Rust :: door sill area of '02-'05 MINIs
#251
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 292
Likes: 1
#252
POR 15 is the best! I used on some rusty beasts and on new metal restoration where rust is prone to crop up again. Old Porsche for example have some great spots that POR 15 works like a champ. My body guy didnt believe me, so his test is to dip a screw driver in it and then use it until it all chips or wears off. Lasted a lot longer than he thought, so he was sold on it. Hard as a rock and bonds with the rust to stop it in its tracks. Just dont get it on your fingers or clothes or your wearing it for a long time.
Good luck.
Good luck.
#253
Originally Posted by Android993
Just dont get it on your fingers or clothes or your wearing it for a long time.
Good luck.
Good luck.
#254
Originally Posted by ChiliBit
My Oct 03 build has a tiny bit of rust. Both sides total a pin head together. It is seldom in rain and everything, including door hinges, is dried after a wash. I do have the clamp points as unpainted. If they are taped, I cannot feel it. Since this has been improved in more recent models, it is clear that BMW recognized the shortcoming and made a running change to production. In effect, convicting their previous technique. Notwithstanding, it is not a perforation and won't be this decade. I intend to clean it up, and cover the area with clear finger nail polish. Then watch it. The advantage of clear nail polish is that it seals well, dries very quickly and you can watch what is going on under the coating. It is unfortunate and unnecessay in 2006 to have this. Saturns have a better record on sheet metal rust...
#255
I would suggest against doin any sanding or grinding on any metal on the car that has clean paint on it.
all you will need to do it knock of any scale (if all you have is surface rust, LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!) and paint it with POR-15.
The POR does indeed stop oxidation. what you will need to do it get all all of the area under the rubber, wether it still has clean paint on it or not, with the POR.
POR not only stops rust , it will prevent it for a very long time.
you will need to get alot of POR into the crevices where the panels were joined, also. 3 panels joined with spot welds was a very stupid idea on MINI's part. there are a few large gaps for water to sit.
I can see this being a very bad place for rust to occur if its let to rust. Ive seen these kind of panel joints on other cars that we have restored, and they all will rust thru eventually, painted or not. so POR is the best way to go.
btw, my car is a 10/03 build 04. its driven every winter, in a very heavily salted area.
i had one spot about the size of an earaser head on a pencil. thats it, nothing else. i dont believe this rust is weather related at all.
That being said, i would suggest getting ALL of this area heavily coated with POR soon, wther you have rust or not, its extra protection.
all you will need to do it knock of any scale (if all you have is surface rust, LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!) and paint it with POR-15.
The POR does indeed stop oxidation. what you will need to do it get all all of the area under the rubber, wether it still has clean paint on it or not, with the POR.
POR not only stops rust , it will prevent it for a very long time.
you will need to get alot of POR into the crevices where the panels were joined, also. 3 panels joined with spot welds was a very stupid idea on MINI's part. there are a few large gaps for water to sit.
I can see this being a very bad place for rust to occur if its let to rust. Ive seen these kind of panel joints on other cars that we have restored, and they all will rust thru eventually, painted or not. so POR is the best way to go.
btw, my car is a 10/03 build 04. its driven every winter, in a very heavily salted area.
i had one spot about the size of an earaser head on a pencil. thats it, nothing else. i dont believe this rust is weather related at all.
That being said, i would suggest getting ALL of this area heavily coated with POR soon, wther you have rust or not, its extra protection.
#256
#257
Originally Posted by not-so-rednwhitecooper
umm... well... how do i put this....
you do know the exterior panels on a Saturn arent metal, right?
you do know the exterior panels on a Saturn arent metal, right?
Not a scratch/dent on her! I hit her so hard that when I looked behind me to see what I hit, 2 of the tires were off the ground!
(I didnt hit her with my MINI, it was my 3 and a 1/2 ton Landrover Discovery!
#258
On the Saturns, I think it is called touch-in-cheek.
I did not mean to imply that I would not clean up rust before coating. Take an irk eraser that looks like a pencil. Usually they are green. Chuck it up in your drill and you have a precise, not-too-abrasive way you clean up minor rust spot. Then you could put POR 15 on it or just cover with clear polish. I like to monitor and I cannot see through POR that has reacted with the oxide. I think the real issue is between the two sheets of metal (the gasket is over the top of this joint) not the surface stuff we see in the photos. Maybe some POR and pray.
I did not mean to imply that I would not clean up rust before coating. Take an irk eraser that looks like a pencil. Usually they are green. Chuck it up in your drill and you have a precise, not-too-abrasive way you clean up minor rust spot. Then you could put POR 15 on it or just cover with clear polish. I like to monitor and I cannot see through POR that has reacted with the oxide. I think the real issue is between the two sheets of metal (the gasket is over the top of this joint) not the surface stuff we see in the photos. Maybe some POR and pray.
#259
#260
BMW reaction to rust problem-----
The following is a direct quote from BMW/Mini management regarding the rust problem...
" ."
I hope no one is waiting for some formal response about this problem..It ain't gonna happen. B/M will at most quietly sanction dealers to repair rust when it's questioned by owners. A silent recall. It's not a safety issue so they would be foolish to make some sort of announcement that's going to send every current owner running out to their car to pull up the weatherstripping.
There are very likely some dudes in white lab coats with pocket protectors working out a fix for '07+. We're going to get grinding and repainting - if we ask.
" ."
I hope no one is waiting for some formal response about this problem..It ain't gonna happen. B/M will at most quietly sanction dealers to repair rust when it's questioned by owners. A silent recall. It's not a safety issue so they would be foolish to make some sort of announcement that's going to send every current owner running out to their car to pull up the weatherstripping.
There are very likely some dudes in white lab coats with pocket protectors working out a fix for '07+. We're going to get grinding and repainting - if we ask.
#262
It appears to me that it is coming from around the window area and running down the inside of the weatherstrip. I checked mine (10/03 build) and only found a bit of water, but quite a large standing open seam of metal that looks like it could hold a lot of water. Looks like a definate design flaw and something that needs to be fixed.
Can POR 15 be used to fill up the small gap/seam between the sheetmetal parts or should it be filled with a body putty?
Can POR 15 be used to fill up the small gap/seam between the sheetmetal parts or should it be filled with a body putty?
#263
Originally Posted by ScottinBend
It appears to me that it is coming from around the window area and running down the inside of the weatherstrip. I checked mine (10/03 build) and only found a bit of water, but quite a large standing open seam of metal that looks like it could hold a lot of water. Looks like a definate design flaw and something that needs to be fixed.
Can POR 15 be used to fill up the small gap/seam between the sheetmetal parts or should it be filled with a body putty?
Can POR 15 be used to fill up the small gap/seam between the sheetmetal parts or should it be filled with a body putty?
#271
I met with the Area Manager from MINIUSA today at my dealer in South Florida to show him a small area under my passenger-side door that was missed while the robots painted it during production. As the car is only 2 weeks old, I want to get paint on there to start protecting the area. He was very nice and took the time to inspect the car and helped me setup a time to bring my car into the body shop to take care of the problem.
While I had his attention, I brought up the rust issue and asked if anything was being done. He was aware of the issue but he said he has only seen 3 cars that had this problem out of the 20,000 + cars sold in his region. He said it is something they are working on improving on the new model MINI but at this time it did not seem like the problem was that widespread. I told him the problem has just been discovered by the masses in the past few weeks and to be on the look-out for more cars coming in.
He did offer a preventative measure to me if I was that concerned about it, however. He told me to lift the rubber seal and apply electrical tape onto the metal seam and then put back the rubber seal and that should keep the moisture from getting to the metal. I am not sure how effective that will be but may consider it if nothing else comes of it.
Any thoughts on the "electrical tape fix"?
While I had his attention, I brought up the rust issue and asked if anything was being done. He was aware of the issue but he said he has only seen 3 cars that had this problem out of the 20,000 + cars sold in his region. He said it is something they are working on improving on the new model MINI but at this time it did not seem like the problem was that widespread. I told him the problem has just been discovered by the masses in the past few weeks and to be on the look-out for more cars coming in.
He did offer a preventative measure to me if I was that concerned about it, however. He told me to lift the rubber seal and apply electrical tape onto the metal seam and then put back the rubber seal and that should keep the moisture from getting to the metal. I am not sure how effective that will be but may consider it if nothing else comes of it.
Any thoughts on the "electrical tape fix"?
#272
Originally Posted by mct
While I had his attention, I brought up the rust issue and asked if anything was being done. He was aware of the issue but he said he has only seen 3 cars that had this problem out of the 20,000 + cars sold in his region. ..... He did offer a preventative measure to me if I was that concerned about it, however. He told me to lift the rubber seal and apply electrical tape onto the metal seam and then put back the rubber seal and that should keep the moisture from getting to the metal. I am not sure how effective that will be but may consider it if nothing else comes of it.
Any thoughts on the "electrical tape fix"?
Any thoughts on the "electrical tape fix"?
Those guys make me laugh..Like he's going to admit to you that just about every car he's seen has some rust?! Sorry, but it's not in his best interest to tell you the truth. Of the people on this board who've looked at their car, most have found something.
The electrical tape thing is priceless. He should send that up to MINI HQ so they can roll that out in the '07s. That'll save a ton of money. Pure nonsense to tell people that e-tape will waterproof a seam. He's probably still laughing...
#273
Originally Posted by -O--O
Here's a thought...He blew smoke up your !#@.
Those guys make me laugh..Like he's going to admit to you that just about every car he's seen has some rust?! Sorry, but it's not in his best interest to tell you the truth. Of the people on this board who've looked at their car, most have found something.
The electrical tape thing is priceless. He should send that up to MINI HQ so they can roll that out in the '07s. That'll save a ton of money. Pure nonsense to tell people that e-tape will waterproof a seam. He's probably still laughing...
Those guys make me laugh..Like he's going to admit to you that just about every car he's seen has some rust?! Sorry, but it's not in his best interest to tell you the truth. Of the people on this board who've looked at their car, most have found something.
The electrical tape thing is priceless. He should send that up to MINI HQ so they can roll that out in the '07s. That'll save a ton of money. Pure nonsense to tell people that e-tape will waterproof a seam. He's probably still laughing...
#275