New member

[countyhouse]

Thank you for permitting me to join your site.
I am in Ireland and l am looking for a BMW 318is at present . I am checking up on what to look out for when purchasing these cars, especially rust.

[martauto]

Welcome to the zone mate ,have a gooooood look at the "Wiki", it is one of the best you can see.

Mart.

[ocde30]

Hi and welcome. There will be many replies on here from guys with far more "rust" experience than me as many are in the middle of restorations - first hand knowledge.
For what is worth when I was looking for mine the more obvious areas are:
1. Bubbles around the sun roof.
2. Base of the screen pillars.
3. Base of front wings - especially at the back where mud/silt traps moisture and rots the shell around the area that is often called the jacking point ( square shape ) - but isn't a jacking point at all.
4. Inner and outer rear wheel arches visible by removing boot lining over arches.
5. Battery tray.
6. Bulk head / firewall.
7. Rear valance around towing hook.
8. Can get very crusty in rear arch where fuel filler pipe / and expansion tanks sit again this is behind a small plastic panel.

Like I say these were just my points to check out - I am sure there are plenty more.
Don't be put off by this list as there are cars out there that are remarkable for 30 year old.

For me ( and I stand corrected by the experience of others ) the single little thing that is a fair indicator if the car has been looked after and therefore is possibly not a rust bucket is if the front wings are original and still have the factory seam seal where they meet the screen pillars.

Good luck and post pictures as soon as you have one.

[Vez010]

Hi and welcome. There will be many replies on here from guys with far more "rust" experience than me as many are in the middle of restorations - first hand knowledge.
For what is worth when I was looking for mine the more obvious areas are:
1. Bubbles around the sun roof.
2. Base of the screen pillars.
3. Base of front wings - especially at the back where mud/silt traps moisture and rots the shell around the area that is often called the jacking point ( square shape ) - but isn't a jacking point at all.
4. Inner and outer rear wheel arches visible by removing boot lining over arches.
5. Battery tray.
6. Bulk head / firewall.
7. Rear valance around towing hook.
8. Can get very crusty in rear arch where fuel filler pipe / and expansion tanks sit again this is behind a small plastic panel.

Like I say these were just my points to check out - I am sure there are plenty more.
Don't be put off by this list as there are cars out there that are remarkable for 30 year old.

For me ( and I stand corrected by the experience of others ) the single little thing that is a fair indicator if the car has been looked after and therefore is possibly not a rust bucket is if the front wings are original and still have the factory seam seal where they meet the screen pillars.

Good luck and post pictures as soon as you have one.

Just a couple to add from my experience:
- rust inside the scuttle area.
- underneath the fusebox
- battery tray area

All the best with your search!