Need opinion on rust

[ToXicXxX]

I'd like to have the rust repaired on my recently purchased E30 as to try and keep it in pristine shape.

Any opinion on this? Will I need a new quarter panel? There is also some more further down, on the rocker panel. And on the other side. I also have minor rust developing on the fender on one side.

Don't mind spending like 3-4k to fix it, but I need to know how fixable it is.







I can take more pictures of needed.

[jutilaje]

If anyone charged me more than 1500 to fix that, I'd be pissed. Much less 3-4k. In fact if you wanna get the price down even more than that, do the prep yourself. From what I can tell, none of it has eaten through the metal. So it's literally a matter of just wire wheeling / sanding the rust out, using a good rust inhibitor, then priming and repainting. If you wanna do it yourself, get some good sandpaper, a wire wheel or even a grinder (be REALLY careful not to go too far if you use a grinder) and run over that rust till it's clean, bare metal. You'll have to remove some of the paint that's left to get it all. A good rule is to go 1/4 to 1/2 inch further than the rust spot, to make sure you get it all. Once you do that, you'll need to put rust inhibitor, primer, SOMETHING over it immediately or it'll rust again, much quicker. Then take it to a body shop and let them prep / paint match the car for you.


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[ToXicXxX]

If anyone charged me more than 1500 to fix that, I'd be pissed. Much less 3-4k. In fact if you wanna get the price down even more than that, do the prep yourself. From what I can tell, none of it has eaten through the metal. So it's literally a matter of just wire wheeling / sanding the rust out, using a good rust inhibitor, then priming and repainting. If you wanna do it yourself, get some good sandpaper, a wire wheel or even a grinder (be REALLY careful not to go too far if you use a grinder) and run over that rust till it's clean, bare metal. You'll have to remove some of the paint that's left to get it all. A good rule is to go 1/4 to 1/2 inch further than the rust spot, to make sure you get it all. Once you do that, you'll need to put rust inhibitor, primer, SOMETHING over it immediately or it'll rust again, much quicker. Then take it to a body shop and let them prep / paint match the car for you.


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So you don't think it requires new quarter panels? Because my shop seems to think so. Mainly becuase it's in the weld seems, they think this means the panels are toast (and there is rust in the wheel arches as well, though it's surficial). Though the rust is only a year or so old (as I know the guy who purchased it rust free). I am getting a few other opinions from shops tomorrow. It is summer now so it is dry as hell, so rust will not propagate. Unlike the previous owner I will not winter drive the car (as I have my S4 which is rust proofed and has a a16k appearance warranty on it), so that should retard the rust as well.

I am also worried there is rust further into the car then I though (though up on jackstands theres no rust under it).

[jutilaje]

It's hard to say for certain through pics, and until you get in there and see how far it's really gone, but my gut says about 80% sure you don't need quarters. Regardless, at this point, it can't hurt to get in there yourself and wire wheel some rust out and see where the rust has gone. Worst case, you do end up having to replace the quarter panel, and you're no worse off and got a little extra practice on rust removal. More likely case is that you get in there and realize the rust had only penetrated a few mils, and can be filled with some body filler and painted right over.


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[ToXicXxX]

It's hard to say for certain through pics, and until you get in there and see how far it's really gone, but my gut says about 80% sure you don't need quarters. Regardless, at this point, it can't hurt to get in there yourself and wire wheel some rust out and see where the rust has gone. Worst case, you do end up having to replace the quarter panel, and you're no worse off and got a little extra practice on rust removal. More likely case is that you get in there and realize the rust had only penetrated a few mils, and can be filled with some body filler and painted right over.


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This is refreshing to hear. I was considering selling the car because I didn't want to dump 10k into cleaning it up!!! I will ask a few other shops tomorrow. I'm fine attempting to clean it up myself though.

The shop I deal with is scared the rust is behind the panel and will come back if they paint it, so they will not warranty any work they do (mainly because its on a natural weld seem).

I'm seriously fine stripping the car to it's skibbies if I can clean it up, I absolutely love it, so I really would like to clean it.

[jalopi]

Yeah man, sounds like that shop's trying to dip their balls in. Very, very fixable issues without replacing the quarter panels (most quarters are weld-in FYI). Doubt it even ate through the metal in the "rusty" spots. Wire wheel, body filler, slight metal patching as necessary, done.

[papag1234]

Yeah man, sounds like that shop's trying to dip their balls in. Very, very fixable issues without replacing the quarter panels (most quarters are weld-in FYI). Doubt it even ate through the metal in the "rusty" spots. Wire wheel, body filler, slight metal patching as necessary, done.

Agreed

[ToXicXxX]

You guys were very right. I went to a classic german car shop and they quoted 1500 to deal with all the rust, or 4500 with a front end repaint (hood/fenders/bumper to cover rock chips), the rust, and to touch up clearcoat in a few spots.

[Old city bimmer]

that doesn't look so bad.

[jalopi]

Still a bit pricey, but much better than 3-4k

[ToXicXxX]

Still a bit pricey, but much better than 3-4k

The car is basically being fully recleared.