Hi all. I have the chance to pick up a cheap 97 850 5 speed with 169k. What should I be looking for past 170k miles as far as repairs and problems? thanks

Expect to do a LOT of maintenance and repairs when you go over 170k miles. I have but a mere 81k miles on my '96 850 and that baby runs like a top. But it never gets driven during the winter, that's the thing.

It all depends on the previous care. I've had my '98 V70 since new, now 242k, with original clutch, water pump, alternator (I did replace brushes at 170k), CV joints, ball joints & outer tie rod ends, entire exhaust system, and much more. The biggest repair so far was the AC evaporator at 140k. I also do all my own work, the car having been to the dealer just once for the clutch slave cylinder recall. These cars can last a long time with the right care.

New water pump, shocks all around, clutch in 20K or less, oil separator, vacuum lines everywhere, alternator brushes, bushings, ball joints, tie rods, cv joints, AC evaporator, heater core, ...

All depends on how the car was treated during the first 170K miles.

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are 2 turbos :)

Mine has 225,000 or more (odometer went out at 169,000) and all I ever do is change the oil and filter. No problems. I'd drive it across the country if I needed to.

Everything that hasn't been replaced 2-3 times already... and some stuff that may not have been replaced yet, like the clutch. It's a continuous cycle.

Have it checked out by a shop that knows Volvos.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 173k mi, heated velour cloth comfy chairs, factory HD suspension, Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, IPD stuff, JB Weld, Original Duck tape, zip-ties, two '06 Honda license plate nut impressions in back bumper (gift from daughter), Mobil-1 since new.

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." - Douglas Noel Adams (1952 - 2001)