Rust! Whats the score?

[Morat]

Getting aquainted with E30s seems to mean that you need to know what to do about rust. I don't. So I'm wondering what you should do to

1. Prevent Rust
Is it as simple as cleaning the car regularly? What else will help with rust prevention? (Short of painting the whole thing with Hammerite).

2. Dealing with those little pinpricks.
You know, the ones that appear as a blemish in the paintwork, still feel smooth and could be only 1-2mm across. Do they mean an ocean of rust beneath the paint? Can they be dealt with by the average owner/bodger?

3. Big scary patches.
If rust has made holes in your car, whats the next step? Can welding new bits in ever be as good as the original? Which panels can be replaces in one go? Wings..doors... roof?

If you know, please help. The car I owned before an E30 was galvanised and didn't scare me as much.

4. Killer Rust.
Are there any places that are unrepairable and mean your car is going to die?

Please post if you know the answers. Maybe we can start a thread for advice that will save poor endangered E30s for posterity!

[Ant]

Rust is an issue on all cars, I've seen many cars for their 1st MOT and found the beginnings of structural rot, not on BMWs I must say, they actually seal the body seams

With surface rust, localised treatment can work well, you need to remove the rust and then treat with an inhibitor , then seal, prime and oaint

for major rust holes, you have to cut the metal out until you reach good clean steel, then repair.

as for terminal rot... that decision has to be financial, not emotional mate, front strut tops/bulkheads seam, "jacking" points, sills and floor are all prone.