355 rust? Owners helps appreciated to

[lambo_xx]

I've heard that they can rust where the roof meets the bodywork at the back, but do most of the cars have that? Is it a problem if the paint is bubbling a tiny bit?

Thanks

[here]

Its a common problem with the 355s. Its were the body flexes on the GTBs and GTSs. The area is called the buttress. And most 355s have had to have new paint in this area at one time or another.

[456mgt]

Never owned a 355 but I'm aware it is a very common issue on the Berlinetta. Don't think it's a big deal to fix, but doubtless on of the owners on here will be along to tell you how much.

[neil-f]

Agree with here the paint cracks at the buttress join & if left untreated you will see the paint start to bubble.

[lambo_xx]

Ok thanks. I take it it is not a serious problem then? Does anyone know approx how much it will cost to fix?

Thanks.

[F355GTS]

lambo_xx said:

Ok thanks. I take it it is not a serious problem then? Does anyone know approx how much it will cost to fix?

Thanks.

If it's just that it's normally around £400 or so

[jleroux]

make sure you take it to someone with lots of experience doing them though. if it's not done "right" it will crack within months if not weeks. apparently there's a "proper" way of doing it which makes it much more resilient - sommat to do with materials used or something. i don't profess to know the specifics - only the sales pitch!

Jonny
BaT

[neil-f]

I had mine done when I bought the car and kept the car for 4 years with numerous track days and it did not crack again.

[Jules360]

Mine was done by an Official Dealer, but recurred about every 6 months for the next 2 years. To be fair, they paid for it to be done each time, it just became very tiresome and was one of the reasons i sold the car.

[MitchT]

I believe that the cracking occurs because the roof+buttress is made from a different material to the rear three quarter panel. Apparently these two materials have proved not to be happy bedfellows, hence the cracking of the crease where the bottom of the buttress meets the rear three quarter panel. The problem makes itself visible via cracking and/or bubbling of the paintwork in the affected area. There is a fix. Many 355s are described as having 'had the buttresses done'. I'm not sure what the process is but I believe it involves introducing a third metal which is happy to 'stick' to the two metals which are already there, thus creating a more secure join that was originally there.

[burriana]

It is purely down to body flex and, as this area is the point of least resistance, this is where tiny stress cracks appear.

Rub it down and repaint, about £400, and they will return eventually.

Take back to metal, lead fill, about £800, and they "should" be fine for the life of the car.

[carryondentist]

Is this an issue on 348's as well?

[burriana]

Yep.

It's not major though. When we say hairline cracks we mean hairline.

[Jonty355]

Best cure for the problem is to buy a 355 Spider instead.

[burriana]

Well, they're not as rigid so I guess not as much stress

[Jonty355]

Ofcourse they are.... oh wait, is that what that creaking noise is when the car goes over a crest???