[gcjodye]

I'm a teen who isn't very experienced with cars, but I wanna branch out into getting some under the hood mods. I recently had to get my rack and pinion replaced because of a power steering fluid leak but now Its free rein with what I can do.

Preferably would want the mod to be under $600 -$700 with labor included but If its a bit above that range its cool

Keep in mind that I have no engine mods at the moment so whatever is a good start to upgrading the car would be perfect

 

[hoonk]

An easy mod is a Tune. Volvo has Polestar software available for that car, and you can find "tunes" from vendors such as Hilton and several others. Put the car to stage 0 first - and don't pine for big HP gains - if you get Big HP - you might be looking at a damaged/fried transmission. Don't waste you money on cool looking blue hoses and stuff like that - only your guy friends might think that's cool and you won't feel any more HP from that stuff with your butt-dyno. A polestar tune you certainly will feel in your butt-dyno. .

Keep in mind it's still a VOLVO. (but I appreciate where your head is as a teen with car dreams)

Home | Polestar Engineered

Here you can find out if your Volvo can be optimised, learn more about the Polestar Engineered products as well as register to get your optimisation certificate.

engineered.polestar.com

 

[DFrantz]

I'm not sure how much noise you get out of an intake one one of these, but I've grown addicted to the turbo noises I get from my 3.0 S60. Not actually really performance.. but it's fun. The tune is the best bang for the buck hands down. Volvo runs sales on those once in a while. You can look at third party options too since it's already out of warranty. Compare to make sure they're really doing the same amount and have a good reputation behind them.

 

[V50_M66]

If you're going to tune it and a Polestar tune is available for it, I'd say it's 100% worth the additional cost over other vendors. This is because, along with being engineered by the guys that made your car and pretty much guaranteed to be safe, it also changes transmission programming to make it shift far better, and will therefore make a much bigger difference than the same boost in power from a tune that doesn't impact transmission tuning.

 

[VolvoWillXC]

If it was me I would say don't waste your time tuning the car before supporting modifications. For one I would be looking to swap that turbo with a 16t later down the road then get it tuned. For the price range you said you can just about get a front mount intercooler kit and a custom cat back exhaust or muffler delete. I think there is a ebay front mount intercooler kit for P2 2.4t and 2.5t. That's what I would do first, but yes a tune will get you the most bang for your buck. You won't be able to go over stage 1 though.

 

[DFrantz]

He's on a budget though. While yes, further mods might require another tune... It's honestly unlikely that he's ready to toss a few grand into go fast fun right away. A stage 1 tune will get the instant fun. Intake and exhaust will give the sound. You can do the intercooler at any point. Spend a little getting the car nice. Then going up a notch a few years down the road... but all that time he got more than his money out of the first tune. Trying to do too much all at once, even if it makes sense, can discourage folks on a tighter budget... I've been there. The most important thing is to do a few things to make you smile and get out there and drive and start getting involved in the local Volvo/car crowd. And always be proud to have something a little different!

 

[chefricky]

How about more info on your S60. Miles on the car, service history,etc.IMO I would go with a stage 0 service.And a thorough suspension inspection.You could easily spend 6 or 7 hundred just getting it ready for any mods. And that would be you doing the work.

 

[Wayne T5]

Yeah, decent tires would consume most of that $600-700 - stage 0 best idea.

 

[volvogod]

As chefricky noted, Year, miles and any service records would be helpful. If the t-belt is original and breaks, bent valves and $$$$$ repairs.

 

[gcjodye]

How about more info on your S60. Miles on the car, service history,etc.IMO I would go with a stage 0 service.And a thorough suspension inspection.You could easily spend 6 or 7 hundred just getting it ready for any mods. And that would be you doing the work.

Currently sitting at 164k miles for it being a 2008 model, and I'm not precisely sure about the service history but I do recall that nothing major was changed or fixed. Also I appreciate all of you in this thread I've learned so much already.

 

[V50_M66]

Currently sitting at 164k miles for it being a 2008 model, and I'm not precisely sure about the service history but I do recall that nothing major was changed or fixed. Also I appreciate all of you in this thread I've learned so much already.

If it hasn't had it done, I'd get timing belt, water pump, idler, tensioner, and serpentine belt and tensioner replaced ASAP. If any of that stuff lets go, you're in for a new engine and it's gonna cost you far more than the service. I'd also suggest replacing all the coolant hoses and heater hoses, as well as spark plugs

 

[VolvoWillXC]

If it hasn't had it done, I'd get timing belt, water pump, idler, tensioner, and serpentine belt and tensioner replaced ASAP. If any of that stuff lets go, you're in for a new engine and it's gonna cost you far more than the service. I'd also suggest replacing all the coolant hoses and heater hoses, as well as spark plugs

It's also a good idea to get the cam seals replaced if you do a timing belt

 

[V50_M66]

It's also a good idea to get the cam seals replaced if you do a timing belt

If they're leaking, yes. If not, I'd leave them alone.

 

[poohsan]

If they're leaking, yes. If not, I'd leave them alone.

I thought the same when I had the timing belt replaced (and PCV was already recently done). A few weeks later, I was getting another new timing belt and new cam seals; It would have been cheaper to have the cam seals replaced with the first timing belt, and saved me a tow to boot.

 

[V50_M66]

I thought the same when I had the timing belt replaced (and PCV was already recently done). A few weeks later, I was getting another new timing belt and new cam seals; It would have been cheaper to have the cam seals replaced with the first timing belt, and saved me a tow to boot.

Huh, interesting. When I did the timing belt on my '04 XC70 I got the seals to do the job, but since it wasn't leaking I left them alone. Still fine a few thousand miles later

 

[mylesph1]

Where do you live? Do you need more power or better handling, or more accurately, which would be a modification you'll notice right away? If you live in Kansas, more power is easy to do. If you live in the mountains or where all the roads curve, I'd look at suspension mods.

I'd definitely make sure the transmission and brake fluids are in good shape - I can tell you're going to be putting that car through more "exercise" than it's probably gotten in a while, so make sure you get it in fighting shape

 

[VolvoWillXC]

Huh, interesting. When I did the timing belt on my '04 XC70 I got the seals to do the job, but since it wasn't leaking I left them alone. Still fine a few thousand miles later

Where do you live? Do you need more power or better handling, or more accurately, which would be a modification you'll notice right away? If you live in Kansas, more power is easy to do. If you live in the mountains or where all the roads curve, I'd look at suspension mods.

I'd definitely make sure the transmission and brake fluids are in good shape - I can tell you're going to be putting that car through more "exercise" than it's probably gotten in a while, so make sure you get it in fighting shape

I think he has a great starter car. A good car to learn how to work on things. The motor has alot of potential. Don't let transmission problems scare you. Honda guys go through transmissions all the time with half the torque. Transmissions can be replaced or modified.

 

[V50_M66]

I think he has a great starter car. A good car to learn how to work on things. The motor has alot of potential. Don't let transmission problems scare you. Honda guys go through transmissions all the time with half the torque. Transmissions can be replaced or modified.

LOL. Don't worry, you can just throw money at it!

In all seriousness, the transmissions on these cars aren't bad. Worst case for poor shifting is a new valve body - $550 and a day in the garage. Been there, done that. But that's not something you need to worry about at Polestar levels of power anyway, unless it has a ton of miles or wasn't maintained. Tuning it shouldn't directly cause any issues if going with the P* tune. The car has potential, but you aren't sending big power through any part of this drivetrain.

I'd do all preventative maintenance, the Polestar tune, an exhaust, and wheels, tires, and suspension. Leave it at that - anything more will get expensive and add unreliability.

 

[Sezon1987]

Hi
I was in a similar situation with my 2001 s60 2.0T (175000 miles) about 6 month ago. I was eager to throw performance mods at it, but the more I red about it and watched youtube videos to educate myself I realised how often people mentioned stage 0 tune. I am glad I waited and did a lot of planning before jumping into it. I decided to check/ repair many things on the car myself. Here is the list of things I did so far.
Back in November the excessive oil pressure in the crankcase pushed out my intake cam seal. (engine survived as it literally happened outside my home/ so lucky) So new cam seal and timing belt with tensioner/ idler pulley done. With the help of this forum and the internet I knew the PCV system need attention so did that too including all related hoses/pipes. 5 new Hella ignition coils and 5 new iridium spark plugs went in as well to minimize the ignition issues in the future. Boost pressure sensor decided to die so got a new one of that too.
Replaced ALL vacuum hoses including non return valves too. Had to replace the short rubber adapter between the turbo and the charge pipe that comes across the top of my engine. (it was leaking). This weekend I removed the oil pan and gave it an overhaul (new seals and unclogging the passages + new filter). Also I was able to look up in the cylinders and just do a visual check, wiggling the connecting rods to see if there is any play in the bearings inserts etc. Going to do a compression test in the coming days too. All of this paints a good picture how is the engine doing before tuning and I learnt so much too that I had no idea before. New fuel filter and injector seals.
Fitted new slave cylinder, clutch plate, pressure plate and dual mass flywheel too. I had to admit it was hard to do under a pop up gazebo during the Christmas holidays but I got it done. Front shock absorbers, top strut mounts, lower control arms, sway bar and drop links got replaced. I added subframe bushing inserts to the front too. General brake maintenance.
So many of these things were on there way out. Also fitted a boost gauge!!
I know its a lot but this it over a course of about 5 month.
What I am trying to say with this is I decided to keep and save this car for longer and have fun with it too.
I would recommend to go Stage 0 first and then go for mods/ performance upgrades.

 

[gcjodye]

Hi
I was in a similar situation with my 2001 s60 2.0T (175000 miles) about 6 month ago. I was eager to throw performance mods at it, but the more I red about it and watched youtube videos to educate myself I realised how often people mentioned stage 0 tune. I am glad I waited and did a lot of planning before jumping into it. I decided to check/ repair many things on the car myself. Here is the list of things I did so far.
Back in November the excessive oil pressure in the crankcase pushed out my intake cam seal. (engine survived as it literally happened outside my home/ so lucky) So new cam seal and timing belt with tensioner/ idler pulley done. With the help of this forum and the internet I knew the PCV system need attention so did that too including all related hoses/pipes. 5 new Hella ignition coils and 5 new iridium spark plugs went in as well to minimize the ignition issues in the future. Boost pressure sensor decided to die so got a new one of that too.
Replaced ALL vacuum hoses including non return valves too. Had to replace the short rubber adapter between the turbo and the charge pipe that comes across the top of my engine. (it was leaking). This weekend I removed the oil pan and gave it an overhaul (new seals and unclogging the passages + new filter). Also I was able to look up in the cylinders and just do a visual check, wiggling the connecting rods to see if there is any play in the bearings inserts etc. Going to do a compression test in the coming days too. All of this paints a good picture how is the engine doing before tuning and I learnt so much too that I had no idea before. New fuel filter and injector seals.
Fitted new slave cylinder, clutch plate, pressure plate and dual mass flywheel too. I had to admit it was hard to do under a pop up gazebo during the Christmas holidays but I got it done. Front shock absorbers, top strut mounts, lower control arms, sway bar and drop links got replaced. I added subframe bushing inserts to the front too. General brake maintenance.
So many of these things were on there way out. Also fitted a boost gauge!!
I know its a lot but this it over a course of about 5 month.
What I am trying to say with this is I decided to keep and save this car for longer and have fun with it too.
I would recommend to go Stage 0 first and then go for mods/ performance upgrades.

This gave me a lot of insight for what a general stage 0 should look like, I'm going to start off with the spark plugs and ignition coils and then give the timing belt / idler / tensioner / and maybe water pump a shot.

Ive done some research and the replacement for most of these may take a while since I'm a complete novice but don't seem too difficult.

Thank you!