I've got an 1989 740GL and it's getting close to 190,000 KM.
Wonder how many KM these bricks will last on avg.

1989 740 Turbo wagon with ONLY a paltry 201,000KM. I fully expect it to last >400,000KM. It's just getting going!

Most of the Hondas I see get past 300,000KM and I'd expect even higher mileage with Volvo.
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Norm Cook Vancouver BC; 1989 745T 200,000KM

I just turned 330,000 miles (528,000 KM) on my 87 740!

My all time record is 896000 kms(before I had an accident with it, ran great, original engine never opened)I used to do alot of driving(120-150,000 kms a year)and volvo,s were(and are) my mount of choice. I used to buy 240's and 740's with 4-500,000 kms and keap them a year or 2 and resell them after. One car that I sold at 700,000kms on the clock I saw a few years later in Montreal as a taxi, it had rolled over the 1 million mark, the driver confirmed this to me(I recognised the car buy a defect in the upholstery, the serial #s matched)I replaced my first engine this week, the car had 289,000 k's on it one of the lowest millage volvo's I have ever owned. I will give you a partial listof sweedes that have graced my driveway
65 122s 450,000 miles and still going strong, currently driven daily
78 244 860,000 frame rusted out engine strong
80 242 790,000 a dear ended it's life
84 760t 810,000 sold it for a new flame
86 745 490,000 ended life for a good cause, took out a dodge caravan(dodge's fault)
86 740t 840,000 sold to get a car with a manual tranny
88 745t 540,000 and still having fun
In short if the body and frame are good the mechanicals will follow(except6 cyl), at the millage you have it's almost broken in:), another 2-300k and it will be in the prime of it's life. But if you want to talk about high millage do a web search titled IRV GORDON.
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65 122, 73 P1800ES, 79 242GT, 80 262C, 81 242, 87 780,88 745T X2, and a plethora of parts cars and eventually to be finished projects

Thanks for all your replies. Sounds like my 740 will last a lot more than I expect. I just bought a new set of Michelin tires and before purchasing I wondered if my car would actually survive to get the "130,000KM" warranty. I have my answer now :)

Hi Frank,

My '91 745 NA has 381K km on it. I bought it last summer ('03) with ~352K km. Has been great. I fixed the things that the previous owners didn't (exhaust, shocks, ball joint, sending unit, etc). When I bought it, I jumped in and drove the ~400 km home without a hitch (gotta love that). A friend followed me home in my '91 745T. The NA has the orignial engine and tranny as far as my Vo mechanic and I can tell. The engine runs great (a little piston slap) and the tranny is great except for a little harsh shifting. My 745T has just over 290K km on it. It's B230FT was rebuilt 2 summers ago at 260K km due to leaking seals and piston slap. The turbo and tranny both appear to be orignial (I've had it since 240K) and both work great. I've done a lot of work to the 745T, but much of that is because I'm VERY particular with it. I had an accident with it in Aug, so I haven't driven it much this year :( Almost all fixed now, I'm just waiting for a guy to fix a big dent in the driver's rocker. On the bright side it gave me a chance to update the cooling system (including replacing a leaking heater core) as well as some other things I had wanted to do. Anyway, they're fantastic cars and they don't make Volvos (or anything else) like that anymore :( The last (in North America) was the '95 940 (although the 960/S/V90 is good too and was sold here until '98). Your 740's just a baby at 190K :) Just keep up with the maintance and enjoy!
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Chris. Halifax N.S. '91 745Ti, 290K km and '91 745 NA, 381K km.

PS- Watch for rust. 700s are quite rust resistant, but they can rust in certain areas (check the FAQ).
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Chris. Halifax N.S. '91 745Ti, 290K km and '91 745 NA, 381K km.

342,400km (214,000 miles). Will drive anywhere.

Shifted
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'87 745t 210,000; '93 Toyota MkII; '73 Suzuki Jimny 360

It works out to 392596 kilometers for the our '87, the '88 has 275139 and the '89 comes in at 230087. Don't expect than any of them to ever stop running. The 87 is the best running one of the bunch and would not hesitate to get in it and drive anywhere.

Our 88 740GLE (thats an 8-valve car, normal B230F engine) has 233,000 miles. We just sold it to our downstairs neighbor, so it wouldn't get lonely. Runs almost perfectly, though some interior stuff is in poor condition, notably plastic and the headliner.
Another friend of ours has a 88 740GLE wagon that was technically free (cost of a set of tires). We got it with 236000 miles and now it has close to 250000. Thats around 400000 km. Expect yours to be capable of the same with continued good maintenance.
I should note that these are all original vehicles, with the original engine and transmissions. The wagon received a new rear axle though I probably didn't have to change it, I found out. Could have just replaced a bearing.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 230K, 88 744GLE- 220K, 82 245T-181K Also responsible for the care and feeding of: 88 745GLE, 231K, 87 244DL, 239K, 94 855GLT 189K

My '91 745, Regina will hit 200,000 miles in a few weeks. So that's 320,000 KM? Original engine and (auto) tranny. Going strong. Needs suspension bushings.
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Andy in St. Paul, '91 745 Regina 198K mi, '89 244 141K, '87 245 RIP

1990 740gl wagon 240,000 on it now. I have been very serious about replacing parts---expect it to make it to 400,000 at least.
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1990 740GL Wagon 240k AW70L B230F 8 Valve Non-Turbo Rex/Regina Non-EGR R-12 A/C

1986 744 turbo, 390,000 k. Engine tests as new condition. Transmission got sloppy and was replaced with a used (manual) unit from a 240, cheap, works great. Replaced clutch (plate only) same time, old one was ok though. Turbo replaced last summer because I had it off for a broken stud and had a newer (used) one; original turbo still ran fine but was getting sloppy. Other than that, just usual brakes and cooling system parts.

The 86 is my new volvo. My old one is a 67.
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67 144, 86 740T, BMW R69S, R60/2

Hello,
I have a carburetered 1986 740 GLE Estate with B230K engine and it has covered 150,000 miles, which is quite low as you know for a volvo. I have replaced:

Carburetter with new webber unit.
new front oil seals.
Timing belt.
Rear shock absorbers.
front and rear disks and pads.
thermostat.
fuel pump relay.
water pump.
synthetic oil & filter change, Castrol GTX. On fourth.
front exhaust section.
New tyres.
Distributor Oil seal,
Flame trap,
Replaced broken plastic interior trim bought from scrapyard,
Converted manual sunroof to electric.
Rear axle oil and manual gearbox oil replaced,
Spark plugs, ignition leads, rotor and cap.

Think that is about everything, and plan on driving it for years to come. I have had the volvo for 14 months and has proved to be very reliable over the time that I have had it. Never left anyone stranded. I'm 25 and they become quite a hobby and passion. I will never sell it. Just recently drove to France and stayed there for six months and didnt give me any serious problems, total distance traveled in France was 5,000 Miles. James.

I know how you feel, James. I'm only 26 but I have a real passion for Volvos, even though to date I have only owned two (I had a 240 before the 740); I have really liked them since I was introduced to my uncle's brand new 740GL saloon in 1985.

But I digress. My 1990 740SE estate with B200F engine and AW71 transmission has 'only' covered 144,000 miles, 10,000 of them whilst in my ownership (Since December 2003), with the only major repair being a new alternator. Apart from that, everything else I have replaced on the car have either been service items or bits of trim which were showing their age. With proper care and maintenance I expect it to cover at least double its current mileage.

Whatever happens, I plan to keep it for as long as possible, hopefully supplementing it with a nice 940 estate in due course :)

--
Volvo For Life. And then some- 1990 745 SE, Aka 'The Volvo'

Hello James Anness,
My Grandparents had a old volvo 244 DL saloon in that brown/maroon colour going back about 15 years ago. It was massive and really tough and you just felt safe in it. We got back the purchase price when we auctioned it as we moved to a remote cottage and needed to buy a 4 wheel drive as our new house was 1 mile off road on a common in Herefordshire UK. We bought several Subarus (another tale) Then we bought a volvo/Renault 340GL which I drove for about 5 years until I bought the 740 as we needed a bigger car as we had bought a holiday home in france and it needed renovating. I used the full length volvo roofrack to carry 10 sheets of 8ft by 4ft plasterboards back from the diy shop, which were very heavy. I would say that the 740 has really got me into them as it is my own car outwrite and you take more interest when it is your own.
I cant see why any volvo 240,740 or 940 wont last a long time with proper care and maintenance, they are just so well made. I wouldnt mind a 240 GLT estate with leather seats and a 940 turbo estate with airconditioning. Mine has covered 150,000 miles and I have put on 15,000 miles since I have owned the car, 10,000 miles at home and 5,000 in France.

Keep on volvoing. James.