I just got my V90 back with new lower front control arms installed and trued front rotors. I expected not to hear the occasional "clunk" on potholes or speed bumps, but I didn't expect the car to feel so much more "planted" in corners or changing directions! So I'd consider it a success.

FYI and FWIW ... I got control arms from FCP Groton with new bushings already installed. The price was reasonable, and even after paying my favorite mechanic to replace them (no time right now to do it myself), it cost a couple hundred less than the local Volvo dealer quoted. But I was surprised to find that the FCP Groton control arms (sourced from ScanTech) were made of steel rather than aluminum as the stock arms are. I kept the original arms and will clean them up and save them for my next bushing replacement - have new bushings installed and swap them myself when the time comes.

Now for the fuel filter question. My manual says to replace it at 100K miles (okay, I went a little long at 103,800; I bought the car with 74,000 on it), but my mechanic says he'd do it at more like 30,000 miles. Is he being overly conservative?

Thanks for any comments, and thanks again for the invaluable information on these cars. My goal (I'm not sure it's achievable, but it is a goal) is to make it last as long as my dear departed '82 240 wagon, killed in the line of duty at 422,000 miles, protecting my son from a lady making an illegal left turn in front of him and punching him into a concrete abutment at 35mph. Even though the right front wheel was stuffed firmly against the firewall, all the doors worked perfectly and he walked away with no injuries. The lady in the 2000 Saturn with air bags left in an aid car complaining of neck pain. The 240 had still never had the engine, transmission or rear end apart.

Mike L (98 V90, 103K; 82 240, 422K)