her car, which otherwise was a great car.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > facw
03/08/2019 at 21:40

The S60/V70/XC70 are developments of the P80 platform that began with the 850, the C70 is also a P80 platform evolution, but it was positioned as a halo car and got special treatment. The P1 S80 and the XC90 were also P80 evolutions (although I’ve never had the dash of an s80 or xc90 apart, so for all I know they might have the fiber too) . The S40/V50 were brand new, and didn’t have the legacy architecture the P80-based cars to worry about.

CompactLuxuryFan > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 23:22

Woop woop! Guess we’re 2005 manual AWD wagon buddies now!

My mom actually has a Volvo with a turbocharged I-5, but it’s a 2013 with the 254 hp 2.5. The sounds are filthy!

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Future Heap Owner
03/08/2019 at 23:26

Yes. It’s called NABCNABTD (not a boring color, not a bore to drive). Someone will be around to teach you the secret handshake; look inside their (red) car to identify them.

Kinja'd!!!

Sometimes b irds of a feather flock together (even if they’re not all wagons or have manual transmissions...)

Future Heap Owner > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
03/09/2019 at 00:35

Oh boy, exciting! I’ve never been in a secret club before!

Future Heap Owner > CompactLuxuryFan
03/09/2019 at 00:38

Heck yeah!

Future Heap Owner > functionoverfashion
03/09/2019 at 00:41

Yeah, it’s looking like it’s gonna be a ~$300 addition. Not ideal, but when you amortize that over how many hours of good road trip music it’ll give me, it’s well worth it IMO.

Future Heap Owner > wafflesnfalafel
03/09/2019 at 00:42

Now *that’s* exclusivity. Suck it, Mensa!

But also, sad if true.

Future Heap Owner > Sovande
03/09/2019 at 00:44

Hoo boy! That might be a good project for next year.

Uh oh. What’s that process look like?

Future Heap Owner > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
03/09/2019 at 00:45

Thanks bro! Not the Fit that I initially planned, but my back is already thanking me.

Future Heap Owner > Tapas
03/09/2019 at 00:46

Thank you!

Future Heap Owner > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
03/09/2019 at 00:47

I’m at three cars in two years and a month. How long do I have to keep this pace up before I’ve had more cars in less time than you?

Future Heap Owner > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/09/2019 at 02:09

Thanks for the history lesson!

Future Heap Owner > facw
03/09/2019 at 02:11

From the light searching I’ve done so far, it sounds like dropping in a double-DIN means losing the audio controls on the steering wheel.

Future Heap Owner > Tristan
03/09/2019 at 02:15

Exactly my reaction!

cberg > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 03:48

I have the GROM audio input kit.

Future Heap Owner > cberg
03/09/2019 at 04:56

How do you like it? How was the installation?

facw > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 04:59

Less than entirely desirable.

Sovande > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 05:02

It's easy. Everything is easy in those cars. It's not cheap though....

Future Heap Owner > Sovande
03/09/2019 at 05:30

Oil and filters are expensive? They have some kinda proprietary oil filter?

Sovande > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 07:06

Filters are cheap - I would stick with the OE Mann filters. The process is a pain in the ass. Slide under car, remove 6 screws for the splash shield, drain the oil. Up top you have to remove the air inlet pipe to the air filter which is really two parts, the you have to find the right combo of extensions to get the 32mm socket on the filter housing. Remove and extracting the filter is fiddly because it does not pull straight out and it’s dripping oil.

I ended up installing a Fumoto valve and cutting a hole in the splash shield to access it . Not having to reinstall the splash shield was a huge time saver.

I had great luck with my P1 Volvo and loved driving it. The only maintenance issue I had was a bad radiator hose at 135,000 miles and a bad fuel pressure sensor which took about 6 minutes to swap out.

Good luck with everything, I am sure you will be happy with it. They can be fun little cars!

Captain of the Enterprise > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 07:57

Very cool! Congratulations!

Future Heap Owner > Captain of the Enterprise
03/09/2019 at 11:27

Thank you! Glad you like it

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 12:56

Any chance it was parked just south of downtown on Corbett yesterday? Saw one and wondered if it was yours, but I hadn’t seen this post yet.

Future Heap Owner > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/09/2019 at 13:03

Nope, I bought it in Seattle and didn’t get back home until nearly 11 last night. I could bring it to the Oppo meet today, but then I might have to leave it there overnight

Future Heap Owner > facw
03/09/2019 at 13:06

There’s a chance I can get an AUX hookup cheaply using my surface-mount soldering skills: https://forums.swedespeed.com/search.php?do=process#/topics/105447?page=20

I’ll check soon to see if I have the amp in the back that makes this easy. Fingers crossed.

Steve in Manhattan > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 16:22

Love it.

facw > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 18:25

Good luck!

functionoverfashion > Future Heap Owner
03/09/2019 at 20:30

Yeah I’d pay that in a second for the ability to easily play what I want from my phone. I don’t need fancy infotainment. But if I can’t play what I want for music / podcasts / whatever, well... I have to be able to do that. We sold my wife’s S40 around the time I got my first iphone, so I never did get around to it with that car. And I believe at the time, the options were few and not plug-and-play.

functionoverfashion > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/09/2019 at 20:32

Wait. Is this a real thing?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > functionoverfashion
03/10/2019 at 07:29

There was an article about it in Stereophile magazine back in the day. It's sort of unclear how many (if, indeed any...) C70s were actually ever fitted with the system.

Sovande > Future Heap Owner
03/11/2019 at 09:12

https://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?389569-MyNameIdeasWereTaken-V50XC-Progression-Thread

This guy has made a few slight mods on his V50...

cberg > Future Heap Owner
03/19/2019 at 20:26

Occasionally it won’t boot & I only get my CD player but otherwise it works like a simpler version of what newer cars give you. Not altogether worth the money but it saved my a$$ on a work call today.

I paid through the nose for the kit & pro installation at a specialty shop. Modernizing this particular car is well worth it though.

If you have any of the optional stereo packages you can solder a few bits to the factory amp in the cargo area & run an analog input. The dashboard works on fiber optics.

Future Heap Owner > cberg
03/19/2019 at 20:41

You can do that with the base stereo too. I found a thread on S wedespeed all about adding an aux to P1 Volvos. I’ll be making a post about my plan in the next few days, once a few parts arrive (I’m trying to avoid buying the GROM kit for now).

Future Heap Owner > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/22/2019 at 04:02

It’s a cool story, though. I would love to sit in one if they turn out to be real.

Monkey B > Future Heap Owner
03/23/2019 at 11:34

I’m picking up a V70 soon and it has the cassette/cd radio. I plan using a cassette adapter wired to a bluetooth adapter like this one I have 2 of:

Soundbot Bluetooth Adapter

I already have both somewhere in the shed, so cheap and easy. I’d say no more that $30 for it, the cassette adapter and a 3.5mm barrel connector.

Future Heap Owner > Monkey B
03/23/2019 at 11:39

Yup, cassette adapters are pretty good quality (from what I remember). If my car has a cassette deck , I’d probably just do that.