Has anyone replaced the inner sills of their roadster? If so, did you somehow find replicated parts or did you have them made? All advice will be much appreciated.
Inner Sills Question
- Thread starter ktnez99
- Start date
@Sean d did it when he restored a Z3 a few years ago. If I remember correctly he got the donor inner sills from @spurs fan in a coupe who cut them from one of the cars he was breaking. I don't think they are available from BMW
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
I think @spurs fan in a coupe should be cutting out any good inner sills, as these will become one of the parts that kills these cars.
Spot on - they’re not available now but were at some point. Rather annoying but this is what we face when we have cars in their third decade.
Cars for general everyday use are not expected to survive into a 3rd decade. When they do it's usually an expensive time. When Sean did the repair on his Z3 it was only really worthwhile because a) he could do it himself and b) Andy and Mike assisted in the removing of donor item from a scrapped car.
Tony.
Tony.
Couldn't get new ones for my coupe last year, so had Redish cut out the bad bits and refabricate/rebuild. Rust usually only affects the leading ends of the inner sills and jacking points. They did a fantastic job but wasn't cheap! Videos on the coupe site.
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I do 2-3000 miles pa in my car which is very small mileage. I know exactly why this issue has arisen and it’s due to a garage having jet washed the underside of the car before under-sealing it and it clearly wasn’t dry prior to sealing taking place. I paid for preventative work to stop the very issue caused by a trader thinking of turning around a quick fix job without due care or skill. And this is increasingly the issue as far too few auto trade related people and businesses want or have the ability, skill and experience to do what they are commissioned to do.
You know surgeons used a micro camera when performing ops? Is there the equivalent micro size camera with long lead for poking into tiny areas of a car?
I have a cheap Amazon boroscope that does a good job. Made by Depstech.
Yes there are. Endoscopes. I have one. You by them off eBay or similar and download an App to use them with your mobile phone.
Tony.
Tony.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
The problem curing the problem is lack of access to the inside of the channel.
The problem has been caused by two things, as I see it.
1. The outer sill covers the damage so you can't see the damage until it is too late.
2. The rubberised protective barrier gets damaged, water gets under it, sits there, and becomes a little battery. Differential Aeration Corrosion.
BMW designed these cars to have a 12 year corrosion guarantee. Both these "protection" barriers helped guarantee this, but it means the problem will be VERY serious when it strikes.
The problem has been caused by two things, as I see it.
1. The outer sill covers the damage so you can't see the damage until it is too late.
2. The rubberised protective barrier gets damaged, water gets under it, sits there, and becomes a little battery. Differential Aeration Corrosion.
BMW designed these cars to have a 12 year corrosion guarantee. Both these "protection" barriers helped guarantee this, but it means the problem will be VERY serious when it strikes.
Morning and thanks for info. What coupe website please? Any chance you can post a link to it so I can have a look?
I did Ann-Maries blue car last year and my grey one just before Zedfest. The blue car was in really good condition and just needed outer sills and a little touch up and rust prevention on the inner sills. Mine took a good amount of work and I had to do a good amount of welding to the jacking points. Took me a few days and some donated sheet metal but it is all good for years to come.
Sorry I didn't take any as I was just trying to get it all sorted before the weekend.
Pretty much it was just filling in the damaged areas with hand cut and formed sheet metal. The jacking points were pretty poor and I filled these with 3mm sheet so they will now last my lifetime. Everything was then primed, painted and slathered in rust prevention far better then original.
I have welders and materials so it only cost me time and effort.
Pretty much it was just filling in the damaged areas with hand cut and formed sheet metal. The jacking points were pretty poor and I filled these with 3mm sheet so they will now last my lifetime. Everything was then primed, painted and slathered in rust prevention far better then original.
I have welders and materials so it only cost me time and effort.
there are prefabricated jacking point steel repair panels on eBay for sale and seem very responsible , haven't used them as i fabricated my own
Original state of the sills:
Imola S50 - long overdue journal! - Z3MCoupe.com Forums
M Coupe Journals & Running Report Section
www.mcoupe.co.uk
Video from Redish:
@Knightrider thanks. Watching vid now…who is Redish?
Reddish Motorsport?
Yes
Home - Redish Motorsport - Specialists for BMW M-Power Vehicles
Redish Motorsport are BMW Specialist in Bristol who offer the Ultimate BMW experience when it comes to specialist procedures for your BMW M-Power Vehicle, at our fully equipped workshop in Bristol.
www.redish-motorsport.com
There are other fabricators out there that do similar work - e.g. Yorkshire car restoration do some amazing fabrication stuff.
No matter where you go, it won't be cheap to get it done well.