Is Colorado kind to cars?

[mach schnell]

Obviously there's plenty of snow in Colorado. Do they use a lot of salt and road sand during the winters? What are the bodies of cars in Colorado like?

Where I live, cars get eaten up by salt and sand during the winter. I am looking at a car in Colorado (via photos right now) and wondering what it's really like. The owner says it's clean because they don't use much salt or sand at all there....?

[Bishop]

Rust isn't an issue usually if the car is maintained. Rock chips on the front end is usually the notorious culprit. Just depends on where the car is kept and driven, and how much time it sees the bad weather. Where is the car located?

[mach schnell]

Rust isn't an issue usually if the car is maintained. Rock chips on the front end is usually the notorious culprit. Just depends on where the car is kept and driven, and how much time it sees the bad weather. Where is the car located?

I believe it's in Aurora.

Do they use a lot of salt and sand in CO?

I know East coast cars get torn up by the winters here, so I'm worried that this car will be pretty bad underneath.

[Bishop]

To be honest with you, Aurora is just down the road and I've lived here my whole life which will be 21 years this December.... Never had any rust on any of my 4 vehicles. If the car was originally from Cali and came out here, thats great, if it was east coast I'd be a little more worried... I've come to learn that your coast isn't exactly friendly when it comes to cars and rust. If you can convince the owner to meet me somewhere decently close to me, like Boulder, I'd be happy just to take a quick look and snap some pics and send em to you. Or have the car inspected out here, I can give you a few shops info

[S14pwrdE30]

They don't salt the roads, but they use mag-chloride. As long as you wash it off within a week or two you won't see any lasting effects. Sand can be a problem in the mountains but they usually clear the roads and it rains enough that it stays pretty clear. As mentioned above, rock chips will get you, your paint and your windshield. Colorado cars are not rust cars like the east coast at all. You would have to try pretty hard to rust your car here.

[Bimmerman325i]

I agree with both Bishop and S14. I've lived here as long as I can remember, and never had an issue with rust from winter use or excessive rain. If the car has open body damage that has broken through the clear coat and paint, and is exposed to lots of rain and moisture, then you *might* have rust.

In the Aurora/Denver/Boulder area though, it really rarely rains. This year I can't speak for, but in years past, it rarely rains in summer and snow melts rather quickly in winter. Colorado's very mild on cars.

Again, no salt, just mag-chloride and sand in upper mountains (not aurora). Mag chloride looks like hell on paint, but really doesn't do any damage unless the car doesn't get washed at all for months.

Here are two shops I use and trust implicitly in Broomfield, which is about 15 min from Aurora if you're driving backwards.

Autosport Werks (my shop of choice, my dad and I have gone their for decades. Ask for Cal or Josh Parker) www.autosportwerks.com

Bimmerhaus Performance www.bimmerhaus.com (very trustworthy)

[Bishop]

I agree with bimmerman, or David, both are great shops. I actually bought my car from cal at AutoSport Werks

[Bimmerman325i]

I agree with bimmerman, or David, both are great shops. I actually bought my car from cal at AutoSport Werks

Yup, like Ben, I bought my E30 from AutoSport as well.

If you want to set up an inspection, I couldn't recommend either shop higher, it just depends on which one has an opening.

[mach schnell]

What is mag-chloride? It's not acidic at all?

[Bishop]

Its like the salt substitute out here.... Liquid they spray on the roads to clear snow and ice... does a really good job, but leaves a funky film on everything it touches, that why you have to wash the car like every week, as well as spray under the car as best you can.

[brettholomew21]

I used to work at MerBenz of Littleton and we had so much trouble with mag chloride, but it was kind of a 10/90 situation. Ten percent of the cars that had mag chloride damage caused 90 percent of the trouble. Wash it once a week in the winter and you'll be fine. What it'll do if you ignore it is leave a cloudy film on your paint so it looks like your clear is fading. It'll also make waterspots a royal bitch to remove.

We'd wax 'em in the winter a couple times and wash 'em every week to keep 'em purty.

[brettholomew21]

Also, I've been going to Absolute Motor Works in Englewood for my baby. They've treated me well, I got a full diagnostic for free and they were really honest about what NEEDED to be done and what could wait awhile without causing damage. They got reviewed on 7News a few months ago for their service.

[karpiel]

I replace my windshields once a year on average.

[Bimmerman325i]

I replace my windshields once a year on average.

...You're doing it wrong.

I've never had to replace a windshield nor had any rust issues, what are you doing to that poor car?!?

[karpiel]

...You're doing it wrong.

I've never had to replace a windshield nor had any rust issues, what are you doing to that poor car?!?

I-70 to ski 4-5 days a week with grit flying everywhere will do it. Lose windshields to temperature changes frequently, you go outside and have a few new cracks on them and half the cars lights are out. Most just get replaced due to pitting though, it's bad when the sun hits and you can't see through it.