In the history of the automobile, more prime specimens have probably fallen victim to rust than any other single cause of death. Oxidization can be difficult to avoid if your car makes its home somewhere near water or where cold weather requires many miles of driving on salted roads, but you can take steps to prevent this car cancer from setting in.

BMWs aren’t known for having particularly thin skin, but they are as susceptible to rust as the average car, and as any bimmer owner will tell you, that’s not a good thing. They’re worth preserving, which is why you should follow these simple tips to ensure your BMW enjoys a long, rust-free life.

Seal Your Car’s Undercarriage

This is a job you can do on your own, provided you’ve got some elementary bodywork experience. You can pick up sealant at your local auto parts store, but getting beneath your ride and performing the application process safely is something that might require a professional. Make sure you’re up to the task, and if you don’t feel certain you can do it, get some help.

Keep It Clean

A clean BMW owner is a happy BMW owner and not just because your car will look better for it. Keeping imperfections and corrosive road grime off your paint will make sure your car doesn’t suffer from oxidization. All the more reason to stay up on those regular wash jobs! And once you get it clean, keep your car covered or, better yet, in a garage where it’s safe from the elements.

Treat Scratches and Chips

Paint is your best defense against oxidization, so rust begins to form where paint has worn down and bare metal is exposed to air, typically from salt corrosion. For this reason, it’s crucial you spot chips and scratches early and fill them or repaint to prevent corrosion. Rust forms quickly from these, and if you don’t know what to look for, you might not see the problem until rust is already there.

Invest in Paint Sealing

There was a time when you might have wanted to spend the extra cash, but these days, you can probably get a BMW from the factory with its paint sealed. The new stuff works, and if your car has clean paint you want to protect, applying a sealant is a great step towards doing that. The process only takes an afternoon but will keep your bimmer from rusting for years to come.

Protect Your Interior

Many BMWs come with factory floor mats that are made of soft carpet, which looks great but doesn’t defend well against the elements. If you didn’t spring for the all-weather upgrade but live in a place where salt and snow are part of your daily life, throw a set of protective rubber mats down. If you don’t, salt that works its way to your floor panels could be a silent killer.

The best way to fix a rust problem is to avoid it altogether. You don’t want to go down the perilous road of using Bondo on your BMW. Leave that for the pick-n-pull crowd to apply to old muscle cars. A few preventative steps now, and you’ll enjoy a shiny coat of paint as long as you have your car!