[niksan]

Dear expert,

I really need your help!

I am moving to Malaysia from the UK in early January 2012 and I am keen to bring out a seven-seater as our family vehicle. We test drove the Volvo XC90 and were really impressed.

We have been given a good price for sending a new XC90 (UK Spec) from the UK to Malaysia but the version sold here is the D5 AWD diesel. My only concern is whether it will be able to cope with the diesel quality in Malaysia. It will be covered by a three year warranty but my posting is for four years and I've heard some stories online about imported diesel cars struggling in Malaysia. At the end of the posting, I would look to either sell the car locally or bring it back to the UK.

Volvo Malaysia has said that the imported diesel engine should be fine as long as I give the engine a good stretch from time to time but I obviously don't want to fork out a lot of money for a car that will give me problems. I would be really grateful for a second, objective opinion.

Please reassure me that I have nothing to worry about. Is there a good chance that EURO 4M diesel will be available in Malaysia very soon?

I need to place the order in the next two days!

Many thanks in advance for your help and advice.

Nik

[Newkelisa]

You will be hard pressed to find a diesel XC90 owner lurking around in local forums.

These models are elusive indeed on the road. Last year I wanted to buy a D5 XC90 used and there was none on the market. Only this year I've seen used models advertised but they are newish models still under warranty and very suspicious as to why want to sell so early. And so far I haven't seen a SINGLE D5 XC90 on the road.

Not sure how their sales are but in 2009 they were offering discounts on the D5 Xc90 as sales were slow.

Yes, the official word from Volvo M'sia is that our diesel is fine. And the point given to take the car for long drive once in a while is very valid. There's a lot of discussion on PDF with the D5 on the web.

Euro4 I think will not be coming soon. Seems the emphasis and market trend is for electric cars nowadays.

If you want a hassle free model and don't want to gamble get the petrol version. The petrol engines are very good, good mileage and hardly any problems. I have two of them by the way

[mrwong]

My sister sold her XC90 silver in February because she was given a company car in January. She never had any diesel problems. She only serviced it at Federal all the time. I read a lot about diesel problems here and suspect it is mostly outside mechanics who caused such problem.

[Newkelisa]

My sister sold her XC90 silver in February because she was given a company car in January. She never had any diesel problems. She only serviced it at Federal all the time. I read a lot about diesel problems here and suspect it is mostly outside mechanics who caused such problem.

Ooo good ... first ever feedback on the D5 locally.

How was the fuel consumption?

[tazztham]

hi,

since the XC90 D5 is also available here, i think they have the capability to service the UK Spec as well. maybe you need to remove the DPF or don't get the DPF version in UK. it should be fine.

i saw one unit on the road recently and quite agile i would say...zig zag here and there.

used one also not cheap...right?

[niksan]

Thank you all so much for your replies. MrWong - was your sister's XC90 bought in Malaysia or imported from Europe?

Just to clarify, the imported D5 has 200HP as opposed to the Malaysian D5 which has 185HP. I also think that the imported version has a diesel particulate filter to reduce emissions which the Malaysian version doesn't.

So, I basically have two choices:

1) Buy the imported D5 diesel and take the risk that it may have problems with Malaysian diesel over the next four years. The advantage is that it is UK spec so I could take it back home although the chances are that I will want to sell it. The other advantage is that it's Volvo newest diesel engine.

2) Buy the imported 2.5L T5 petrol version. This is sold in Malaysia although it is no longer sold in Europe. The T5 was the first petrol version to come out with the XC90 in 2003 I think. The advantage is that it should have no problems in Malaysia and will hopefully be easier to sell in Malaysia after four years but it will be more difficult to export back to the UK. I haven't driven this model so can you advise on what it's like?

I really can't decide and need to let the dealer know tomorrow. Which one should I go for...?

Thanks again.
Nik

[niksan]

I should add that I don't think I can remove the DPF from the imported version as it may void my warranty...

[Newkelisa]

I should add that I don't think I can remove the DPF from the imported version as it may void my warranty...

Not only void I think also impossible without screwing up the car electronics. It is integrated into the ECU.

[byebye2u]

Thank you all so much for your replies. MrWong - was your sister's XC90 bought in Malaysia or imported from Europe?

Just to clarify, the imported D5 has 200HP as opposed to the Malaysian D5 which has 185HP. I also think that the imported version has a diesel particulate filter to reduce emissions which the Malaysian version doesn't.

So, I basically have two choices:

1) Buy the imported D5 diesel and take the risk that it may have problems with Malaysian diesel over the next four years. The advantage is that it is UK spec so I could take it back home although the chances are that I will want to sell it. The other advantage is that it's Volvo newest diesel engine.

2) Buy the imported 2.5L T5 petrol version. This is sold in Malaysia although it is no longer sold in Europe. The T5 was the first petrol version to come out with the XC90 in 2003 I think. The advantage is that it should have no problems in Malaysia and will hopefully be easier to sell in Malaysia after four years but it will be more difficult to export back to the UK. I haven't driven this model so can you advise on what it's like?

I really can't decide and need to let the dealer know tomorrow. Which one should I go for...?

Thanks again.
Nik

I heard euro4 will only available in malaysia in 2 years. most of the latest diesel model that available here has some modification to DPF or totally removed. any Volvo has one of the most sensor compare to other brand.mmmmm

for euro3 car won't have much problem using our euro2 diesel...but euro2 diesel can damage the DPF within weeks.

NIK

[niksan]

So, basically, your advice would be to go for the 2.5L petrol engine as it will be less hassle and easier to sell after four years? Do you have ball-park figure for how much a four year old XC90 will sell for?