by Vince Strazzabosco
Rust and body damage
In part one we talked about finding a 2002, making the deal and basic tips of what the differences are between the kinds of '02s out there.
I also touched on rust as something to look out for on these cars. The main thing to be wary of with buying a 2002 as with all old cars is rust. Of course,
if you're looking for a beater or just something to
drive around daily, maybe rust won't be such a high
priority. On old vehicles, there seem to be two
classifications of rust: Structural rust, and Cosmetic
rust.
Structural rust will affect the structural rigidity of
the car and usually isn't as visible, whereas cosmetic
rust is very visible, but doesn't affect the rigidity
of the car. Structural rust is found mostly in cars
that have seen usage in snow or on salted roads.
This is a good example of rust on the wheelwell near the shock tower.
Photo courtesy of www.2002bmw.com.
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The most common places to find structural rust in a 2002
are driver's and passenger's side floorpans,
the front subframe rails near where they join the body,
the rear subframe (hit it soundly with a hammer
to check it), the rear shock towers/wheelwells,
the rocker panels (the part under the doors) and
the trunk floor/gas tank frame.
Most of this can be pretty expensive to replace, and
it's far too easy for a shop to bungle major rust
repairs like these.
Cosmetic rust can be found elsewhere, wherever water
can sit without draining. Often it first appears as
tiny bubbles in the paint. Common places to find
cosmetic rust are in the rear section of the front and rear fenders,
the lower sections of the doors, the area inside the front fender, near the front turn signals, around the windshield/rear window seals, around any trim attaching mounts or clips, in the nose panel where the lower edge of the radiator support is welded in, the spare tire well and
in the edges of the hood and trunk.
Rust bubbles near the bottom trim and door.
Photo courtesy of www.2002bmw.com.
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These areas can be quite expensive to repair due to
the labor involved. The doors, hood and trunk, are
easy to replace. But finding replacements in decent shape, with no dents or rust can also be fairly expensive. Don't forget
shipping costs to get that part to you. In general, a little rust that's
visible to the eye means a lot more rust that you
can't see, especially if the car was recently painted
and the rust wasn't properly repaired.
Body damage can be as expensive as rust to repair. Look closely at panels that don't align well or have been repainted. It's a good idea to check the inner section of the panel if you can see it. Fortunately, the most commonly hit areas are the hood, doors, and trunk. Opening these will allow you to see evidence of body repairs. Few body repair shops seem to do a really
nice, neat job of repairs, so check for rough edges, paint overspray, and anything else that looks out of place.
