When you spot a 480 and wonder if it's someone from the forum: ask it here! One rule: do NOT post registration plates.
Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel
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nixell
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2018 2:17 pm
- Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
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by nixell » Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:21 pm
Hello Guys,
Just wanted to greet you all from Bulgaria with my 92' 480 Turbo:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/myjjD7nEYBthmEUc9
It's the first car I bought myself back in 2008 and is still in my possession. Got the matching plates too!

'92 480 Turbo Graphite Grey
'03 S60R Barents Blue
'20 BMW 320d Xdrive
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MisterH
- 480 Veteran
- Posts: 740
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
- Location: Stockbridge
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by MisterH » Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:46 pm
Hi Nixell!
That is certainly a nice looking one indeed, what are numbers like in Bulgaria, I imagine they aren't common, although, the only other one I saw on the road was in Serbia!
Welcome, you will find whatever you need on here for sure

Current Jobs to do (1/1/21):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
suspension creaking below 40mph
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jamescarruthers
- 480 Is my middle name
- Posts: 2017
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:19 pm
- Location: Cambridge
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by jamescarruthers » Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:45 pm
Very nice. One of the few 480s with aftermarket wheels that I actually like!
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2001 Volvo C70 2.4T convertible (Olivolvo)
2003 Renault Avantime 3.0 V6 (Big Ren)
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)
Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)
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nixell
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2018 2:17 pm
- Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
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by nixell » Wed Jan 13, 2021 8:26 pm
Thanks guys!
It stayed in a garage the last 5 years in my hometown and I moved it where I live now in 2019. Since then it underwent some technical overhaul, cooling system, spark plugs, intake hoses and valves, replaced the turbo, and even succeeded in getting Robou to do one of his sweet ECU mods. I use it occasionally on retro regularity rallys. Now I would like to try using it for track days as well and I'm in pursuit for a coilover suspension and brake upgrades, but with no success up to now. I can't find performance parts for this model. Any ideas on these would be much appreciated!
Style-wise I might use aftermarket parts, but only if it looks good on the car and matches the styling. The 6 spoke set of wheels are ENKEI for a Honda Civic

Got the original 14 Inch 5-spoke on the winter tires. Now I've got my eyes on a set of Speedline Maracana to use with a set of slicks.
'92 480 Turbo Graphite Grey
'03 S60R Barents Blue
'20 BMW 320d Xdrive
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nixell
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2018 2:17 pm
- Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Post
by nixell » Wed Jan 13, 2021 8:34 pm
MisterH wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:46 pm
Hi Nixell!
That is certainly a nice looking one indeed, what are numbers like in Bulgaria, I imagine they aren't common, although, the only other one I saw on the road was in Serbia!
Welcome, you will find whatever you need on here for sure
It's very difficult with the registration statistics in Bulgaria, so I don't actually know. Back in 2010 you could see some of these on the roads but last year I only saw 1 on the road. Most of them even in 2010 were pretty beat up let alone now. There is another black Turbo in Volvo Club Bulgaria which is decent looking and well maintained. This car surely needs care
'92 480 Turbo Graphite Grey
'03 S60R Barents Blue
'20 BMW 320d Xdrive
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MisterH
- 480 Veteran
- Posts: 740
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
- Location: Stockbridge
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by MisterH » Wed Jan 13, 2021 9:03 pm
As for tuning parts, I am not a tuner myself but I have seen a few people make attempts on modding 480s, some (
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=35970) better than others (
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=36119&p=219918&hil ... ed#p219909)
I think there is a lot of Renault compatibility, but the lack of tuning parts is due to it being a relatively unknown model, you'll have to talk with the modders on here, they will know more than I do, although I am obliged to try and persuade you to keep it original

Current Jobs to do (1/1/21):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
suspension creaking below 40mph
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nixell
- 480 Newbie
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2018 2:17 pm
- Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Post
by nixell » Sat Jan 16, 2021 9:11 pm
Thanks for the heads up! Althought I have previously browsed the forum a lot I didn't know about the 480 Williams project, great work on that!
'92 480 Turbo Graphite Grey
'03 S60R Barents Blue
'20 BMW 320d Xdrive