sub'd
good info here!

 

yep hopefully he will post up the fix on the door opening. Here is the old repair for the one towards the front.
I remember when this came out back in the day.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-minis-28.html

 

I thought I did post some pictures of the door sill repair...but I guess not. What I did was scrub with a wirebrush and brake cleaner, let it dry, then sprayed some rust converter, let that dry, then topped off with the 3m rubberized coating and laid it on thick so it got into the gap between the sheet metal. Here are a few pics.

 

I have a very veryyy bad rust problem on the back. I have looked at all the very nice repairs, that are on this thread. But unfortunately for me, none were as bad as mine. I’m very unsure how I should go about replacing/repairing. If anyone has any suggestions that would be very appreciated and helpful. I will take out the tail lights in a few days to show how bad the bracket is rusted.

 

You need to have BOTH rear 1/4 panels replaced .
That's what they did on mine.

The rust will always come back if not.

Good Luck

 

+1 both panels. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-warranty.html

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/41357035355/



and

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/41357035356/

 

I’ve read through the thread but can’t seem to
find any mention of PPF in the cavity behind the light? Assuming you have no rust, would PPF not create an impermeable barrier over the seam?

I am also not sure if I read any solutions to prevent water from getting around the light. Is there an gasket that could fit around the housing so when the light is reinstalled it creates a barrier?

Attacking the problem from both angles may stave off the inevitable. FWIW, I just bought an R53 and haven’t got back there yet. No signs of rust but there was some light spotting in the door sills I’ll need to tend to. I liked the sanding/rust prevention/rubberized coating method and would love to hear of anyone has had the problem persist after that treatment.

 

Allmagauto.com - they have sections available - you do need a good body shop. I’ve dealt with them for many years now. A good place to ask. Is that Rockford Illinois in your profile? It’s due to the seam at the light. I have a much smaller amount on the left rear. And the hatch….

 

I’m in Montreal, Canada. I was trying to think of a clean and effective solution that doesn’t require painting and spraying a thick black goo everywhere. Crazy how much water gets behind the lights, you might as well drill a drain hole…

 

I finally got to taking the tail lights out to inspect. Can someone tell me if this is the start of some rust forming?

If so, do I need to take this to a shop to grind down and paint back over? I think I will PPF the whole inside of the light once it’s done. Seems like I just need to protect the seam.

Do I need to check behind the hatch handle next??

 

Do not do PPF. You need a product like POR-15 or an Eastwood product to seal it.

The damage happens from salt - running down the light, and hitting that seam. Then it gets behind.

 

That's not rust but spot welds imo. Rust will bubble up beneat the paint.

I've had rust and did what you wanted to do: sand it down, prime and paint it. Unfortunately no photo with the rust bubbles still there.

 

I bunch of how to videos on POR15. Basically, once it’s ground off and neutralized, por’ed and painted over, wouldn’t PPF over the seam protect water from getting to it in other areas? It has never been winter driven by the previous owner and never will be. It’s just a summer toy. Rust is a killer for me, and assuming those are rust bubbles and not spot welds, it’s now very localized somewhere I can deal with it without seeing the correction.

Same with the door sills which will need to be corrected. I have very light spotting on the seam. I was figuring the PPF that once I was done with POR 15. Bad idea?

 

Yep, looks like its starting and check right above the trunk lid grip on the inside of the body.

 

i dont see any rust there in your pic

i'd spray the area with surface shield from bp blaster, and put in some new seals. close it up

 

Definitely will give this a try. I’ve never heard of this spray before. I suppose I can just check on it and if the possible rust bubbles get worse it will still be the same fix of grinding it down. I have touch up paint. I’m curious if poke at one of the other bubbles to see what I find underneath. As long as it stays contained to an area that’s out of sight, I’m less anxious.

 

looks like a perfectly health spot weld to me

 

I love hearing that. It’s like going to a dermatologist and learning I don’t need a biopsy. Rust is the worst. I’ll manage the little spots under the door seal no problem when I put on the aero side skirts. Next to peak behind the tailgate hatch handle.

 

Yep two look like welds.

This one pic were its in the lower left, looked like mine when it started to rust,

 

Looks like I’m going in there. Thanks! Back to figuring out what all the random disconnected and cut Wires are behind my head unit…

 

Glad to help. Someone maybe put an aftermarket stereo in at one time.