how are you tackling rust on your e39?

[anonymous-user]

im onto my second touring because they are just so good but that little rust gremlin is rearing its head on those usual spots

anyone thats using an e39 as their daily and has already tackled those arches and tailgate? would like to hear how and what the results have been over time

im not contemplating a glass out paint job but rather something more local

[lufbramatt]

Bought a portamig 185

Learnt to weld

Cut out all the metal cancer and replaced with shiny new bits

Coated it all with epoxy primer

Still need to take it to someone to make it look pretty :-)

[iSore]

Buy an E60. Problem solved.

[Patrick Bateman]

By selling it.

Rust is some tedious st when it can appear in umpteen places.

[Depthhoar]

RC1 said:

im onto my second touring because they are just so good but that little rust gremlin is rearing its head on those usual spots

anyone thats using an e39 as their daily and has already tackled those arches and tailgate? would like to hear how and what the results have been over time

im not contemplating a glass out paint job but rather something more local

By my reckoning (therefore statistically irrelevant, of course!) my daily 530d was the rustiest E39 on God's good earth. It responded reasonably well to a hack descale and filler job though. Needed a new boot lid as that was totally beyond the pale, but chopping out some rust on the arches and front wings and 'making good' (loose term) made it reasonably respectable - see my posting in Reader's Cars a year or two ago.

It occurred to me at the time that had I been able to weld I could have done a pretty pukka job since the tin worm on the front wings and rear arches was cosmetic and accessible rather than structural and awkward. I can paint (after a fashion) so reckon I could have produced a fairly respectable finish where new metal was let in. Clean secondhand wings are still available but you need to be really picky and see them in the flesh rather committing to buy after viewing a fuzzy photo on an eBay posting and a promise that 'There's no rust, m8. Reely cleen'.

Structural rust - the jacking points - and the sills are another matter though and would be beyond me even if I could weld but others have had the jacking points done for circa £600. (Mate's rates, probably.) Aftermarket replacement sills are also now available.

Strange thing about my 530d was that although it was a rust-fest on the outside, the jacking points were fine and the fuel filler area original and unblemished!

I like the car so one day I'll either learn to weld or spend some money on getting a proper job done on the cosmetic stuff.

[mumbojumbo1]

My sport is showing bubbling around the rear nearside arch and the boot is well gone too. Will be putting it in for a cut out and repair job in September is expect, was quoted circa £200 for the arch. (proper job @ a known quality bodyshop)

[Eddieslofart]

Patrick Bateman said:

By selling it.

Rust is some tedious st when it can appear in umpteen places.

This, twice.