My 91-240 is dark blue.

It gets a wax job at least twice a year, sometimes more if I feel motivated.

It generally gets washed whenever it rains. Seems like I wash it, then it rains, but my intent is to wash the road grime off after it rains.

The paint looks 'sunburned' in two areas about 6 inches by 12 inches on the roof.

The paint appears to be very thin in the gray areas and I suspect the paint has oxidized under the heat of the sun and washed away until I can see the undercoat through what remains of the paint.

Is there anything I can do do stop the sunburn?

I cannot park it in the shade at work.


Thanks in advance.

91-240

If I'm reading this right you're saying that there are 2 relativly large gray colored spots on your dark blue volvo. If it's almost a primer gray than it's time for a visit to the local paint and body shop. If the rest of the car's paint is all the same shade the shop could match that color and just prep and spary the roof. While you're writing the check having the clear coat redone on the entire car wouldn't be a bad idea either.

If I'm not reading this correct and the gray is from an oxidized blue then see the previous posts and remember that the check you write to the body shop for the new clear coat will be much smaller.
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Portland, OR 1987 240 dl wagon 'rustbucket'

Not much can be done, as wax only gives protection from substances that land on the surface for the most part - the sun's UV rays will burn through it and still cook the paint. A friend of mine got his 240 painted after the the hood, top and trunk had severely oxidized - the body shop only painted those areas and it looked great when done. You might consider just having the top painted as it will continue to oxidize....

Jay
84 245 GLTi 220k (new PPG Acrylic Lacquer, base/clear, original silver color)

3M makes a wax line with UV inhibitors. Once the clear coat goes, you should have it recoated before the base coat fails as well. It will not be too costly to have a shop rub it down and put new clear coat on the horizontal surfaces.

There is really not much you can do except wax it more that twice per year and use a car cover. The UV is a killer on paint, especially the base/clear coat jobs.

Justin B.
83 244 Turbo

I had the same problem on my 73 BMW 2002 TII. The silver paint looked like a spider web. The only way was to strip the carpaint off and do a complete paint job. I used 4 coats of Sikken paint and clearcoat.
Some paints are better than others. Colors to have this problems are silver, reds and blues. Prepwork is the most important.