E30 Chassis rust

[Jacques668866]

Today is officially the saddest day of my motoring life...

First of all, my car went in for repairs today to fix a reoccurring engine light. Was quoted about R7,000 to replace the cat! Now considering a list of options which includes selling, don't worry, it's a Ford and will be replaced by a BMW.

A thus borrowed my mother's old faithful, '87 E30 318i. Not far from home I noticed a knocking noise from the left front wheel while going over a speedbump or a rough part in the road. I suspected a worn shock mounting and even the loose bumper spoiler.

Tonight after refitting the front spoiler and removing the front wheel, I discovered the following....

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Jacques/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/12042010337%20(Medium).jpg

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Jacques/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/12042010341%20(Medium).jpg

Rusted and cracked chassis right where the wishbone is tied to the chassis.

How can this be repaired? Can this be repaired? Is it safe to drive?

This car have been in the family since new for the last 23 years. Would not like to see it go...

Please Help.

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How do I insert the pics?

 

[zaleonardz]

You have to upload pictures to a hosting site such as photobucket. look at this thread
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=2947

As for the 7k cat, just have it cut out, with a cat fooler fitted, cost you under 1k...

 

[Jacques668866]

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Oh, BTW, the CAT worked out to be R10,070... on a 1.4 Fiesta. Disconnected the Engine light in the cluster instead...

 

[veridico]

Thats some serious rust, I dont think I would get in that car ever.

 

[Hellas]

Find another E30 and drop the body onto the new chassis. You might spend some money now on fixing the chassis, but rust is a bugger and it will return. R7k for a shoddy body inland E30 might do the trick.

 

[Jacques668866]

This is weird, the car have ALWAYS been garaged. The other side is fine, no other rust, it is only this one side. Is there no other quick fix so that i can at least sell it.

We are the first owners so I am 100% sure it is not from a previous accident.

 

[veridico]

Fixing a chassis is never a quick fix really. Im not a guru on this though, so I cant say.

 

[shadow worrior]

please dont do a quick fix and sell it on to some one else as these days money is tight, just be honest advertise as is you will be surprised :shocked:

 

[hennie]

that can be fixed by a good panel beater that arm is available loose from the stealers if the rest of the car is in good nick its worth repairing it and keep it

 

[Major]

It's fixable, but yeah, like hennie said, will need to be a good panelbeater! With rust there it probably means there's rust under the driver's feet.

 

[osiris]

hrmmm, you could goto a scrap yard and get them to angel grind that piece that is rusted from another E30 and then you will need to cut your piece out and weld the new one in place, once you have done this then you will need to sand it down nicely and get some sealent and paint it on to prevent any more rust from occuring, rust loves welded joins so you will need to seal it with sealent properly.

I honestly dont think it will even be that big of a job as long as you can find another E30 to cut that part off from.

Good luck man.

 

[Jacques668866]

OI!

Pleased to report the car is getting fixed. Should get it back next week, R4,800 later.

The old lady could not part with it. :thumb:

 

[veridico]

Great news, much better than having to part with it.

 

[b6turbo]

how was the car repaired and how much did it cost???