I'm guessing some of you MINI owners have tried POR-15 as a solution to rust. So what is the verdict? Did the rust come back? My experience had mixed results. I did mine over a three-day weekend, took my time and followed all the directions. A year and a half later, things look good overall, but in some areas, rust had returned and I decided to try covering it over with Rust Bullet, because I didn't want to deal with all the steps and prep of the POR-15 again.

 

POR-15 isn't a the right product.

We used to use this on restorations, but it turns out it was flaking off of a prepped surface after only a few years.

Its made to be put directly over heavy rust, as it converts something is the rust, chemically, to stop it.

It has its places, but not in our application.




I would suggest just cleaning the metal down to bare metal, priming the surface with a self etching primer, then spraying a single stage enamel paint from an aerosol can onto the spots.

 

where exactly do you have rust? isn't there a rust warranty for 10 years or so?

 

The rust warranty is for perforation only.

If its surface rust, its considered normal wear.


I am assuming hes referring to the pinch weld rust that alot of R50/53's have. Its not structural, but it could potentially separate the two pieces of metal over time. The issue just hasn't been around long enough to know exactly what might happen.

 

I had the subframe out and and applied POR to the frame followed by spraying self etching primer and them a coating of spray enamel. Too early to tell how it holds up.