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The Volvo V50 was introduced in 2004 as the successor to the V40 and it was soon found that the car had several teething problems, especially in electronics. Nevertheless, the Swedes achieved relative sales success and the model is still popular on the used market. If you see a used car or have a Volvo V50 with chipped windscreen, it's good to know that you can get a new Volvo V50 windscreen for as little as €329. But first, let's take a look at this particular model.
In 2004, Volvo introduced the Volvo V50, which was to be the successor to the Volvo V40 Classic. Production disappeared from the Netherlands (Borne) and was moved to Ghent, mainly because Nedcar had been sold to Mitsubishi in 2004. It can hardly be said that Volvo made the V40 entirely in-house, as Ford's C1 platform was used (known from the Ford C-Max, Mazda 3 and the Ford Focus, among others), as was a long list of engines from both Ford and PSA.
Three years after introduction, the Volvo V50 (along with the Volvo S40) received a facelift. In this, the models were mostly redesigned to look more like the Volvo S80 and the Volvo V70. The facelifted version of the models remained in production for another 5 years, after which the Volvo V50 had to make room for the new Volvo V60, which would be considerably more successful in the Netherlands.
Problems with suspension wishbones and guides have become standard for many Volvo owners over the years. Chances are Volvo paid extra attention to the suspension when developing the Volvo V50, as the usual teething problems are not in the V50. On the other hand, quite a lot has gone wrong on the electronic front. Sensitive parts of the electrical system are not properly sealed, which can cause problems when starting, cause the keys not to work, the window mechanism to short out and other electrical functions to fail.
All these problems are relatively cheap and easy to fix, but did cause a lot of negative publicity for the model in the first few months. When Volvo saw that there were problems with moisture in the air conditioning in the V50 (leading to mould), it dropped adjustments for most models under warranty with an extended warranty period of four years.
While the Volvo V50 has never caused queues at dealerships, it has become a model that is attracting particular interest in the used market. This is not surprising, as after the teething problems, this is mostly an ideal family car that is good and stable on the road and usually requires relatively little maintenance. If the air conditioning problems are fixed, as are the electronics problems, then the Volvo V50 is a fine option.
The Volvo V50 landed in a market with plenty of big other names, which ensured that it could never really make itself wide. The Ford Focus Wagon, Opel Astra Sports Tourer, the Fiat Stillo Multiwagon and, of course, the Volkswagen Golf Variant (one of the favourites) all nibbled at the sales success of Volvo's V50.
By the way, the model did not really flop. In the Netherlands, the counter just missed the 40,000 mark, which is a fine score when you look at other models. Perhaps this could have been even slightly better if Volvo had been able to create an advertisement that would not only be feel-good, but would have shown a bit more of the car itself. Be sure to watch the Volvo V50 advert below and judge for yourself.
Nothing is more annoying than hearing a big tap on the windscreen and seeing a chip. Or getting into your car in the morning and seeing that the windscreen has been damaged. Although many would have you believe otherwise, the windscreen does not need to be replaced in nearly all cases of car window damage. On the contrary, as there are only two cases where you need to look for a new windscreen for your Volvo.
These are windscreen damage in the driver's field of vision, involving a branched crack or a chip with a diameter of at least 20 millimetres. In all other cases, you may continue driving with a chip or crack in your windscreen. However, keep in mind that windscreen damage can cause incoming light to reflect unpredictably.
You can have a new Volvo V50 windscreen for as little as €329. That's cheaper than windscreens at your Volvo dealer and even cheaper than many used windscreens for the V50. This is due to the fact that our automotive glass does not have a brand logo. Except for this logo, our windscreens are identical to the branded windows at your Volvo dealer. So if you want to be sure you are choosing the best value for money for your new car windows, you should choose after market automotive glass.
With the right technical knowledge and good tools, side window replacement is still doable in most cases, but we strongly advise against replacing the windscreen yourself. The risk of damage or problems due to incorrect fitting is simply (too) high. With us, you can always opt for windscreen replacement by our certified partners who replace automotive glass on location throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.
Are you a car window specialist or do you have a garage? Then you can simply order the new automotive glass from us without installation or even delivery. We proactively partner with numerous garages and will also be happy to help you serve your customers in the best possible way.
Are you looking at a used Volvo V50 with a chipped windscreen or do you own a Volvo V50 whose windscreen needs replacing? With us, you can always find the best windscreens at competitive prices, including the option to have a professional arrange the replacement right away.
Can't find the right windscreen for your Volvo V50 or do you have questions about our products or working methods? Then please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can help you further in person.
