12 replies to this topic

[Hallsy]

Picked up a new 850 last weekend, but only got chance to take some pics today - sorry DSK!!

After wanting to change my T5 I looked at P2 cars, but kept coming back to the 850, so decided to go for an R - had to be a manual this time as well!

This one came up on VOC for reasonable money, had a scuff on NSF wing and ABS fault - other than, it was excellent.  Last owner had it for 10 years, full Volvo history, few subtle mods worth having, my favourite colour as well!!  Light interior put me off initially, but since owning it I think I much prefer it, especially now it's getting warmer!!

Anyway, apart from the wing (I've got a new one ready to go on once I get chance) the bodywork was very good - funnily enough someone hit me up the arse the day I bought it in London traffic   Luckilly, no harm done, just pushed the bumper in a touch.  Only thing was, it was swirly as hell, so I couldn't have that!!  Trouble is, working 7 days a week fitting it in was a pain, but I managed it across a few days.  Didn't get quite the correction I was hoping for, my cutting pads are past there best now, but it looks pretty good - only downside is bonnet looks like it has been resprayed and is a little matt still, I might try cutting it further, but I may just end up getting the bonnet & bumper re-sprayed as they both have plenty of stonechips.

So here's a vague 50:50 of the roof to show original swirling


850R roof 50/50 ish by Hallsy01, on Flickr

and the drivers side finished:


850R - one side polished by Hallsy01, on Flickr

and a quick one to show that nearly all of the swirling is now gone :


850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr

Was out & about this morning, but managed to pull over and grab a few pics - shame about the noise, either my camera has a bit of a problem with shadow noise, or it was my fault and I underexposed the car too much, causing noise when upping the exposure in LR.  Maybe it was just the combination of a shiny dark car, in the midday sun - should have know better!!


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr

So far I'm really happy with it, feels nice & tight, boosts well, brakes feel great - seller even had a hard boot liner & detachable towbar.

The clutch felt heavier than I thought it would, and when stuck in traffic in London I started to get a bit paranoid about it, hard to explain but it feels like it bites low at low revs, but with more revs it doesn't properly bite until further up.  Thought it was slipping, but gave it some stick on the way home & it's fine.  No doubt it will need replacing sooner or later, but think I was being a bit paranoid really.  Also feels a little flat off boost with slight misfire, I've got new dizzy cap, rotor arm, HT leads & plugs to fit, as well as replacing all vac hoses, etc - so maybe that will sort it.  Definitely boosts OK, hits at least 3/4 into the white.  Just pickup feels a little off, my T5 feels more urgent at part throttle, but then the throttle on the R feels a bit heavier, possible a cable would sort that.

Anyway, enough ramblings!!  Love it!

[Hallsy]

Couple of alternative versions:


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr


Volvo 850R by Hallsy01, on Flickr

[irf]

superb colour (same as my old one), looks really good hallsy, hope it serves you well

[rhkumar]

very nice. you did a great job getting the swirls out  

[red850r]

Nice car mate, enjoy.I like the pics too.

[DSK]

    

Sounds like a superb purchase and hopefully that wing and bumper won't be an issue for you to get sorted out.  Paint work looks great :thumbsup: well worth the time and effort!
Not seen an R in that colour before (in 850 form) but it does look very classy and I love the light coloured interior, just so much more inviting and airy than black.

[GazT4R]

I have, it's sat outside but an auto. Quite looking forward to correcting mine since I know there is acres of paint on it as the last owner had it resprayed (shame his wife scuffed the rear bumper).
Looks great mate . Just need to find the time to do mine. Too many other things to sort first though .

[mark850r]

Beautiful car mate i miss owning but it was an auto   and its in my fav colour  hope you enjoy

cheers mark

[Hallsy]

Cheers chaps - as I say, really happy with it so far.

I have a wing sitting in the garden ready to be fitted when I get chance.  Front upper bumper has a bit of a scuff, and rear has a tiny one so will get some new ones from Rufe, then like I say, probably end up getting the front lower bumper & bonnet resprayed just to get it all mint again.  

Calipers probably won't stay yellow, but then it's not so bad that I'm in a rush to repaint them!  

Car already has 302's (Mtec discs front & rear - seem OK so far, although I know they are cheap), DS2500's and Goodrich hoses, strut brace and poly top mount.  There's a little bit of movement on gear changes so will probably replace the tie-bar bushes, not sure whether to go OEM or Poly here though.  Got some poly bushes for wishbones in the shed do will get around to fitting those.

As I say, it feels a little flat off boost, but hoping finishing off the stage 0 will sort that, if not I'll check actuator and maybe replace the BCS.  Could also be psycological, as the throttle is pretty stiff, don't remember my T5 being as stiff so a new cable might improve that.  Other than that I'll probably end up going for an off the shelf MTE remap and full exhaust - then who knows!  Quite like the ride as it is so far, might end up dropping the front a touch, but tempted to keep the Nivo's on the rear.  They seem to feel OK, handling is just as competent as my T5 was (my T5 was on B4's and FK springs ), plus the self levelling is handy to have.  

Tempted by a front splitter, but I thought I had got away from the days when I cringed going over speed humps (although my Eunos is pretty bad for that!)!

Ah - any R owners, is there meant to be a grille in the middle cut out of the bumper?  The previous owner mentioned a grille that was missing after his little knock, and the undertray is missing (not convinced my T5 has one either?).

[DSK]

Forgot to ask what compound and pad did you used for your correction and at what speed, as its appears to have done good despite you not being happy, surely some polish/glaze etc would work well.

[Curran]

Looks very nice, lovely colour and hope it all goes well for you.

[Hallsy]

DSK, on 21 April 2011 - 21:42 , said:

Forgot to ask what compound and pad did you used for your correction and at what speed, as its appears to have done good despite you not being happy, surely some polish/glaze etc would work well.

Don't get me wrong mate, considering how swirly it was, it has polished up well, now only some subtle swiriling in harsh sunlight and some RDS.  I used Meguiars 205 with a Sonus SFX1 cutting pad.  The spot pad died on me mid session so some of the more intricate bits weren't cutting as well, needing at least two hits to get same correction as the 6" pad.  If I had the time I would have gone over again with the 205 with a polishing pad (although saying that, the 205 was still giving a good finish with a cutting pad if you backed off the pressure & speed for a couple of passes), usually I would follow up with CG EZ Creme glaze, which gives a nice glossy wet finish in my experience, but I didn't have time.  I was having to do it a bit at a time as I didn't have a whole day set aside.  Wax used was Collinite 476S.  

For the 205 I spread on spread on speed 3, work at speed 5 with moderate to heavy pressure for a few passes, then back off pressure for a pass or two, then drop speed to 3 or 4 and use little pressure for a couple more passes (DA).  I like the 205 as it's constant cut so you work it for as long as you need too, although it's not that oily so it can dry out quicker than some diminishing polishes.  I have some Menzerna PO85 RD 3.02 (also have PO91L but prefer the 3.02) which has more cut, but obviously has to be worked thoroughly to break it down, although it finishes down nicely as well.  For light swirling or bringing back gloss I think Megs 205 is a pretty good bet.  

The wing I've got to go on is good, but needs a good cut.  I'll try the RD3.02, but if that's not man enough I might try some Megs 105.  I ordered some CG Hexlogic pads in the end.

Curran, on 21 April 2011 - 21:55 , said:

Looks very nice, lovely colour and hope it all goes well for you.

Cheers mate

[Hallsy]

Found the time to polish and fit the new wing today.

Much better   Just got to re-solder the ABS ecu then it'll be A1.