is corrosion a bad sign?

[highlandmiata]

when located on the valve cover and intake manifold of a 100K mile car? it is pretty bad looking, but prob not actually structurally dangerous. Is it a tell-tale of a bad past? no rust on car

[backtrail69]

The car probably sat alot or maybe was on an island for a long time surrounded by salt water...

[highlandmiata]

yes to all. It lived in hilton head SC and Boston MA. it must have sat quite a bit of it's life (compared to most bimmers) to have the mileage it has. What is the best way to clean/refinish these, or must they be replaced?

[golde30]

pics of corrosion? if you arent familiar with Bmw's, then i would say that its cosmoline. if you are familiar with cosmoline, then i would say damn, gross.

[backtrail69]

You can just get them media blasted and then painted or polished. I really love the look of a nicely painted intake and valve cover. If that is the only issue with the car I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[highlandmiata]

Isn't cosmoline the greasy shit that comes on new machine tools? def aluminum corrosion(powdery, white). It is the only real question I had about it. the car has some (alot of ) standard wear items that need replacing, and a little bit of body work that needs doing, but hell, it's got 100k. I'm gonna do it.

[PeaveyBassist]

Cosmoline is yellow. Only comes off if you scrape it really. Or sandblast, etc.

Will

[backtrail69]

Brake Kleen does the trick too for cosmoline. You just have to be careful. It is a clear coat they put over the whole engine bay pretty much on these cars.