MOT Advisories - Corrosion

[Lammy74]

Hi everybody - I'm considering a 2006 E85 near to where I live but the recent MOT advisories have me worried -

Coil spring corroded Both rear (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Both rear shock absorbers corroded
Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both rear (5.3.3 (b) (i))
Nearside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))
Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))
Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both rear (1.1.11 (c))
Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front (1.1.11 (c))
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both rear (5.2.3 (e))
Rear Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

There's no mention of corrosion in any of the previous MOTs so I'm wondering if its just perfectly normal for a 20 year old car and the MOT checker was just overly zealous?

If it does all need sorting is it a big expensive job, and should I just walk away (the cars already at the top of my budget)

Thanks for any advice anybody might be able to give.

 

[raymond.harper]

Looks more like an MX5 MOT! It is unusual to have rust affecting the sills. Usually, brake pipes and surface corrosion on the rear subframe can occur. But given the long list, I would not even bother to look at it.

 

[Rockhopper]

My car is two years older and has never had any of those items advised.

I wouldn't go anywhere near that one personally.

For context my car had no advisories on its MOT in April this year.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Corroded springs, especially rears, are quite common on BMWs, Z4s often seem to suffer corroded rear brake pipes (my previous one had new pipes fitted at 11 years old), my 2005 3 Series got its first MOT advisory for a corroded rear subframe last year year but nothing else.

But that car seems to have a full house of corrosion. I'd run away, especially as it is at the top of your budget!

 

[enuff_zed]

Where is it for sale? Atlantis????

 

[Lammy74]

Thanks for the heads-up, really appreciate the advice, I'll give this one a miss.

 

[bigwinn]

Out of interest how much is that up for?

 

[Lammy74]

Out of interest how much is that up for?

£2.5k with 105000 miles

 

[raymond.harper]

If you do see another car up for sale that you are thinking about buying, post the details on the forum

 

[Lammy74]

If you do see another car up for sale that you are thinking about buying, post the details on the forum

Thanks

 

[MikeyH]

Doddsy has a 2.2 for sale for around that price, look on the cars for sale listing.

 

[Lammy74]

Doddsy has a 2.2 for sale for around that price, look on the cars for sale listing.

Thanks MikeyH unfortunately Doddsy is Newcastle and I'm Bristol, so too far away.

 

[Lammy74]

If you do see another car up for sale that you are thinking about buying, post the details on the forum

What do you guys think of this one, its only 1.5 hours away from me and the MOT history looks good.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1NxRuDmmx7/

 

[john-e89]

If you do see another car up for sale that you are thinking about buying, post the details on the forum

What do you guys think of this one, its only 1.5 hours away from me and the MOT history looks good.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1NxRuDmmx7/

That will be the same underneath Lammy, they all are, unless you get a lifelong garage dweller you’ll get the same corrosion as described in the MOT report you posted. They make it sound worse than they are. Floorpans, arches, etc, don’t tend to rot on Zeds, but the suspension components, diff casing etc etc, will corrode, but these items are well made really so most can be cleaned up nicely without having to replace everything so imo don’t get too hung up on it.

 

[raymond.harper]

It is a 2.2 with eleven owners. Driver's seat badly worn, left headlight opaque. It has not been loved! Autotrader, sometimes wrong, has her down as imported at some stage. Although the owner has receipts the service history may be partly missing.

 

[john-e89]

I’m not suggesting OP buys that particular car, what I’m saying is not to get too hung up on a car with corrosion as all but garaged cars will have it.

 

[Rockhopper]

I'd dispute that as my car lives outside, is two years older and has never had an advisor for corrosion.

 

[Mr Tidy]

What do you guys think of this one, its only 1.5 hours away from me and the MOT history looks good.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1NxRuDmmx7/

I can't see too much as I don't have a Facebook account. :roll:

But as you say it passed MOT tests in 2023 and 2024 with no advisories so it looks like a much better bet than the other one.

It's probably worth a look. Headlights can be polished and you can buy restoration kits for the seats.

A high number of previous keepers isn't unusual on 2 seaters. People often just want to experience owning them, but practicality means they have to move them on. I'm the 8th keeper of my 2006 car!

 

[Lammy74]

Thanks everyone for all your input.

 

[john-e89]

Range Rover had in for a clean up, corrosion obvious, was NOT an MOT advisory. Part way through a needle gun, rust converter and paint demonstrating corrosion doesn’t need to walked away from depending on level and if it’s dealt with.