R56 Mini Cooper subframe rust

[EricE]

I put our 2007 Mini R56 Cooper S on the lift yesterday to swap tires before winter and found some rust in the rear axle area, specifically the crossmember where both stabilisators are attached. From what I can tell it is some type of subframe that is bolted to the main body (which is rust free).

The car is a daily driver and obviously sees a lot of salt in winter, but it is still a car with some emotional value attached to it so I'm planning to keep it forever. (yes I know I shouldn't drive it in salt)

I have access to a free lift and tools so I'd like to do something about it. I don't have a lot of home mechanic experience. What would you suggest based on the pictures? The rust doesn't go too deep from what I can tell.

My plan is to just paint over it with rust converter and coat it with protective wax every year which should be better than doing nothing at all about it. If it keeps rotting away it should always be possible to replace the part later on.

It is not very accessible so the "full treatment" (strip, clean up, rust converter, primer, paint) would be too big of a job for myself.

[PositronicRay]

I'd bung some of this on. Spray stuff inside box sections and paint stuff from the tin on the rusty bits.

Job jobbed

http://www.bilthamber.com/dynax-ub

[Krikkit]

That ^, and when you finally pull it apart for refurbishment then get the rear subframe off and strip down/paint etc. Then add stonechip to the exposed bits.

[EricE]

thank you, i already started treating it with some rust converter and will treat it with the product linked above instead of painting it.