First rust spotted

[Pazza]

I have just spotted the first rust on on 2008 e86. Its inside the tailgate so cannot be seen from the outside yet. Is this a common issue on the tailgate as its in a corner and the seam where moisture remains after it has rained.

Is there anything I should do to stop/delay the spread, rust treatment etc.

Any advice most welcomed.

 

[Mr Tidy]

That's not pretty. Shame it wasn't spotted while the car was still within the 12 year corrosion warranty - I think a few Coupe owners got new tailgates under warranty.

I'd be going to a bodyshop to see what they suggested.

 

[Reamesy]

You will probably find it’s behind the seam sealer. What you can see is only the part of it. I had this on my E85 doors. When I dug all the sealer out it was quite bad. Needs treating properly.

 

[Pazza]

Thank you Tidy and Reamesy. Is this a big job for the body shop. Is it a case of removing the seam sealer, treating the rust inside and re-sealing. I guess untreated it will appear on the outside.

 

[grannyknot]

I've repaired a lot of rust on many different cars and I'm going to say that rust started inside the hatch, what you are seeing there is it coming through the metal. Inside that panel it will be 10x as bad.
The easiest way to fix it is locate a clean hatch from a coupe being parted out, if you want to fix that hatch then you should know that the rust isn't just in that spot, when the hatch is closed the entire bottom edge of the hatch is level so water will have sloshed around to all points of the bottom edge.
If a body shop says they'll pour in some "rust fix" in and all will be good, walk away. That is a feel good fix and won't solve the problem.
The proper way to repair that is remove the glass, drill out the spot welds around the inside edge, then remove the seam sealer all away around the outside edge and then you will see a small folded edge, that is the outside skin being crimped around the inside panel.
That fold needs to be unfolded enough for the inside panel to slip out.
So you now have both pieces of the hatch apart and can see what the true extent of the rust is, I could go on if you would like but it really is easier to source a good hatch from a clean car somewhere in the western US states and have it shipped over.
Hate to rain on your parade but that is what I see.

 

[Maddo6659]

I have a patch further down where the runner bump stop sits. To see if it was internal, I used the old mobile phone (or cell if you're weird) as a bore scope if you like. Removed the trim prices, set a video to record with your flash on, poke it through and have a good look around. At least you can have a look and make a more informed decision.

 

[inkey$]

Crikey, just shows you how good BMW metal is compared to a similar aged MX5. Had to tackle the boot lid of my old Mk3 last summer, and mine wasn't even a bad example of how Mazda metal rusts!

 

[Zedebee]

If you search for “birdbath” on this forum, you will understand why the rust is where it is and why the rust problem is likely to be worse than it looks. Rainwater pools in the birdbath at the bottom of the glass and eventually some water gets in through the rubber seals, then its inside your hatch, which rusts from the inside out. A garaged car will never have this problem, hence you’ve got a good chance of locating a clean replacement hatch.

Alternatively you could leave it. It’s unlikely that you will get rust breaking through on the outside any time soon, but you will know it’s there and it will only get worse over time.

 

[raymond.harper]

Crikey, just shows you how good BMW metal is compared to a similar aged MX5. Had to tackle the boot lid of my old Mk3 last summer, and mine wasn't even a bad example of how Mazda metal rusts!

MX5.jpg

I thought the MX5 boot lids were made from aluminum, even so, it just shows how badly they rot.

 

[inkey$]

Crikey, just shows you how good BMW metal is compared to a similar aged MX5. Had to tackle the boot lid of my old Mk3 last summer, and mine wasn't even a bad example of how Mazda metal rusts!

MX5.jpg

I thought the MX5 boot lids were made from aluminum, even so, it just shows how badly they rot.

On the Mk3's soft tops they are aluminium, but mine was a hard top convertible, so they used steel. Luckily mine looked okay underneath the car too, but I never dared look behind the fabric inner wheel arches just in case :lol:

 

[raymond.harper]

Crikey, just shows you how good BMW metal is compared to a similar aged MX5. Had to tackle the boot lid of my old Mk3 last summer, and mine wasn't even a bad example of how Mazda metal rusts!

MX5.jpg

I thought the MX5 boot lids were made from aluminum, even so, it just shows how badly they rot.

On the Mk3's soft tops they are aluminium, but mine was a hard top convertible, so they used steel. Luckily mine looked okay underneath the car too, but I never dared look behind the fabric inner wheel arches just in case :lol:

It's the rear subframes on the NC that are rotting out along with the rear arch to the sill, I have spent many a happy hour grinding out the rust in these cars!

 

[Pazza]

Since I posted the pic in Sept 2022, I thought I give you an update. I was quite alarmed by what others said and worried the rust would continue and get worse. The only treatment I have done is applied Rust Remedy to it not a neat job I know but I think its helped. I cannot see it has got any worse and no other rust has appear elsewhere.

 

[Mr Tidy]

As you say it's not perfect, but a big improvement. Hope it keeps the rust at bay.

I'm going to have to look around my tailgate tomorrow now. :roll:

 

[darich]

As you say it's not perfect, but a big improvement. Hope it keeps the rust at bay.

I'm going to have to look around my tailgate tomorrow now. :roll:

Likewise!

 

[Roberltd2]

Ditto Inkey$

Recently sold my '94 Eunos for a few hundred quid for a full nut 'n bolt restoration.
Says he'll give me first offer / refusal / whatever when he's finished.
What's not to like?

 

[raymond.harper]

Thank you Tidy and Reamesy. Is this a big job for the body shop. Is it a case of removing the seam sealer, treating the rust inside and re-sealing. I guess untreated it will appear on the outside.

Dinitrol ML can be squirted through the grommet hole to treat the inside, you can buy an extension pipe that can spray the whole area.

 

[Benderloch]

I did this a few years ago with bilt hamber rust treatment. Those long flexible pipes are great for this.