He is asking $1495. It has 186k miles on it. Leather interior. Looks really nice. What should I look out for? this is located in Western NY.

http://www.rlsvc.com/picpages/volvo7-3.asp?ID=184

Thanks
SM
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90 BMW 325is, 98 BMW 528i, 90 Volvo 240DL

See the 700/900 FAQ for a comprehensive list of things to watch out for. At $1495 for a pretty decent looking 740GL wagon, you don't stand to lose a whole lot. The price is very decent.
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1992 940 wagon, low miles
as well as others.

Volvos will run forever, right?

Only if they receive the regular maintenance and replacement of required items. When you start looking at cars that are over the 100K mile range you need to be careful. Parts aren't to expensive, but the labor can eat your lunch real quick.

If you are not real familar with the 240 series, do your self a really, really big favor and have it checked out by a Volvo tech. He / she does not have to be a dealer tech, but someone who has a few years working on Volvos.

Get the service records.

At that mileage:

It probably needs a rear main $$$eal.

It may need a transmission tailshaft bushing and rear $eal.

It may need motor mount$.

It might need a radiator $.

It might need some modest tranny $ervice.

Hey, I was wondering what the sypmtoms of a bad transmission tailshaft bushing are. I'm getting a whining in my tranny, just curious if that could be a cause. Also, rear seal of tranny, if that thing goes bad, you wouldn't know about it until you tore up your tranny, right? -Unless you check your transmission fluid levels occassionally, and that is such a pain in the butt I only do it every six months (i dunno why I bother, if it springs a leak I probably wouldn't catch it in time :) )

-Nathan

The first symptom is a high-speed vibration at hiway speeds, more of a humming or "drumming" in the car.

The second symptom is an annoying drip-drip-drip at the rear transmission seal.

Usually, as your tranny drops in fluid, at some point you'll feel a delayed shift into forward or reverse. You might even feel it slip outta gear a bit. I don't think you tear up anything -- but you SHOULD check the level regularly and also eyeball parking spots to look for puddles. The other common leak is a chaffed-through steel cooling line -- easily fixed and easily prevented.

Don't confuse a whining in your tranny with a failing driveshaft center support bearing.

--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Thanks, I'll get on the center support bearing this weekend.
-Nathan

A bad transmission tailshaft bushing lets the drive flange slop around. The rear seal won't hold oil.

I think it looks fantastic! I live in minneapolis and one of the volvo dealers here was selling an '85 744GLE for $2300 with 287K on the clock and in about the same condition. The only think i think from the pics is whether or not the moonroof leaks? i noticed the stains on the headliner, but they could be from just opening or closing it during the rain.

I wouldn't pass this up.
Chuck

P.S. sirmebes, do you know of a nice forum for BMW's similar to brickboard? I need to find one as i am looking to get a beamer in the near future.

My buddy will be looking at this car tomorrow.

For bimmers, I go to the following BB. People there are quite helpful. I have found the E30 (older 3-Series) and the E36 (92-99 3-Series) to be more useful, as there are more of these than that 5 & the 7.

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/

Let me know if I can be of any help if you are looking to buy one.

Cheers,
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90 BMW 325is, 98 BMW 528i, 90 Volvo 240DL

Looks great inthe photos. You seem to know the mechanicals pretty well so that's what I'd look for. But the car looks clean and the price, well, if it was Portland, OR and MVP gave it clean bill of health, I think, at the moment, I'd be writing a check. For whatever my opinion's worth.
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1987 240 dl wagon 'rustbucket'

it's in good condition, body-wise. I am looking at this for my buddy. If I had more space in my garage or driveway, I would own it right now! As it is right now, my wife wants me to sell the Volvo, but I love the car too much to get rid of it.

SM
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90 BMW 325is, 98 BMW 528i, 90 Volvo 240DL

didnt you just pick up your 240??
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'82 DL - 150k, '93 945 - 96k

The car is for my buddy.....it seems like it's in great condition. He will be test driving it soon. It's hard to overlook it cos of the asking price. He's a reputable dealer, in other words, he doesn't sell junk. He dropped the price by $1k, cos it sat there for 3 months now.....

SM

must just be relatively new to the board :)
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'82 DL - 150k, '93 945 - 96k