u/dachshundlove

Had my ‘21 S60 up on jack stands in my garage yesterday to replace the stock rear sway bar with one from KCDesign.

Fairly simple job though given the clearance to the ground is limited versus a lift (for angling the bar), removing the stock bar was a pain (had to loosen the muffler and drop it a few inches).

This is perhaps the single largest “bang for buck” mod I have done. A lot has focused on interior and those are nice, but not highest value per dollar.

Front end feels incredibly planted going through turns, noticeably less body roll (even on my 80K mile struts), and generally, everything feels like it follows my steering input more accurately.

Next up: I’m building a ground up ambient lighting upgrade (I don’t like the “club like” nature of the kits out there, so I’m building my own—just want an extension of the soft warm existing lighting in more places and with a modern flare (e.g., following the channel under the wood trim on the dash).

Further down the line… intercooler and some other drivetrain!

This was recommended to me on my YouTube feed and thought it was well done (and hence worth sharing). It perfectly captures why so many of us chose a Volvo. Normally I abhor ads, but I spent 4 minutes voluntarily watching one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQX-QXxwGvA

I have always disliked the amount of hard plastics in an otherwise well-appointed interior (‘21 S60), so I decided to change that on one of the most visible areas hard plastic is found.

Turns out the S60 can accept the 90-series center console parts. Ordered 4 items and installed them DIY:

1. Plastic console surround (1:1 replaced the existing plastic bordering the console) - needed to accept the new leather

2. Leather trim (screws in to the surround in two places)

3. Gearshift and ignition piano black trim (60-series trim as a bump that isn’t compatible with the leather trim)

4. Center console lid (needed to match the terminus of the leather trim)

Install was a few hours and more involved than you might think. Requires disassembling all the cladding around the console, rear HVAC, and the piano black is secured from the underside of the console by two screws, in addition to five screws on top. I did battle with the first two screws in a creative way because I didn’t want to take the entire center console out of the car to access them properly.

Total cost, a little under $500 for materials.

Spent some time recently retrofitting OEM Bowers & Wilkins into my '21 S60 T6 Inscription (Harmon/Kardon from the factory).  I've included a variety of random photos from some of the install.

There are of course other notes on what's involved to do this (e.g., the amp apparently needs some further configuration if it doesn't come out of a like model donor car), but this is just my view on the highs and lows from my own experience.

Overall impressions: Very impressed with the before and after sound quality.  For me this was a 30% cosmetic / 70% sound quality upgrade.  I am fully satisfied against both goals.  On cosmetic, the dash tweeter along with the backseat grille covers are the biggest leap--one is always in your field of view when driving and the latter is a huge upgrade from black plastic.  On sound quality, I prefer "Studio" (what my XC90 B&W is also set to) as it feels less "processed".  In this mode in the smaller cabin of the S60, the soundstage feels larger than it has a right to, and the imaging feels more precise (e.g., vocals from center) over H/K.  I don't feel a lack of bass like some have said about B&W, though I don't like a lot of bass to begin with.  I'm not an audiophile by any means, but it has been a worthwhile upgrade.

1. Gen 1 versus Gen 2: At some point (believe it's MY22 or 23 in the US) Volvo switched over to silver cone mid-range speakers for Bowers (Gen 2).  If your car is of the time period before this, it should typically use Gen 1 from what I could tell.  While Gen 2 may work, no one really knows.  I prefer the yellow cone look anyhow.

2. Speaker quality: Recognizing that internals can be different, or subtle differences like material composition, the door woofers and rear deck speakers appeared surprisingly similar between the two systems.  You had to look closely at construction, those tiny indicators of material differences, and sometimes subtle differences in driver size.  I do believe a meaningful portion of sound quality improvement comes from the speakers, however would suspect a lion's share comes from the upgraded amplifier/processing.

3. Plug-and-play: If you have the H/K system from the factory, the B&W is truly a drop-in, down to reusing the same screws.  I did have to swap out the Volvo On-Call (VOC) speaker (my original into the new B&W center dashboard assembly) as the set I got came out of an earlier MY than my car and apparently the part changed (caused a fault which I cleared by swapping out the VOC speaker).

4. Hardest part: There were a couple of more "involved" parts but the two most difficult were the rear deck speakers and the subwoofer.  Rear deck was the hardest by-far, requiring disassembly of the C-pillar trim (easy) and then disconnecting wires against foam right near where the rear glass narrows the space to almost nothing against a thick piece of foam, then removing the entire rear shelf (hard).  The size, tight quarters, and unfortunately placed clips/connectors make it a pain.  The subwoofer is rather straightforward to replace, however having to disassemble the trunk liner was a pain (broke my grocery bag hanger) with the variety and placement of fasteners.

5. Safety: I disconnected the negative terminal on the battery and waited 15 mins before working -- did this anytime I needed to reconnect power as well (e.g., to move seats).  There is a portion for the rear deck where you’re working around airbags. I don’t know if it was overkill or if I missed anything else, but this was my methodology, you should do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

6. Debris: After owning the car for nearly 6 years, getting into the nooks and crannies of your car, you discover so. many. french. fries. ... along with a variety of crumbs, popcorn, and other random debris.  Obvious, but just a funny note.  

7. OrBit: I already had OrBit so was able to "turn on" Bowers in my car's configuration.  I don't know how critical this is for broader functionality, but doing this turns on the "Sound Experience" for Bowers versus the old "Sound Experience" menu for H/K.  This is the Studio/Gothenburg Concert Hall stuff.  

Next up: Adding 90-series leather to the center console!  Parts on-order.

During business school our marketing professor talked one day about how Apple invested in expensive feeling packaging as part of the customer experience. He asked how many of us had Apple boxes laying around the house.

In a class full of millennials, every hand was raised.

I have an XC60 loaner and while loading some shopping bags, noticed this—no lock/unlock button!

Used to seeing blank switches for options that were not equipped in a particular build, but I can’t see a reason why a lock/unlock button should be omitted.

My guess is it’s a cost cutting measure (guess it adds up across volume). I just hope Volvo isn’t taking the same mentality across safety and engineering.

That said, this is kind of embarrassing to see on a nearly $70K vehicle (it’s a T8).

I have to say, I don’t particularly baby my car, I just use it normally. But after nearly 80K miles, I think it has aged beautifully.

Honestly materials have lasted, seats are broken in but not worn, and no rattles, creaks, or squeaks. Having rooted around in trim panels and done my fair share of mods, I can say that it’s likely because of quality and quantity of fasteners and decent materials.

One of the less useful mods on this car. Just thought it was funny. Good quality—plugging Dave’s Volvo Page where I got this (not affiliated).

Rewatching one of my favorite movies (that I haven’t watched since I started buying Volvos). And while my Volvos are blue and white, I still felt personally attacked. Oof.