Would i be able to tackle this rust at home

[Alex]

if you look at the far left of this pic you can see rust starting



would i be able to tackle this rust at home without the need of a welder, for example just smoothen it down and respray

sorry if pic aint the best

[Elecblondie]

Personally I'd take a wire brush to it and see if you can get it down to shiny metal with enough left to maintain the arch; looks like you should be able to, to me anyway. Whatever you do get rid of all of the rust, really shiny metal is what you want to see.

[Chief_Misfire]

Send a better pic.

[JGG1]

From that pic it doesn't look like it needs welding, should be a home job, although paint may not be!

[Alex]

will try and attack it with a wire brush, i relise i may have to get paint work done by a pro

[gareth]

chances are it's blown up inside the seam by now. that's not rust under the paint going downwards, it's rust from behind the paint coming up. the reverse side of the lip and inside the seam will be where it's hiding.

i guess the only options are a temporary bodge / seal job or to get the welder out and stop it properly now before it takes the whole arch and back of the sill out. I'd clean it right out with a wire bruish on a grinder and see how you stand. if you're lucky, some polyurethane seam sealer and new paint will keep it at bay for a good few years yet, just catch it now before it has another salty / wet winter to fester (though it feels like winter is here already )

[Alex]

chances are it's blown up inside the seam by now. that's not rust under the paint going downwards, it's rust from behind the paint coming up. the reverse side of the lip and inside the seam will be where it's hiding.

i guess the only options are a temporary bodge / seal job or to get the welder out and stop it properly now before it takes the whole arch and back of the sill out. I'd clean it right out with a wire bruish on a grinder and see how you stand. if you're lucky, some polyurethane seam sealer and new paint will keep it at bay for a good few years yet, just catch it now before it has another salty / wet winter to fester (though it feels like winter is here already )

if it needs welding it will have to wait till next summer.

the worst part of the rust is sunroof tray it has a nice softspot in there

[gareth]

have a go at cleaning and sealing then. cheap angle grinder £15, wire wheel £5, seam sealer £5, primer and paint £10. If it comes back, weld it! it'll be a smaller job next summer if it does need doing too

[Alex]

another quick one

the inner sunroof panel where its rusted, is the only solution a new panel, i want to keep onto of the rust on this one. the rusty patch is only the size of a 10p piece but it will most likely be massive underneith

i take it it will be a big job might be easyier to weld the sunroof up, like non sunroof models

[gareth]

not sure. i've done plenty of wheel arches before (old skool ford man at heart!!!) but not a sunroof panel. afaik, it's a shit of a job!

uless you're talking the slidey / tiltey bit. then just swap it!

simon13's alpina resto thread has details and pics on what's involved in a 'proper' roof panel job...

[Alex]

not sure. i've done plenty of wheel arches before (old skool ford man at heart!!!) but not a sunroof panel. afaik, it's a shit of a job!

uless you're talking the slidey / tiltey bit. then just swap it!

simon13's alpina resto thread has details and pics on what's involved in a 'proper' roof panel job...

no think it will need a new tray at some point, current one will probs last another 10 years yet mind you, but would rather sort it now while you can still get the trays

i will have to pay someone for that

will have a go at the arches if it ever stops raining

[Chief_Misfire]

I have a brand new original BMW tray going very cheap. PM me if interested.

[Alex]

I have a brand new original BMW tray going very cheap. PM me if interested.

got no money at moment

is it £5

[Chief_Misfire]

Fraid' not pal.

Maybe you won't need it.

[Alex]

Fraid' not pal.

Maybe you won't need it.

was only kidding

[grey_andy]

I have the same rust on one of my wheel arches, after working at it i discovered this nastyyyy hole running all the way down the arch! SUCKSSS

[Alex]

mine aint that bad like

i had a look and its like new there, its just starting so if i catch it early i should be ok