Tell Me Why Me Car Is Rusting... - United Bimmer Community

**mullethunter3** · 06-23-2005, 03:21 PM

I'm gonna apoligize now for the HUGE pics!! Sorry...

Okay, so my car is rusting from the inside out. WTF? Can anyone tell me WTF is going on?
I bought a engine cowl cover:

To replace this:

Because it is making my car rust here:

I need to put it here:

But I can't get the windshield wipers off (they're stuck). I got the cap and gold lookin' bolt off:

But the wipers won't come off! WTF????

Does anyone have any suggestions on this subject?
Someone told me to wiggle the wipers but they are really stuck on!

Help!

**Dudesky** · 06-23-2005, 03:52 PM

Yea, you need to rock the wiper arm back and forth to get it off the shaft. Try spraying some lubricant on it and let it sit for a while to penetrate. If that doesn't do it, then you'll need to use a puller.

**Rooz** · 06-23-2005, 11:28 PM

^^ Yeah getting whippers off is a pain...

Since you seem to have some rust issues I too would suspect your whipers might even be rusted on.

Like Dudesky said it, some lubricant would definetly help -Maybe some DW 40?

**Chris** · 06-24-2005, 02:10 AM

if you live in a state that salts its roads, it could be getting up into your engine compartment and sitting there and fucking things up..a dn for the cowl cover, thats where a;;teh salty water from slushy roads drips down your windshield to...

**delmarco** · 06-25-2005, 10:11 AM

Yeah salt can do that if you don't "rust proof" wash the car's undercarriage...

Also if the previous owners replaced original parts and/or panels with aftermarket low grade parts it could be rusting away and rust usually spreads like a virus.

You could replace panels or sand away the rust and paint over the panels....

**zeaq328i** · 06-25-2005, 11:13 AM

My car has no rust or what so ever.

Storamin · 06-25-2005, 11:42 AM

I had a that same problem on the drivers side of my car, but worse. My car had mudflaps on the front and they just kept water in them and it rusted the bottom part of the fender, and part of the bottom rocker panel. I ended up replacing the front left panel, having the rocker panel sandblasted, and buying the m-tech sideskirts which I then bolted over the old rocker panels. You should get that rust taken care of immediately, though. You don't want it spreading anywhere else.

If you don't care about replacing the grey, sandblast that as soon as possible and repaint it grey.

**catalyst** · 06-26-2005, 10:57 AM

Ive got some rust issues on the bottom of my drivers side side skirt, so im taking the car to a mechanic i know to see what he recommends doing.. hes a restoration expert and restores 2k2's and alot of pre 1980 bimmers. When i get his advice il post some info up.

Basically what i think should be done is, the area should be sanded down to bare metal and all rust should be removed. Then new metal should be welded in if there is significant body damage (i dont have to do this because my rust is on the bottom of my car...) If you choose not to weld then bondo is the only other option if the car is serious disfigured because of the rust... Then primer, paint, and clear should be applied.

For the bottom of the car im most likely going to be removing the areas of the rust protection coating that are beginning to chip away and will be recoating it. Ive noticed that underneath the car where the chassis forms rights angles (It does this in a bunch of places) the coating ussually cracks, this needs to be dealth with accordingly as if water and debri (salt) get in through the cracking then it will just blow the rest of the coating off...

Anyways.. its going to be a messy pain in the ass to recoat the bottom of your car.. but judging from that rust spot it will need to be done, and that spot will have to be dealt with accordingly....

**TMac325is** · 06-26-2005, 12:03 PM

your side skirts are plastic, that cant be rust

if youre talking about the black specs, thats just the gray paint coming off to reveal the black paint underneithe. id remove the rest of the gray paint so that your side skirts will match the rest of the car

**catalyst** · 06-26-2005, 07:53 PM

E36 side skirts arent plastic bro.

**donald1476** · 06-26-2005, 08:02 PM

I see you tried the de-greaser on the skirts trick, did mine and they looked like crap so I got them painted.

**mullethunter3** · 06-26-2005, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donald1476

I see you tried the de-greaser on the skirts trick, did mine and they looked like crap so I got them painted.

actually, my car is just old, so they weathered off...

Anyway, I'm gonna get my car painted later this year and the guy should take care of any rust problems from the base of the problem.

Thank you everyone for your advice, ecspecially c4talyst. I'll get on that when I get it painted/powdercoated <--underside.

Thank you again!

Storamin · 06-27-2005, 10:23 AM

E36 rocker panels are not plastic. Your car is probaly a 1996 or later, where a plastic sideskirt was placed over the rocker panel.

**94bmw325i** · 06-27-2005, 10:25 AM

It's a 93^ look at the profile.

**TMac325is** · 06-27-2005, 12:03 PM

weird, my sideskirts sure do feel like plastic