Repaint? Try to fix clearcoat? Do it myself?

[SkyVolvo]

My 2004 S60's roof is looking pretty awful. I don't have a garage, and the Tennessee summers are not kind to it (nor is the hackberry tree above my driveway, which deposits a gross grime on it every year - that's the dark gunk in those spots).

volvo.jpg (132.81 KiB) Viewed 2644 times

As many repairs as I've done to my different Volvos over the years, I've never messed with the paint at all and I don't have any idea what the best step to take with this is. Buy a paint kit, sand it down, tape it off, and do it myself? Seems like a lot of work, but seems possible. Just get a local place to do it, even though the car is nearly 20 years old? Maybe. But I'm not sure how long a cheap job would last on it, and I'm quite sure this car's going to keep going for a while.

I'm assuming I've let it get so damaged that new paint would be necessary, not just clear coat? Like I said, I've just never done anything with it before.

[ignatz]

I say, leave it alone. I'm 19 years into owning my 92 Safari van.

[jonesg]

I'd build a garage first, or get a canvas car shelter. Or cut the tree down.

[justanotherhumanoid]

If it's just the roof, I'd say sand it down, apply filler to the pitted spots, sand again, prime, sand again, then paint and clearcoat it. You can get spray cans of paint mixed to your original paint code and some automotive primer and clearcoat from a vehicle paint shop. If you're careful and patient you can make it almost like new, just know that in your case you're looking at a good amount of sanding and probably some filler (so, even more sanding) to make it all nice and flat again. But if you've got the time and 50-100 bucks to spend on paint, then that's what I'd recommend and what I would do if it were my car.

If it's more than just that area on the roof, though, I don't think that's the route I would take...the hood is a much more visible area and hard to do well with regular spray cans. You could either embrace the beater look, do the best you can yourself within your time and budget constraints, or turn it over to a pro for mad cash. Car paint jobs don't seem to come cheap. But I'm not sure what's right for you, just throwing some ideas out there.

[MoVolvos]

I'm assuming I've let it get so damaged that new paint would be necessary, not just clear coat? Like I said, I've just never done anything with it before.

Your goal is to stop the damage from going to rust. Here are two videos with differing skill levels and results. Mask off well and take our time.



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[darylrobert]

painting is definitely a skill. I would sand prime/colour coat/clear coat using quality paints. if you want a near to professional finish i recommend a can of Spray Max Automotive Car 2K Component High Gloss Clear Coat 400ml its made in Germany and expensive but it really looks good even without buffing.

[RickHaleParker]

Let it go until it develops a beautiful Iron Oxide patina. Then clear coat over the patina.
If your impatience, you can knock off some of the clear coat and paint that is holding it back.

[erikv11]

That is finely (and finally) aged!