Ok.. I have rust on the hatchback just above the silver door trim.. right above the bend. Please see attached picture.

However the picture is ONLY indicating where. The rest actually had not developed yet in THAT picture.

So... is this normal? And.. how do i fix it? Do i need to buy a new beltline(if that is the right word) for the back? (if so where do i get it) and would i be able to do the work?

Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks for any help!

 

you need to remove all the rust, prep the area with a rust inhibiting primer and re-paint.

 

The good news is that you caught this rust in time. The bad news is that your car probably has other rust elsewhere, given the same paint process and environmental exposure...

 

oh no....i have ot check mine tooo

 

Underneath the trunk handle, as in, when it was removed, I saw rust around the holes that the plastic snaps go into, and a little around where the screws go. But my trunk wasn't painted at the factory, it was done at a body shop.

I'd say that 90% of my paint is not factory paint anymore. Quality? The shop that has taken care of my car does BMWs, Mercedes, Audi, etc. It would not have come recommended so if the paint was crap. The trunk might be rusting because of quick deadlines. The trunk handle might have been installed too soon, on fresh, not fully cured paint, and must have chipped away some paint.

Besides these tiny spots on the trunk, the rest of the car is fine, save the normal under the door seal rust. The trunk has several mysterious dents and scratches in it already, so I'm not worried.

 

It's a known defect. Your warranty should cover repair. Mine did last year.

 

Places to check for rust on R50/52/53.

Pull up the rubber weather stripping along each door kick plate area. Check the sheet metal sections there which were spot welded together.

Rear Boot grip handle. Use Torx wrench and remove. Check area behind it. Before putting it back together, squeeze some black silicon sealer along the top edge of the crappy oem gasket. This will help to keep water out of the boot area.

Behind the rear license plate.

Below headlights - Check the area below the lower edge of the chrome headlight ring where it meets the bonnet. It is not easily seen and by the time you do, the rust has made it's way to more visible areas of the bonnet. It is the sheet metal lip which supports the lower edge of the headlight assembly.. I removed the whole headlights to fully expose that area. Paint was actually flaking off.

Then taped off the area, sanded, masked off the area, primed and spray painted with OEM paint and clear coated.

 

I don't know about Germany but in the US doesn't the "outer body" rust warranty extend beyond the normal warranty?

 

I don't do rust. If I find my MINI is getting rusty, I will sell it and leave MINI for good. I sure hope the rust you are finding is a fluke, not being the norm.

 

added pictures to the first post showing the actual rust. I have also talked to BMW to see if they will pay for the repair. They said send pictures (or bring the car in) and they will forward them to BMW.

That is what i have done.

 

CANCER! I'm really sorry for you.

 

I have a 2005 as well. Because of your thread I took my handle off and what not off and it's starting in the area like you've shown. Very, very small and only have affected the underside, not the top of those rectangle areas. I have put touchup paint over it to help prevent spreading. If it continues and gets worse like yours, I will take it to BMW/MINI.

 

I have to keep my doors open wide after I wash mine because I have to let the water drain out the door's drain holes. I can only imagine the worst-rust growing in the dark interior areas that don't drain. Y'all are really scaring me now!

 

Yea. i would suggest to EVERYONE to check theirs.. its very easy to remove the 4 hex screws holding that handle on. Also, i would use some rust inhibitor first .. then touch up paint. also to reiterate -=gRay rAvEn=- post ...I to would recommend a small/THIN SOLID bead of silicone around near the outside back of that handle before re-assembly. This SHOULD prevent more water getting in there.

That shitty foam they are using to seal that off is way sub-par.

In fact.. i am wondering if there is a way to post a suggestion to all mini owners to check this.. ????

 

@ Squirlz - funny thing though when i asked the dealer (like you suggested - thanks for that btw!) they were like... we haven't had any other complaints. I'm thinking .. yea. sure. lol

@ nabeshin Yea.. there is a wee bit of rust around those holes as well for me.

@ -=gRay rAvEn=-
btw.. thanks much for posting those suggestions. I will do that as well.

 

i have rust in the exact same spot. It seems to be a problem area for mini. Mine is actually in the shop now to get it repaired under warranty. mini covers rust/corrosion for 12 years/unlimited miles for all 2004+ coopers.

 

yep, 12 years unlimited miles.

(gotta see if I have this problem too...).

Thanks for the heads up.

 

So lame that the newer cars get a longer corrosion warranty. They should have just made it 2002+, unless they know something about the 02-03's that we don't...

 

The problem with the rust warrenty is that it requires regular trips to the dealer for "inspection". I think my book says yearly......

 

WOOT on the 12 yrs deal.. but hurm... that will be sketchy for me.... i have had it in the shop at least once a year.. well besides maybe this last one...

 

i didn't even bring mine in. i just took pictures and emailed the service manager. He forwarded it to to regional mini rep who approved the body work at the cost of mini.

i even got a free '09 S loaner.

 

Thank God we are blessed with two, even 3 reputable dealers in our area!!! It is good to hear a dealer is working with an owner, and doing the "right" thing.

 

Def a success story! I am hoping mine is the same way ! However, they did code my key.. er read it.. so with that I think they can pull up all info about your mini and what services you have had.

 

Unless you gen1 keys are very different than ours, no info is stored in the keys...unlike gen2 (us market cars anyway).
Your car is newer, and I would think they would not quibble about fixing a bit of rust!! It looks like it is now becomming a documented problem now....