What I noticed about a few people here in buying no factory parts to save money......why o why would you put a non-oem timing belt on an interference engine to save $15 at the risk of loosing $3500??? I am baffled! Anything of critical function nature I always stay factory. Others???

I probably wouldn't, in fact I'd even have the belt change done by my Volvo dealer. Since they warranty their repairs for a year, if the belt broke I'd at least yell. Would I be successful getting them to fix it, since it's a maintainance item? Dunno, but it's unlikely that it would break anyway even if it's a Gates belt....

As for many other parts, well Volvo doesn't make them anyway. If it's a standard Bosch component or Brembo rotors, sure. And many many of the Volvo parts are essentially Yugo parts anyway. I read here, but been unable to confirm, that Fiat subcontacted to build the circuit boards, and Volvo PROUDLY claims that disabled people, presumably both mentally and physically, are building their wiring harnesses in a Euro-ish "make work" program.

-Punxsutawney Phil

Said it before, I'll say it again, OEM extra cost vs aftermarket, less than a tank of gas.....Go OEM.

on the most part i agree totally on keeping your volvo a volvo car...but with a lil common sense dont think for a minute that volvo makes all the parts on the car they "ASSEMBLE". for a swedish car looking under the hood for 30 seconds tells you that the car is made by "bosch" practically -- ie'GERMANY. timing belt concerns are rightly so but if you can find factory parts from NON DEALER companies and save money,thats the idea. but buying a cheap part and saving money will burn you eventually.. GATES BELTS are known world wide for NOT being cheaply made they are among the few companies that make a belt to last on purpose consistantly..and they are not near as cheap in price as a belt say from "autozone" which is junk in my opinion.CONTINENTAL is a brand that makes factory belts and hoses in germany. so why go to the dealer to get a
"conti-belt" that says volvo on it for 65 dollars when you can get a "conti-belt" from m&d import car parts for 27 bucks or the same belt from GAPA.COM for $32.95 ? you can get the belt from IPD also but i think theyll be higher in price.
my two cents,zash

There is nothing wrong with Gates belts. Cost is a little less than the "Volvo" belt which is probably made by Gates. There are many aftermarket parts that are made better than "Volvo".

My 0.02!
--
Tom 69-1800S, 72-1800ES, 96-850T

I guess I agree with OEM for critical items like a timing belt, if only because they can't try to blame it on you if something happens. Otherwise, I don't see the magic in going OEM for most things...they subcontract out for parts production in the same way as NAPA etc - lowest bidder. Except the OEMs turn around and jack up the price - take the $17 (each!) headlight wiper blades for the S70. Give me a break. Plus, I wasn't impressed with my Volvo OEM thermostat that broke into pieces in under 60K miles.

You hear that old joke like "You bought a Volvo, why turn it into a Yugo one part at a time." Not sure it holds much water in the global marketplace. I wouldn't be surprised if there was one big factory making everything for everyone and putting it in different boxes.

Just my $0.02

Because Volvo actually ownes a belt plant and makes their own? Or because the belt that was made by a company known to make belts that fail. Oh wait, Volvo have very weak belts.

My take would be if the dang belt had a problem I could tell volvo to fix it since I used THERE belt. To me its alll a cost to end risk kinda thing! Like rotors/brakes, I have used the mann verisions I beleive to save money---in that case the worst thing that can happen is warped rotors so that type of risk is minimal!