Hi people - I just went to look at a used white S80, 2004. One thing that bothered me was that it looked like the clearcoat was letting go (broke adhesion) with the main paint layer in the narrow panels between doortops and roof. Clearcoat was crinkled there and peeling and looked awful.

Right now it's confined to a small area, but it occurs to me the same thing may happen to the whole car soon. Is that indeed likely? Is there any way to fix this? What would it cost?

Thanks!
Barry

 

Only way to correct it would be to remove the clearcoat and have it reapplied.
Autobody work isn't cheap as you know.
I'd find another car to purchase, but you really like the car, I'd suggest getting some estimates from a couple local body shops before you purchase the vehicle and use that as a bargaining issue on a lower price.

 

Same thing happened on our 2000; to the point that I was going to remove them and have them shot, but then the car got totaled so think of the many I saved...groan.

It appeared to me more like oxidation. I wet sanded part of it and waxed it to how it would turn out and it looked decent. Wouldn't recommend this -- it was merely a test.

 

That was what I was afraid of... the clearcoat is just letting go in this panel. The car is optioned basically the way I want and I like int/ext color scheme, low miles (72K) and a fair price... but, there's this and bad driver's seat bolster scuffing... and if I need to put in $2,000 to make it look right again, the price is not so appealing...

As you suggest, it may be worth it to get an estimate on this kind of work though and see if something can be worked out - thanks....

 

Perhaps a new car?

 

Same thing happened on my white 02 S60. I emailed Volvo NA and basically they blew me off saying that on a car that old it was my problem. I for one think it is their problem as the clear coat is not wearing away over time like it would normally do but is flaking off in sheets.

I'm probably just going to scrape off the flaking clear coat, clean it, tape it off and spray some new clear on it.

 

I have the same issue on mine, a 2000 model. The clearcoat on the rest of the car is just fine, it's just the one little trim area that seems to not hold up so well. *shrug* Of course mine is 11 years olf with nearly 200k miles on it... It's kinda appropriate for the clear to be failing at this point. Good luck, and hopefully Volvo will resolve this in their newer models.