Scuttle Rust

[Mitchen]

I'm about to get my scuttle sorted, but would be good to know what causes this, so I can fix the cause not just symptom..

So what causes rust in the corners of the scuttle panel?

[sweep]

Water trap

[Mitchen]

Care to elaborate Peter

[maxfield]

Heavy handed window fitters can cause rust under the windscreen.

More so on the M3 being as its a bonded windscreen.

[Mitchen]

I wish it was an M3

It's on the lower part of the scuttle just under the corner of the bonnet

[jimbom30cab]

underneath the window seal at the corners is a small hole. My theory is water enters here and runs down the inside of the scuttle. Do this for about 25 years and rust evolves.

[Mitchen]

underneath the window seal at the corners is a small hole. My theory is water enters here and runs down the inside of the scuttle. Do this for about 25 years and rust evolves.

Hmm good shout Jim.. how do you remedy such things in your resto's? Do you fill the hole?

[jimbom30cab]

Nope mate, i just ensure the inside is very well protected from rust. Painted in rust proof paint and also wax oiled.

The way i see it, i'll be dead in another 25 years anyway !!

[Mitchen]

Nice bit of positive thinking there Jimbo! Thanks mate

[jimbom30cab]

If you are repairing the scuttles then it would be best to find a car someone is braking and get the sections cut out. Then it's easier to weld them in. Just ensure the inside gets plenty of protection

[Mitchen]

Well a new scuttle panels only £90 from BM.. so worth getting the new metal imo

[jimbom30cab]

yer fair enough, sorry I didn't realise they were still available

cool stuff

[Mitchen]

If you don't ask, you don't get

[Brianmoooore]

yer fair enough, sorry I didn't realise they were still available

cool stuff

They are, but will be supplied stamped with your VIN. The job of stamping in the VIN is invariably given to whatever the current equivalent of a YTS kid is.(Remember them?) The results are not pretty.
The cause of the common round rust hole where the screen pillars join the scuttle is a large blob of sealant that was used to seal the gap from the scuttle box into the roof area. The sealant shrinks over time, and pulls away from the metal, leaving a roundish, unpainted area, with a small gap that sucks water into it by capillary action.

[ross_jsy]

Just to note, I ordered a scuttle from BMW 2 weeks ago and went through the hassle of providing ID, log book and proof of address despite not needing the VIN stamped in (I was only replacing the corner). It came down without a VIN despite the sticker on it stating "FOR STAMPING". When I queried this, the chap on the parts counter claims BMW no longer stamp them.

[bimanut]

I brought one last year for £47 had to wait a week for it to be stamped,still got to fit it

[Mitchen]

Thanks all

Cotswolds have asked for another identification number on the car other than the vin.. Which is apparently located on a turret! I've looked on the suspension turrets in the engine bay and there's nothing there! Any ideas anyone? Or is it worth me just going into a local dealership with the logbook

[jimbom30cab]

The only VIN on the e30 is the front scuttle panel apart from the riveted plate.