Driving 240 is more trouble free and cheaper?

[jtbo]

Today got bill of 600€ earlier on week 60€, no month without hundreds gone to service and repairs.

There is still many faults that are needed to repair, differential has loose, steering rack needs replacement, heater fan needs replacement and there is some rust that requires some attention too.

With 360 it was only refill and change oils, until I let some stupid mechanic to replace those axle seals at front of engine.

So think twice when getting cheap daily runner that you plan to use until 360 or 340 is in working order, I have spent something like 3000€ already to that jell'o ship called 240

[classicswede]

I went for a 240 as I needed an estate for shifting shite.

Nothing has broken on it but I have replaced quite a bit of stuff to make it nicer to drive.

work done

LPG conversion
rear spring and shocks
front wishbone bushes (poly)
front lowering springs
rear axle bushes (poly)
full engine service inc belts
new discs and pads on rear
Track rod ends

Things needed

head lights
front mono tube shocks
new discs and pads on front.
engine swap to replace cruddy 2ltr (its only done 200,000 but its slow)
steering rack as its showing slight signs of wear.
radio befor I get killed


You can see I have spent quite a bit improving the car ut I do intend to keep it soe time and I know it will last.

The think I like is no electrical problems like you always get on 300's

[Ronnie]

Things needed

...

radio befor I get killed

She doesn't like to be without music then?

[classicswede]

She is getting a sick of listening to her MP3 all the time. I've got all the bits need just finding the time to fit it now.
And I bet my old man will probably want pics so he can do a "how to"

[jtbo]

My list currently contains:
Fixed one rust hole from rear arch
new complete headlights (nearly 300 euros)
diesel fuel pump renewing (that was 600 euros + 100 euros to diagnose problem)
propeller shaft bearing and those joint bearings too
tie rod end to right side of car
front brake calibers, discs and pads
rear pads
handbrake shoes
rear springs (old were totally dead)
lot of electric stuff and bulps
wheel angles were off
4x summer tyres (bought shite, need to buy 4 new ones soon)
4x winter tyres (these were ok)
All belts (200 euros)
Exhaust snapped to half without any warning so needed to replace that too
radio, there was none
wiper blades

Things it will need:
Heater fan
Heater fan resistor (means whole switch need changing)
Steering rack
light switch
AC filling
Alternator
Differential, there is too much play
Lot of rust removing
rear bushings
front dampers
interior light is not working

I think I'm missing still something from list. I have changed all filters and I make one oil change in month or two at current pace of driving.

Money spent to services and repairs has been about 3 times what I have paid from car already, so there is no point to sell damn thing, besides it runs quite nicely and is very good companion on longer trips. Also even first year or two might be quite expensive, after that it should start to pay itself off again

[classicswede]

300 euros is a lot for head lights I take it that is from Volvo?

and 200 for belts sounds expensive did that include fitting?

[Fuse]

Well all cars are unique.. The 360GL we had was very trouble-free.. no brake issues, no engine issues.. mostly we just had to replace parts due to normal wearing. Body was another thing, but technically it was one of the most solid car's I know.

At the first two years of owning my 360GLT I hade to replace lot's of parts.. Clutch, radiator, engine block heater, turbo was rebuilt, exhaust, brake pads, all exhaust manifold studs and gaskets (manifold gasket twice), valve cover gasket, intake manifold gasket, intake pipe fittings and clamps, vacuum hoses, ignition parts, steering lock, tie rod ends, ball joints, heater valve, lot's of bad wiring and bulbs, CV-joint boot, summer and winter tires and wheels for winter tires, some welding, thermostat etc... etc... and not counting the extra bits like new mp3-radio and stuff

For last few years the previous owner hadn't done anything but changed oils and driven the car.. Well all the belts and the water pump were replaced though.

Basically the engine and body were in good shape, but someone just let all the wearing parts wear out and didn't bother to replace or keep them in working order.. But now it hasn't given any trouble at all for a long time when everything was fixed.

So it pretty much depends how well the car has been kept.

The 240 my father bought seems to be in a very good condition, though break pads were bit worn but otherwise it seems to be well kept.. Nothing broken yet. I Just got it through MOT few days ago. Everything else was fine at the first time except the previous owner had been playing with the angle grinder and front springs were too short.. But that's sorted now, new Lesjöfors sport springs. Would've sailed through first time without those cutted front springs.

[jtbo]

300 euros is a lot for head lights I take it that is from Volvo?

and 200 for belts sounds expensive did that include fitting?

I checked price, it was 380e and includes extra high beam set, everything new including wiring, work was done by myself

Belts are bit different in D24 than in let's say B200, pump belt behind of engine, timing belt at front of engine, power steering, aircon, alternator
And it had fitting included as timing is bit tricky in d24.

Now I remember what I did forget, glow plugs, all new, cheap aftermarket plugs were bit over 60 euros.

With 360 there has not been much to do compared.

To be fair, I must say that 240 sees as much miles in month that 360 in whole year at it's best year.

This month 240 has cost 900 euros, ~0.68e/km but that will settle down as diesel pump job was quite expensive

[jtbo]

Dai, how available 240 Spax adjustables are? I checked from website and only rears were available, maybe that is not whole truth?

Might need to replace fronts at some moment and no point of putting regulars if can do adjustable way with not so much higher price.

[classicswede]

I would not fit the SPAX to a 240 as bilsteins are much cheaper! Go for bilstein blacks on the back and bilstein GLT/Turbo mono tube fronts.

[jtbo]

I would not fit the SPAX to a 240 as bilsteins are much cheaper! Go for bilstein blacks on the back and bilstein GLT/Turbo mono tube fronts.

Ah, must check those then, thx.
Comfort is priority (hence adjustable, can set very soft if needed, I hope), stiff cornering I get with 360 in future then

[classicswede]

If you stuggel finding bilsteins at the right money I can sort some out for you.

[jtbo]

If you stuggel finding bilsteins at the right money I can sort some out for you.

Could be that I need to sort out steering rack before that, but I keep in mind, thx

[foggyjames]

It's down to specific examples, if you ask me. My 360 has always been outstanding, while my 240 had allsorts wrong with it. My Dad's 940 (arguably the most reliable model they've ever made) has been one of the least dependable cars he's had in recent times.

cheers

James

[classicswede]

The only thing that has failed on CHiP is teh heater fan I spent a full day replacing that and doing teh radio while I was at it.

All the otehr things have been preventative or just where there are signs of wear and replaced for the better.

Mechanicaly on teh 340 only 2 things stopped teh car from being used that I remember - prop more than once, wheel studs snapping, and a faulty front wheel bearing. All otehr things have given pleanty of warning and replaced before causing an issue. The worst problems have been elecrical and in fairness the 240's also have pleanty of issues with there fuse box. Its just a lot easier to sort on a 240