Rusty baby

[Davyhoogy]

Shes been a bit neglected last few months with the weather being as bad and the jobs needed doing. But today during a quick wash we've stumbled across bubbling and flaking paint on the offside front arch, the usual place.. hmph!

 

[hard top]

Bugger, but clean that up quick and you should be OK.

 

[Roger George]

Yes! don't leave it

 

[andyglym]

Mine is the same, try and get it done at some point

 

[hard top]

Mine is the same,

Clean it up, put some anti rust agent on (there have been a few mentioned on here recently) and get a spray can of colour coded paint from Halfords, other members on here say their product is good, although I have never used it to be honest.

 

[andyglym]

Clean it up, put some anti rust agent on (there have been a few mentioned on here recently) and get a spray can of colour coded paint from Halfords, other members on here say their product is good, although I have never used it to be honest.

Back home for 3 weeks in August mate so will get the sill covers off then and see what's what and crack on with it.

 

[Roger George]

Back home for 3 weeks in August mate so will get the sill covers off then and see what's what and crack on with it.

good man

 

[hard top]

Back home for 3 weeks in August mate so will get the sill covers off then and see what's what and crack on with it.

Just a thought, if your sill covers are knackered, you could get @Stormy_be to send you a set of fiberglass ones down to Paris as he says export to the UK is to expensive.....

 

[andyglym]

Just a thought, if your sill covers are knackered, you could get @Stormy_be to send you a set of fiberglass ones down to Paris as he says export to the UK is to expensive.....

That's a good thought. I'll see what's going on when I take them off and take it from there. Fibreglass seems a good option for longevity.

 

[hard top]

ibreglass seems a good option for longevity.

Yep, and he is good at it, have a word with @David as he went to see him when he was on his way up to me.
Stormy has done most of his panels, bonnet, boot etc, as his Z is for track days.

 

[Zeti]

I think the best solution to avoid that, for people using the car in the winter and salty roads, is to spray some wax on the arches, ignoring the apparently stains. There is a spray with transparent protection wax for cavities. And in the Springtime you can remove it with some petrol.
In the past, during winter , in car service, people used to spray with a mixture of petrol and used motor oil underneath the car. Several times per winter. It was helping a lot! Nowadays is not possible anymore...

 

[raymond]

Fixing rust like that yourself is a waste of money. By the time you buy the sandpaper, three different grades, rust converter, spray paint, lacquer finishing compound it will take days and it will still end up looking as if someone has touched it in. Go to ebay, gumtree etc and wait for these parts to turn up in artic silver. They should be rust free and in excellent condition.You may need to wait but it seems many Z3's are being broken for parts. If you cannot get the right colour then just get rust free ones and get your local paint shop to spray them. Then the car will look great!

 

[Kevlaar]

took my sills off and had new metal welded in for 85 quid both sides so gives you a rough idea of how much to repair

 

[gookah]

that's a write off..
or you could just touch it up and cover it with the Halfords mudflaps ...

 

[colb]

+1 on fitting mud flaps after you fix the rust it should prevent the same happening again, must strip mine down and rustproof behind, been meaning to do it this winter but weather been too cold so far. Warming up a bit now so must get started, no outward signs of rust on mine wondering what will be revealed with the covers off?

 

[jonco]

Take mine off every few years to check - if the corrosion is only in the lead lip it is easily filled and touched up. You have to remove front wing panels to access one of the sill mounting bolts - while these are off check inside bottom lead corner and treat. They are prone to corrosion and more difficult to repair.

 

[Uncle_Clanger]

that's a write off..
or you could just touch it up and cover it with the Halfords mudflaps ...

Definitely get straight on that Davy....@gookah, I remember you fitted mudflaps to yours.... they don't look that bad and are obviously practical. Did you do a fitting write up? You cut them down I seem to remember... What flaps did you buy? Or are there only 1 type available?

 

[Ianmc]

Remove the flaking paint and surface rust and use some smooth silver Hammerite on the inner lip and reverse. A ten minute job that will stop it getting worse and you will hardly notice.

 

[Davyhoogy]

Cheers for all the responses. I think either the upcoming weekend or a fortnight later ill get the covers off both sides and have a look.
Should i respray the whole skirt or just whats needed?
The halfords paint is a fantastic match i used it on the mirrors.

As for the mudflaps does anyone have a link to the ones to use? With my car being so low id worry about them being ripped off...

 

[jonco]

...........I think either the upcoming weekend or a fortnight later ill get the covers off both sides and have a look......

If you haven't seen it before this covers most of work involved
https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-sill-removal-and-protection.67/
You need to remove the wheel arch liners - worth soaking the retainer screws with penetrant in advance - There are 2 very fine studs underneath on front liner - they have plastic nuts and are easily sheared.