Ron Sealey Volvo Specialists, Cowdenbeath

My 2005 Volvo V70 (with 70,000 miles) was delivered by the seller to Ron Sealey's garage for the timing-belt and water-pump change in May 2018. The work was promptly and efficiently done to a high standard, along with some other small jobs that Mr Sealey helpfully suggested. At no point did I actually meet Ron Sealey, for I live in Dumfriesshire, a considerable way from Cowdenbeath - so this entire transaction was based on trust, which Mr Sealey has earned by his good and reliable work. (Regarding my old petrol V70 - capable of 32mpg in Summer only - I sometimes joke that the greenest thing about it is the paintwork, not unlike British Racing Green - allied to the fact that the car has already been manufactured, and still has years of life ahead of it.)

I can't remember exactly when it was I took the car to this chap, but it had failed it's mot bigtime (anyone looking on mot history .gov can see what was wrong with it). It needed a lot done (and not just mot work), and I wanted it done by Volvo. However, Volvo dealership prices were sky high and work done wasn't always satisfactory (service history was always Volvo until then and it clearly wasn't great). Did a bit of searching and this chap Sealey seemed to tick a lot of boxes. He's not cheap - but he's a heck of a lot cheaper than Volvo dealerships - and in my opinion he does a far better job. He knows these motors inside out. He's based in Cowdenbeath - a bit far from us in Edinburgh, but if you want the job done right - and at a fair price; he's your man.

Ron Sealey has repaired & serviced my S60 for over 3 years now. I bought the car in 2013, to find servicing had been neglected: the shock estimate from a Volvo main dealer & decided me to try an Independent. Ron fixed the car perfectly at far less cost. Each year thereafter he's serviced / repaired it so that it runs splendidly - just like an S60 D5 (185) should - a great car. He's worked on the engine, the electrics, the suspension (Northumberland's potholes caused that one !) and the brakes and he's always returned a better car to me over the years. I trust Ron completely, his experience in Volvo's is legend. He's always explained the work he's done and why - his prices have always been fair and he's saved me a bucket load of money. Instead of a main dealer I'd use Ron to repair any Volvo any time. Mike

Ron has been looking after my car Volvo 100k+ miles S60 since 2016 after I had a humungus quote for repairs from a Volvo dealer. Since then he’s serviced it each year and recently diagnosed a problem (front shockers damaged by a massive pothole) and fixed it swiftly with the right parts and at a fair price. (I shudder to think what a Volvo dealer would have charged.) I trust this guy, he really is a true Volvo specialist.

Although Ron Sealey is an independent Volvo specialist, the garage will service or repair most vehicles. The team will spend time fixing, rather than simply replacing, parts which can be fixed if it will save the customer some money. I was impressed with the honest, up-front approach to resolving problems with a 2003 Vauxhall Signum I recently purchased at a car auction. EGR valve 'faulty', new unit an arm and a leg, Ron Sealey and his team serviced the unit and all is well at present. By comparison the Vauxhall 'dealership' which carried out a timing belt change returned the vehicle sounding much worse than it had when it went in, and promptly blamed the 'previous work' carried out to replace the V belt. Absolute nonsense, but hard to disprove unless you're an 'expert'.