RUSTMEISTER SAYS.......... (archive)

Hi Keith...thanks for your confidence in my advice. Sure thing...be glad to share with all the folks out there some of the critical things to do to prevent rust in the first place, and if you get it....how to deal with it.
The most important thing you can do to maintain your vehicle in first class operating condition is performing regularly scheduled preventative and scheduled maintenance.
So get out the old operators manual, dust off the cob webs, and read that first if you haven't read it in a while. If you don't have one...get one. You can't properly maintain your investment if you don't know when maintenance is supposed to be performed. The vehicle is broken down into systems...eletrical, fuel, engine, brakes,etc...and body and interior. Ever hear of the old addage: I can look at your car and tell how clean your house is?....well same applies.
First, garaging a vehicle is one of the best ways to protect it from the elements. If you don't have a garage, get a quality car cover that is waterproof and lined so that your paint surface will not get scratched. I strongly recommend against securing the cover with metal cables. If the vehicle is parked outside, strong winds could cause the cables to severely scratch the paint surface.
Keep your vehicle washed and waxed. Wash your vehicles underside and perform regular inspections of the undercarriage to include a safety inspection of belts, hoses, lines, tires, exhaust and fuel delivery system. I check the oil, water level, other fluids and body on my 6er every day if I am operating the vehicle. Things do break...an ounce of prevention is worth ....you know!
Ok..so here is the meat and potatoes: Bimmers rust anywhere you can't see it! A few places to look are , under the front fenders, around the wheel well lips, up in the wheel wells( look for flaking undercoating and bubbling paint), corners of fenders, strut mounts, floor boards, around the trunk opening, spare tire well, inside the trunk under the mat, the frame rails under the cockpit, the front inner fender/engine compartment, around the windshield..under the rubber gasket, the sunroof area...You probably get the picture at this point..Especially vulnerable is the undercoating. It will crack, moisture gets under it and before you can see it...RUST. So...wax everything, to include around the door and trunk openings. Use touch up paint on places that may have chipped paint. Try not to put off getting paint damage fixed...it only gets worse!
now...the secret....BOILED LINSEED OIL! It is the best metal preservative around. It dries to a hard surface that can be sanded, painted, etc. It cuts off the oxygen to the rust...what it has to have. You can brush it on or spray it on...but rememer...it has arsenic in it...so have proper ventilation and use a repirator or mask and gloves. It can be applied over rusted areas...they will stop rusting. Also...oil spray the bottom of your vehicle twice a year. I guess a
lot of maintaining your investment is how much do you know about it, who is reputable and can help you, and how much time ddo you have to work on it.....or how good is the person that is working on it. For you do it yourselfers...Hayes a good manual on body work (Hayes can be purchased at Auto Zone, NAPA, and other auto parts stores. It will give you specific instruction on "how to"....and I'm sure there are other good manuals out there. Unforuately there are many people that own these cars and other cars that haven't a clue about maintaing a car...and they are the ones that drive 'em till they drop....RUSTMEISTER SAYS: YOU GOT TO KNOW YOUR CAR! Happy motoring and be safe out there and observe the speed limit!
Hope this helps. Paul

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