My Volvo 850 R Saloon

My Volvo 850 R Saloon

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Discussion

Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Right here goes I have been a registered forum user for a short while now but never got round to posting a topic about the car, I bought it via an advert which was originally placed here in Piston Heads Classified sections ironically I have never started a thread here... it has been copied across from another forum so sorry if some of the user names etc don't tally up, I will post the updates across in stages so it's not a huge great post so here goes with the first one from October 2007....

Well guy's and girls, as some of you know I have been asking questions about the 850 and specifically the T5-R's and the R models. I have been looking for a few months not really with an intention to buy just browsing I guess and I came across one I really liked the look of on Piston Heads, a gun metal grey 854 R with full service history, 3 owners and 87,500 miles on the clock. After various conversations with the seller Jason, a top bloke btw, I arranged a viewing and then after seeing the car I arranged a comprehensive AA inspection. Not being 100 percent on the 850 model I decided that the AA inspection was a good idea for two reasons, a it helped me to identify and budget for additional work and b, it allowed the car to be driven by an engineer as the car has no tax it wasn't possible for me to test drive it.

Well after the inspection and being told that the drive was " a pleasant experience" and " you can definately tell its Volvo's flagship performance car of the day" the AA man with a different opinion of the 850 gave me a run down on the pro's and con's of the car. As you can imagine it being an 11 year old car does require certain items of attention. The usual rear main oil seal and also a very slightly leaky radiator being the main two issues. So I have had the car taken by trailer to a local Volvo main dealer garage where the car is currently having an 80,000 mile service including cambelt. Whilst it is there the, rear main oil seal and pcv block, radiator, brake fluid, air filter, fuel filter, spark plugs, ht leads, king lead, rotor arm, dissy cap, aux drive belt, auto gearbox oil, o/s/f seatbelt, rear exhaust hanger bracket, rear exhaust chrome trim, two new remotes, one additional ignition key, new rear mudflaps, new front o/s inner wheel arch guard, new o/s/f wing moulding, replacement front mudflaps, replacement carpet mats, replacement battery, front wipers and headlight wipers are all being renewed. Then next week I am having a fresh set of PZero's fitted as the mismatching ditch finders aren't my choice in rubber and then whilst the tyres are off the Volan's are being refinished. Then when that is complete it is off to see Russ at the end of the month to have the Rica 304 and itg panel filter and thus the list of endless minor modding begins! I have to say for a car that has sat since its mot in May the car still carries an reasonable shine which I hope after a serious valet session will get back the nice shiney finish I expect from a vehicles paint finish. The engine bay needless to say is pure filth and the interior isn't free from its imperfections, one of which the drivers seat backrest bolster which is displaying signs of wear on the leather that being the most major interior issue and which is being rectified with the replacement of the seat backrest and base covers, which I was pleased to learn, are still available from Volvo albeit they have to order them from Sweden or I would have had them done with the service. I have a few pictures of the car but they are the sellers and as you can see it will definately benefit from a valet!! :Banane44:

For those of you thinking omg it needs alot of work, yes it does and no it doesn't I am a really picky bugger and my previous car which was an Orion took me 9 years to get mint and I intend on embarking along a similar route with the Volvo, however I thought it best to sort all the mechanical issues out first before attempting anything else. Below are a couple of the pictures I currently have of the Volvo and the Orion to show you what level of condition I would like to get the Volvo up to eventually.









As you can see from this picture the colouring from the leather has worn away quite abit and the very edge of the seatbelt is fraying not seriously but I want them both done smile



and a very disgusting engine bay!!



and the Orion which the Volvo will be replacing once it is sold,









Won't probably get the car back to valet it this weekend as Volvo have quite abit to be getting on with, so will probably spend the whole of next weekend doing the valet by which time the wheels and tyres should also be done so will update on the car status then. :Banane59:


Stedman

7,217 posts

192 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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thumbup

soad

32,880 posts

176 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Orion looks sparkling clean!

Nice Volvo btw.

petrolsniffer

2,461 posts

174 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Nice orion! it felt wierd saying that..

A good replacement too always liked the Q-carness of these volvos smile

spaceship

867 posts

175 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Very nice mate. I like that a lot. The Orion looks to be in stunning condition too.

I'm going to be going down a route similar to you with a Saab 9-5 Aero Estate i've recently bought.

Good luck and enjoy.

MondeoMan1981

2,356 posts

183 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Love those 850s !

An 850R estate in primrose yellow is in my dream garage cloud9

Max M4X WW

4,795 posts

182 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Hi,

Volvo looks like a nice new toy, But..

Your Orion is one of my favourite Fords ever and I've spent ages looking at it at numerous shows!

walter leever

42 posts

181 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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And here go the Volvo topics,lol.

Hi Andy as said before really nice car.

850's are the "daddy's"(as you know i have 1 myself)"the grey one"

gr,walter

Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
Cheers for the comments guys smile


Max M4X WW said:
Hi,

Volvo looks like a nice new toy, But..

Your Orion is one of my favourite Fords ever and I've spent ages looking at it at numerous shows!
Hi Max,

Yes the Orion still does make it to the shows with her new owner. Part of me wishes I had of kept her but, dare I say it, after 9 years I was getting a little bored of the car and I did consider going full concourse with her but then that ruins the fun of having a car at the end of the day and I was worried I would do more to it and make it a little over kill so ultimately the time was right. Glad you appreciate it though as a lot of time and money went into her and, even if I say so, she still looks very nice indeed smile

Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
walter leever said:
And here go the Volvo topics,lol.

Hi Andy as said before really nice car.

850's are the "daddy's"(as you know i have 1 myself)"the grey one"

gr,walter
Great cars these, lovely in grey of course wink

Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
13th November 2007...

Well considering the weather I managed to get a half decent shot at giving the car a good polish, came out really well although will probably give it another few coats of wax in the not to distant future to help protect the paint. I also managed to get all of the various marks out of the headlining, which I forgot to take a picture of, and the drivers footmat which had some staining to it also has cleaned up alot better than I expected. Didn't manage to get round to doing the engine bay today which is just as well being as the lambda light came on late this afternoon! Had this of occured after I had cleaned the bay I probably would have been cursing thinking it was something I had done to it!! But none the less I am still happy with the car and the fact the light has come on hasn't detracted from my overall enthusiasm for it as I still love it!! :Banane59::Banane59:

Any how I did manage, when the sun finally came out, to take a few pictures of it after the clean, let me know what you think.




















Just received the refurbed alloys and new tyres back this evening and have to say car looks even better with the new wheels and tyres, I decided to have them lacquered front to back to help with the cleaning of the inside of the wheel whilst they are still on the car, will have to get somemore pictures up for you all to see. I also appear to have lost the rubbing noise I used to have when on full right hand lock from the o/s/f wheel arch guard and the tread on the Pzero's doesn't look as chunky so the Pzero must offer a little bit more clearance than the Federal ditch finder thing that was fitted previously, result! :bananapartyhat: Probably have a full steering geometry check just to safe guard the new tyres being as these are supposed to have a healthy appetite for tyres as it is without that being out of adjustment as well!

Off to Volvo for 8.30 in the morning to find out why the Lambda light is on, hope its nothing too serious! :bricks:
Will keep you posted.


Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
30th November 2007

Right sorry for the delay in the update, that was due to a fault with the phone line meaning no internet!! Having just had the whole of this week as holiday it has been a busy one for the car, having just got back from Norwich today and Liphook on Wednesday, here is what has occured since the last update,


1, Check engine light, well a fault code was stored which apparently related to a pressure indifference between a vacumn hose that had already been renewed on the service. There was no charge made for the reading and clearing of the fault code and I also got chatting to a chap who was waiting for his V70R AWD, 850 shape not sure which "phase" that is, which also had a check engine light on. Since the light has been cleared touch wood it has not come back on despite now covering near on 1,000 miles since the code was cleared. So fingers crossed on that.

2, Monday afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday morning I had the car in at RT Mechanic's for the Rica 304 upgrade and couple of other little bits, thermostat, temperature sensor, header tank and rad cap and I now say a BIG thank you to Russ and his team as they quite simply are fantastic!! I shall certainly be going back there for more work in the future and advise anyone who is considering them to go for it! With regard to the Rica 304 upgrade I was absolutely gob smacked when I finally found an appropriate private road to try the cars new found power out. Its ... well.... its just rapid! I can't believe how different the car is since the upgrade, still a pleasure to drive when in heavy traffic and on public roads, but when on the private roads absolutely amazing. Wheel spin occuring even at 60 when in kickdown and even now with the P Zero's fitted so not any old cheap tyre! Thankfully there aren't many private roads around here so the tyres should still last a while!! :speechless-smiley-2

3, Thursday was a rest day then it was up early this morning and off to Inchcape Volvo Norwich to have the drivers seat backrest cover renewed as the leather had discoloured and the alcantara had bubbled up quite a bit around the bolster area being the raised area that always gets brushed when entering and exiting the car. I also had the engine oil and filter renewed, being as the car has now covered 1,000 miles since the service I thought it a good idea to give it a fresh oil change as the car had been sitting for some time prior to me purchasing it and any crud that had collected should now be flushed out. So thats another thing off the list of things to be done and certainly concludes the list of items requiring attention before christmas.

Now that I have the car back, and hopefully one dry day during the weekend, I shall give it a clean up over the weekend and take some up to date pictures of the newly refurbished alloys and the new seat cover.

Once again sorry for the delay

Cheers,

Andy smile


Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
1st December 2007

Right ok as promised due to some sunshine today managed to get the car washed and a few pictures taken to show the recently refurbished alloy wheels and the new drivers seat back rest cover which was fitted yesterday. Also managed to get hold of a front towing eye trim cover and genuine clear side repeaters to replace the chrome trimed ones which had been fitted previously, also sourced a set of genuine Volvo headlight protectors which should be here early part of next week.

Hope you like, comments always welcome. smile

Cheers Andy
















walter leever

42 posts

181 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Nice with the new seat cover,and refurbished wheels(seat covers no more availeble now,tried to get one for mine,no longer availeble)

So i fitted a nearly new T-5R interior instead(now have 2 electric seats)

gr,walter

Evo

3,462 posts

254 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
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Very nice, both of them, you obviously take a pride in your cars. I'm currently starting a similar project on a Mk2 Golf GTI as i'm just as anal with having to have to whole thing clean, and i expect it'll take me a while too, still keeps me out of trouble smile

Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
Thanks for your kind comments,

Walter didn't realise the seat covers were now discontinued.. looks like I did well to get mine when I did then...although your T-5R interior does look to be in very good condition so doesn't look like it was a bad move.

Evo, yes I think if you have that eye for detail it does help plus I think it makes for a better car in the long run. Will have to keep an eye out for a Golf thread if you do one of your progress.

Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
9th December 2007

Right well due to a rather poor weathered weekend, I only got the usual quick exterior clean done. However I did also fit my headlight protectors after I had washed it. When they turned up from Volvo I was surprised they didn't have Volvo written on them anywhere. I know they are manufactured by EGR for Volvo but this is the same setup as the headlight covers I have fitted on the Orion. So I thought I would modify them by retro fitting a Volvo badge on each cover whilst trying to maintain an original look. I did manage to take a couple of shots with the lamps fitted but daylight disappeared so quickly I had to resort to a night shot for the final fitted look.

As I received them after unwrapping them as you can see apart from the black lines there are no other markings,



The headlight cover on my Orion, note the Ford emblem close to the grille



Attempting to mirror this style on the Volvo headlight covers







Fitted,





At this stage I am not sure whether I 100 percent like the covers yet or not, obviously they are a cover and as a result they stick out proud from the lamp. Obviously this is the same for the Orion but because the Volvo is a better built and more modern car the panel gap's and general fit and finish are of a higher quality and this obviously helps to show up how the headlamp covers fit and finish. I shall leave them on for a bit and see how I feel about them when I can have a good look at them in the daylight. smile


Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
27th January 2008

Well this weekends weather was the best I since I have owned the 850 and I had a busy Saturday as a result. Up at the crack of dawn to give the car a good wash and to finally get the flat and polish done that I have wanted to get done since I bought the car. So got the car washed and dryed by 10.00 then it was round to a friends house to get the car pc polished. Spent a good while masking off the areas of textured plastic to prevent any damage from the polisher. Then the car was polished, which I give full credit to my friend Pete for, I was in charge of removing the polish! Once that was done it was a rush to polish and seal the paint before the sunlight faded so as a result I didn't manage to get any finished result pictures until today. I also forgot my digital camera yesterday so didn't really get a chance to get any before pictures.

However this is the car when I first went to look at it. Notice how dull the paintwork is due to loads and I mean loads of micro scratches and swirls!!



Then the car was masked off and paintwork checked to make sure it was fine to polish with the PC polisher.



This picture shows the rear quarter panel and front wing which by this this time had already been done, it was supposed to show the difference in the paint finish compared with the doors but unfortunately my camera phone couldn't really pick up the difference. Although if you look at the o/s/r door you can just make out some of the scratches and swirls I was talking about.



Managed to get the car all done before the daylight faded but didn't get any finished pictures until today which I took with my digital camera rather than the camera phone.







A better picture of the new seat cover



Also at a risk of going with the flow and purely an accident due to the cutting polish on the PC polisher I ended up with black badges which I actually think look better than the original chrome finish. But I have got a full set of new badges if in the long run I prefer the chrome look.



And finally got rid of all that dust and crap in the engine bay although it still needs a proper going over to remove the engine lacquer that tbh was probably applied at the factory.




I am over the moon with how well the car came out after the polishing as I did have my doubts I would ever get a decentish shine from the paintwork and when you look at the picture of it just before I bought it and the picture from today I think you could be forgiven for thinking they were to different cars!!





Anyway thats what I have been up to this weekend.
Cheers for reading and comments are always welcome :thumbs_up:

Edited by Andysr on Saturday 28th August 20:15

Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
10th February 2008

Yesterday whilst doing an oil change on the car finally managed to get the wheels off and brakes painted. Went for the gold look with the centre of the front and rear discs in black. The first thing a friend said when I got home after they looked at the car was "blimey brand new calipers all round!" lol I wasn't too sure on the colour as I was painting the brakes but with the wheels back on I think it looks perfect. Managed to get a couple of shots today of the brakes and a side profile shot. What do you think?

Comments appreciated. :thumbs_up:








Andysr

Original Poster:

106 posts

173 months

Saturday 28th August 2010
quotequote all
6th April 2008

Well time for a mini update seeing as the forum is now back up and running.

Two weekend's ago signaled the end of an era for me as I had my first viewing arranged for the Orion. As it happens it was as good as sold as soon as the dust sheet was removed but due to bad weather the car wasn't test driven until last weekend and sold immediately following the test drive. Just before the new owner took the car away I asked if it be possible to get a couple of shots of the two cars together. Not sure why but these shots are shots I have always wanted to take.








Right well the Orion is gone the Volvo now has the garage so I thought time to really get to work on the old girl.
Made a couple of purchases this week and was hoping to use them this weekend but the lovely English weather stopped play.



Although last weekend I did give her a quick wash and took a few more shots just because the sun came out and I felt like it!









The gold coloured calipers have really grown on me now think they finish off the outside look!


With Marham nearly upon us I thought it would be a good idea to go a get the car filled with a fresh tank of V-power ready for Saturday morning and obviously get the tyre pressures checked. Unfortunatelty the the car seems to have other ideas after developing a rather strange fault which I am unhappy with. When on full acceleration the car appears to be struggling to accelerate as if it has a lack of fuel or something. I have spent most of today checking the obvious but have been unable to come up with a reason as to why the fault has occured. I have the car booked in with RT's on Monday 14th for some other goodies to be fitted and a replacement actuator following on from the previous boosting issue. Looks like it is a fault that Russ will need to diagnose. Also think I want a Ferrita exhaust and performance cat fitted along with the 302mm larger front brake discs so watch this space for those.

Anyway looks like Marham April is out of the question as I don't want to risk damaging the car with this current fault so I can only hope there will be another track day towards the end of the year! :thumbs_up: