Is this rust a killer?

[Chickateee]

Thinking of buying this car, little bit concerned about the bubbling shown in this pic. Can you tell if it's mostly cosmetic or a proper issue?

Either way, how much would it cost to get it fixed? If it's cosmetic, is it easy enough to do the job myself? I have no experience but I'm quite keent to get involved, at the same time don't want to ruin the car!

Any advice much appreciated.

[900T-R]

Don't even think of a DIY repair unless you can weld in new metal. I've been there with several cars - you think you took all the rust away before glassfibre, filler, primer etc - it won't last a week before the rust comes through again.

What you see on the outside is always just the tip of an iceberg. That rust on the pic is very probably not 'structural' - but it's not just 'cosmetic' either.

[Chickateee]

Thanks, wise advice. Any idea how much it might cost to get it repaired? Need to think about that in the price I offer. Even a ball park range would be really helpful.

[Dan_1981]

About £500 for both sides. Esepcially if it runs lower down towards the sills.....

[hornetrider]

Dan_1981 said:

About £500 for both sides. Esepcially if it runs lower down towards the sills.....

Which it probably will. £250 a side is about right.

[MiniMadMike]

Out of interest how bad do you think rust like that would have to be to be an MOT failure? Would there have to be proper holes in it? Just wondering as I've been offered a car with similar amounts of rust to that shown.

[St. Anger]

MiniMadMike said:

Out of interest how bad do you think rust like that would have to be to be an MOT failure? Would there have to be proper holes in it? Just wondering as I've been offered a car with similar amounts of rust to that shown.

Any holes on the underside of the car is an instant MOT failure I think, and I'm let to believe that a hole with jagged edges would still warrant failure, even though it is not on the underside.

I will quickly stand corrected, but I think that the rust shown on OP's pic would be alright in an MOT, unless the mechanic can easily turn it into a hole with his screwdriver

[Chickateee]

I chatted to a mazda garage, reccommended guy so thought I could trust him. He hasn't seen the pic of course but he said because it's the arch and not the sill it could cost 350-400 to replace it (just the one!) if it's needed. Hopefully that won't be the case but difficult to know what's lying beneath the bubbling. In any case, appreciate the helpful advice. Thanks!