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Exharper View Drop Down
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Dont let the misses drive it!!

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    Posted: 05-October-2006 at 17:55

My e39 is a 1997 model and it has started rusting in certain places. I have seen loads of older e39 cars that look in better condtion than mine.

There is rust starting (bubbling the paintwork) on the brow of the bonnet where the headlights are and on the back tailgate were the top of the rear bumper buts up to the boot lock catch.

Just woundered if my car has not been looked after properly by its previous owners and who else (or admits) has rust on the 5. Cheers
Beemer dan 523i SE 1997 (184K) Canyon Rot Red, auto. 330 CI Msport Convertible, blue 51K.
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Nick View Drop Down
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Points: 1319 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-October-2006 at 18:49
I have yet to see a rusty E39 that has original panels and paint. Are there any signs of repaired bodywork on your car?
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My money is on a bad repair. Only ever seen one rust after bad painting...

Mick
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Exharper View Drop Down
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Dont let the misses drive it!!

Joined: 19-January-2005
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Points: 444 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Exharper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-October-2006 at 20:38

there does not seam to be any evidence of any crap repair work. As far as i know on checking when i bought it it had not been in any accidents either.

The rust is coming from to bolt holes just under the bottom ocking catch, so its not to do with spray jobs that might have been done i dont think. When it was new it lived up North near the coast...would this expalin anything?
Beemer dan 523i SE 1997 (184K) Canyon Rot Red, auto. 330 CI Msport Convertible, blue 51K.
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jamie (e39)528i View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Exharper Exharper wrote:

The rust is coming from to bolt holes just under the bottom ocking catch, so its not to do with spray jobs that might have been done i dont think. When it was new it lived up North near the coast...would this expalin anything?

Any car that has lived near the sea can rust quicker because of the salt in the air.Unusual on a E39 though.

I have the tiniest bit of rust on the L/H side wheel arch on my E39 where the previous owner had mud flaps fitted but nowhere else.(you will have me looking now!)

I removed them along with lots of dried mud and leaves!

I personally haven't seen any rusty E39's.(yet)

Maybe the salty air is to blame?
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Dont let the misses drive it!!

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Points: 444 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Exharper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-October-2006 at 20:50

I supposed it "Technically" classed as rust yet as the paint has not peeled off. Currently it is just under the paint and is bubbling the paint. its spreading really quick though.

But is all it takes is a quick once over with with a pressure washer, when the car has been to bmw for a service and it will get blown off!!!!somebody else out there must be part of the rusty e39 brigade.....
Beemer dan 523i SE 1997 (184K) Canyon Rot Red, auto. 330 CI Msport Convertible, blue 51K.
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Points: 6579 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andrew Rolland Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-October-2006 at 08:18

Mine has one spot of rust between the top of the bumper and the panel under the boot strike plate is.

The only reason it is rusting there is because it is a water trap.  A small chip or scratch lying in a water trap will rust.

I have seen a chipped (from stones that is and not chav go faster chipped) E39 which looked really scruffy as it was starting to rust on all the panels below the black plastic door trim.  It was same age as mine a 98 on a 'S' plate.

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Mine is bubbling a bit inside the petrol flap area - again another water trap. Dunno why a drain was never included in the design!
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Originally posted by kbannon kbannon wrote:

Mine is bubbling a bit inside the petrol flap area - again another water trap. Dunno why a drain was never included in the design!

Thats a really annoying bit when washing the car as well, especially on a deisel. If they made the car too good nobody would buy a new one would they?

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Points: 1258 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 523 iAN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-October-2006 at 10:33

i'd think if it's bubbling under the paint then it's been painted in they area's (after market) usualy these signs mean trapped air within any filler that has been used to repair damage, can you squeeze the bubbles? if so and water apeard from them  (and the bubbles are unbroken before you press them) then i'd defo say it's had a repair and filler has been used. 

 

like others have said, apart from stone chip's ive never seen a rusty E39 either
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Mine hasn't been repaired!
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Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
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Points: 306 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BMW328i Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-October-2006 at 11:11

my old e39 was starting to develop some around the tailgate area as you mentioned.

to be fair i think this is a common e39 flaw. i have seen others on the road

the salty climate its been living in probably hasnt helped. just your luck with buying used motors im afraid.

sometimes these things come back to bite us later on. happens to th best of us im sure

good luck
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Points: 6484 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Peter Fenwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-October-2006 at 12:08

When I got some untidey paintwork sorted out on my E39 the bloke who owned the body shop said that he had seen plenty of e39s that were starting to go around the back arches, boot, petrol cap area. He also said that this was not just on cars with poor accident repair.

When I got my E36 there were lot of people who said that they only rusted if they had not been repaired properly after an accident. However this has been shown over the years not to be true.
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Dont let the misses drive it!!

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Points: 444 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Exharper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07-October-2006 at 20:51

K Bannon thats exactley where mine is rusting, it developed only about 6 months ago and now you notice it more thasn ever.

Im not sure what to do about it, weather to just let it go and get rid of it or pay the money out to get it resprayed, but i dont want the paint work to look to new against the rest. Ill post some pictures of "the dreaded rust" to show you all what it looks like and where it is.

Is there anything i can do to stop it spreading even further?
Beemer dan 523i SE 1997 (184K) Canyon Rot Red, auto. 330 CI Msport Convertible, blue 51K.
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Points: 6484 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Peter Fenwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-October-2006 at 17:27
The only way to prevent rust spreading is to remove it completely. So rub down the paintwork, grind the rust out and repaint. It can be an absolute nightmare to do though and many body shops wince at the sight of rust.
Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Dont let the misses drive it!!

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Points: 444 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Exharper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-October-2006 at 18:10

hi there

just tried to upload some pics of my rust but my pics are to big and dont no how to reduce the size (file size), or is there another way of getting them on here...any ideas

cheers
Beemer dan 523i SE 1997 (184K) Canyon Rot Red, auto. 330 CI Msport Convertible, blue 51K.
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email them to me - bmw@kbannon.com
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Points: 707 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Andyboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-October-2006 at 22:08
Sadly, anything made from mild steel will rust. E39's
are very good but the Touring tailgates can rust
around the catch area.

It could be much, much worse. If you had a 1997
Mercedes E Class you'd be fitting new front wings
and welding on new rear arches by now. By far the
worst rust bucket built in the last 10 years.
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Exharper View Drop Down
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Dont let the misses drive it!!

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Points: 444 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Exharper Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-October-2006 at 22:15
I have asked KBannon to post some pics for me of the rust spots. I agree i have seen cars that are about 2 years old that have rust, mainly on the tailgate. The worst thing with an e39 and other prestige cars you tend to notice it more!!!!, or its because you notice its there!!!!
Beemer dan 523i SE 1997 (184K) Canyon Rot Red, auto. 330 CI Msport Convertible, blue 51K.
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Edited by kbannon
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
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