Volvo Paint - How Hard

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LaFawnduh

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Doing my first Volvo - the new XC90 in onyx black metallic. Anyone worked with this paint before and, if so, am I in for a world of pain (eg hard paint)?

Tips as always appreciated
 
Really glad you asked this question. I have the same car and color PLUS a flat black XC60 less than a year old, and I am getting ready to do both.
 
I've corrected and coated a few of the new XC90s. The paint is a pleasure to work with. I would consider it "medium" hardness. Defects are relatively painless to level out and finishing down to a flawless, high-gloss finish is a breeze. Not sure what paint system they are using but it's one of my favorites to work on right now.

You can find out about the exact paint system used by checking the VIN.

-- From volvotips.com --

Manufacturers of Volvo paints
The paint usually was made bij Glausarit and Herberts. These days the paints are supplied by BASF (code 1), DuPont (2), Beckers / Kemira Oy (3), ICI (Akzo Nobel) (4), Sikkens (also Akzo Nobel; indicated with number 5 and IVI / local suppliers (8). The manufacturer code 6 was only used for experimental purposes and was made by Lewis and some other manufacturers (mostly local suppliers).

Volvo paint finishing
The fifth digit represents the type of paint and the kind of finish that has been used:

1 – a solvent based paint or metallic paint.
2 – a waterbased paint with metallic or pearl finish.
3 – a solid waterbased paint with only varnish (non-metallic).
4 – a solvent-based paint with varnish (non-metallic).
5 – a solvent-based paint with a pearl finish and varnish.
6 – a waterbased paint and 2-component varnish.
7 – a waterbased paint and a powder-varnish.
 
Yea I've always had good luck with Volvo like that. Even trashed the defects come out pretty easy and always restore a nice gloss. I would agree with the medium hardness as well.
 
Thanks for the responses. Relieved to hear not too hard - was worried I was in for BMW / Porsche level work given European origin.
 
Thanks for the excellent info. Let us know the process that works best for you (all) on Volvo paint.
I'm thinking about switching the brand of correction and treatment since I scored some high quality samples in the last couple of sales.
 
Car was pretty easy. Used Essence on MF pad, finished off near perfect on first go. Just some other random spots on top with foam finishing pad to remove minor micro marring. Wash / Decon / polished and Coated, all complete in <6 hours. Of course brand new car with minor DISO so didn't need huge work.

Next, onto rims, glass and interior. But you'll find the Volvo has nice medium paint. Not sensitive but not long working time either.
 
View attachment 50658This paint has to date for me shown the best response to scholl s20 on a blue spider pad ...
Pulled out a ton of swirls and some light etching, finished down brilliantly... There really was zero need to finish with for example car pro reflect...
Heavier scratches remain however.. Scholl s3 and a yellow 3" LC pad removed these with relative ease also..
Also finished down remarkably well...
This is all off a 6 pass on a short throw DA... Speed 5...
I simply ran over it with a cleaner wax after that and then LSP...
Owner was pretty emotional "it looks brand new again".. First time the car had had anything than a hand or machine wash in 5 years
 
Hmmm... Maybe that explains the "sample" of Scholl Concepts SW20 detail spray included in my last order. I included a note of my two black Volvos with the order. (Could the wise old AutoGeek being hinting at something?)
 
Doesn't matter what Volvo that you are working on, they change brands midstream on a daily basis. The question of how hard this or that drives me nuts. You need to do a test spot on every single car you work on. Did 2 Porsche Macans last week, same color. One scratched if you looked at it wrong, the other required m101 on a microfiber pad to remove car wash marks.
 
Mike lambert said:
Doesn't matter what Volvo that you are working on, they change brands midstream on a daily basis. The question of how hard this or that drives me nuts. You need to do a test spot on every single car you work on. Did 2 Porsche Macans last week, same color. One scratched if you looked at it wrong, the other required m101 on a microfiber pad to remove car wash marks.
Click to expand...


We didn't change paint supplier in over 10 years in our factory which knocked out 500 cars a day...
reason, the robots are programmed to achieve a certain quality level and variables such as materials variance are
required to be minimised......
We always dealt with batch variation etc.. But that's inevitable..
Different factories making the same car can and do use different materials suppliers but even here there are contract and relationship management going on so even then the variance is not high..

custom shops.. Well they'll be using whatever they want and prefer..
 
I respect your opinion, but after 17 years in business and owning several Volvo cars, I will agree to disagree.
 
Mike lambert said:
I respect your opinion, but after 17 years in business and owning several Volvo cars, I will agree to disagree.
Click to expand...


All good... Nothing to disagree on... I cited actual experience in a single factory.. And a desire although not law across some brands...

Key difference is is in ownership we can experience vehicles from numerous sources and with differing paint specifications so a mixed product user experience is to be expected...
 
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