cracks in a touring shell... common?

Post Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:49 pm

i've noticed there are a few small cracks in my touring shell. there's no evidence whatsovever of ever having any crash damage or new paint done and there's no rust whatsoever.

in the C pillars, where the bottoms of the rear side windows and the quarter panel meet, inside the door shut area, there are 15mm long cracks on both sides. they don't seem to be moving ans would be fairly easy to sort but i was wondering if this a common problem? it's not too old. H reg and 160k...

Post Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:59 pm

Hi Gareth, mine has these in the very same place, and so does Steve's touring (325sme), seems it's pretty 'normal'! My M3 also has a small crack that looks very similar, where the base of the rear side window ends on the B pillar.

Post Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:05 pm

haha! you're just jealous cos you don't have C pillars.....

that worries me a bit less now... i suspected there could be a bit of unknown history with it.

Post Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:32 pm

I've got 'em too. They also seem prone to little cracks inside the hatch opening. Bottom corners, down near the taillights.

Post Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:26 pm

Dunno why this suddenly occured to me, but could I suggest that all of you with cracks drill a hole at the end of the crack to prevent it going any further, followed by applying a bit of zinc based primer to the crack and hole to prevent corrosion?

Post Tue Nov 22, 2005 9:45 pm

To be honest, I don't think the cracks go right down to the shell, but just appear to be, because they're in the thicker areas of paint...maybe?

Post Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:29 am

Simon wrote:To be honest, I don't think the cracks go right down to the shell, but just appear to be, because they're in the thicker areas of paint...maybe?

good call si due the the body flexing could be the reasons why it happened
paints gona give over time

Post Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:46 am

lol
stop drilling paint cracks!!!

Post Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:36 pm

Fair enough :lol:

Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:36 pm

i'm fairy sure they're into the steel.

a bead of weld is the best solution imo but that's a real pain in the arse!

Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:48 pm

gareth wrote:i'm fairy sure they're into the steel.

a bead of weld is the best solution imo but that's a real pain in the arse!

Can you get a pic ?

Post Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:27 pm

i'll try and remember to get pics at some point....