BenB
Tuesday 22nd June 2010, 14:01
I've had a 2005 V50 for a few months, and although I did say I'd never modify it, I've started to feel it looks a bit dated, whenever I see a new model on the road.
I found out (thanks to this thread (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=71034&highlight=s40+spoiler&page=2)) that in fact the body of the 2010 model is exactly the same, the only bodywork differences were the front and rear bumper and front and rear lights. So I set about finding second-hand parts on ebay to update my 5 year-old car.
I thought I'd start a thread to show my progress and keep it updated as I go.
The idea is: From this:
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper01.jpg
To this:
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper01a.jpg
The total cost I'll update here:
Front Bumper £40
Front O/S Headlight £40
Front N/S headlight £(need)
Front Grille £45
Rear Bumper £45
Lower grills/fog surrounds £50 new
Current spend: £230
Firstly I found a front bumper on ebay, luckily the correct colour! Advertised as needing a respray, but I figured to keep the cost down I'd have a go at localised corrections!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper02.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper03.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper04.jpg
Polished up OK!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper05.jpg
And the paint chips that went right down to the plastic filled and painted with a brush! then wetsanded back a bit and polished. I know it's not quite as good as new, but I'm more than happy with it, I think they'll never get noticed once the bumper's fitted. TBH it's in better condition than my original bumper!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper08.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper09.jpg
Then I got a grille (£140 new! :doublesho)
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper10.jpg
The grille had a broken rung, so I planned on plastic welding it up. Never tried it before, but took my soldering iron (bend the tip over in the vice to it was a more usable spreader) and the black inside tray from a CD case, and started melting away!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper06.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper11.jpg
I'm quite pleased with the results of 10 minutes of plastic welding! I sanded it back and thought If I were getting this 100% it really wouldn't be too hard, another layer and more sanding it would have been spot on! But as I planned on wrapping it in 3M carbon vinyl I left it as it was, I was scared of cracking it by sanding it too hard. Plus that part is hidden under the badge anyway!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper12.jpg
So here's my repaired grille, not bad I think!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper13.jpg
The grille in the 2010 V50 I pictured is the R-Design one, with a brushed finish. I did consider trying to brush the metal finish myself, but had second thoughts!!!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper14.jpg
Next to the foglights. Technically the new bumper needs new fogs, but I'm hoping to reuse my own. So I offered them up to the holes, and they do fit OK. Just a couple of new lug-holes and a little mod to the screw position, I think there's no reason why they wont work just fine behind the new surround.
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper16.jpg
I'm still waiting for a set of lower grilles/ fog surrounds, I've ordered them cos they only came in at £50 for the lot, plus waiting for one more headlight to come up cheap on ebay. Also, the R-design splitter. They I'll fit the front.
The rear bumper has a few bigger scratches than this, it may need a proper bit of painting! Plus the rear bumper came with splitter fitted! But... someone hacked a section out of the middle to fit a towbar, so I'm gonna have to have a go at fibreglass moulding to make a repair section!
I found out (thanks to this thread (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=71034&highlight=s40+spoiler&page=2)) that in fact the body of the 2010 model is exactly the same, the only bodywork differences were the front and rear bumper and front and rear lights. So I set about finding second-hand parts on ebay to update my 5 year-old car.
I thought I'd start a thread to show my progress and keep it updated as I go.
The idea is: From this:
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper01.jpg
To this:
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper01a.jpg
The total cost I'll update here:
Front Bumper £40
Front O/S Headlight £40
Front N/S headlight £(need)
Front Grille £45
Rear Bumper £45
Lower grills/fog surrounds £50 new
Current spend: £230
Firstly I found a front bumper on ebay, luckily the correct colour! Advertised as needing a respray, but I figured to keep the cost down I'd have a go at localised corrections!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper02.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper03.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper04.jpg
Polished up OK!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper05.jpg
And the paint chips that went right down to the plastic filled and painted with a brush! then wetsanded back a bit and polished. I know it's not quite as good as new, but I'm more than happy with it, I think they'll never get noticed once the bumper's fitted. TBH it's in better condition than my original bumper!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper08.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper09.jpg
Then I got a grille (£140 new! :doublesho)
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper10.jpg
The grille had a broken rung, so I planned on plastic welding it up. Never tried it before, but took my soldering iron (bend the tip over in the vice to it was a more usable spreader) and the black inside tray from a CD case, and started melting away!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper06.jpg
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper11.jpg
I'm quite pleased with the results of 10 minutes of plastic welding! I sanded it back and thought If I were getting this 100% it really wouldn't be too hard, another layer and more sanding it would have been spot on! But as I planned on wrapping it in 3M carbon vinyl I left it as it was, I was scared of cracking it by sanding it too hard. Plus that part is hidden under the badge anyway!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper12.jpg
So here's my repaired grille, not bad I think!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper13.jpg
The grille in the 2010 V50 I pictured is the R-Design one, with a brushed finish. I did consider trying to brush the metal finish myself, but had second thoughts!!!
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper14.jpg
Next to the foglights. Technically the new bumper needs new fogs, but I'm hoping to reuse my own. So I offered them up to the holes, and they do fit OK. Just a couple of new lug-holes and a little mod to the screw position, I think there's no reason why they wont work just fine behind the new surround.
http://www.lavenham-photographic.co.uk/ben/v50/v50bumper16.jpg
I'm still waiting for a set of lower grilles/ fog surrounds, I've ordered them cos they only came in at £50 for the lot, plus waiting for one more headlight to come up cheap on ebay. Also, the R-design splitter. They I'll fit the front.
The rear bumper has a few bigger scratches than this, it may need a proper bit of painting! Plus the rear bumper came with splitter fitted! But... someone hacked a section out of the middle to fit a towbar, so I'm gonna have to have a go at fibreglass moulding to make a repair section!