roof rust

[placey]

hmmm i've started sniffing around a sport - there's rust on the roof and boot panel etc etc. now i know that when a bodyshell starts to rot it generally rots until condemned but can the roof rust be cut out and replaced for an almost good as new shell in the same way as sills and other panels are repaired? i ask because the roof seems like a very tricky repair place to me... does it require a particular level of skill that welding in a repair panel doesn't?

paul

[Helmet]

it can be done, just cut at the bottom of the front A pillars and C pillars. A roof skin would be quite alot of money, but the paint bill should not be too high. In my experience it is the sun roofs which rot

[Jhonno]

probably the easiest way is to replace the whole roof as has been said. its difficult to cut out and weld a patch on the roof without distorting the panel as its such a large area

[placey]

thanks guys you've confirmed what i thought. the rot is indeed around the sunroof as well as on it. are roof panels available? i'll have to be careful as if the roof is gone and the sills too there might not be too much left.

paul

[Jhonno]

not sure if roof panels are readily available.. try www.sel-imperial.co.uk

best/cheapest option is probably to cut off a donor altho you'll have to make sure you get your measurements correct or you'll have a car with different dimensions

[Helmet]

I have been told to never take a headling out of an E30 now, as you would be shocked at the rust hidden there! another weak spot it seems. I do not know as i have never taken a headlining off!

Everything is pretty much still available for an E30 luckily!

[DanThe]

If your going to repair a roof pannel do as little welding as possible as the more you do the more disstortion will occur. so have plenty of filler on hand