New bonnet or repair? (rust)

matt100

matt100

matt100

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Having looked again today I think I know the answer but am I better buying a new bonnet and having it sprayed or is this repairable?

And yes my car has had a mile munching life, it's 123d with almost 210k miles on it and I want to keep it going as long as possible.. aside from anything I get a car allowance so the longer I keep the car the more I save :)

However I do want it to be presentable too.

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I wouldn't bother trying to repair that. Personally I'd be looking to pick up a used good condition bonnet in the right colour and bolting it straight on.
 
I saw the picture of it on the outside and thought repair. Then I saw the picture of the inside and thought "new bonnet time".

New bonnet will be about £100 and you can DIY it with a friend (quite an easy job) or a garage will likely do it for £50.
 
That's certainly been the plan. Obviously with all the lockdowns I've done about 1k miles in the last 12 months so it's hardly been a priority but there do seem to be a steady stream of white E81/87 bonnets on eBay.

Handy it's just white too not metallic I guess but I assumed either way it will likely need spraying because it won't match well?
 
Gaygle said:
I saw the picture of it on the outside and thought repair. Then I saw the picture of the inside and thought "new bonnet time".
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It's been a standing joke that bits come off. When I opened it today a bit the size of half a playing card came off in my hand lol.

Never broken down though, I've grown to love how stubbornly it keeps going.
 
It's pretty impressive that you've got 210k out of a 123d tbh. I'm guessing it's had a timing chain swap in that time?
 
Gaygle said:
It's pretty impressive that you've got 210k out of a 123d tbh. I'm guessing it's had a timing chain swap in that time?
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Nope, original chain, clutch, turbo, suspension etc.

It had an inlet manifold and I know the rear suspension is in need of some attention but that's it. The idrive is also half knackered (sat nav no longer works) and there's the standard split in the half leather sensatec seat but otherwise it's held up remarkably well.

In fairness, it's spent most of it's life doing a steady 120 mile round trip commute up and down the M3 so actually a pretty stress free life. I've moved in lockdown much closer to the office so I guess it'll die now it's only going to be doing 25 mile trips.
 
matt100 said:
Handy it's just white too not metallic I guess but I assumed either way it will likely need spraying because it won't match well?
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To be honest I'd expect a used one to match better than a freshly sprayed bonnet, unless you get the whole front end done and blended in down the sides.
 
Finish the job and call it 'rat', or get a black one and a max power sticker. Or let the old girl die gracefully with all her own faculties :p
 
I replaced one on a 3 series where the clearcoat had gone, I accepted a near colour match, darker grey, but, was circa £50.

Difficulty was, it got damaged by DHL, the front corners got dented ... so make sure it is well packed if you choose that route, I salvaged it and the seller knocked the price down;
pretty sure the bonnet wouldn't have fitted in the boot had i had it delivered to work, or, found a scrap yard,
had had an oem exhaust delivered to work, reception not so happy.

I couldn't re-use/extract the old jets without cutting the metal circlips, so tubes just became push on's.
 
dLockers said:
Finish the job and call it 'rat', or get a black one and a max power sticker. Or let the old girl die gracefully with all her own faculties :p
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d_brennen said:
I'd leave it be. Adds character
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I had considered both of these options and I may well take them. I suppose my only slight issue is I'm moderately senior at a serious business and it might get noticed. I mean, I could take their Tesla I guess but I just don't want to pay the (any) tax.

no idea what said:
Second hand one and please treat that car to a damn good cut and polish :D
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My plan is to do to just that, a proper valet inside and out and the engine bay and basically bring it back up to acceptable and see how far I can go.

In some ways it's the most eco friendly way forwards, it's worthless now so at least it's not getting dumped, if I had to put a new engine in it it's not £20k on a new car so why not?

It'll die when it becomes a PITA, like it just repeatedly let's me down. Until then... Drive on!
 
get one off ebay or a scrappy, probably even get a match and won't need to spray either. Why bother messing around with de-rusting and prepping and painting, just replace.

What year is it? £135 quid for a new one on ebay! Then spraying...
 
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Easily repairable. Paint some rust remover and degrease. For underneath use metal primer or stone guard.

For top and edges , use rust remover first, then sand down, use body filler for any holes, sand again. Metal primer, sand, base coat then clear.

I have a link for good price base and clear.
 
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