I just got an 850 R wagon, black, and it needs a paint job, it's never been hit, but every panel has dents in it and it's scratched to ****. I do body work and my friends paints professionally, so he would shoot it.

I was thinking of painting the plastic moldings on the doors and bumpers as well as the door handles and maybe the roof rack.

I kind of think it would look awesome, but I'm not sure. What do you guys think?

let me know

-Dave

 

I have seen it done it looks pretty good.
Eventually I am going to install S70 door handles on my Yellow painted yellow to match.
I am using S70 handles for a sleeker look. But you loose one door lock and maybe both due to lock cylinders being a little different. If you can find handles with a key you can use 2 keys.

Myself I am going to try to make some thing with the lock cylinders to make my Key work so if the keyless stops working I can use the key.

 

I would do it. I have also seen it done and I think it looks awesome.

 

Yeah, cleans it up a lot. On some of the 850s though the molding looks awesome. Like the Red 850's look really good both ways. I was thinking of doing that on my maroon, but I think that molding looks good on it. I wouldn't spray the roof racks, if your putting stuff on there it's just going to rub the paint off and it will just look worse. Make sure to put on a good primer first, since it is a rubbery plastic.

 

To someone looking at the car that doesn't know the trim was not painted originally, it might look great.

To me, it just makes it look like the painter was too lazy to properly prepare the car by disassembling it or even just taping off the trim. These cars have a lot of area to the body and the trim work helps to break it up and give some contrast.

 

I concur.

 

You can paint the car and dye the trim with Forever Black. I'm always worried about the paint peeling. But it would make the car look more modern. I say dye.

 

The problem is that some jackass clear-coated all of the plastic trim, it looks dumb. I'll probably paint everything after really prepping and priming it.

I took these stupid "purple" tints out tonight, it took tow hours and it was so rewarding, totally different car. A heat gun, razor, fingernails and patience will do the trick.

 

If you paint the trim, do it right then, remove it all, or at least the door trim. I mean you can leave on the bumpers, but I say do it once and do it right, take it all off so you can make sure to get everything.

 

If I were looking at it, I would also immediately be able to tell that it was unoriginal. Yes, it would look like an S70 from a distance, but those who know the cars well would be able to tell the difference between an S70 and a modified 850.

If I were painting the trim, I'd paint it black so that it would look like the original part. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. I'm sure the car will look good either way, but remember that a Volvo enthusiast will be able to tell that the paint/look is unoriginal.

 

It will be not be original, but a lot of people paint their trim, it's not uncommon. I know it would look good, my biggest fear would the paint pealing since your painting on plastic.