Rusting E39s

[CaesarBob]

I was pulled up behind an E39 535i Sport in traffic this morning, which at first glance looked fairly tidy. However, the bottom of the boot lid had been seriously ravaged by the tin worm.

Am i just naïve to expect an E39 to be pretty much rust free (it was an X-reg after all) or is it unusual?

[Blitz]

Its a common place for E39's to rust. Even e46's rust, front arches mainly.

[Speedtouch]

I saw an X-reg Mercedes S-class with some bootlid rust the other day

[Alex]

My dads old e46 has a few blisters around the arches, Like where the e36's go in the corners. The bonnet is also rusty at the front. Its done 250,000 miles on a v plate

[CaesarBob]

It's probably more down to me still feeling like E39s are pretty new. Doesn't seem like 5mins since my old man got his 528i back in 1999!

[snakebrain]

My old man has one that has 170k on it and looks like it came out of the factory yesterday. That said, I did once open a bag of crisps in it and for a moment didn't understand why the car suddenly glided to a halt. It was the crisps out, or me out - he's that kind of car owner!

[Blitz]

People have to clean out there arches.

[si-]

I saw an X-reg Mercedes S-class with some bootlid rust the other day

ive seen them with rust on the roof!! merc's are a load of crap nowadays anyway

[fingerman]

My E38 was a bit rusty and so have been my 2 previous E39's, specially round the boot and rear arches

[Alex]

I think its a case of all cars rust eventually and e46s e39s e38s etc are now starting to suffer

just look at the e36 touring cook318is broke you can get some real rotten early ones when you look

[/// KAMI]

E30s Are The Best No Rust At All......LOL

[bss325i]

I saw an X-reg Mercedes S-class with some bootlid rust the other day

ive seen them with rust on the roof!! merc's are a load of crap nowadays anyway

Yep, they are shocking pieces of shit for rust.

Last year i MOT'd an '02 reg one which had rust coming trough on the front wings, 2x doors, boot lid and both rear arches.

Not big chunks falling off but heavy bubbling.

[Kos]

you'll find that most of teh e46's that are rusting on the front wings are coupes and cabs. dont know why

[B7]

you'll find that most of teh e46's that are rusting on the front wings are coupes and cabs. dont know why

It's the inner plastic arch liner chafes the inner surface to the outer wing. This then rusts and eats away the lip.

The e39 is positively sound compared to say a late 90's e class. I've seen some right horrors of late.

e39 tourings all suffer in the tailgate area and the saloons on the bootlid around the lock but especially on the panel below the lights and bootlid, above the rear bumper. If you take the rear bumper off, theres two holes with grommets in. they tend to rust around those holes which then creeps up as a bubble from the bottom. First thing I do is whip the bumper off, treat the area and fill with waxoil.

[jasons]

the saloons on the bootlid around the lock but especially on the panel below the lights and bootlid, above the rear bumper. If you take the rear bumper off, theres two holes with grommets in. they tend to rust around those holes which then creeps up as a bubble from the bottom. First thing I do is whip the bumper off, treat the area and fill with waxoil.

Spot on, my E9 sport suffers there- as do most.

[Falkster]

I saw an X-reg Mercedes S-class with some bootlid rust the other day

Isn't that expected? I'm sure something like post 97 (ish) up to 2003 (ish) were appaling for rust proofing.

[town325i]

Last night i seen an 04 plate jaguar x type last night and the bottom of the drivers door was rotten as

[B7]

Last night i seen an 04 plate jaguar x type last night and the bottom of the drivers door was rotten as

Jags. Thats another story. Mate has a 99 T XKR and the rear arches are rusty. How much were they new???? And how many T plate e39's do you see with rotten rear arches. I just wouldn't entertain one!

[Felix79]

My Old man's E-Class has currosion on the centre of the Alloy's. They were like it when he got the car when it was 2 years old. For a top spec car the quality does feel really bad on it IMO. It will take a long time before Merc really restore the faith with it's customers. Also the customer service is shocking, they make my local BMW dealership seem commom and friendly.

[SDM]

I saw an X-reg Mercedes S-class with some bootlid rust the other day

Isn't that expected? I'm sure something like post 97 (ish) up to 2003 (ish) were appaling for rust proofing.

They were, some were reported to rust after 1 year! Merc did then replace panels F.O.C.

[DanThe]

Same story for most manufacturers nowadays, poor build quality. Like trev said badly fitting plastic trim will rub through the paint and the panel will start to rust very quickly once its been through a winter or 2.
If they had sealed/waxed the inner arches properly to start with there wouldnt be any issues

God help jag, I expect the panels will soon be bashed out of an indian quality steel

[Andyboy]

If you want to avoid rust, you need to go French. Yes they're horrible things but they can really build a car body well. You rarely - if ever - see rusty 206/306/406's, Lagunas or Xantias because they used good metal and really laid the underseal on.

Of the German makers, Audi seem to be the best by a long way.

[mrLEE30]

i have seen mercs here that have rusted...and we have about an inch of rain a year!

[B7]

If you want to avoid rust, you need to go French.

Steady on Andrew!!!!!

[darkchild]

If you want to avoid rust, you need to go French. Yes they're horrible things but they can really build a car body well. You rarely - if ever - see rusty 206/306/406's, Lagunas or Xantias because they used good metal and really laid the underseal on.

Of the German makers, Audi seem to be the best by a long way.

Very true. My dad has had Peugeots for the past 20 years and none of them have had any rust. Even my old D plate 205 was rust free. Everything else falls off them admittedly but they do know how to build a car body. The 405 he had in the early 90s was a lovely car - their cars have got progressively worse since then though!

[mrLEE30]

thats cause french cars are so rubbish even rust avoids them

[Blitz]

I saw a late W202 with rusty rear arches, doors and front wings.

[Jesus325iTouring]

Many years ago I went to Mahindra dealer with a friend,those jeeps were so shit,the brand news on the forecourt already had rust

[Speedtouch]

In India, they wouldn't have it any other way; the home-market models probably don't even have functioning brakes, instead expecting drivers to rely on their sacred cows to save them from crashes!