12 replies to this topic

[Plumbers crack]

I'm going to be looking at mini's very soon and need to know where the common areas they like to rust. I'm in Canada so rust is a serious issue and probably the most costly to fix.

School me so I don't end up with a potential rust bucket.

[mini-geek]

Everywhere

[Plumbers crack]

Lol. I know the general area's like wheel arches and rockers but where are the hidden area's that rust hides and I normally wouldn't find?

[sonikk4]

Front shock absorber mounts, heelboard ends, inside the companion bins, under the rear seat bench, up around the fresh air vents, inside the boot behind the rear wheel arches to name but a few.

[JBW]

If you look at rebuild threads on this forum, you'll be able to see the areas that can be badly effected by the dreaded tin worm, Ben_O's Mill Road Garage threads in particular are excellent, lots of photo's & relevant information.

When you actually go to look at a car, don't fall into the trap of thinking it looks lovely, have the attitude of "how bad is it really", make sure you really inspect everything, lift the carpets, check the boot floor, get it up on ramps to check underneath etc. etc.

[pete l]

From the waist down.

 

And don't forget, it might look OK until you start working on it and pulling things apart and finding rust everywhere.

[CityEPete]

From the waist down.
 
And don't forget, it might look OK until you start working on it and pulling things apart and finding rust everywhere.

And the waist up sometimes, lol

[pete l]

Basically, where there is metal, there might be rust lurking away

[Swift_General]

Typical areas prone to rust are:

Headlamp appertures on wing

Wing to front panel joint

Front of bonnet

Scuttle

Gutters

A panel

Bottom of doors and boot

Inner wing, particularly at the bottom and behind damper mounts where you can't see

Floors, particularly front

Toeboard

Sills (inner and outer)

Doorsteps

Lower part of quarter panel

Rear inner wheel arches

Heelboard

Boot floor, particularly to the rear in the corners

Bottom of rear panel (just below hinge line of boot)

And probably other areas I've forgotten!

Edited by Swift_General, 20 February 2017 - 03:21 PM.

[leyland73]

Any part of the car not made from rubber, glass or aluminium! Lift out the carpets and rear seats Base along with a look in the corners of the boot and the suspension mounting points will give you a good indication. Severe rust in one area usually means the other rust spots will be bad too. Also look for the dreadful oversills which can cause a real mess of the floor edge and the inner sills. Take a good inspection light or torch with you!

[Plumbers crack]

Thanks all, seams like they are not much different than other cars. Here is a pic of one I'm going to look at, the guy says that it has a small amount of surface rust on a couple seams, do they rust from the out side in or inside out?

[RooBoonix]

Inside out unfortunately, making it very easy to cover. 

[Plumbers crack]

That what I was figuring. Guess I'll just take my time when inspecting them.