Z3 rusting?

[Buffalo Mike]

Since new in 2001 my Z3 has been driven 365 days a year in Buffalo, NY. For over 91,000 miles my car has been attacked by rain, snow and salt... and yet I don't see any real rust. Just some bolt heads might be a little rusty. Does anyone have any rust on their Zs? If so, where?

[prdz3]

and I haven't seen any rust (yet) either.
Phil '97 1.9 Montreal Blue

[SteveJ]

The body panels are galvanized. My 2002 has no rust even through nine Minnnesota winters.

[@ MinnMark]

10 winters since 2000 in whatever Minnesota can dish out - and believe me they apply salt here by the ton!

I've been under the car plenty - NO RUST!


MinnMark
'00 2.3 Oxford Green/Tan/Tan

[Erv]

[markwb9]

143k of daily driving in central PA, no rust. hardtop, 4 snows, mudflaps and rubber floor mats make this a great winter car.

[staylor]

...and I give you credit for driving your Z during our crappy Western NY winters. My Z3 is not driven in winters, simply because the lurking pot holes around here can swallow up large portions of the Z3 in one gulp. I hit one last week in my wife's Jeep that was so deep the off road skid plates took a hit. There are 2 other Z3s in the Buffalo area that I see now and then that are driven in the winter. One looks great- with no rust showing at all. The other has some stress corrosion type rust on the tops of the rear fenders. I suppose this may be from a combination of road salt mixed with snow, coupled with pot hole impacts, or it could also be from some prior collision repairs. Both of these Zs are 98/99 models.Doug

[Bob S.]

No rust on mine, 180,000 miles. I do live in Cal tho so that could be instrumental. But honestly, you should r & r the rust bolts since they are a source of galvanic action. And with the salt you should have the car professionally steam cleaned once a year underside] to remove the salt.

Good luck.

[Buffalo Mike]

Around here the car washes (yes... I run the car through car washes in the winter to get the salt off)have an under car wash with rust inhibitor as an extra option which I get this most of the time. I only run the car through the car wash while I have the hard top on because I am concerned that the soft top and plastic back window might get damaged.

Good point on the bolts. I paint them with rust stop stuff and then paint them black.