wing rust E46 M3

wing rust E46 M3

Author
Discussion

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
my 2004 coupe has now bubbled and burst on the drivers side front wing - i know its a common fault and there isnt a whole lot i can do about it - ive read that fixing isnt really a solution.

wheres good to buy a front wing these days?

how much should paint/fitting cost?

shibby!

921 posts

198 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
If I remember correctly 2004 cars had 14 year bodywork warranty?

Take it back to bmw to fix is my answer.

Panthro

682 posts

218 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
All cars with a build date of Jan 2004 onward are covered by a 12 year anti corrosion warranty providing the panels and paintwork are original and not resprayed. I think they now also check your service history to make sure you book is fully stamped. My 2004 330d is with BMW now getting rear arch rust repaired under warranty.

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
ooh, thats interesting!

cheers guys.

my book is fully stamped but some of it is indy - guess that means i'm out of luck?

IIIRestorerIII

842 posts

228 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Registered a month before. Rear arches are rusting on both sides now! OP should be covered with the 12 year anti corrosion warranty though.

Panthro

682 posts

218 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
pidsy said:
ooh, thats interesting!

cheers guys.

my book is fully stamped but some of it is indy - guess that means i'm out of luck?
It shouldn't be an issue providing the servicing schedule is up to date. Take it down to your local dealer and show them the rust and demand it's fixed under warranty. They will take paint depth readings and photographs of the rust and the surrounding areas. It then goes off to BMW UK for authorisation. Then you just have to play the waiting game!

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
right - spoke to my local BMW dealer today and i'm booked in for the end of the week for them to have a look. i don't hold out a lot of hope though, the guy i spoke to seemed less than interested.

Panthro

682 posts

218 months

Wednesday 22nd April 2015
quotequote all
Where are you based? I used Cooper Reading, they have an approved 3rd party body shop who are excellent. I got my car back today and the work is flawless.

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
quotequote all
i'm in North West London. there's no shortage of dealers around here so we'll see what happens.

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Friday 24th April 2015
quotequote all
so...

spent an hour down at spire this lunchtime and they were actually really helpful. The Bodyshop manager didn't seem to see a problem with getting it organised. he was very complimentary of the car and said he loved the colour which we agreed was the best colour for an E46 (techno violet) smile

he took photo's of everything, took paint depth measurements, checked the service record and said he'd send it off to BMW UK today.

ive now got to play the waiting game - up to 4 weeks for a reply.

got an update on the airbag recall too - they are still trying to source enough units to get people in. he said it could take another 6 months.


Panthro

682 posts

218 months

Friday 24th April 2015
quotequote all
Techno voilet M3, v nice! Don't fancy selling to me do you? biggrin

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Friday 24th April 2015
quotequote all



smile

Panthro

682 posts

218 months

Friday 24th April 2015
quotequote all
Great colour and so rare! I have been after a face-lift individual manual coupe or CS for ages now frown

torres del paine

1,588 posts

221 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
quotequote all
My 2004 M3 began to rust on the drivers door sill a couple of years ago. I got mixed messages at the start but once I booked it in with the body shop they agreed to pay half the cost. They argued that the paint had been damaged around the kick plate, which I thought was fair enough, I also I couldn't be bothered to negotiate further and just went ahead with it. They did a fantastic job.

SPORTSTER

160 posts

169 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Did you go to Spire Ruislip?

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Borhamwood/elstree


pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Panthro said:
Great colour and so rare! I have been after a face-lift individual manual coupe or CS for ages now frown
Mine is facelift and manual. Plus, genuine csl wheels and eisenmann race exhaust.

Found it by accident too! I'd say make me an offer but I'm not bored of it yet. smile

Panthro

682 posts

218 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
pidsy said:
Mine is facelift and manual. Plus, genuine csl wheels and eisenmann race exhaust.

Found it by accident too! I'd say make me an offer but I'm not bored of it yet. smile
I am very envious! If you decide to sell please please please let me know smile

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
update:

its been a month to the day since my trip to spire and the phone rings.

BMW Uk have authorised my repair and i'm due a call next week to get my bodyshop slot.

very pleased. big thank you to those who advised to go through warranty rather than just getting it done. not sure how much its saved me but it all counts.

Spire have been very helpful. i'll keep this updated with progress.

pidsy

Original Poster:

7,989 posts

157 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Looking through the thread, I realised I haven't put a pic up with the rust showing: