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^ And on the front panel/radiator support. My bug isn’t too bad everywhere else but the rad support is rotten (have an OE one to fit when I get round to it)
Oh no! Don't view at night! Also, worst and most likely place for rust/rot is way up high inside rear wheel arches where its a double skin. Really need to have those rear wheels off to detect it. Remember you're viewing an 18 year old car, most things can be fixed, but not the rot! Get the reg and look on the dvla website at its mot history.
Last edited by nicam49; 13 November 2020 at 05:34 PM.
So the car is solid. It’s had everything done to it you’d expect.
sticking points;
- the belt which drives alternator is cracking (not missing chunks yet).
-the bottom radiator brace (pictured) has spots of rot both left and right.
-small bubble under the paint in the usual spot behind wheel by bumper on rear quarter
-rear diff has small amount of oil deposits on bottom of case
MOT history is immaculate. No expense has been spared on upkeep of car. The things I’ve pointed out the seller seems to genuinely not known about.
How much to remedy each issue noted? London prices if Left Left Right Right Centre left seems to be surface rust along middle of brace
possible
So the car is solid. It’s had everything done to it you’d expect.
sticking points;
- the belt which drives alternator is cracking (not missing chunks yet).
-the bottom radiator brace (pictured) has spots of rot both left and right.
-small bubble under the paint in the usual spot behind wheel by bumper on rear quarter
-rear diff has small amount of oil deposits on bottom of case
MOT history is immaculate. No expense has been spared on upkeep of car. The things I’ve pointed out the seller seems to genuinely not known about.
How much to remedy each issue noted? London prices if possible
Any PROOF ie, receipts, of cambelt having been changed recently?
You really MUST get a camera way up inside the rear arches, above the wheels, as far as your arm can get. Take pics pointing camera towards the interior. Remember it's a double skin, so you might not see any rust from inside the car. See that rot on the radiator brackets? That's what inside the arches and turrets can look like... and it's a big expensive job if not terminal.
Here's one of a few threads on the subject with pics. Also look at the 'Projects' threads too.
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-technical-10/953502-rear-strut-towers-rusted-through.html
Last edited by nicam49; 14 November 2020 at 09:56 PM.
The Arch thing would worry me - do a lot of investigation here.
Another place to check is to pull the carpets back on either side of the boot and see if there's rust on the inside. The rear join in the arches quite often develops into a hole which then allows water through into the boot and then rusts the multi-layers out from the inside.
This is what your looking for. A lot have this. You don't need the wheels off. Just gloves and hand right to the top of the strut to feel around. And never view a car in the dark.
11 November 2020, 09:50 PM
