E34 Rusty sill advice...

Tue Aug 28, 2018 11:08 am

Hi guys... I may be about to purchase an E34 touring, with rust on the drivers side sill!
The front jacking point is still solid enough to use, but is very crusty and a bit damp - I can only guess at that point it wants an inner sill (do they have those?) and/or a bit of floor, as well as the outer sill?!
At the back of the drivers door, there is some rust on the top outer edge of the sill (maybe 2x1 inch patch).
The rear jacking point is a little crusty, but doesn't seem too bad and looks more like surface rust.
The sill cover is still on and the guy doesn't want to remove it in case he breaks it!

So... I know no one can say what it will cost, but a guesstimate from someone in the know????
(I know it could snowball once that cover comes off!!!)
Is it a stupid idea to open this can of worms, when I have to pay someone to fix/weld it???

Also, I'm assuming an mot man would poke at the sill and fail it - especially at the front jacking point?
No chance if an mot and get to this in a few months???

Most of the other bits it needs I will do myself and I think it will make a lovely daily one day!!!

Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:54 pm

If you can afford it then go for it mate, these are fast becoming very rare.

Mart.

Tue Aug 28, 2018 6:16 pm

That was along my thinking!
Car is cheap enough - just hoping the welding doesn't put it out of budget but won't know until its too late really!!!
Might be all in, in a day or two!!!

Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:04 pm

Any e34 is worth saving but what is this one ? I know this sounds heavy but, spend a grand over some time and you will have a car for a daily that will give you all very good service for a fraction of the price of a generic training shoe .

Mart.

Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:11 am

tread carefully, the rust on the rear can often spread up around where the rear subframe bushes mount and also in the inside of the door shut. The skirts will be hiding more rust than you think

Wed Aug 29, 2018 12:12 am

plus they clip on so sell doesn't want to remove them as they can be structural! They clip on a child can take them on and off

Wed Aug 29, 2018 2:27 am

Hmmmmm, the rust looks worse at the front than the rear (from what I could see) and is inside the door shut of the front door.
I am sort of assuming that removing the cover will reveal a disaster - it's just the unknown cost of repair that could bite me!!!

Whatever happens, it would indeed be cheaper and preferable to some modern box of boredom!!!
I'm worryingly tempted!