checking for rust

[rphan1]

I'm going to be picking up a new car and was wondering where to check for rust spots. Some feedback would be really nice. The more detailed discription the better. Happy holidays everyone!

[goarmy]

I'm going to be picking up a new car and was wondering where to check for rust spots. Some feedback would be really nice. The more detailed discription the better. Happy holidays everyone!

well go to the trunk pop it open and bring back the mat and check the strut towers. this usually has rust and bmw know those week points too.

[TimKninja]

check the inner wheel well area, drivers side.

I didnt check that area, regretting it now.

The battery well may be rusty, this is a known spot.

ALong with the spare tire jack well.

the factory lift points at the front corners of the floorboards are the most common rust spot on the E30s.

Other then that, look around at the underbody. Your in AZ, so you shouldnt be that rusty.

[Boris3]

Aside from visible areas when you are doing a walk around and when you are on your back crawling and looking under the car with a flashlight (getting the car up on a lift even better), check the following:

-In the trunk: under the battery tray, in the jack storage well, around the rear tail lights, around the antenna grommet

-Doors: along the bottom seams

-front scissor jacking points are typically crushed and a rust point

[rphan1]

awesome feedback guys. although i live in az, ive been looking at cars in cali because e30s are seriously hard to come by here.

[erik the red]

E30 Rust points from salt country

1. Around the license plate lights (usually first rust shows up here)
2. door bottoms
3. leading edges of the rear wheel opening lips
4. seam in the rocker panels directly below the front door openings' trailing edges (at least on the coupes--further back on the sedans)
5. battery box and jack storage--especially if you find evidence that the tail lights and/or antenna grommets leak.

Good luck...road salt is the bane of our existance here in Ohio...

mike