Mx 5 rusting sills - what can you do about it?

[tomwoodis]

Hi There,

I'm going to look at a potential Mx 5 tomorrow and one of the things that came up on the advisory sheet was rust to the sills. It didn't fail on this but it is going the way of many other Mx5's and I am just curious as to what if anything I can do about it if I want to go ahead and buy the car.

Is it an easy fix for someone and if so, how much does it usually cost?

Presumably a bit of welding is in order?

Cheers

Tom

[rfn]

Circa £300-500 for a good job to cut out the sills and rear wings and replace with new metal. You can buy sill/arch repair panels from places like MX5Parts and Autolink (usually cheaper).

I paid £500 for my repair work (on my recently departed Mk1) and that included a complete respray of the rear end.

[Pied Piper]

It can go a bit deeper than just the sills, they tend to rot from the inside out as I have just found out, a small rust patch on the outside was only just a snippet of the further horrors that lay behind.

It's in good hands and will be back next week, looking better than ever.

[davepoth]

Pied Piper said:

It can go a bit deeper than just the sills, they tend to rot from the inside out as I have just found out, a small rust patch on the outside was only just a snippet of the further horrors that lay behind.

It's in good hands and will be back next week, looking better than ever.

One of my cars was so rotten you couldn't close the back door properly, as the car sagged!

The earlier it's dealt with the better.

[tomwoodis]

Ok, thats useful info, where abouts should I be looking then for rust. What bits tend to be prone to it other than the wheel aches and the sills?

Edited by tomwoodis on Thursday 10th February 19:58

[OllieC]

tomwoodis said:

Ok, thats useful info, where abouts should I be looking then for rest. What bits tend to be prone to it other than the wheel aches and the sills?

completely OT and no use whatsoever, but be thankful you are not asking that question of a Ford, the answer is " everywhere else too "

[tomwoodis]

OllieC said:

completely OT and no use whatsoever, but be thankful you are not asking that question of a Ford, the answer is " everywhere else too "

Ohhhhhhh believe me, I have been there and done that. I'm scarred for life!

[rfn]

tomwoodis said:

Ok, thats useful info, where abouts should I be looking then for rust. What bits tend to be prone to it other than the wheel aches and the sills?

Inner and Outer Sills
Rear Wheel Arches (all the way around!)
Front of front wings where they meet the bumper (only seen this on a few cars)

Also drain holes can be blocked behind the seats which causes water in the footwells - which can cause other rust.

[oyster]

Pied Piper said:

It can go a bit deeper than just the sills, they tend to rot from the inside out as I have just found out, a small rust patch on the outside was only just a snippet of the further horrors that lay behind.

It's in good hands and will be back next week, looking better than ever.

Can I ask who/where?

[oilslick]

tomwoodis said:

Ok, thats useful info, where abouts should I be looking then for rust. What bits tend to be prone to it other than the wheel aches and the sills?

Edited by tomwoodis on Thursday 10th February 19:58

Check the inner lip of the bootlid, it rusts a lot, especially on the MK2's.

[tomwoodis]

thanks all, will be sure to do a proper check

[Pied Piper]

oyster said:

Pied Piper said:

It can go a bit deeper than just the sills, they tend to rot from the inside out as I have just found out, a small rust patch on the outside was only just a snippet of the further horrors that lay behind.

It's in good hands and will be back next week, looking better than ever.

Can I ask who/where?

yellowgriff is doing it. His profile http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

[Jimmyarm]

It's easy, wait until it fails the MOT then get them replaced, preferably by a welder you have some references for.

Visible rust to certain areas has to be advised on the MOT, you could go the next 5 years with this being advised.

If you really want to get it fixed do it and get it protected. Otherwise, drive it and have fun

[supersingle]

I solved the problem of my Eunos' rusty sills by scrapping it.

If the rust is starting to show it will already be very well developed inside, possibly having spread into the inner (structural) sills and arches.

Good luck!

[Garett]

I'd scrap it, plenty of them still about.

[Momentofmadness]

tomwoodis said:

I'm going to look at a potential Mx 5
Tom

I'd keep looking buy a decent one and get it waxoyled