Is this as bad as it looks?

[Ant84]

Got the car about a month ago (325i SE Moredoor), it's got a few scabby bits but most of it is quite good apart from this bit... How bad is it?


It looked quite bad but then i gave it a bit of a prod... It got worse!


Any advice is welcome.
Thanks

[E30Gheko]

Seen worse, but I would suggest you get it looked at sooner rather than later. It will be harder to fix the closer the rust gets to the window.

[daimlerman]

Tricky to repair DiY and expensive at a body shop.
If you own a MiG or similar,remove the windscreen and dashboard and get stuck in!
You can remove or move the wing to make access a bit easier as well.
A patch repair will never 'look' right,of course,but it will stop the water getting in and doing more damage.
A decent bodyshop would want to let in a section of scuttle panel,best option for an invisible repair.
I understand that the root cause of damage like this is flexing of the shell letting the seam sealer move and break up.

[TheHeap]

you could cut the rust right out, tack a plate from behind the hole and fill or fibre glass it.

or go the really expensive route and have it done properly.

[Ant84]

I just spoke to someone thats done a few of these in the past and he said just to cut it out, take out that grill next to it, tack a plate on the back and fill it with bog! I am not planing to put it in for concourse so do you guys recon it will be ok?

[RM2186]

Whichever method you choose beats leaving it to take a real hold!

[daimlerman]

I just spoke to someone thats done a few of these in the past and he said just to cut it out, take out that grill next to it, tack a plate on the back and fill it with bog! I am not planing to put in in gonna put it in for concourse so do you guys recon it will be ok?

Sounds like a plan!I would still take the 'screen and dash out,though,better safe than sorry....

[anisotropy]

It'll be okay for awhile and then rust again if you do that, so depends on how long you want to keep the car.

[Bob_S]

the dash doesnt have to come out for this matey. just replace the panel it's cheap enough from BMW

[Nay]

Thats exactly whats eating into my 320i

Onside is as big as the hole you have and the other is up to the windscreen now

I bought her for £500 quid though and plan on doing up the 325i. Theres no point fixing the 320i as it has a few other problems and will cost more than the car in the first place to fix so cba.

But ye, get it quick as before you know it it will be a rather large rust hole!

[town325i]

just cover it in sealer and pretend it was never there