Volvo c40 1st generation owner reviews. Used Volvo S40 I: body iron from VAZ and calipers from Gazelle

A re-styled version of the second generation of the well-known Volvo S40 sedan (2008-2012) appeared in 2004. Before that, the model was produced for 4 years, and this version was on the assembly line for 5 years. The model was shown to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show and has not changed very much, but we'll figure it out later.

The manufacturer used the P1 platform, which is also used on the Mazda 3 and. The goal was to create a simple small sedan for city driving, which at the same time would have a slightly aggressive appearance.

Exterior

The car got really good looks for that time. The smooth shape of the bonnet and the narrow lanterns look really stylish. The lights are halogen on the filling, lenses are present, and xenon can be installed for an additional fee. In the middle is a small radiator grille with chrome trim and company logo. The massive bumper of the car in the lower part received a rectangular air intake and deeply installed fog lights.

Looking at the car from the side, you realize that the line running from the front arch to the rear optics is quite stylishly designed. The wheel arch extensions are impressive, but the rear ones are much larger. The threshold has a slightly embossed shape, and in the middle there is a molding, which is painted in body color. The rear-view mirrors are quite large, and there is another turn signal on them, by the way, they are made of chrome. In general, the body shape itself is quite dynamic.

The rear of the Volvo C40 car also looks sporty, it has stylish optics, which are made in the classic style of the brand and, at the same time, it is elegantly fitted to the body shape. The boot lid is oversized and has a spoiler that adds aggression. The bumper has received a massive size, and in its lower part there are many relief shapes, there are also reflectors there. The exhaust pipes, although they are under the bumper, look beautiful.

Dimensions:

• length - 4476 mm;
• width - 1770 mm;
• height - 1454 mm;
• wheelbase - 2640 mm;
• ground clearance - 135 mm.

Salon

The branded moderately strict interior of the car is quite good in terms of build quality and ergonomics. Many details of the interior decoration are sheathed with high-quality leather, unfortunately this will not be in every configuration.

As always, we start our discussion of the interior with the seats, as we believe that this is an extremely important part. In front, there are quite comfortable leather seats, with weak lateral support. Behind a simple sofa for three people with a folding armrest in the back. There is not so much free space, but in principle there is enough, in the back it is slightly not enough.

As you know, the manufacturer pays a lot of attention to safety. 6 pillows were installed, and in the later years of production it was possible to find a blind spot monitoring system. For an adult audience, this level of security is very attractive.

The shape of the driver's steering column in the Volvo S40 (2008-2012) has been thought out in terms of ergonomics. No hints of sports, the task is to make the driver as comfortable as possible. The steering wheel received 10 keys, the main part is for multimedia, some for cruise control, if available. On the one hand, the dashboard is very simple, but after that you notice that readability and convenience were really thought out. In fact, these are simple large analog speedometer and tachometer gauges and two on-board computers, but they are really convenient.

The center console has the same architecture, but the material may differ depending on the configuration. The panel can be:

• Plastic;
• Aluminum;
• Wooden.

The console has a small monitor, 4 washers and vertically positioned buttons. Everything is designed to control music and air conditioning. The selected settings are displayed on the monitor located above. On the dashboard at the top there is a small folding display responsible for the navigation system.

The tunnel separates the front passenger and the driver, also partially made of wood, plastic or aluminum. There is a large gear selector on it, behind which is a couple of buttons and a cigarette lighter. To the left is a small mechanical handbrake. The end part greets us with an opening box with cup holders and a small niche for small items.

The trunk of 404 liters is quite enough, and the volume is honest, the lid hinges do not interfere with the use of the compartment. The rear backrests fold down to carry more cargo, the volume is 883 liters.

Characteristics Volvo C40

Type of	Volume	Power	Torque	Overclocking	Maximum speed	Number of cylinders
Petrol	1.6 l	100 h.p.	150 H * m	11.9 sec.	185 km / h	4
Petrol	2.0 l	145 h.p.	185 H * m	9.5 sec.	210 km / h	4
Petrol	2.4 l	170 h.p.	230 H * m	8.2 sec.	220 km / h	5
Petrol	2.5 l	230 h.p.	320 H * m	7.1 sec.	230 km / h	5

This car in our country was sold with 4 units in the line. They are all gasoline, but their power is not that high, since the car is designed for simple city driving. Let's discuss them in more detail.

1. The most popular and weakest is the L I4 gasoline engine, familiar to Focus owners. This is a borrowed 1.6-liter unit. The atmospheric engine has 100 horses and 150 torque, this is not enough, so the owners often spin it up to high revs. He spends about 9 liters in the city and lives long enough - 300 thousand kilometers. Attachments often begin to require replacement after 100 thousand.
2. The two-liter 145-horsepower engine is also borrowed from the American manufacturer. The motor is the same, its volume is larger and more powerful. The dynamics here are as simple as possible - 10 seconds to a hundred. He needs a lot of fuel by modern standards - a large 10 liters. The problems are the same, that is, minor.
3. The inline 5-cylinder engine in the Volvo S40 line (2008-2012) has few problems, but they are "chronic", ventilation and cooling system often fail. The engine produces 170 horsepower and 230 H * m of torque. It is not worth buying it, since acceleration becomes better by only one second, consumption is more than 13 liters and more problems.
4. The 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbocharged inline row was often not purchased due to expensive maintenance. There are few problems with it, but their solutions are expensive. 230 horses and 320 torque units allowed the sedan to accelerate to a hundred in 7 seconds and have a maximum speed of 230 km / h. In terms of consumption, it is not particularly demanding, about the same as the previous one.

There are a huge number of gearboxes, depending on the engine, 5 or 6-speed mechanics were installed. A 5-speed automatic and a 6-speed robot are also offered. The drive is front and full. There are no particular problems with boxes if they are serviced on time.

The suspension of the model does not have any particular problems, but this is only at the front. MacPherson after a while requires replacement of ball and silent blocks. The rear multi-link suspension is cheap to repair, but quickly breaks down again, but in a different unit. It is recommended to spend a lot of money once on repairing the entire rear suspension and drive quietly for several years. The brake system lives for a long time, problems only happened with the parking brake.

Volvo S40 price

This car was discontinued in 2012, but now it can be bought on the secondary market without any problems. On average, a sedan is sold for 450,000 rubles which is not that expensive as the car is good. There were many configurations offered, so you should check them out, because the base had only:

• fabric sheathing;
• heated seats;
• radio tape recorder;
• air conditioning;
• fog optics;
• full power accessories;
• 4 airbags;

The most expensive equipment was replenished with the following:

• leather sheathing;
• multimedia;
• electrically adjustable seats;
• climate control;
• Cruise control;
• xenon optics.

This is a great family sedan that is still not out of date and can be bought now and enjoyed the ride. In principle, you can take the model to a young guy, because the design is quite aggressive and there is potential for tuning. We highly recommend the C40 model.

Video

09.09.2016

Cars for intelligent, calm and wealthy people, this is the image of the Volvo company. However, the second generation Volvo S40 model is most often interested in young car enthusiasts, so it is important to understand how reliable this car is and how much it will cost to maintain a car over the age of 5 years in the future. This is what we will try to figure out now.

A bit of history:

Volvo S40 has a rich history and was produced under different names "VOLVO 340" and "VOLVO 430", but both models did not enjoy great popularity among buyers. The first car with the S40 index was built on the same platform as the Mitsubishi Carisma, but even in this case the expected results were not achieved. In 2003, the second generation of the model was released, which was built on the C-1 platform (the Mazda 3 was built on the same platform). The S40 shares about 60% of the parts with Ford, which is why it is called the more expensive version of the Focus 2.

In 2007, an updated version of the model was presented. The main task of the facelift was to bring the appearance of the entire line in accordance with the new corporate style set by the VOLVO S80 . The updated cars are easily recognizable by the updated bumpers, radiator grille with a large logo, exhaust pipe and head optics. The rear of the car received a modified apron, and LED optics began to be installed in the headlights. In addition to the refreshed design, the car received an original interior trim and added power, the avant-garde interior is made in high-tech style. The production of the model was completed in 2012, and it was replaced by the VOLVO V40.

Advantages and disadvantages of used Volvo S40.

The base engine 1.6 (100 hp) is a fairly old engine and is well known from Ford cars. The resource of this power unit, with proper maintenance, is more than 300,000 kilometers, but the attachments after 100,000 km will slowly start to fail. The main problem of these motors lies not in the motor itself, but rather in the owners of the cars, the fact is that the car is quite heavy and the engine of 100 horses is not quite enough for most drivers, and they start to spin the motor more, as a result, its resource is developed much faster ... The gas distribution mechanism is belt-driven and needs to be changed every 80,000 km.

Next in terms of seniority are engines 1.8 (125 hp) and 2.0 (140 hp), these motors have proven themselves quite well not only on the Volvo S40, but on the cars of the brands Ford and Mazda. The two-liter engine has a timing chain drive, and is less whimsical to maintain, but unfortunately a car with such a power unit is quite rare. The 2.4 engine (170 hp) is quite expensive and difficult to maintain, its sore spots are the crankcase ventilation system and the ignition system.

There is also a 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, but they were also afraid of it, because the maintenance of such a unit is not cheap. There are several diesel engines in the line of power units, although in the CIS, cars with such engines are very rare, but if you come across such a copy, it is better to pass by, since they very quickly kill the fuel system from the quality of diesel fuel sold at our gas stations. The weak point of all engines is the thermostat, which often fails.

Transmission

The engines were combined with manual transmissions and classic automatic machines, the younger engines 1.6 and 1.8 were only paired with mechanics, and they were different in design. For a more powerful 1.8 engine, the transmission has been strengthened, as for reliability, the owners have no complaints about them. As for automatic transmissions, they are not a problematic place in the car, the gearboxes installed have proven themselves well not only on this model, but also on other versions of the concern "", in numbers this means that up to 200,000 km the box does not cause any trouble if change the oil in it every 60,000 km. If the oil is not changed, then the transmission may overheat, as a result, the valve body fails, the repair of which will not be cheap.

Suspension Volvo S40

In terms of suspension, the Volvo S40 is similar to the Focus 2, and this relationship was only beneficial, since many parts are interchangeable, and this in turn significantly reduces the cost of repairs, some parts are also suitable from Mazda, in addition to this, a large number of non-original ones are presented on the market spare parts. If the car is operated accurately, then there are not so many problems, and serious investments will be required once every 100,000 km. After 100 thousand mileage, it will be necessary to replace the struts and bushings of the stabilizer, silent blocks of the front levers and wheel bearings. This model is equipped with a hydraulic and electric power steering, this unit can disturb after 100,000 km of run.

Body

There are no problems with the quality of the metal of the body, and the paintwork is not here, even in places where paint is chipped, corrosion does not appear for a very long time. And if you see rust on the body of a Volvo S40, it means that the car was involved in an accident, and its owner saved a lot on repairs.

Advantages:

• High level of safety and comfort.
• Build quality and materials.
• Reliable components and assemblies.
• Large selection of non-original spare parts.

Disadvantages:

• High maintenance cost.
• Smallish (clearance 13.5 cm).
• Harsh suspension.

If you are or were the owner of this car brand, please share your experience, indicating the strengths and weaknesses of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help others to choose the right used car.

Swedish cars Volvo S40, V50, C30 and C70 were produced from 2003 to 2013, the class is the same as Ford Focus or Mazda 3. They even use the same platform. We will now find out how much more reliable Volvo cars are than other competitors. S40 - sedan, V50 - station wagon, C30 and C70 - coupe. Volvo's body is clearly more reliable than competitors with the same platform. The hood is made of aluminum, does not corrode, and in general, the body is covered with a galvanized coating on both sides, so it stays well even on the oldest cars. The paintwork does not grow cloudy, does not peel off and does not rub off, as in the Mazda 3 or Ford Focus. Now on the market you can find cars with 10 years of age and over 200,000 km of mileage, but in good condition for adequate money. On such cars, the body is usually always in good condition.

There are also a lot of body electronics in the car, it can suffer from dampness. Buttons on the console may stop working after 12 years of use. Sometimes you just need to clean the contacts to make the buttons work.

The interior looks good enough even after many years of operation. The plastic looks good, the leather also looks tolerable for a long time. Squeaks appear only after 10 years of operation. It happens that over time, the immobilizer does not recognize the key, and the ignition lock may also wear out, the starter will not always turn. A new ignition lock will cost around 170 euros. There are also cases that the windows begin to twitch, the electric seat drives can junk.

The power window control unit, which is located inside the doors, is afraid of dampness. Electromechanical door lock modules can also fail on older vehicles manufactured before 2007. The drainage of the hatch can become clogged, then it will not be very pleasant, because the upholstery will deteriorate, and there may be problems with the wiring, so you need to monitor this.

If suddenly the headlights, dashboard or interior lighting start to junk, it means that you need to check the state of the CEM unit board, sometimes it is enough to just clean it and seal it from moisture. But it is better not to hesitate and immediately correct the situation, because the whole car can turn off. A new CEM unit costs about 800 euros.

In general, there are many different minor problems, in most cases it all depends on who was the owner of this car. It happens that the wiring harness of the electric drive of the lock breaks, it also happens that the trunk stops closing. There are cases that after 100,000 km. mileage, the Bosch fuel pump, which is installed in the gas tank, fails. To change the fuel pump, you will have to remove the tank, and a new pump costs about 250 euros. But recently, craftsmen have learned to install cheap VAZ gasoline pumps in Volvo. You also need to monitor the radiator fan, because if moisture or salt gets on it, it will quickly fail.

Engines

In the basic configuration, there is a 1.6-liter engine, this is the B 4164 S3 (Duratec 1.6) engine, it is necessary to periodically change the timing belt in it. The same motor was developed back in 1998 for the 1st generation Ford Focus. For the Volvo S40, this motor comes without phase shifters, therefore it is considered very reliable. But he also has some minor problems. It happens that ignition modules or some sensors fail. You also need every 120,000 km. manually adjust valve clearances. But in general, if the motor is not specially tortured, then it can serve its 300,000 km. very easy.

There are also motors with a chain - these are engines with a volume of 1.8 and 2.0 liters, running on gasoline. These motors are installed on about 15 and 17% of cars, respectively, made in Mazda, they have the same design, the chain can withstand about 220,000 km. mileage. These engines can last even longer than a 1.6 engine. Mileage 350,000 km. - not the limit. But it also happens that there are minor troubles with the motors.

For example, rather weak bearings of the belt rollers of ancillary units, it often happens that they already require replacement after 80,000 km. And to 100,000 km. mileage may fail the thermostat, so while driving, it is advisable to monitor the temperature of the coolant. A new thermostat costs about 35 euros.
It happens that the engine starts to float at idle, it jerks or starts up badly when driving, this means that it is time to replace the ignition coils, and the ignition wires can also be changed. It also happens that after 120,000 km. mileage due to wear on the right hydraulic support, the motor begins to tremble. A new such hydromount costs about 100 euros.

It also happens that the throttle body gets dirty, so it is advisable to clean it every 50,000 km. Because a new unit of this kind costs 250 euros. The fact that it's time to do the cleaning will be said by the floating engine speed, and if you completely start this business, then the throttle may generally wedge. If suddenly, after 3000 rpm, the thrust begins to disappear and the check engine light comes on, then this means that the intake manifold flap control valve needs to be changed, which costs about 80 euros.

It is advisable, after replacing the candles, to check whether there is oil in the candle wells, if there is, then the valve cover is loose, it must be tightened, and if this does not help, then the gasket must be changed. But the most popular engines are the Swedish engines B 5244 with a volume of 2.4 liters, they are installed on 40% of cars. These engines consume a lot of gasoline - about 13 liters per 100 km. run around the city. But on the other hand, these motors last a long time thanks to the proven design. 500,000 km mileage - for these motors - not the limit. But in order to change the spark plugs in such an engine, you need to remove the intake manifold. There are also turbocharged engines, there are few of them - about 2%, the volume is 2.5 liters, they serve 350,000 km each.

Sometimes there are times when about 100,000 km. mileage, a whistle appears from under the hood, then this is not a reason to panic, you need to check what is the matter here - unscrew the oil filler cap or pull out the oil dipstick. If the noise disappears, then the rubber membrane in the crankcase ventilation system has leaked. It will be quite expensive to change the entire assembly - 150 euros, but now many craftsmen can already change the membrane separately.

And on turbocharged engines with a 2.5-liter engine, thin tubes of the crankcase ventilation system are easily clogged, so it is better not to tighten the oil when changing the oil and change it every 7-10 thousand km.
Over time, the vacuum pump may also make noise, because the control valve is out of order. A new vacuum pump costs 350 euros, and the control valve, complete with connections, costs 100 euros. It also happens that the phase shifter couplings begin to flow after 90,000 km, but this must be eliminated immediately, because the oil will immediately fall on the timing belt, and it will quickly wear out. Therefore, if traces of oil appear on the casing, you must immediately sound the alarm so that you do not have to overhaul the motor ahead of time.
It is also desirable during maintenance, every 15,000 km. change and drive belts of ancillary units.

Diesel engines are rarely found in the Volvo S40, because there were no official cars with diesel engines. If they brought a car from Europe, then they may have a diesel engine.
Diesel engines are D 416 with a volume of 1.6 liters and 2-liter D 4204, they are quite reliable, made by the PSA Peugeot Citroen concern. There is also its own Swedish 5-cylinder D 5244 T, which was developed by Volvo and was first installed in the S80 in 2001. But this motor requires pure diesel fuel, and every 50,000 km. requires cleaning the swirl flap assembly. You also need to periodically clean the crankcase ventilation system. From city driving, the particulate filter begins to clog at about 100,000 km. and an exhaust gas recirculation system. The electric boost pressure regulator is still weak here; its replacement will require 150 euros.

Automatic transmissions were installed on cars manufactured before 2008 with Swedish motors. This 2000 Aisin-Warner ¬AW55-51SN five-speed transmission was not particularly reliable on Volvo XC90 and Volvo S60 cars. And in Volvo S40, V50, C30 and C70 an upgraded version of this box was installed. In 2004, it was finalized, a more reliable valve body was installed. On S40 cars, this box lasts long enough if you don't kill it - about 250,000 km. And after this run, it is enough to simply change the worn out oil seals, clutches, solenoids and bushings.

In 2010, a newer 6-speed automatic Aisin-Warner TF-80SD appeared. This box was first created in 2003, but by 2010 the hydraulics have been upgraded in this box. Once every 70,000 km. in these boxes it is necessary to change the transmission oil, then they will serve for a long time without jerking when shifting gears.

There is also a 6-speed preselection - Ford's Getrag 6DCT450, it was installed on the post-styled Volvo S40 and V50 in 2007, these cars are equipped with a 2-liter gasoline engine. At first, under warranty, the electronic control units of the automatic transmission were changed. The oil and filter should be changed more often - every 45,000 km. It is possible earlier, so that the solenoid valves and the valve body do not have time to clog, if they clog, the robot box will begin to twitch and wear out faster. And already to 150,000 km. will fail.

There are also manual gearboxes M65 and M66 from Getrag, they also come complete with 5-cylinder engines from Volvo. Mechanical gearboxes are also very reliable, the clutch only needs to be changed every 160,000 km so that the dual-mass flywheel of the engine does not fail, because it is quite expensive - 1,000 euros.

In trim levels with a 1.6 engine from Ford, there is a French 5-speed manual iB5 from Bordeaux Transmission. This is a rather old and not very successful gearbox, it was also installed in the Ford Fiesta. Already after 70,000 km. drive oil seals begin to leak, and on cars after 2011, the seals were modified and these oil seals began to serve 2 times longer. But if you constantly load the box, then the axle of the satellites in the differential may not be able to withstand. The renovation will cost a lot of money - over 1,000 euros. After 100,000 km. noise from the input shaft bearing may appear so that it does not jam - it must be replaced.

There is also a German five-speed MTX75 gearbox from GFT. This box goes to engines from Mazda (1.8 and 2.0). In this box, you also need to monitor the condition of the oil seals so that the oil level is always normal, because if it is not enough, the shafts and teeth of the gears will begin to wear out faster. After 60,000 km. mileage, the release bearing usually fails, which must be replaced as an assembly with the clutch cylinder. To replace the clutch, you will have to remove the box.

Suspension

In terms of reliability, the suspension is the same as on Fords and Mazda, not very durable, but it does not break quickly either. Spare parts for Volvo are slightly more expensive than for Mazda or Ford. The rear shocks are here with automatic body leveling. They serve approximately 100,000 km. But when the time comes for replacement, you will have to pay 400 euros for each shock absorber. Therefore, very often many owners, in order to save money, simply install ordinary shock absorbers, which cost 100 euros each, you can also find an analogue for 50 euros. Front shocks cost about the same.

After about 70,000 km. in the front suspension, it is already necessary to change the stabilizer struts and wheel bearings. Racks cost 30 euros for a branded part, and a non-original can be taken for 15 euros. To change the wheel bearings, you have to change the entire hub assembly for 200 euros. To save money, you can take a hub from Ford or Mazda, they are 3 times cheaper, and the design does not differ at all. It should also be remembered that the bearing is very well protected from dirt, therefore, if possible, it is better to avoid deep puddles.

Approximately 80,000 km. the front levers serve, usually the silent blocks fail earlier, each lever assembly with a ball joint costs 150 euros. But in general, the rear multi-link suspension is reliable and lasts a long time, it is necessary to make repairs in it no earlier than after 140,000 km. A complete rear suspension will cost around 600 euros. Silent blocks are usually changed in assembly with levers, but now on many services they can simply press a new silent block into the old levers.

Steering

Steering rods and tips serve at least 150,000 km. And on cars with a 1.6 petrol engine there is a hydraulic booster, it can come out of a standing position and the rail itself too. A new rake costs 1000 euros, but you can install a rake from a Ford for 650 euros.

The new Volvo S40 sedan was first introduced by Volvo in 1995. The car was produced at the NedCar joint venture with Mitsubishi, located in the Netherlands.

In 2001, the Swedish sedan underwent an update, as a result of which it received changes in the interior and exterior, as well as a number of technical improvements.

The first generation model was produced until 2004, and its total circulation was 352,910 copies. Interestingly, the Volvo S40 is the first car to receive 4 stars in EuroNCAP crash tests.

The "first" Volvo S40 is a compact premium sedan based on the Mitsubishi Carisma platform. With her, the Swedish model was similar in terms of appearance.

S40 length - 4483 mm, height - 1411 mm, width - 1717 mm. The wheelbase of the car is not a record for the class - 2550 mm, and the ground clearance (clearance) is very modest - 150 mm.

The curb weight of the "es-forty" varies from 1225 to 1255 kg, depending on the modification.

Under the hood of the first generation Volvo S40, one of nine four-cylinder petrol or diesel units can be located:

• The gasoline part includes a 1.6-liter engine producing from 105 to 109 "horses", a 1.8-liter with a capacity of 115 to 125 horsepower, as well as a 2.0-liter, the output of which ranges from 136 to 140 horsepower. Well, the top-end is a 1.9-liter turbo engine that develops from 160 to 200 forces.
• Also for the sedan, a 1.9-liter Renault diesel engine was offered, the power of which varies from 90 to 115 horsepower.

The motors were combined with either a 5-speed "mechanics" or with a 4-speed "automatic", the transmission in all cases is front-wheel drive.

The car is endowed with good directional stability - it holds the road perfectly. The steering is supplemented with a hydraulic booster, but many owners note its low information content.

The first generation Volvo S40 has disc brakes in a circle, ABS is standard for all modifications. In addition, a dynamic stability system was offered for the sedan.

The "first" Volvo S40 was fitted with two types of independent suspensions - sporty and comfortable. Their differences lie in the different stiffness of the shock absorbers and the anti-roll bar. Each of the suspensions has its pluses and minuses: the first is stiffer, but more collected in turns, the second is softer, but in turns it gives itself out with increased rolls.

This Swedish sedan has gained a reputation as a reliable car, for which Russian motorists fell in love.

The main advantages of the model are excellent noise insulation, comfortable suspension, a spacious and well-thought-out interior, decent equipment, a high level of safety, good ergonomics, and stable behavior on the road.
Well, many owners of the "first" Volvo S40 complain about the modest ground clearance, not too quick automatic transmission and the high price tag for original spare parts.

In 2017, in the secondary market of the Russian Federation, you can buy a first-generation Volvo S40 at a price of 200 ~ 300 thousand rubles (depending on the equipment and condition of a particular instance).

The smaller Volvo 300 and 400 series were considered desirable but problematic cars. It just so happened that cooperation with Renault in terms of engines and manual gearboxes, while the French electrician and Dutch assembly did not provide the traditional Swedish quality. But the first S40 tried very hard to turn the tide.

The motors were now mostly their own, plus one from Mitsubishi. They tried to raise the quality of the car - in particular, the galvanizing of the body was supposed to solve most of the issues with corrosion resistance. But in practice, the set goals were not fully achieved.

The car was able to get much better, but the quality problems were not completely solved. Corrosion, manual gearboxes, suspensions and electrics were troublesome even on fresh cars. Fortunately, restyling helped with the rejection of total unification with Carisma.

This step, for example, made it possible to make the suspension more comfortable and more reliable, the anti-corrosion treatment of the body was improved, and the paint stopped peeling off. As a result, the body began to corrode slowly and not so noticeably. And the MKP was replaced with its own, getting rid of the problem brainchild of Renault.

It is not known what the next generation of the model could become, but the issue was solved simply. Ford Motor Company bought Volvo, got rid of the unprofitable plant, and the next generation S40 was built on a global platform and with Ford components. The production of the model was moved to Ghent, in Belgium, and the quality problems were forgotten, the small Volvo became as reliable as the large, if not better. Anyway, in that.

What is it worth buying for?

The first generation Volvo S40 is still attractive today. Excellent Scandinavian design, a very high-quality interior, and even on the move, the cars retain their nobility, despite the years passed. The level of comfort is incomparable with the soplatform Mitsubishi, and it is simply impossible to guess about the relationship.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "1996-2000

And in terms of safety, Volvo has something to offer: a reinforced body structure is relied on for all cars of the brand, airbags in the basic configuration, all proprietary protection systems are also available. In general, the car remains relevant. And at a price of less than 200 thousand rubles, or even less than 150, this is a very attractive option for poor and, moreover, demanding drivers. But she also has a lot of "pitfalls" in store. Let's talk about them.

Body

If you are told that the Volvo S40 is galvanized - believe me, it is. Just don’t believe it if they say that it doesn’t rust. Unfortunately, zinc plating is not able to permanently protect the body metal, especially if the paintwork is weak and the body panels have many points where dirt can collect. In addition, the soil on galvanized metal holds worse than on ordinary steel.

It was the painting that became the main problem for dorestyling cars, and after restyling, despite the change in the technical process, there were difficulties with poor ventilation of the area under the plastic door sills and with the tightness of the seams of the rear arch and other seals.

Front bumper

price for original

34 978 rubles

It is easy to see what these shortcomings lead to: it is enough to inspect a car that costs less than 100 thousand rubles. Rotten sills and peeling and rusting arches will almost certainly not be hidden. On cars after restyling, damage is usually less, and the general condition of the panels is better, but the list of the main problem points, where corrosion is at least already present, remains. These are sills, especially in the front, rear and front wheel arches, a roof over the windshield, amplifiers for the front and rear bumpers, a front panel in the lower part and at the central partition, a rear panel under the boot lid seal and a "shelf" under the rear window, where adjoins the trunk lid, especially the drains on the sides, and "sandblasting" places on the bottom and arches. The trunk lid and bottom of the doors also suffer in the first place, but how the attachment parts are repaired and changed is much easier.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2002-04

Do not forget about the salon inspection. Wet floors almost certainly lead to the appearance of foci of corrosion at all seams, and a wet trunk can also lead to rotting out of the side niches and seams of the side members under the soundproofing mats.

There are no problems with the repair of thresholds, there are repair kits numbered 9008011 (left) and 9008012 (right). If the price seems too big, then the pieces of iron from the VAZ-2109 are good (do not forget that we are talking about ultra-budget cars). The threshold itself and the floor connector from the "chisel" need to be lengthened by about 1 cm. Repair kits for arches are also available, and they can also be picked up from domestic cars if you are confused by the prices of Chinese parts. Rumor has it that they fit from the Chevrolet Niva with minimal revision.

Thanks to galvanizing: there are practically no cars with serious corrosion in the area of ​​the engine shield and damage to the suspension cups, with a rotted bottom and struts, but restoring neglected copies usually does not make sense. It is always easier to find a relatively complete body, and if you do not shy away from working with your hands, it is better to change the manual gearbox or engine than invest in the body.

When buying, you should be meticulous and not be fooled by the external shine. A lift or overpass is required, and the thresholds should be tapped - often there is simply no metal there. In advanced cases, the amplifier of the threshold also decays, which greatly increases the cost of repairs, but for most cars it is enough to replace the outer part and clean-anti-anticore the insides with checking the work of the body drains.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "1996-2000

The outer plastic sill protects little against sandblasting, but is poorly located. She is responsible for most of the problems of sills and adjacent areas of the body. In winter, it collects dirt and snow, and its attachment points are natural catalysts for corrosion.

Front wing

price for original

13 088 rubles

The design of the lockers at both the front and the back is also one of the causes of the problems. Weak fastening of the edge at the junction with the wing leads to damage to the paintwork at the clips, and the profile of the front locker corny collects moisture in this area. In addition, they do not seal the arch well enough, and it is constantly damp there. The parts are not that expensive, but if the body of your car is still intact, then you should pay close attention to the condition of the plastic and its attachments. Arch expanders, which are supposed to protect the edge from "sandblasting", in practice collect dirt and lead to the destruction of the paintwork under them, during inspection it is necessary to remove them and check whether the metal is preserved inside.

The underbody is generally in acceptable condition. Slight corrosion on the brackets and in places where the anti-corrosion coating layer is damaged is bound to occur, but serious and extensive corrosion is relatively rare. Pay attention to the condition of the aluminum heat-shielding casings, they protect the central part of the body from corrosion, and if they are removed, or they do not come into contact with metal, then you need to check the bottom with partiality.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2000-02

Against the backdrop of corrosive problems, all the rest look like a trifle - the usual troubles of old cars. The optics are usually worn out, and the glass headlight covers also lose their transparency. Weak fastenings of decorative elements and a radiator grille, cracked foglights, breakdowns of gear motor headlight cleaners, breakdowns of an electrified antenna - these are all characteristic troubles, but they cannot be called serious. Unless all together these troubles will pull a decent amount.

But the breakdown of the trapezoid of the windshield wipers is already expensive. Over time, the bushings of the leash axle sour, and the bushing turns in the mounting bracket. Of course, the work of the wiper further proceeds with a huge backlash, and it does not clean the glass. Any tapping from the drive side is a reason to look under the "frill" for the purpose of revision. Breakdown is solved either by installing repair parts, or by light "collective farm", and the latter is more effective if performed at the proper level.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2002-04

A new part with an installed bronze bushing or even a ball bearing turns out to be many times more reliable than factory plastic with a bushing, it is not afraid of attempts to clean glass covered with snow or with frozen wipers. Such parts can be purchased ready-made through the owner's clubs, and at a price they will not be more expensive than the original.

In frosts, the locks of the car tend to freeze, as a result, the "central lock" stops working. But you can usually get into it with a key, so do not forget about the larvae in the door.

Salon

The interior is made as it should be for a premium car. Reliable, solid and with good materials. Age has a very weak effect with minimal maintenance: both leather and fabric after a good dry cleaning are able to please with an almost pristine appearance. Moreover, the skin can be synthetic, this usually does not affect the condition. Obviously visible wear is either mileage above 300 thousand, or frankly swinish handling of the car.

In the photo: Torpedo Volvo S40 "2000-02

There are few exceptions. The manual transmission lever cover, the driver's door handle and the leather steering wheel may lose their presentation earlier, but again, this is most likely a consequence of poor care. There is little damage to the interior equipment.

Pay attention only to the power window control panel and their drives, as well as to the operation of automatic climate control. By the way, here it is little distinguishable at first glance from manual adjustment, since it does not have displays fashionable in the late 90s, but take a closer look, the temperature adjustment knob is marked in degrees on the driver's side. Therefore, this is precisely automatic climate control. If there are no numbers, but the temperature is on the passenger side, then manual. The only drawback of such a system is that the temperature markings for cars with the imperial system of measures look extremely unusual.

In machines with high mileage, wear of the fan bearings is observed, but they are quite successfully replaced. Even in cars with climate control, the MJ802 transistor in the fan control system may fail, and it will stand up. It is not difficult to find a replacement, but the reason for the departure of the transistor is usually the wedging of the notorious fan bearings, and the work must be carried out in combination.

Photo: Interior Volvo S40 "2002-04

A loose rocker of the manual transmission lever on cars before restyling is usually not only a result of wear of the stage bushings, but also the general looseness of the switching mechanism of an unsuccessful renochnical manual gearbox. The bushings can be replaced, and the mechanism can be adjusted, but in any case this is a typical problem and can be solved expensively, difficult and not for long. For cars after restyling, there is only one reason for looseness - wear of the backstage ball.

Electrical and electronics

The main electrical problems are associated with wet floors, failures of the relay box and passenger compartment fuses. The rest of the electronics is doing well, especially in cars after restyling.

The reliability of the generator is decent, it will easily pass its 250-300 thousand, only an overrunning clutch, which relied on turbocharged versions of motors, can fail before. Electromechanical breakdowns are not uncommon, take into account the age of the machine. Fans and geared motors do not last forever, so their performance should be checked carefully. New parts can cost very low budget, and old ones in a "live" state are hard to find.

Brakes, suspension and steering

The braking system of the Volvo S40 is quite simple, and there are few problems. The first step is to pay attention to the condition of the brake lines of the body, especially in the rear. The tubes rot along with the body, and many cars have already been replaced. Brake pipes require mandatory fixation on the struts, in the "free" state, they will certainly rub against the wheel. They are made with a fair amount of length, and you should not leave them hanging out.

With disc brakes, the main problem is the reliability of the caliper pin. It is prone to wear and tear with runs of more than 150-200 thousand kilometers and sometimes even breaks off under increased load. Do not bring it to a strong knock, especially since the original parts are inexpensive, and the part fits from the Gazelle, although the resource will be many times worse than the original. Breakdowns of the ABS unit are mainly related to itself, inside it tears off the conductors with age, and the wiring to the speed sensors is quite reliable and is a minimum of hassle, like the sensors themselves.

Bushing, rear trailing arm

price for original

1,335 rubles

The suspension of cars before restyling coincides with that of Carisma almost completely, but then conclusions were made on its reliability, and the suspension was significantly redesigned, changing the design of the front levers, supports and stabilizer struts and revising the design of the rear suspension silent blocks.

It is clear that for a car with more than 200 thousand mileage, the suspension resource rather depends on the quality of the components used, and not on the construct. But even with original parts, dorestyling suspensions rarely cover more than 30-50 thousand kilometers without knocking, but on restyling, the suspension is both more resourceful and more silent. In fact, it is better in everything, there is only one exception: the supports of the front struts after restyling are made with an open bearing in a plastic cage, and it very badly tolerates movement on country roads and dirt.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2000-02

The suspension springs for a heavy car turned out to be a little weak, they sag significantly, and the chances of their breakage are increased. It is useless to buy a used one, the problem is present even in cars that were operated only in Europe. Those who want to save money have their own ways: for example, many silent blocks can be picked up from Zhiguli or old Mitsubishi. The silent blocks of the subframe are often replaced with the shock absorber support of the Zhiguli front suspension, and in the rear suspension, rubber bands from the "Japanese" are pressed into the levers, and they are sometimes used to restore engine mounts.

The steering is reliable enough. On pre-styling cars, there are thin Mitsubishi steering rods, they have a smaller resource. After restyling, the rail was changed, and the steering rod is already its own, more resourceful and durable. The very same rake remained the same, moderately resourceful and not prone to knocking.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2002-04

Basically, the racks are afraid of wear and tear on the power steering pump and contamination of the fluid, after which they begin to leak. They are repaired quite easily, and for the power steering pump there is a repair kit from a stator and a rotor, which greatly reduces the cost of restoring the system as a whole. The tubing is completely reliable and only occasionally damaged by corrosion. The system as a whole works reliably, unless it is recommended to change the fluid in the system more often.

***

As you can see, things are not so bad for a frankly cheap and rather old car. With the proper skill, it is possible to find a sane copy, especially if you have at least 200 thousand and ask the price for the restyling. And what about the boxes and motors? Let's find out.