Giving my '05 a 2010 facelift!

[jasonb]

How about using alloy wheel paint? Just an idea.
Perhaps you'll need to flatten the textured surface first?
I'm going to pickup my parts from the body shop Monday, will ask their advice as I like this idea!

[BenB]

I was going to just paint it - but it wouldn't look too good after a rack has been clamped over it I reckon.

So I asked about the cost to put a clear powdercoat on it for me if I'd already painted them silver, but they said the paint I put on wouldn't survive the 200degree oven! So they'd have to powdercoat the silver and the clear over it.

That leaves me a little unsure about the plastic end caps, as the silver paint wouldn't look the same as they powdercoated colour.
Still, I'd be happy knowing the rails were powdercoated, a bit like agreeing to a cheapie wheel resto compared to a powdercoat, you know it's still going to look great in a year or 3, whereas paint may show wear much much sooner (if you intend on using the rails that is (I have racks on mine from time to time)

(BTW I had always assumed the rails would be a nightmare to remove ie under the headliner etc, but apparently not - I've not done it yet but apparently the end caps pop off and the bars just undo from above with torx bolts!)

£50 would be far far cheaper than the Volvo price!!

Then again, spraying them silver myself and getting my bodyshop guy to lacquer over them for a tenner is cheaper still!!! The 2-pack lacquer he uses does have a very hard finish to it compared to crappy rattle-can lacquer

[jasonb]

I think you can buy the end caps on their own.
The challenge there then would be the colour match!
Perhaps you can just flatten the end caps, hand the to the shop and ask them to paint/lacquer the same colour?

[BenB]

I'm torn now - painting it and getting my paint guy to lacquer it would be so cheap... after all I said about doing it 'properly' I may just paint them!! I'll phone the powdercoating place and see what they say about matching the plastic end caps. I don't mind spending £50 if it will be harder-wearing

[arran73]

Love the bumpers but must admit I prefer the 2005 rear lights personally

[jasonb]

You can't have both ;-)

[jasonb]

Today I installed one of my R-Design side skirts...I didn't have much time!
Why do things never go smoothly!
Removed the old unpainted black textured skirt with ease....too much ease.
installing the replacement skirt I realised why the other came of so simply.
The seven underside screw rivets were missing.
My new skirt now sags a little but that'll be put right in a day or two when the rivets arrive.

I also installed the painted lower door moulds.
Removing the old ones was simple. Unscrew the screws at either end on the other side of the door and pull out (pop clips).
The replacement moulds are a different shape and are colour coded.
Im also now painfully aware that the end fittings are different and they do not accept screws.....spoke to FRF and they confirmed my suspicions, all that is listed for the body kit is the x2 screws per mould.
...Plan B, a bodge but got there in the end.

Will take pics tomorrow.

[BenB]

I didn't realise they were so different - glad I just painted my textured ones!!

[jasonb]

Here's the pics of my new skirts!
Original Skirts

Saging R-Design Skirts

Rivet Screws

Screws Installed

Final View (yes needs a clean but much more to do before detailing)

[BenB]

Nice one! Great to finally get parts going on when you've had them at the bodyshop isn't it!

You're making me think I should get my skirts off and get them painted immaculately while I'm painting my spoiler. At the moment my skirts have little nicks in them that I didn't think it was worth repairing. But now they are on the car it's the little details that need doing that stand out!


BTW Jason, did you screw your spoiler on or just tigerseal?? Mine's arrived now and I'm contemplating using just tigerseal. Drilling in 100% the right place looks like it would be a right pain!