Rust and Your E46

[E_Rak]

Not really sure where to put this, but I thought a thread about rust issues and possible body work solutions might help some people (me)... I have mine the two classic BMW spots.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/23/vanera2a.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/23/6a9upedy.jpg

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[Avetiso]

Sorry, but you need to clean that down and paint it. There's just not much you can do.

[Newjack]

Sorry, but you need to clean that down and paint it. There's just not much you can do.

+1

I had a small spot on my passenger side rear doorsill right where the door closes. Water drains through there and it led to some nasty little rust bubble. Took it to my paint shop up the street and he cleaned it up, treated it and repainted that section of the doorsill.

Just take care of the rust sooner than later because once it starts it will only get worse.

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[slater]

Just take care of the rust sooner than later because once it starts it will only get worse.

exactly. do it now.

[E_Rak]

Just for reference how much do you think a job like mine would cost?

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[Newjack]

Just got reference good much do you think a job like mine would cost?

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The doorsill one looks minor, probably $150 based on prior experience. The rear quarter panel is going to be pricey. I can't tell from my phone what color your car is, but if it isn't jet black, its going to be difficult to "blend" the paint across the quarter panel and make it look stock. Most likely you will want to respray the entire quarter panel to avoid having the paint look funny. Talk with a recommended body shop and see what they say. If your in MD I would say take it to Eurowerks, Sarven knows his stuff. Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions. I've recently had a decent amount of paint and bodywork done on my car to bring it back to a stock appearance.

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[E_Rak]

Car's Oxford green, not really a common color but it's quite dark.

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[Avetiso]

14100141011410214103

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[E_Rak]

Life is rough (rust)

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[danewilson77]

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/nicee46044/20140523_204957.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/nicee46/media/nicee46044/20140523_204957.jpg.html)

[Newjack]

14100141011410214103

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http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/nicee46044/20140523_204957.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/nicee46/media/nicee46044/20140523_204957.jpg.html)

http://i.imgur.com/HSYVsRp.gif

[Avetiso]

Yeah, it would honestly take like $1000-$1200 of work to get rid of my rust... so it is hear to stay... at least until I get reared ended. I'm really hoping I get rear ended lightly so I can get a nice insurance payout and fix a lot of the stuff on my car while getting a CSL trunk. :rofl

[SoCalZman]

Is this all from road salt? I have not seen any rust on mine and I am sure it has seen plenty of water in its lifetime. AND it has lived next to the ocean all it's life.


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[Avetiso]

Is this all from road salt? I have not seen any rust on mine and I am sure it has seen plenty of water in its lifetime. AND it has lived next to the ocean all it's life.


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Nahhh. Ocean ain't gonna do jack to it. It's direct contact. Small scratch, road salt gets in... and the fun begins.

[E_Rak]

Nahhh. Ocean ain't gonna do jack to it. It's direct contact. Small scratch, road salt gets in... and the fun begins.

Where was your car located originally?

[midlandtech]

Wow didn't realize so many people had this issue. Looks like I need to be diligent in my removal of any road grime especially in winter.

taptalk + Note 3

[Vas]

Man I'm glad my cars do not have any rust spots on them. Such an eyesore.

[Sockethead]

I remember reading somewhere that our cars have a 10 year rust through warranty... Anybody know about that?

[E_Rak]

Yeah I have heard a few stories about it... Mines 13 o0o0o

[Avetiso]

Where was your car located originally?

Ohio.

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[Avetiso]

I remember reading somewhere that our cars have a 10 year rust through warranty... Anybody know about that?

I hear its a rust perforation warranty. Meaning, there has to be a hole. Could be wrong.

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[danewilson77]

I remember reading somewhere that our cars have a 10 year rust through warranty... Anybody know about that?

Yes. That is a fact. Doesn't Kpro work for BMW?

[ELCID86]

I hear its a rust perforation warranty. Meaning, there has to be a hole. Could be wrong.

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I think that's correct.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[Sockethead]

Yes. That is a fact. Doesn't Kpro work for BMW?

No she works at Acura as the parts manger but Her old BMW store is right next door.
I thought I remember reading that you have to take your car in periodically to have it checked for the body warranty but when I asked about it a fews years ago, they didn't know what I was talking about. Haven't given it much thought until reading this thread.
I'll have to get Kpro to ask...she's over there all the time

[Sockethead]

I hear its a rust perforation warranty. Meaning, there has to be a hole. Could be wrong.

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Some of those pics you guys posted look like you could poke your finger right through...

[mLuMaN83]

I have a decent amount and I am not going to bother getting it fixed. The car has 157k. I just want to get 200k out of it then I will get an E92.

[iZHP]

Vehicles up to 2006 have a 6 year, unlimited mileage rust perforation warranty. Vehicles 2006 and newer have a 12 year, unlimited mileage warranty. I had serious rust problems with my New Hampshire ZHP. Can't find a pic right now.

[mLuMaN83]

Vehicles up to 2006 have a 6 year, unlimited mileage rust perforation warranty. Vehicles 2006 and newer have a 12 year, unlimited mileage warranty. I had serious rust problems with my New Hampshire ZHP. Can't find a pic right now.

I bought mine in NH. I was in VT at the time and didn't have many options. Ill take a few pics tomorrow. Its not worth fixing.

[Avetiso]

I'll take some pictures on Monday of my underside. It's bad.

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[mLuMaN83]

:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm:face palm:facepalm:facepalm:facepalm



14145141441414314146

[Vas]

Well the first spot appeared on my car today. Flaked it off and it is just surface rust so now is the time to get it fixed.



http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/26/b800ed7cc313cb7e06631d7957bb7a9f.jpg

[ELCID86]

Well the first spot appeared on my car today. Flaked it off and it is just surface rust so now is the time to get it fixed.





Yep. I have some too. Can they do it while your car is in the shop?


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[Vas]

Already picked up the car. Was washing it and noticed the spot. I flaked off the paint and it's just surface rust at this point.

[cornercarver]

Kind of an old thread, but I figured I'd start here...

Jacking up the left rear today to swap the snow tires, I discovered the jacking point nearly collapsed into the rocker panel due to rust.

The previous owner said he recently repaired a significant amount of rust on the driver's side, at BMW's expense, thanks to some kind of 'rust warranty' which supposedly ran 10 years on E46's. Anyone else have experience with this? I'm wondering if I can go back to BMW and see what they'll do, if anything.

BTW - I'm upset w/ German Performance Service in Brighton, MA because I paid $114 for them to do a PPI and they missed a bunch of stuff, including this rust. I don't know how they could have put it on a lift without this happening, assuming they used the same jack points. I also took it to the local dealer for the airbag recall and they told me the rear shocks are gone too. WTF did I pay GPS for? They're supposed to be the local BMW experts. 😡

Anyway - sorry for the rant. Interested to see if anyone has suggestions for this problem...

[az3579]

^ Sorry man, I don't think there's any cost effective solution for repairing that.
I'm assuming this is worse than just surface rust. Would that be correct? Maybe it can be scraped off and re-sealed? I don't know...