After taking the much less expensive alternative and having a transmission shop do the repair (it sounds like it really was necessary...), our transmission now works perfectly. Unfortunatley, the car will no longer start on command. Volvo gave up and an independant shop is having a similar lack of success....

If you decide not to go to Volvo for transmission swap, the only way the dealer does it, one thing to be aware of is that many shops can do the work, but taking the transmission apart requires unique Volvo gaskets that can be difficult to locate. Not impossible, but difficult. We saved a ton by going to somebody other than Volvo, as long as the starting problem isn't related to the transmission repair. Make sure that the repair shop knows about the Volvo gasket before committing to a time frame to make a repair. LOL,

SJ