I've been a busy boy today!
I started off looking at the bits that I could see and grinding them back. Then I realised that the plastic numberplate backing would probably come of quite easily and was also likely to be hiding more rust. So.. armed only with a screwdriver and an enquiring mind, I managed to get the lot off and only break one clip!
Then I got serious with a pan scrubber (sponge and scotchbright) and some fairy liquid to get the paint as clean as possible. I was surprised how good the paint was where it wasn't rusty... BMW must really lash out on paint.
Anyway, This is what it looked like before I got really stuck in with the Dremel. You can see a bit below the badge where I had been trying it out.
I was going to take more photos but by the time I'd dremelled all that lot off, it was getting too dark!
I managed to get the badge off the back with a screwdriver. It wasn't stuck on with exhaust putty or double sided tape afterall, but had two prongs sticking into rubber grommets which looks like it'll go back on without any dramas.
Once I'd dremelled the lot back to smooth metal, there were some small black flecks of rust still embedded so I got them with some nasty green rust eating gunk from halfords and sanded the lot with some wet and dry. I have to admit that I only spent a few minutes sanding so I'm probably going to pay for this later. The trouble is, its Sunday night and its dark! Seeing as the car is parked on the street I really don't want it out there without a rear numberplate for too long.
Anyway, after I'd sanded, washed, and used those painting wipe things. I sprayed it with primer and I'm now waiting 15mins between primer coats. I've no idea what it'll look like since I'm spraying by the light of the streetlamp over the road. I guess I'll be spending a long time sanding during the week before I go near the top coat.. but at least the bugger isn't rusting anymore!
cheers for advice, all mistakes are my own
Morat
