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72,000 km with my Volvo XC60 D5 Summum AWD

1st July 2021, 17:14 by Rahul Nagaraj

Thanks to the lockdown, over the past 15 months utilization has been lukewarm.

BHPian V.Narayan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

8th Service: 72,000 kms - the Brown Mare demands attention

Hitherto all services fell due when 10,000 km got clocked. This time she went in as 12 months had passed. Thanks to the lockdowns etc., over the past 15 months mileage utilization has been lukewarm. First 63 months till March 2020 she completed 65,000 odd km or a shade above 1,000 a month. And since then in 15 months, she has been driven a bit below 7000 km or ~450 km a month. She remains my primary self-drive choice. Oh, I love the torque and the muted growl. My work takes me to the interiors of districts such as Faridabad, Palwal & Nuh and for the roads there this car is well suited. She has never, touchwood, failed me thus far.

The cause of the noise referred to in post # 270 was due to the alternator bearings assembly beginning to give way. Volvo offered to repair it and keep it good for another 5000+ km. But I am a fussy sort and requested for a replacement. The car is now out of warranty and the part alone cost Rs 75,000 and change plus labour. As always the brakes were checked – they remain healthy. The other jobs were – wheel interchange, wheel alignment, fluids, and changing the transmission oil. The last mentioned was due in this the 8th service and cost another ~Rs 28,000. Overall cost including the usual waxing, interiors, aircon ducts cleaning and some minor items came to Rs 128,000.

One issue that has defied a solution is the tiny dirt marks or wear out marks appearing on the driver's seat. Volvo and 3M both have tried their hand at removing these (photo below) but with limited success. I am unsure what will work – soapy water and a toothbrush? Use a different dry cleaner for my pants? Find a cure for my obsessive behaviour.

The attitude, courtesy and helpfulness of the Swede Auto service staff remains very healthy. Infact their quality may make me a repeat Volvo customer when the time comes for moving to an EV. For me top class repair centre attitude and service and sheer reliability of the car rates above any other parameter. However unlike Lexus Volvo's executives consider themselves to be above and beyond replying to their customers. They prefer to hide behind their desks. As someone who has been in competitive service industries most of my life I find this behaviour abominable and unbecoming.

Total cost of maintenance, spares & upgrades so far is Rs 6,28,000/- over 72,000 odd km or Rs 8.72 per km. This includes the Rs 48,000 invested on the polestar upgrade to add more zest and smoothness to the driving experience. The lower driving output has increased the average cost per km. In terms of time this works out to a little over Rs 8,000 a month. The big items in here are – all four brakes, tyres, battery, drivers side ORVM, transmission oil, polestar upgrade and replacement of the alternator. For a car at this price point I believe this is very reasonable.

I wish the 10-year rule on diesels gets amended. This car has much more than 10 years of life.

My beauty. I talk to her, pat her. She responds.

The seat marks that beat me.

Corner damage sustained over the years thanks to Dilli’s unruly traffic. The 3M plastic PPF was redone for the section.

The tight squeeze into the rear seat I don’t like. Why the hell don’t car designers have doors that open all the way to 90 degrees. Well, I rarely sit at the rear but muttering and cursing I enjoy. So there.