[pj's 850]

hey guys,
Yeah Im new to this forum. Im looking for some help. Im 21 years old, and this is only my second car, and the first I really have taken care of. My dad bought it new, its a 1996 855 turbo. Its black, I dont know if that is a clear coat finish or not. Some people have told me that the black finish isnt usually clear coated, atleast at that time. Anyway, because of wear our summer house is, and the way my dad drives, the paint is in tough shape. It has little dings, chips, white marks all over it, especially on the hood. Im sure the hood is from rocks. In the upper hood, it has an area that looks like a chemical, maybe acid rain, has cause the paint to melt. I dont know how to describe it, its not glassy smooth in a few areas, and the shape looks like something was drippied on it and sat for a while. The roof was keyed when I first got the car and drove it to Highschool. I guess they dont appreciate a nice shiney volvo in Highschool. I have been quoted some prices on getting the car repainted, too much. I dont know what is reasonable for a car paint job, but I was told a proper paint job will cost me atleast 2 grand. So Im hoping that some buffing, touchup paint, and some know how can fix most of this. I dont car much about the dings, I dont even know how those would be fixed, just the white marks and chips. Anyone know if its something I could do easily enough, I own an electric buffer, but not a pro-quality one. If its something that would take some real experience to do right, what sorts of places would I look for to go to. I dont want to ask the dealership, they will likely charge too much, Im afraid to take it to those junky looking garages, so Im thinking the shops that paint cars are where I should go. Is this something they will do, not repaint, just fix the paint. Does fixing the paint make any sense, or it will cost me as much or close to as much to just get it repainted? Does putting a clear coat on the car if it doesnt have one, or since its having the paint fixed necassart or a good idea? Thanks in advance.
-Matt-

 

[fhdt5r]

if you want to do it the cheap way, wash the car, strip off all the wax and really, really meticulously (with tape, needles, toothpicks etc.....) use touchup paint to "patch" the rock chips. You'll have to let the paint sit for a good 12 hours before you can think about doing anything to it.
Use a polish, swirl remover, clay bar and a good coat of wax like Zymol Carbon or Zymol Volvo. If you're careful enough, the shine to the hood and rest of car will make you think you just got it from a show room. It won't be perfect, and you'll always be able to tell what you did, but it'll be MUCH less noticable. The clay bar will help remove road grime, sap, dust, acid rain marks, water marks etc......

i have been TOLD that an orbital buffer is the way to go, but since i'm a newbie to this crap, i'm not going to tell you anything about that.
Also, go to a shop, and act like you're going to have them do it, see what they would do, then just do it yourself if you're in need of saving money.

Good luck bro, i'm doing the same thing over summer (but have to paint due to deep scratching on the T-5R's bumper

 

[pj's 850]

thanks for that advice, I have found lots of web sites on how to do what you described, along with what I had sort of described. I have a few friends who do autopaint for a living. I mentioned it to them, and they said that it can be done better with a paint sprayer, and a few have offered to help me out. One guy said he thinks my hood will simply need repainting, but that since its the most noticable part of the car, its a good part to paint anyway. I agree, volvo's have big noticable noses on them. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had done anything like this, and how effective it really is.

 

[devalmyth]

well like fhdt5r said old fasioned elbow greese is the best way(thats what he ment)an orbital polisher can b dangerous!!... to the car that is..you can burn the paint, if you stay in one spot.use a little bit of water on the lambs whool and you will b right..sqirt some cutting compound, let dry to haze and buff away! with the spray job, for little work use a touch up gun or airbrush. if you repaint the bonnent you will have to cut and polish the rest of the car cos other wise you will c a differnce in colour. cut and polish will make thcar look like new! but it removes everything bar deep down to meatl scratches.
good luck!