MOT Failure - Rust rust rust!

[SirSquidalot]

Hi all,

My mk2 has been off the road a while, failed an mot back in November due to having a knackered exhaust and got a hand full of advisories including corrosion on the sills, brake wear etc.So I replaced the discs and pads and did a few other bits including a new cat. Took the car for an MOT today at a different tester to the first time, he's failed it on sill corrosion!

Hoping it's not gonna be too costly, he's marked out the areas it's failed on and has recommend a local garage. The sills seem sturdy despite rusty, a hammer and screwdriver test results in just flakes no holes. So hoping it'll be a cheap enough repair.

The joys of owning an mx5 hey! I intend to keep the car so I may as well make the outlay now and get them sorted.

Anyone had their sills done, what was the cost of repairs? Just trying to get a rough idea, I appreciate it's a how long is a piece of string question.

Alex

[Flip Martian]

Not had mine done but saw a few posts while researching my purchase of an MX5 recently which suggested replacement of rear sills was around £350-£400 a side.

[SirSquidalot]

Picture of the worst parts, the drivers side is the worst. Looks like the rear sill is buggered on both sides.

[fatjon]

That may not be the worst part. Wait until you see the inner sill before selecting the correct course of action. I pulled the sills outer off my Mk2 and found it had not much inner sill left and most of the inner wheel arch was also missing. It's now an MEV Exocet.

[SirSquidalot]

Hopefully going to get the car up to my local garage today, let them have a poke around and asses the damage. I know these rust from the inside out but this looks to have gone the other way, here's hoping that the case at least

[MX-5 Lazza]

I thought it should only fail an MoT if there was rust perforation, not just run on the panel...

[SamR380]

I think the other issue is that it's near a seatbelt mounting point.

[SirSquidalot]

SamR380 said:

I think the other issue is that it's near a seatbelt mounting point.

This. Car is being taken up to a local garage after work they are gonna have a look then quote.

[MX-5 Lazza]

SamR380 said:

I think the other issue is that it's near a seatbelt mounting point.

Yes, it's ONLY an issue because it's within something like 6" of a seatbelt mounting point. But I thought the rule was rust perforation rather than just some rust.

[jagracer]

SirSquidalot said:

Hi all,


Hoping it's not gonna be too costly, he's marked out the areas it's failed on and has recommend a local garage. The sills seem sturdy despite rusty, a hammer and screwdriver test results in just flakes no holes. So hoping it'll be a cheap enough repair.

Without seeing it properly and from the photo which tbh isn't too clear it has to be proper corrosion not just surface rust for a fail. The only bit that looks dodgy is more or less the central part of the photo where it looks like it has gone through but even then a small hole may not be a fail. The criteria for failing on corrosion changed a year or two back so you may want to get a second opinion before shelling out on repairs.

[SirSquidalot]

So, just taken a call from the garage. He reckons around £200 as the rust isn't as bad as first thought, looks like I've caught it early on. I will pop a few images on once done!

[Alex106]

Im in the same predicament! Although I have spent circa £600 in maintenance recently inc Clutch, 4x Brake discs and pads, 2x droplinks. The garage also informed me it would fail on sill corrosion at MOT time which is May 1st. The front chassis legs show minor signs of discolouration but nothing more.

I was quoted £280+ VAT from Gareth at TheMX5Restorer for an all in repair, waxoyl and paint.

I was wondering what your opinions were if I should fix it and get another year from it or buy another less crusty example.





Apologies for the thread hijacking OP! I thought it would be better here than a duplicate thread.

[snotrag]

Alex106 said:

I was wondering what your opinions were if I should fix it and get another year from it.

Fix it properly, and get ten more years out of it...

Alex106 said:

or buy another less crusty example.

You'll only end up buying another one that as rust in the same place. Theres rusty ones, and ones that have been repaired properly.

And you've already spent all that other money on it...?

Garath is very highly regarded so I would trust his repairs for more than a year...!?

[SirSquidalot]

Repair it, the general consensus is that at somepoint all mx5s need a a sill repair!

[Alex106]

snotrag said:

Alex106 said:

I was wondering what your opinions were if I should fix it and get another year from it.

Fix it properly, and get ten more years out of it...

Alex106 said:

or buy another less crusty example.

You'll only end up buying another one that as rust in the same place. Theres rusty ones, and ones that have been repaired properly.

And you've already spent all that other money on it...?

Garath is very highly regarded so I would trust his repairs for more than a year...!?

I think my words came across ambiguously! I meant, I would be happy to get another year or two out of the repairs in a financial sense. Im 95% sure it will go to Garath to fix as his reputation is very good!

My only decision now is while its with him, do I buy a cheap shed for a few hundred or do I take the bus to work! A Fiat Punto or a boggo 106 would tempt me.

[TheJimi]

Alex106 said:

Im in the same predicament! Although I have spent circa £600 in maintenance recently inc Clutch, 4x Brake discs and pads, 2x droplinks. The garage also informed me it would fail on sill corrosion at MOT time which is May 1st. The front chassis legs show minor signs of discolouration but nothing more.

I was quoted £280+ VAT from Gareth at TheMX5Restorer for an all in repair, waxoyl and paint.

I was wondering what your opinions were if I should fix it and get another year from it or buy another less crusty example.





Apologies for the thread hijacking OP! I thought it would be better here than a duplicate thread.

Am I reading that right? £280 +VAT for BOTH sides? or is that 280 per side?

[Alex106]

TheJimi said:

Alex106 said:

Im in the same predicament! Although I have spent circa £600 in maintenance recently inc Clutch, 4x Brake discs and pads, 2x droplinks. The garage also informed me it would fail on sill corrosion at MOT time which is May 1st. The front chassis legs show minor signs of discolouration but nothing more.

I was quoted £280+ VAT from Gareth at TheMX5Restorer for an all in repair, waxoyl and paint.

I was wondering what your opinions were if I should fix it and get another year from it or buy another less crusty example.





Apologies for the thread hijacking OP! I thought it would be better here than a duplicate thread.

Am I reading that right? £280 +VAT for BOTH sides? or is that 280 per side?

Thats per side! Id be extra happy if that was for both!

[TheJimi]

Yeah, thought it would be per side but I wasn't entirely sure from your post.

Good price tho. If you like the car, it's a bit of a no-brainer really

[Alex106]

TheJimi said:

Yeah, thought it would be per side but I wasn't entirely sure from your post.

Good price tho. If you like the car, it's a bit of a no-brainer really

I have booked it in for mid April with Garath. I will update the thread with my feelings and after photos also. I just hope it needs nothing else for its MOT, im getting dangerously close to the price I paid for it in maintenance alone! Still over the summer it should be worth it! Plus it will be fully rust protected underneath so it should last me a few years at least once done.

[Alex106]

Alex106 said:

I have booked it in for mid April with Garath. I will update the thread with my feelings and after photos also. I just hope it needs nothing else for its MOT, im getting dangerously close to the price I paid for it in maintenance alone! Still over the summer it should be worth it! Plus it will be fully rust protected underneath so it should last me a few years at least once done.

Garath phoned me today. The sill welding also requires floor pan welding and will cost circa £990. Then an additional £301 to get it through its MOT. Windscreen, front caliper + wipers. Garath also said it would need front chassis legs for next years MOT in 2016.

What would you guys do considering I spent £600 in general maintenance and paid £1500 for it six months ago? Garath has made an offer to buy it from me at £550 + the hardtop stays on the car for that price.

A) Bite the bullet + fix it + work major overtime.

B) Sell up/scrap and buy a shed.