1996 Volvo 850T5 (manual estate) project/parts -£250 -Nottm

Volvo 850 T5 (estate, manual)in some kind of blue.

Sadly our family transport of three years has accrued enough defects that it’s beyond our practical repair/use – it’s been a good reliable and entertainingly fast old bus, but it’s definitely in ‘spares or repairs’ territory now – note there may be additional faults of which I am not aware. Poor thing will probably end up a donor for a T5R/850R manual conversion…

Good:
- Unmodified/unchipped T5 engine with manual gearbox
- Complete and runs well (but see below) with most things still working
- Brake discs & pads and rear beam bushes replaced last year (latter being a b****r of a job)
- Mot’ed ‘til 6th May, for what it’s worth
- No sunroof
- Tow bar
- On -40mm (approx.) lowering springs

Bad:
- Odometer not working (£9-ish replacement gear needed) – reads 148k but mileage more realistically 170-180k
- Intermittent ABS light (probably known dry joint problem in module – DIY or £40 fix)
- Blow from exhaust front pipe flexi
- Significant oil leak from somewhere at rear of engine (not arterial squirting, but quickly leaves a puddle).
- Small current drain (will usually start after <24hrs, but not after >48hrs, ish)
- Driver’s seat belt retracts but then is difficult to pull back out.
- Tyres are curse word or borderline illegal
- A/C dead.

Ugly:
- Bodywork... looks awful, especially the bonnet, however the panels are generally sound
- Mismatched Interior generally mucky and sticky from use by three children

Photos to follow, but imagine a scruffy-looking blue Volvo 850 and your there.

Looking for £250 ono - Please come and take it away before I have any more silly ideas about finding the oil leak and looking at trackdays...