Inner sill panels?

Post Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:31 pm

Hi all,

Sorry for another plea for help/question. I'll hopefully start answering questions rather than asking once I've got something useful to add.

My car has a fair amount of rust on the inner sills, and I'd rather replace the whole panel. The only place I've found with them so far is BMW at £120 a side. Does anyone else know if/where else they can be got from at a lesser price? I've spent a couple of evenings trawling Google, but to no result.

If they can't be found, patching will suffice.

I've got outer sills on order already.

Thanks!
Joe

Post Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:34 pm

Try Cotswolds on the zone section they might be cheaper

Post Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:42 pm

Aye, that £120 was Cotswold, thanks. I've used them before with my e46 on e46zone and contacted them via there.

I was just wondering if there were any 3rd party panel providers anywhere. Not the end of the world if not though.

Post Wed Apr 30, 2014 12:04 am

Try BM miniparts, seem to be cheaper than dealers all online place a request and they get back to you quite prompt. That rust does look bad!!

Post Wed Apr 30, 2014 6:11 am

The inner sill isn't a very complex shape:

but the outer sill is going to have to come off to deal with it. Depending on how it's rusted, you might get away with some 0.8mm sheet steel (I used 1mm) to make your repairs, which can be had for a lot less than 120 quid. The whole section is about 1.2m long though.

Click here to what I did to repair it:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 51#2403051

Post Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:24 pm

Cheers, I did try BMMini parts too, but couldn't find it on their system. IME, Cotswolds are usually cheaper by the time postage is factored in.

I've seen your photos before, and they've been very useful (on the MIG welding forum I think), buts it's the cable runs that concerns me the most, but I sure we can knock something up (I can't weld yet, a friend will be doing it all for me), it just might be a bit less curved than the standard panel.

I've got new outer sills on order, so fully ready to whip those off, just need to work out the best/least damaging way to remove them.

Cheers for the link too - I'll have a read later on.