18 replies to this topic

[charlietuffery]

Hi All,

Been looking around my Mk3 Mini for the last few days and listing every single problem i can find with it. Started off with paintwork touch-ups that need doing etc. Last night though, i took up all the carpets and found specks of light coming through the offside wheel arch, caused by quite bad rust, this must've deterioated quickly because it really wasn't bad at all just over a month or two ago. I took it down the garage as i don't feel confident enough to weld it myself. Has anyone got any advice on what i can do to prevent it from:
a) Happening on the nearside
b) Happening again on the offside
I freely admit I'm no Mini expert but i love the cars and doing as much work as possible, So if anyone has any ideas on what i can do just let me know please. I would also love some advice if welding is not the right option for this job, as i've said, I'm no expert, I'm just doing what 3/4 garages have told me would be the best option. Sorry about the length of this i just wanted to give as much detail as possible, Thanks in advance.

[analogue_radio]

Some photos of the affected areas would be good

[charlietuffery]

I don't currently have a digital camera that's working but I'll try and borrow one and get some put up asap. Sorry about this but any advice in the mean time would be greatly appreciated.

[charlietuffery]

Just to let you know, none of the previous bodywork on this Mini was done by me, so if it looks like poor work previously I apologise.  Wheel Arch Rust_1.JPG   2.72MB   55 downloads
 Wheel Arch Rust_3.JPG   2.8MB   51 downloads

Edited by charlietuffery, 11 September 2011 - 03:21 PM.

[AVV IT]

Just to let you know, none of the previous bodywork on this Mini was done by me, so if it looks like poor work previously I apologise.  Wheel Arch Rust_1.JPG   2.72MB   55 downloads  Wheel Arch Rust_3.JPG   2.8MB   51 downloads

I'm not sure how you have attached your images but they don't appear to be visible

EDIT: But they do seem to be if you click on them in my post above????

Edited by AVV IT, 11 September 2011 - 03:18 PM.

[charlietuffery]

Just to let you know, none of the previous bodywork on this Mini was done by me, so if it looks like poor work previously I apologise.  Wheel Arch Rust_1.JPG   2.72MB   55 downloads  Wheel Arch Rust_3.JPG   2.8MB   51 downloads

I'm not sure how you have attached your images but they don't appear to be visible

EDIT: But they do seem to be if you click on them in my post above????

Sorry I can't explain that, they're in a standard JPEG fromat so i'm not sure what i can do there.? Any ideas ?

[AVV IT]

You must have sorted the problem, as I can see them on your original posting now !!

[sonikk4]

Unfortunately what has happened there is a common fault with mini's and yes it will need welding. By the looks of it the lower flitch has gone along with part of the inner sill and at least the front floor area.

When all of the rust has been cut out and replaced (plating over it is no good, it must be cut out or it will still corrode.) then on the flitch on the wheel side use a good quality primer and paint then Waxoyl over it. It may pay you to seam seal the welded edges first before painting.

On the inside of the car you could etch prime, prime and topcoat again seam seal the edges first. Or you could use something like POR15 or Hammerite.

If i was you have a look around the fresh air vent as they rust badly there as well. None of it is good news i'm afraid and there may well be more.

[charlietuffery]

Unfortunately what has happened there is a common fault with mini's and yes it will need welding. By the looks of it the lower flitch has gone along with part of the inner sill and at least the front floor area.

When all of the rust has been cut out and replaced (plating over it is no good, it must be cut out or it will still corrode.) then on the flitch on the wheel side use a good quality primer and paint then Waxoyl over it. It may pay you to seam seal the welded edges first before painting.

On the inside of the car you could etch prime, prime and topcoat again seam seal the edges first. Or you could use something like POR15 or Hammerite.

If i was you have a look around the fresh air vent as they rust badly there as well. None of it is good news i'm afraid and there may well be more.

Thanks for your help mate. Definitely going to get it booked in for the welding asap. When the garage do the welding, are they likely to use primer and re-paint it, as i've never put a car in for any major body work before? I assume they're not likely to leave it as bare metal are they. If they do paint it etc, are they likely to use decent primer or etch primer as well, or should i just ask ?

[sonikk4]

In the days of old before i did my own welding anything outside got covered in Tetrosyl but no primer etc under it. As for today's garages i really could not say. So you can ask them to do it and will get charged extra if not already included. Or the other option is to do it yourself.

[AVV IT]

If you are going to get a mainstream garage to do the work, then find out exactly how they intend to carry out the repair first. We have seen a few examples here of garage welding that leaves rather a lot to be desired. Unfortunately a lot of garages have a tendency to just plate over rusted areas and then paint over them with bitumen based under seal, to do little more than get a car through an MOT. You would probably be wiser to get the work done by a mini specialist, or classic car restorer in order to get a better quality and longer lasting repair for your money! .

[charlietuffery]

If you are going to get a mainstream garage to do the work, then find out exactly how they intend to carry out the repair first. We have seen a few examples here of garage welding that leaves rather a lot to be desired. Unfortunately a lot of garages have a tendency to just plate over rusted areas and then paint over them with bitumen based under seal, to do little more than get a car through an MOT. You would probably be wiser to get the work done by a mini specialist, or classic car restorer in order to get a better quality and longer lasting repair for your money! .

It's not a mainstream garage I'm going to, but I have seen their welding expertise on my families Ford Fiesta wheel arch and it was a tidy job, they completely welded in new panels, not covering the old ones which is a good sign.
One question i do have is this: If they have already just put a base of primer on without a self etching primer, is there anything i can do to get this extra protection from rust in the future ? (For example: Go over the primer with the self etching primer or will it not work like that). Sorry about the amateur questions but we all have to learn somewhere i guess.

[AVV IT]

If they have already just put a base of primer on without a self etching primer, is there anything i can do to get this extra protection from rust in the future ? (For example: Go over the primer with the self etching primer or will it not work like that). Sorry about the amateur questions but we all have to learn somewhere i guess.

My understanding of etch primer is that it actually "etches" itself into the surface of the metal and therefore would have to be applied directly to bare metal, but I could be wrong.

One thing you might want to consider in order to protect your new metal once the work has been done, is to invest in a pair of plastic wheel arch liners. http://www.minispare...37262&title=

Edited by AVV IT, 11 September 2011 - 11:46 PM.

[sonikk4]

If they have already just put a base of primer on without a self etching primer, is there anything i can do to get this extra protection from rust in the future ? (For example: Go over the primer with the self etching primer or will it not work like that). Sorry about the amateur questions but we all have to learn somewhere i guess.

My understanding of etch primer is that it actually "etches" itself into the surface of the metal and therefore would have to be applied directly to bare metal, but I could be wrong.

One thing you might want to consider in order to protect your new metal once the work has been done, is to invest in a pair of plastic wheel arch liners. http://www.minispare...37262&title=

AVV IT is right etch should go onto bare metal. If you intend keeping the car for some time then remove the primer, then apply a light dusting of etch primer them standard primer followed by topcoat.

[charlietuffery]

If they have already just put a base of primer on without a self etching primer, is there anything i can do to get this extra protection from rust in the future ? (For example: Go over the primer with the self etching primer or will it not work like that). Sorry about the amateur questions but we all have to learn somewhere i guess.

My understanding of etch primer is that it actually "etches" itself into the surface of the metal and therefore would have to be applied directly to bare metal, but I could be wrong.

One thing you might want to consider in order to protect your new metal once the work has been done, is to invest in a pair of plastic wheel arch liners. http://www.minispare...37262&title=

Thanks very much, those wheel arch linings look just the job, one question i have about them is- In the description, it says "These have been fitted to all minis but on cars from 1990 with electric fans you have to trim a little away from the front area", does this mean my 1992 Mini cooper will already have them then ? Or is it meant to say that they are designed to fit all Minis? (Sorry if it seems a stupid question, I just dont want to buy them unneccesarily)
Another few questions as well if you dont mind:
1) How would be the best way to remove the primer once its on, if the garage aren't able to put etch primer on it.
2) What would fitting these Inner Arch Liners entail > (E.g Would it require a bit of gluing or something more expert ? )
Thanks again for all your help, and yet more apologies if i'm asking stupid questions.