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Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 5:56 pm
by 100
It has taken me a week to build up the courage to write this post, having written something of great length previously and losing it due to the forum logging me out… amateur.

So, attempt 2, drafted in word.

I was introduced to the world of 480s by Will (Jaster) when, on a lunch break, we went to view and subsequently purchase his 480.

Several months and even years down the line I found myself living in London and after my other car was nearly stolen I decided that it wasn’t worth keeping it in London and that I should buy myself the London equivalent of a daily.

The concept of a daily in London may sound like an oxymoron, and that’s because it is… That being said, living in London doesn’t make the underground any more appealing.

So, having mentioned off-hand that I was looking to keep a car in London Will quickly came back to me with these pictures:

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They make a pretty compelling argument if you ask me. We spoke with the owner Paul over the course of a few weeks as we tried to establish whether the car really was in as good a condition as advertised. Once we’d asked everything there was to ask we drove up to Durham to inspect.

Turns out the car was exactly as Paul had described, in very good condition.

So I did the deed and drove the car back to London.

I have a Series Land Rover and know how the novelty of an older car can quickly wear off when unreliable so the first thing I did was book it into The Swedish Car Clinic for a major service and some extra bits. That included a new starter motor and four new tyres.

Meeting its partner in crime:

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Next came replacement heater knobs:

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Some soundproofing and new speakers:

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Some moose:

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Inevitably, with the car being used more regularly a few problems were going to appear the first being one of the headlight motors failing. Upon further inspection it seemed that the gas struts on both headlights were past their best so they, along with the headlight motor were changed. Along with that came some new and more powerful headlights/beams/DRLs:

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On the 480 trip to the Peak District:

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On a more recent trip to Blenheim with Will and Katie:

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Other gratuitous photos:

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Whilst flat hunting in London I happened upon a P1800:

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It’s now back at the clinic and has had a water pump and a steering pump to cure a cambelt area related squeak as well as a fresh MOT more use, I'll pick it up tomorrow evening but I gather nothing else has had to be done.

Having solved most of the immediate problems more tweaks and changes will be made as things go, this includes plans for pads, discs, dampers and springs. Which I’ll keep track of here.

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:45 pm
by jifflemon
there's WAY too many photo's to like there! :D

Good to finally have you on here, hope to see you again on one of the meet ups next year.

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 7:28 pm
by 100
there's WAY too many photo's to like there! :D
There is plenty more where they came from - this is the slimmed down version!

Yes, looking forward to another next year.

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:14 pm
by 100
Another update already, Will kindly picked the car up for me on Friday so I was able to get the train up to Oxford after work and collect it from him. As I thought, just a new water and steering pump with its fresh MOT.

The car was rather grubby so I took it for a clean this morning:

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Despite being quite an enthusiastic car cleaner it is challenging in central London, I can picture the faces of passers-by and neighbours as I head into the fourth hour of 3-stage machine polish on a Sunday morning... Still it really needed the clean and the car wash guys loved it as they get bored of cleaning phantoms, range rovers and bentaygas all day.

I did manage to snoop around and spot a few more interesting vehicles, pictures are not great as lighting isn't conducive:

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...and finally back at home:

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:46 pm
by cptlingo
Why is it limited edition?

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:29 pm
by dragonflyjewels
cptlingo wrote:
Sat Oct 06, 2018 6:46 pm
Why is it limited edition?
Ah, in the UK the only true limited editions were the GT (limited to 250) and the Celebration (limited to 480). For some reason, neither were badged as Limited Edition. The two tone and also the Paris were special editions, that is an upgraded version of the ES. They are registered as 480 SE, but got the Limited Edition badge. No idea why, but neither were limited, in that Volvo produced as many as were ordered. The two tones came out towards the end of production and got the silver bottom half as well as leather interior and steering wheel. The Paris came out when the colour Paris blue was launched, I think in 1990, and had a completely different leather interior.
However, I believe you are not in the UK ? A lot of things were different in other countries - in France you could have a GT version of any model, so they have turbo GTs as well as 1700 or 2litre and they were not limited, so there are lots of them still. Paris blue wasn't introduced in the Netherlands until 1992.

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 8:20 pm
by cptlingo
Im from Poland and Im very new to volvo 480 so im trying to get knowledge :D

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 6:46 pm
by 100
My girlfriend and I decided to take a few days away in Norfolk, obviously I saw this as an opportunity to give the car its first decent clean in my ownership:

Before:

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After

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Of course, cleaning it only reveals all the imperfections, particularly the swirl marks:

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So after a brief interlude by the fire…

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…I broke out the clay and the DA polisher, I was running out of time in terms of light so I didn’t take any progress photos – whilst nowhere near perfect the results speak for themselves:

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On another note, Joep kindly sent me some new DRL lenses which will make a world of difference to the front end:

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 7:13 pm
by jamescarruthers
Looking good! Two-tone upholstery is the best IMHO

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 9:53 pm
by Jay-Kay-Em
Some really nice photos there. Keep 'em coming.

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 6:24 pm
by 100
The car is in Modern Classics mag, the V6 has been in previously with a full page, they only saw it appropriate to give the 480 2/3rds and by doing so seem to have edited down my article into a serious of strangely worded bullets points with quite a few spelling mistakes. They were obviously in a rush to get this issue out!

So, good news is there is a 480 in a magazine, bad news (for me) is that apparently I can't write to save my life and, as Will pointed out, the 'worst bits' of the car are the comfy seats, it being both practical and engaging and it makes a commute enjoyable...!

Any publicity is good publicity:

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2018 6:41 pm
by dcwalker
Brilliant!

It may not be the best publicity for you Oli ;) but it's so good to see the 480 starting to get some decent motoring press again :D

I like the caption on the photo: "Quirky 480ES, far cooler than most modern cars" - that sums it up nicely!

David

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 5:47 pm
by 100

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:37 pm
by balto8
That's a really good looking one. I had a two tone turbo in my sight for some weeks here in Spain, but had to let it pass. It's absolutely true that it's better to get a decent unit with less things to take car of than go for the cheap 1000 eur ones and lots of stuff to be done.
Congrats on your purchase and also congrats to the car for having found such a good home and caring owner.
That cleaning pics makes me want to go over mine and make it shine again. It has been in the garage changing the complete exhaust system and each time I drop by the place to see progress and see it all dirty makes me want to grab a mop.
I really think good 480s are to be appreciated and value to rise in the next few years.

https://jalopnik.com/these-are-ten-cars ... EzMkLJPdYI

I am now pondering getting myself an automatic, moonroof fitted Renault Twingo wich are right now at rock bottom prices. Such a funky car !

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 4:37 pm
by 100
balto8 wrote:
Sat Jan 05, 2019 10:37 pm
I drop by the place to see progress and see it all dirty makes me want to grab a mop.
Worth the wait, giving it a proper clean once it's finished will be the ultimate in satisfaction!

I'm not that convinced on values will increase simply because, without meaning to betray the forum, I don't think they are particularly desirable cars! I do hope I'm proven wrong though.

It's possible that higher quality examples will come out from garages or restored cars will come up for sale, at higher values than the average 480, but I think this will be representative of mileage and condition rather than as a general increase in value.

Always thought the Twingos looked cool, must be the novelty of only seeing them on the continent. I have set a Clio Williams/Fiat 126 in my sights, the 126 having never been popular and the Williams having become a collectors item but with prices now relaxing.

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:09 pm
by 100
Finally, got all the bits together to restore the rear lights at the weekend. I was surprised how successful it was:

Before:
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During 800 grit:
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During 1500 grit
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I then used 3000 grit followed by a cutting compound on a microfibre pad and then polish on a buffing pad but didn't get pics.

The difference before:
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...and after:
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I then got the residual compound off around the reflectors and sealed with a couple of coats of Poorboys sealant which has UV protection.

Well worth doing if your lights don't resemble your centre panel.

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:19 pm
by 100
In other news, I took the car down to Goodwood on a very miserable wet and early Sunday a few weeks ago with a Z3M coupe, C63 AMG and CLS63 AMG for company. Needless to say, the Volvo kept up in the awful weather along bumpy windy and wet lanes and B-roads. I even drove it up the Hill Climb which was being used as an access road... still counts though...

The first time the weather has been in my favour on a drive out!

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On another, much more pleasant, weekend I used some 'Finish Solution' to sort out the fading plastics on the car:

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:21 pm
by 100
Didn't intent to make this update three posts but I keep finding more pictures... these are just gratuitous:

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Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:40 pm
by dragonflyjewels
That's looking really good !

Re: Oli's 1992 Volvo 480ES Limited Edition

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:45 pm
by Martin Mc
The pictures are fabulous - as is your car! I've a lot of hard work ahead to get anywhere near the standard you've achieved, but wow! What a nice target to aim for :)

Do you think you'll get along to any of the meet ups this year? I'm planning to hobble along to the May mini-meet in Derbyshire, and whilst I am sure I will be the ugly duckling, I would certainly love to see your car in the flesh (even if it will make my own look rather sad!)

Martin