Volvo 480 Club Europe

A-Pillar Trims

Behold my ham-fistedness last year :



To the best advice found here, there's a lot of "just pull" and "they're tough as old boots".

Well, I seem to have disproved that

Removal has revealed tiny little cut-outs as if that's a screwdriver-like entry point - but you still need three screwdrivers and six hands.



I have tried to source replacements, but the last collection of breakers yards are busting them on removal too! I have given up asking them now.

There are no chassis break points or colour options in the parts catalogue, suggesting one colour & design throughout the whole production run.



So, ultimately a wanted if you know of any cars breaking. Perhaps I should go in person as I'm more wise to removal method now.

Last resort is a fibreglass repair on the backside, but that really is a last resort.

Thanks & Best Regards

This is literally the strongest point on the 480. If this is no longer so then what have we got left?!

jamescarruthers wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 10, 2022 7:08 pm

This is literally the strongest point on the 480. If this is no longer so then what have we got left?!

Sorry to hear about your broken A-pillar plastic.
I was actually dismantling the interior of my car today and marvelling at how cheap and flimsy some of the plastic is. Especially the side panels in the boot area. I’ve noticed that with the 480, the further you go in the back, the cheaper the plastic becomes. The nice soft touch elephant skin door cards and squidgy armrest fade into some rather nasty materials. Especially in the boot area. Luckily I didn’t break anything but I did discover the source of my boot leak - a wheel arch rust hole that was the size of a golf ball by the time I’d finished prodding it with a screwdriver!

I'll put it on my list for the Leominster breakers on Monday in the hopes they will be more careful - they dont allow customers in the yard.

dragonflyjewels wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:21 pm

I'll put it on my list for the Leominster breakers on Monday in the hopes they will be more careful - they dont allow customers in the yard.

Thanks Sylvia, fingers crossed. Ideally a pair so they are matched in age and texture.

Kind Regards,

'ow do ? Whilst having a look on Monday might be worth seeing if the front screen wash water nozzles are in ok condition.
As they seem also to be made of plastic that's become brittle over time.
I'm sure you will take the opportunity to see if it has a cup holder armrest, the plastic tub in the boot etc.
Wish I could also tag along as I love scrap yards. I use to play in one when I was a nipper.
Remember piles of chrome bumpers with car logos on.
Cheers, Richard.

richard-smyth wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:12 am

I'm sure you will take the opportunity to see if it has a cup holder armrest, the plastic tub in the boot etc.

Sadly these things were rare when the cars were new; Now they're practically unobtainium. People who have them are using them and probably wouldn't part with them, regardless of how much money you waved at them.

Would anyone trust their jumbo raspberry Slurpy to be secured by 30 year old Volvo 480 plastic anyway?

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 2:16 pm

richard-smyth wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 7:12 am

I'm sure you will take the opportunity to see if it has a cup holder armrest, the plastic tub in the boot etc.

Sadly these things were rare when the cars were new; Now they're practically unobtainium. People who have them are using them and probably wouldn't part with them, regardless of how much money you waved at them.

That’s true. Last night I was talking to someone who had a spare cupholder armrest (yes, spare!) I offered him 150 and he still didn’t want to part with it…

WillC9303 wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 5:19 pm

That’s true. Last night I was talking to someone who had a spare cupholder armrest (yes, spare!) I offered him 150 and he still didn’t want to part with it…

Theres a simple way to find a Volvo one.

Find something else that fits and does a better job than the Volvo one. Everyone will then get rid of their Volvo one!

I have a box of trim bits in my mates garage.

Will have a look next time I am down.

arthuy wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 12, 2022 8:13 am

I have a box of trim bits in my mates garage.

Will have a look next time I am down.

Thank you Colin; appreciated.

Managed to check the garage and couldnt see them. Probably went to the dump so were probably damaged.

Many thanks for checking everyone.

Hopefully I have a lead with "Edwin" who is breaking a white Turbo. Fingers crossed.

Sylvia - PM sent.

Again, thanks all.

Hi
I Have 3411215 .
regards
Marek

malkontent wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 30, 2022 7:36 am

Hi
I Have 3411215 .
regards
Marek

Thanks anyway Marek - a pair now obtained from 480 Ed.