Hey guys, I have been battling rust the day I bought my E30, sad to say I was ripped off very badly. So i'm just wondering how screwed I am, Photos attached. Cheers20171123_203433.jpg20171123_203414.jpg20171123_202420.jpg20171123_202311.jpg
what kind of help?
I don't think you're screwed at all. I have no idea where that first pic is located, but that's a cut and weld job. Or an ignore job.
It all depends on what your goals for this car are. Do you want to keep it 30 years or is it just a DD with ownership 5-10 years? Do you want it to be a concours car?
If your e30 runs bad, switch to Megasquirt first. Then try new spark plugs, cap and rotor, wires, oxygen sensor, crank shaft position sensor, coolant temp sensor, air flow meter, idle control valve, throttle position sensor, digital motor electronics unit, harmonic balancer, fuel injectors, engine harness...
For the areas that are just surface rust I have had good luck with the POR15 system of marine clean, metal ready, and then the POR15 topcoat.
"Life is too Short to drive boring cars"
1986 325E
1989 325iX (Long term 5-speed/refresh project)
1993 MB 300E
1995 MB E320
2000 Audi TT (Winter AWD snow beast)
2007 Porsche Cayman S (Summer car)
2009 VW Touareg
I am in the process of dealing with rust issues on my E30. One thing to be aware of is BMW seam sealer works very well at concealing hidden rust. Those areas that you see in the battery tray will likely require replacement of good portion of the tray once you start poking at it and peeling back seam sealer. POR15 is good for sealing out rust but if there are holes the proper way to fix is to cut and weld new metal.
1991 318is
2001 740i
That really doesn't seem bad. New Zealand must be much different than the US in that regard. Any car in the midwest here probably has more rust than that if it's been on the road for more than 5 years. It's much worse after 10. I Wish my e30 had that little rust.
Anywho, just get a wire brush wheel on a drill and brush the areas until you hit bare metal. If that happens and there's no hole, just coat the metal and you're fine. If there is a hole, coat the area for now to keep it from rusting further and put in a metal patch when you can get it to a body shop, unless you can do the work yourself.
I agree with First Sergeant and bymep- Wire Brush, clean, and Por 15 . POR 15 is real good in sealing rust. I can send you photos of parts I have done..
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