I am decoding my VIN. Volvo's oweners circle says that the S70 chassis numbers start at 408558. My question is - Is there anyway to determine what number you were off the assembly line between that number and the chassis number of my car? Is it as easy as subtracting that number fom my number? or is there just no way to tell without spending many hours on the phone?

Thanks
DG

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1998 S70 T5M
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1998 S70 T5M

Well using the subtraction method I have come up with 4698.

DG
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1998 S70 T5M

I thank you all for your input on my previous question, and I have another one. I have found what i believe to be the VIC (Version Identification Code) plate. except for the fact that only the first three characters relate to the information givin on the Volvo site. The plate is located above the left fender, under the hood. Yannis perhaps you could help me with this one. Is this not the plate I am looking for? or is the information givin incorrect?

Thanks
DG
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1998 S70 T5M

Thanks Ray for the link. I wonder if the chassis numbers for the S70/V70 continue on from the 850...seeing as how the C70 Coupe and Convert chassis numbers start at zero.


DG
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1998 S70 T5M

Ray, below, gave you a link that pretty much covers (I think) your questions albeit may be a bit too detailed and some of that info would not pertain to your car.

Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., Sunroof, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys

Have alook at this site:

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/850plates.htm

You just subtract that number from the last six of the VIN. Even then, it is relative as to "when" your car got completed and rolled of the assembly line. After the metal parts are welded and a frame is assembled, then it is dipped into the electrolytic soup mix and then painted. Once painted, then the VIN is assigned. But, your car could be delayed because a certain part was not available or because some damage occurred and they had to repair it therefore it was pulled aside and other cars with higher "last 6 of the VIN" went ahead of it. That means although your car a lower VIN, it is possible that a bunch of other cars with higher VINs were rolled off the final assembly line before yours.


Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., Sunroof, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys

Hi Yannis,

How many S/V 70's were rolling off the line per day in January, 1997? Will the code tell you the day of the week & time?

Using simple subtraction (w/o allowances you mentioned) my car was no. 4594. I hope that wasn't a Wednesday or Friday afternoon final assembly.

Thanks,

Bryan

Mine is then 5179 (1/97 build date).

Bryan,

I, personally, would not have any way of knowing what DAY a car was produced. The VIN does not not disclose that info either. I am sure that somewhere in Ghent and/or the Torslanda plant, they woulod have a record what day a certain VIN rolled off the assembly line.

Don't worry about Wednesday or Friday as that is a huge myth (regarding the final quality of such car). A car takes much more than a single day to be made so you cannot really pinpoint as to "when it was made".

Lastly, I don't know how many cars were rolling off the line per day in 1/97.

Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., Sunroof, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys

Something to keep in mind.

Volvo's (saw an article about the 7series assembly) are put together one by one by a team of people. So I don't think a "friday car" really occurs with their assembly methods since their peers are watching themand everyone is shamed when a car does not pass final inspection. They do a superb job putting these cars together. I have been able to pick apart fit and finish problems in new Honda's but could not spot a single one in a Volvo.

The thing you have to worry about is the bad engineering/service with the Volvo not the assembly. Which really amazes me because of the thought and planning put into designing the interior and exterior of the car. I have never driven a more comfortable ergonomic car. Hopefully the new S60 being less comfortable and smaller will have more emphasis on the mechanical end of things (reminds me of a Ford Taurus hopefully its as reliable as one!). I doubt it as well as doubt that Volvo will loose their bad customer service attitude with their cars. For the amount of money I paid for my car I have never been treated so badly. Volvo dealerships are usually rather snobbish towards their customers (ironically selling cars with fake plastic wood trim) and not really interested in satisfying them only digging into their pocket book for badly designed engineering mistakes.

Without taking your "Volvo dealership attitudes" comments personally (it is possible you have experienced all that you wrote) since I do work for a Volvo Retailer WHO CARES, I must point out that neither all Volvo Retailers are as snobbish and as bad as you wrote. Go a little further up the "food chain" (i.e. Jaguar, BMW, etc.) and you will see what snobbish means!

Aside from all that, I would not term the S60 uncomfortable; unles you are used to driving "boats". It is an extremely comfortable car with improved handling (over what the S70 provides) and with among the most comfortable seats in the world.

Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., Sunroof, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys

Hey,

Im glad you mentioned that. I go to the BMW dealership quite often and I am treated very well (not going for broken stuff either like in my Volvo).

The S60 is a sad dissapointment size wise. Its much smaller inside. The S70 is hardly a boat either. Its just a shame that Volvo Buyers lost functional space because of Volvo's desire to change their "image". The BMW 3 series now has MORE room inside than the S60 (3 series sedan that is)

More room? Hardly...What about the trunk? Try again...Especially when you have to pay EXTRA for...foldable rear seats, tsk,tsk, tsk...


Anyway, the 3-series is a very nice car; that does not mean it is better made. There are many horror stories about BMW out there, as well...every brand has them.

Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., Sunroof, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17" "Tethys" alloys

Hmmm,

Better made hmmmm. Perhaps you might want to check some of the reliable resources on that. Like the Consumer Reports "worst pick" for the S70 for its reliability as a used car.

Being bombarded by Happy feel good Volvo marketing stuff every day sometimes makes it a little difficult to see the reality of the situation. I understand this and of course take this into account. Heck even looking at some of the wrecked Volvo's here on brickboard with the "this car saved my life" captions sometimes makes me forget about the total assholes I have had to deal with owning my Volvo.

Volvo had an interesting situation with the S70. The S70 was the size of the 5 and the price of the 3 (by no means anywhere near the quality of either). Thats what really sold me mine. I could not decide if I wanted the sporty economy of the 3 or the more roomy solid 5. When I saw the Volvo it crossed the line in two areas a relatively good road feel and handling with the size of a 5 and the price of the 3.

I think that a lot of other people recognized this schism of the traditional sales philosophy when they bought their S70's. Im not sure how well this will occur with the S60.

Yannis perhaps you could provide me some useful information on the "new" s60. How are they selling in comparision to the 70? How much Ford influence is in the design (they really remind me of the Taurus).

Thinking about marketing its kind of Ironic that Volvo invented the word Revolvolution in the introduction of their new revolutionary S60. Since the S60 is a resized copy of the outdated S80 styling (which BMW has subsequentially ruined their 7 series design by copying). There is nothing revolutionary about the S60 at all. Perhaps you could shed some light on how its so different from the S70?

The S70 was a pretty good size if you ask me. Fits four full size adults comfortably, and has a quite large trunk. What more do you want?
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1998 S70 T5M

geez, the local dealer had no problem servicing my old 760 with over 200K on the clock, even washing it

Picture any other marque getting parts for cars like a mid 70s 240 and not giving you a hard time

Perhaps you should try an Mercedes Benz Dealer. They stock parts on really old cars and when you have a true classic they have an advisor that helps you pick out parts for restoration.

Check out their website. They have a whole classic car section.

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/heritage/index.jsp&menu=0_9

asside from us, how many people consider a '70s 240 a "classic"
is the merc dealer sweet about a mid 80s 190?

I've seen a Ford Dealer be extra nice for a 1967 Cougar XR7

classics are a different class all together.

Hmmm,

Actually the 190 is one of the toughest little cars MB has ever made. Its still rolling even as a new car (the CLK is based off the C chassis which is based directly off the 190/300 chassis). A 190/300 with good service records can easily be expected to be around for quite some time with minimal repairs (a VERY cheap car to own if well maintained).

Agreed Classic Car does have a different light in everyone's eyes. I think Mercedes understands that their vehicles are kept for long periods of time and serviced. One person's basic transportation is another person's classic. Agreed also that MB is not going to excersize the same level of service for a 190 owner that they do a S class owner they still remain professional and understand the specific needs of the people who own their specific vehicles.

Perhaps its just the Volvo dealers I have been exposed to (every last one of the bastards in a 100 mile radius of Atlanta) but I notice a certain air of contempt towards me the moment my car went out of warranty (contempt to the tune of $2500 worth of repairs they had been sweeping under the rug when my car was under warranty that suddenly were critical the second my car hit the magic number). I'm rather convinced that my Volvo dealer not only does not understand my specific needs but does not care either.

I'm not sure the S70 will be around to become a classic even though it has a lot of the ingedients to become one. Being the last of the "classic" 7 series brick bodies and being the most well equipped and appointed of the line is one of them. Volvo made a lot of mistakes on the S70 which will affect the car majorly in the future. Already Lease turn ins flooding the dealers have caused a pretty good fall in the resale value of these cars. On top of that Volvo's inability to accept any responsibilty for their design flaws will continue to alienate more and more owners further dropping the value. An alienated owner with low resale value facing an overinflated repair cost for an engine failure or other major failure is a deadly recipee for scores of S70's to end up being recycled as auto salvage.

Hello Yannis,
I am looking for a 1998, S-70, high pressure turbo. I am in the U.S., in California. I have checked the web address given by Ray for the VIN decoding. It leaves out some of the engine types for the later S-70s, if I am not mistaken. I have learned that there are other two digit engine designators for later model S-70s. In addition to what is listed on the UK site, there is a 53 and a 56. The 53 seems to be the 240 hp. high pressure turbo equal to the 850 T-5. I am not sure what the 56 is. Do you have a better list than the one on the UK site? It sure makes dealing with the sales people easier when you know exactly what is in the vehicle.

My e-mail address is ashotwell@iselabs.com.

Thanks in advance for your help,
Allen

Per Volvo's site
1998
52 = B5234T6 20-Valve 5 cyl Turbo (236 hp/AWD),
52 = B5234T3 20-Valve 5 cyl Turbo (236 hp),
55 = B5254S 20-valve 5 cyl (168 hp),
56 = B5254T 20-valve 5 cyl (190 hp GLT, AWDN, AWDA, AWXC)
96 = B6304S2 24-valve 6 cyl. 2.9 Liter (181 hp S90/V90)

The 56 is the 2.4L GLT engine. I believe this engine was new for the S70s. It would not be listed on the site that Ray gave because that information is pertaining to 850s. Volvos owners circle is good for decoding the VIN, I reccomend if you are interested that you find some way to access that information, if you would like I could email it to you. The VIC that I was inquiring about is a completly different number(s). I found Volvos site to be of no help in decoding that number, thats where Ray's site came in.

DG
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1998 S70 T5M

The 2.4L Low Pressure Turbo engine, became the designated engine in MY1997 in the 850GLTs (and continued on to MY1998, 1999 and 2000 S/V70 GLTs).

Yannis
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2001 V70 T-5M, Classic Red/Graphite Lthr., Sunroof, Cold Weather, Dolby Surr. Sound, Rear Spoiler, 17' 'Tethys' alloys