Wheel Arch Rust - Repairs and Advice

[Lemon98]

Hi all,

I'm potentially about to buy back my E30 and I forgot about the rust it had in the nearside wheel arch. The hole near the ground where the mud flap used to attach and seems concentrated in that area because of it.

I took a video when I saw the car on Monday and have taken screenshots below to show the hole. My main question/worry is: how intensive of a job would this be to get it fixed? In terms of time and money at a body shop (I don't have the ability to fabricate and weld)

The wing has also completely gone at the bottom to the point where the front side skirt piece doesn't even have anything to connect to.

Rough estimates of cost please from experience? TIA

[flybynite]

Rough estimates of cost please from experience? TIA

Good to see you are buying it back! At least you were able to get it

Not much help but the rust is normally a good 50% worse than you can see. How much it costs will depend on the quality of job you want done.

Mig-ing the holes up and a thick layer of stonechip will be cheap, pass the MOT and look OK for a while before the rust comes back even worse and the whole repair drops out.

Around the arches and sills it is important to get the rust in the panels behind but that takes a bit of skill and that is never cheap. Go round a few places locally and get a price but more importantly ask them what they are quoting for. (how far are they going for the money)

If it is an original wing, keep it, you will not find one that fits better, even new from BMW. Get a lower repair panel from Valkas or E30GN any half decent bodyshop should be able to weld it on.

Sorry not much help price-wise but hope it helps

[Lemon98]

Rough estimates of cost please from experience? TIA

Good to see you are buying it back! At least you were able to get it

Sorry not much help price-wise but hope it helps

Well I haven't handed over any money yet but would like to own it again 100% (for the right price)!

What you said has been really helpful as I've had floors and sills welded on a classic mini before but that's a substantially simpler car for those of things.

I agree with you that when taken back there will be far more rust, & I know it's hard to say from pictures alone but what are the chances that it has spread to the bulkhead or along into the floor?

[Mitchen]

I know it's hard to say from pictures alone but what are the chances that it has spread to the bulkhead or along into the floor?

You'll never know until you strip the carpet and dash.

However I would say the vast majority of E30 owners have a lot of nasties hiding that they're completely unaware of until they either strip the car, or it reaches the stage where it becomes a real problem. There's very little rust free E30's out there now, whether the owner knows it or not..

[flybynite]

You'll never know until you strip the carpet and dash.

Or poke at it with a screwdriver. especially through rust holes if it goes too far you know there are probelms beneath.

Not many rust spots on an E30 that cannot be found with a screwdriver from outside

[fixedwheelnut]

A wire wheel soon reveals the extent of any rust, some panels are still available from BMW , other pattern parts are available, Valcas Garage in Norway have a decent range.
https://www.valcasgarage.com/

Dealing with it is more difficult but possible if you don't mind putting the hours in, stripping out the car to keep anything flammable out of the way in prep is a big part, then cut out the rust and weld in new metal

[Lemon98]

I know it's hard to say from pictures alone but what are the chances that it has spread to the bulkhead or along into the floor?

You'll never know until you strip the carpet and dash.

However I would say the vast majority of E30 owners have a lot of nasties hiding that they're completely unaware of until they either strip the car, or it reaches the stage where it becomes a real problem. There's very little rust free E30's out there now, whether the owner knows it or not..

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions, it's reminded me how good the ownership community is, and I kind of miss it!!

The current owner is getting it welded over this weekend from his own mid-week choice so I'll see what the photos of the repair are like, and how much more they want for it now.

and this ^^ I've got to say is probably very accurate and something serious to consider for me when thinking about buying one back... that it's likely to need big time and money in the v near future.

[Lemon98]

An update for those who are interested:

The car was initially listed (and is now back up) on eBay by the brother of the guy selling it. The brother is the one actually came and bought the car from me, on his brother's behalf. The brother is knowledgeable and reasonable, the seller not so much!

I had offered 6k for the car when I saw it in person, and then went to get insurance quotes and during that time reality set in and the physical condition of the car became more real vs how I remembered it in my head. For info - most of the front end (valence, wings and front doors) have been poorly resprayed over red panels some time ago prior to me, presumably after an accident. There are holes at the top and bottom of the drivers door (a mint spare is with the car tbh), and there are two small patches right behind the rear wheels. & obviously the hole in the arch as above ^

The seller then didn't actually get the car welded or repaired at all, it was just "looked at" and quoted, without any metal being taken back to accurately assess the situation, and the pictures of the repair panels he sent me were just from ebay and he hadn't even bought them. No mention of name of the body shop or anything.

I then asked if we could renegotiate as I wasn't interested in the spare discs & rear shocks that he'd bought so he could sell those himself to recoup some money. This rubbed him the wrong way and he got all aggravated and defensive saying he'd sent me loads of pictures etc etc.

SO - the current state of the car is:

* no rust treated at all since I sold it for high £4,000
* lowered with gaz shocks at the front with no name random springs, and without replacing the top mounts
* apex springs at the back on Bilstein B4's (which I had fitted alongside new top mounts)
* a few cosmetic bits like new bonnet badge, tinted indicators at the front, a replica IS lip, and a fitted headunit and new speakers
* got crashed into at the back so he sourced a new rear bumper and had it painted to match. The centre black strip now doesn't fit correctly the RL tail light has spider cracks in it
* car is also pulling to the left when driving

He then advertised it on his instagram, had someone come and offer £4000 after getting home and reviewing the state of the car. He was annoyed at this person yet has had ZERO other interest of offers so I suggested that somewhere between 4k and 6k is probably accurate for the right buyer.

Basically someone could get a good deal on a genuine car with great interior if they can afford to spend some money sorting the suspension out properly and addressing the rust in a time frame they're comfortable with. However, he genuinely doesn't grasp the fact that money on mods =/= added value. Eg he bought new sunroof seals from BMW but hasn't fitted them, thinks that's adding a bunch of value, OR has bought a period BMW phone and fitted it in the front centre console space. Also thinking that general maintenance like a new rocker cover gasket & fixing power steering pipe leaks are something to be praised & not just part and parcel of owning a classic car. His care of it has barely scrapped above minimum yet he shouts about loving the car and will regret selling etc etc


I genuinely wish anyone luck in dealing with Robert but also hope someone from here buys it and actually loves it and gets her going properly again. My for sale ad for the car is still live in the relevant forum section if anyone's interested.

2 and a bit years ago it had - poly subframe mounts, OE trailing arm bushes, offset poly FLCAB, braided brake hoses, new clutch, rear shocks & mounts, poly diff mount, InjectorTune cleaned injectors, OE intake boot, dash mat etc


TLDR:

Insurance quotes came back several hundred pounds more than I was anticipating, combined with the rust I would have needed to address so I asked for more money off in a negotiation because the body condition is average & rust needs sorting - essentially told "in no rush to sell, know what I've got" by the most clueless seller. Anyone who brings up a genuine reason for wanting to lower price is impacting the perfect picture of the car in his head and gets his back up. He is selling the car as he's moving to the coast to live with his gf and the car is currently stored in a disused house garage in Romford (ULEZ) and he needs the money to help fund the move (so there is a genuine time pressure for him selling the car)

It's his first and only other/enthusiast/classic car he's ever had and first time selling a 2nd hand car by the gist of things.

The ebay ad is here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175730954744 ... R-r8-oCGYg


Sorry for the rant & no one might care but it's been on my mind lol!!

[Lemon98]

When I offered 6k in person by the car, there was no handshake or deposit paid! So the could have relisted it or done whatever in the weeks since.

Another example of the delusion is being annoyed at me for taking a long time to decide if I wanted it or not, when he had said he's in no rush to sell and there was no deposit etc. I don't know if it's just me but I had several firms not calling me back or taking a few days to do so to quote for insurance.

The first ad had it up for £8,950 i think, then it got dropped to £8,500 (and he got NO messages, offers or anything in that time!) - so I messaged the brother to say "hey I want to look, but only if he's open to offers around £6,000". It's now up for £6,750.

If anyone wants a laugh I'll happily send screenshots. It's a buying experience I wish on nobody and I'm sad that it's ruined my love for an awesome car that I once enjoyed

[flybynite]

Unfortunately this is the problem with a lot of things, not just cars. Prices for stuff went mental during lock down and people just thought it was a one way street. For many reality has yet to set in

Prices are softening and costs are climbing. In the short term prices are only going one way and it is not up.

The problem is historically a 320i moredoor was never a popular choice but last couple of years people were buying anything. Being an SE it might fetch sensible money if it was bone-stock OEM but the work that needs doing combined with the useless add-ons don't help the price. People have become more selective again.

Fix the rust well, lose the added tat, back on springs and Bilseins, maybe some genuine 15" bbs it might be worth what he is asking, As it stands I dont think many would go for it in the current climate in that condition.

You could always give him a firm offer of a grand or so over what he paid, then wait, if it comes it comes, if it doesn't then walk away.

[Lemon98]

Unfortunately this is the problem with a lot of things, not just cars. Prices for stuff went mental during lock down and people just thought it was a one way street. For many reality has yet to set in

Prices are softening and costs are climbing. In the short term prices are only going one way and it is not up.

The problem is historically a 320i moredoor was never a popular choice but last couple of years people were buying anything. Being an SE it might fetch sensible money if it was bone-stock OEM but the work that needs doing combined with the useless add-ons don't help the price. People have become more selective again.

Fix the rust well, lose the added tat, back on springs and Bilseins, maybe some genuine 15" bbs it might be worth what he is asking, As it stands I dont think many would go for it in the current climate in that condition.

You could always give him a firm offer of a grand or so over what he paid, then wait, if it comes it comes, if it doesn't then walk away.

I think you're spot on here!

I'll keep that offer in my back pocket for a 2 months time when he's really desperate ;)

[martauto]

You could buy my Baur for much less than that and I will tell you the truth
Walk away mate, this does not sound right.

Mart.

[Satan]

You could buy my Baur for much less than that and I will tell you the truth
Walk away mate, this does not sound right.

Mart.

Buying a Baur is like admitting that you are a vegan (you have to let everyone know about it) drinking Baby Sham or a Snow Ball and partake in Western Line Dancing, ring a bell Mart eh? ;o))))))

[martauto]

So you want it then ????
We shall sit down and talk

Mart.