Volvo failed paint... potentially

[GrahamHR]

Originally Posted by Clan

Volvo have been selling their cars all over the world for 50 years this is not a normal issue , we have even the meagre volvo 300 series in the UK with great paintwork from the 1980's they may be the bottom of the range but the paint was the same quality as the top of the range . I'm even more certain now that your car has been poorly re painted in the past . take it to a bodywork expert they can measure the thickness of the paint in different areas and compare between hidden original paint to that paint you have trouble with .

I am also not sure about the paint quality of more modern Volvos. After about 12 hours (overnight) exposure to seagull crap, the metallic paint on the bonnet of my at the time 5 month old V60 Polestar looked "etched". It's still there, 4 years on. The Mondeo before it suffered much worse assault from the flying vermin, with no ill effect on it's metallic paintwork. The paint on the Volvo, maybe just the clearcoat seems soft. Probably another nice environmentally friendly solution unfit for purpose in the real world !

[Bashy]

Bird crud will do that, its acidity levels are high and it depends on what the birds have eaten as to how high it will be, just because 1 car is etching more than another does not mean it has lower quality paint, thats down to the foods theyve eaten and the quality side of things is how many layers of paint and lacquer its had, if its finely etched as it would be after so few hours, then a wet/dry rub with a block (not fingers) and polish should resolve it.

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by Clan

I'm even more certain now that your car has been poorly re painted in the past . take it to a bodywork expert they can measure the thickness of the paint in different areas and compare between hidden original paint to that paint you have trouble with .

This is my thought too, sounds and looks like a classic Chips Away jobby, the dark colour is cause its water based

[Clan]

Originally Posted by GrahamHR

I am also not sure about the paint quality of more modern Volvos. After about 12 hours (overnight) exposure to seagull crap, the metallic paint on the bonnet of my at the time 5 month old V60 Polestar looked "etched". It's still there, 4 years on. The Mondeo before it suffered much worse assault from the flying vermin, with no ill effect on it's metallic paintwork. The paint on the Volvo, maybe just the clearcoat seems soft. Probably another nice environmentally friendly solution unfit for purpose in the real world !

Nothing will beat the paint quality of a 1970's or 1980's volvo . They have been using water based paint for some years now , it's thinner and probably softer .
My brother had a fiesta in the 80's and after 2 T cuts the paint was worn through on the corners . We have a 1980 volvo 343 it has had a T cut every year since the mid 1980's and the paint is still wonderful .

[Dastardly Diesel]

Water based refers to the delivery system, not the composition of the actual paint itself. Chemically speaking car paint has changed little in 3 decades.

[Lincsdiver]

Quick update. It was due to go into the dealer to have a paint specialist look at the effected areas, unfortunatly the centre in question closed the day before the appointment due to Covid. Currently it is getting worse with rust quite visible along the wheel arch.

I understand that there are more important things in the world going on right now but I’m hoping this is only superficial and can easily be rectified

https://ibb.co/DYhP1Cg

[green van man]

That is rust coming through the paint from underneath. I had similar on a 1993 volvo 460 rear wheel arch. They were a Dutch biult car and known for the wheel arches rotting. At that time arch repair sections were readily available.

It tends to happen when dust gets in behind the arch liner then gets wet. Once wet it takes an age to dry, certainly in the UK and unless the liner is removed is difficult to clean. It sits there attacking the arch and surrounding wing.

Paul.