Volvo B12M
Built: 2002-2009 · Series: B12M
More machines from model year 2002
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Volvo B12M – mid-engined bus chassis: 12-litre six-cylinder engine rated at 250 to 309 kW, 12.0 to 13.5 metres long, 19 tonnes gross vehicle weight
The B12M is not a lorry in the strict sense but a Volvo bus chassis with a twelve-litre six-cylinder engine mounted centrally, supplied to coachbuilders for touring and line-service buses; Volvo's B denotes a bus chassis, the twelve the engine displacement in litres, and M the mid-mounted engine position. The models B12M, B12M 4X2, B12M 4X2 9700S, B12M 9700S and B12M/(620) show different body variants, including the well-known 9700S coach body.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 5 versions with 250 to 309 kW from six-cylinder engines of 12,100 to 12,300 cm³, kerb weights of 13,000 to 16,435 kg, a gross vehicle weight of 19,000 kg, lengths of 12,000 to 13,500 mm and widths of 2,510 to 2,550 mm.
As a chassis for coachbuilders, the B12M formed the technical basis of numerous European coaches for many years, competing with comparable chassis from Mercedes-Benz, MAN and Scania, before Volvo increasingly offered complete buses of its own manufacture. The mid-mounted engine allowed a lower floor and more luggage space than chassis with a rear-mounted unit.
When buying such a chassis, the condition of the mid-mounted engine and its cooling, wear on the clutch and automatic gearbox, and corrosion on the load-bearing frame under the bus body deserve checking; engine and chassis parts are supplied through the Volvo commercial-vehicle network.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Volvo B12M, Volvo Trucks (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 250 kWcorrect |
|---|---|
| Cylinders | 6correct |
| Displacement | 12,100 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 12,000 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,510 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 6,200 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 13,130 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 19,000 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 110 km/hcorrect |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 19 kW/t (250 kW / 13.1 t)
Stronger than 40% of the trucks in the register — out of 25,241 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Volvo B12M have?
The Volvo B12M delivers 250 kW.
How much does the Volvo B12M weigh?
The unladen weight is 13,130 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Volvo B12M?
19,000 kg.
What engine does the Volvo B12M have?
6 cylinders, 12,100 cm³ displacement.
How fast does the Volvo B12M go?
Top speed is 110 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Volvo B12M?
12,000 mm × 2,510 mm.
When was the Volvo B12M built?
Production years: 2002-2009.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
Request a quote →
We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
This page carries 13 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
Truck in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.