"rust free"?!
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Y282

Original Poster:

20,566 posts

189 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
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Went to pick up a bootlid for my e36 last night as ive been looking for one for ages to replace mine. Im after a lid that's never had a spoiler on it and (admittedly this is getting to be a big ask these days) it must be absolutely rust free. NO rust. Not "a little bit of bubbling/surface rust" for example.

So i get round there and the poor bloke had been out in the bloody cold and dark taking it off the car. I give it a good look over and it appears spot on until i get to the inner leading edge on the bottom and its just startinig to bubble where the seam seal is. Had to walk away from it and go back to trawling bloody ebay again, but this is why it's worth seeing the panel in person first, i guess.

So, my question/comment is... Should i feel guilty this poor sod went out and took the lid off and i didnt buy it with minimal surface rust or is it his tough whatsits for saying it's rust free? I did explain its to go on a car that's pretty much mint (my m3 evo) and the lid on there is not much worse currently. I dont want to spend proper money respraying a panel just to have it come back again.

Edited by Y282 on Saturday 22 October 10:28

CoolHands

21,235 posts

212 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
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was it going to be resprayed to your car colour?

Y282

Original Poster:

20,566 posts

189 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
was it going to be resprayed to your car colour?
Yes. Would have had to be lead in on surrounding panels so not exactly "quick flick over". The problem was, the bubbling had got beneath the seam seal joining the inner and outer panels right on the bottom edge.

Mastodon2

14,079 posts

182 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
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Y282 said:
Yes. Would have had to be lead in on surrounding panels so not exactly "quick flick over". The problem was, the bubbling had got beneath the seam seal joining the inner and outer panels right on the bottom edge.
Unfortunately for him, I think it's a case of "item not as described". It's unfortunate that he had to suffer some discomfort and inconvenience to remove it and have you not buy it, but perhaps the experience will lead him to describe the item the correctly next time.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

229 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
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Couldn't you buy a new one from BMW?

Y282

Original Poster:

20,566 posts

189 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
quotequote all
Rich_W said:
Couldn't you buy a new one from BMW?
Id have to sell the car to pay for it!

CoolHands

21,235 posts

212 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
quotequote all
i wouln't worry about him cos I'm sure many other buyers will buy it without a thought. If you;d been rear-ended you might just be happy to get a decent lid.

But I wonder if you should have bought it (if they're getting rare) cos I'm sure it could have been stripped back, treated, and been good as new after spraying. eg Jenolite (spelling?) kills rust properly.

Y282

Original Poster:

20,566 posts

189 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
quotequote all
I know what you mean but it was coming from inside the seam. I suspect itd always come back.

soad

34,062 posts

193 months

Saturday 22nd October 2011
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Personally I wouldn't feel bad - will expect said seller to resell it without any major trouble.
Can't see it being an easy task to pick up a mint or near mint part from the second hand oldish car though.