Best way to protect bodywork from the demon rust?

[oktapod]

Hi folks,

New car (to me) is a 2001 plate 330ci. In very nice condition, but realistically it is still a 7.5-8 year old motor with 100k on the clock. So there are a few very minor spots where I think attention is required before the dreaded corrosion surfaces.

I'm wondering what recommendations people have for limiting any current damage - in my case limited to a small patch of very minor bubbling by the boot - and minimising any further 'outbreaks'? Someone I was speaking to suggested a quality wax, but I wondered if there were better suggestions. Or perhaps someone can recommend me something that I can do to try to stop the bubbling dead in its tracks without major work or expense.

Otherwise the car is very clean and in great nick for its age, but I've seen clean cars deteriorate when their owners haven't kept on top of 'problem areas', and I'd like to do what I can to at worst minimise and at best prevent or even partially restore any minor marks/'outbreaks'...

Cheers,

John

[ASR1]

Where exactly is the bubbling in your car?

[oktapod]

A tiny bit just below the boot lid. Maybe 8-10mm in diameter? I missed this when I checked the car over as it was hard up against a wall and I guess I wasn't as thorough as I could have been. There's also a tiny bit on the tip of the sills below the doors and closest to the front wheels on either side. Both have been touched up at some point, so it's not new, but either the rust is back or the touch up was a bit slap-dash...

I'm not hugely worried as it's hardly serious but I know how these things start off small and get worse. Otherwise the car doesn't look its age and is in really good nick.

[sidgolf]

dousing with wd40 once a month has worked for me in the past.

[oktapod]

Has anyone a rough idea how much a professional detailing specialist would charge to sort something like this out - just a rough estimate would do.

I have emailed our local specialist but no response yet.

Having an Über-detailed look around the car, I can see one or two places where there is evidence of early stage corrosion, but it's very minor. My worry is that I am less than 200yds from the sea, and so the air here is salty and I have to keep on top of things like this... I don't really want to spend a lot of money on the bodywork if I can help it - it is, after all, a sub-£6k car - but I like things to look nice and to keep them nice, and a spot of TLC wouldn't go amiss...

[welwynnick]

I think the best thing you can do for any reasonably modern car is to annually remove the plastic wheel-arch liners and remove the mud that builds up behind them. That, and keep all drain holes clear of course.

EVERYONE should try doing this over the long weekend. You'll be shocked at what you find.

Nick

[bazking69]

I'd be weary of a 2001 E46 showing signs of rust, as put simply it shouldn't be.

[oktapod]

I don't know - if you do a Google search you find plenty of BMWs of this age with signs of early rust. I suppose it depends on mileage and whether the car's been garaged.

I have to stress that we're talking very small amounts here - nothing that unduly worries me - and with 103k on the clock it has seen a decent amount of life up until now.

All told, though, I wish it didn't have these few blemishes but I am hoping they can be put right easily enough.

[bazking69]

I have one of the first E46s (Nov 1999) and it doesn't have a spot of rust anywhere. I know that it has never been garaged in the last 6 years at least and it hasn't exactly led a pampered life.

[oktapod]

Ah well, either you are lucky or I am unlucky.

[bazking69]

I'd say you are unlucky. I haven't heard of rust issues on E46s and wouldn't expect to be seeing rust on a 7/8 year old modern car. I don't doubt that there are stories on the interweb about prematurely rusting E46s, but I'd hazard a guess that most of these are the result of bodywork damage, neglect or badly executed body repairs. I honestly can't say I've seen an E46 with even tiny rust bubbles, not like say last generation Mercs and mk3 Golfs...

[Baron_marc]

i always find removeing the archliners and smearing a bit of axel grease along the inside of the arch but once a year this will need to be repeated

[oktapod]

Baron_marc: is that easy to do? Do they screw in or clip in? Does the wheel need to be removed to do this? Any tips appreciated.

[TX1]

I have a 99 e46 and have had rust issues under the back wings since the car was 4 yrs old. BMW fixed it but not well enough as the rust was back by the time the anti corrosion warranty had expired. By this time the front wings also showed signs of rust.Had words with the BM dealership but to no avail.
Car is not garaged but I always look after it and keep it clean and waxed.
In the last couple of years I have taken it to 2 different places however the rust reappears within months, I have also changed the 2 front wings which are pretty cheap. Shame cannot change the back ones as easily.
I was under the impression that this is a very common problem on e46's and I have seen quite a few with the same wing problem.

[Baron_marc]

yeh its easy enough td there a mixture of 8mm screws and clips can be a bit muddy though its the only downside

[oktapod]

Well, I now have tomorrow's project sorted :-)

Today's was sorting out a couple of scuffs on the alloys. Used a kit from Ebay, took my time and have ended up with a near perfect repair. Very chuffed!

[LMC]

Oktapod, just to make you feel a little better, I was washing mine the other day and I thought I had some mud stuck at the front of the sills, in the little ridges, equally on both sides. about an inch long. Turns out it is early stage rust. It sounds like exactly the same place as yours.

[oktapod]

That's a shame. Maybe it is something that we just have to watch out for. I'm not hugely worried as it's fairly benign right now, but if I don't deal with it it could end up much worse... I live by the sea so the air is that little bit saltier too, might accelerate things...