mk1 focus front wing replacement

[tummelv]

I recently developed a rust bubble on my front wing which I had repaired. The guy did a great job sanding it back and repainting but after less than six months the bubble is back. So I was thinking of getting a new front wing. What would be the best way to go about this? Was thinking buying one off ebay. If I got one the same colour I am guessing I would still need it repainted. If I had it professionally painted as the colour wouldn not match perfectly. Could I diy fit it to save some money?

Any other options? I gather another repair would be pointless. The guy himself said it would come back but I expected it to last more than a few months.

Thanks

 

[bitslice]

That sounds like a poor repair to me, I've had dents resprayed on other cars and they haven't rusted.

I'm not an expert on respraying panels, but I assumed they used some kind of zinc primer to stop this kind of issue?

 

[tummelv]

No idea. A friend of my dad did it. Just went and picked it up!

My dad recommended him and I know others who have been pleased with the work done from him before. I have no reason to believe he did a shoddy job.

 

[Dogbreath]

He clearly didn't get all the rust out before respraying it, otherwise you wouldn't be having this problem.

What colour is the car? A secondhand wing may give an acceptable colour match, but just beware that what many breakers will describe as "mint" or "immaculate" may well not meet your own standards for those descriptions.

 

[tummelv]

It's pepper red. I'm guessing this is one of the colours where a panel from a different car will stand out like a sore thumb due to the red fading differently.

 

[blueboy2001]

I'd stick to genuine panels for the proper fit. Metallic paint doesn't fade much due to the clearcoat, so you never know your luck. If you can find one the the right colour and it looks ok that's a win, if it doesn't you're no worse off as if you got another colour you're going to have to get it painted anyway.

I thought Focus panels were galvanised - seems strange that it's bubbled. I wonder if it's been replaced with a pattern panel historically?

 

[tummelv]

Is a pattern panel a cheap replacement after a bump blueboy? Maybe it's had a shunt, last owner was a lady after all!

Got some pics if it helps. Tried my best to get a nice closeup. Link to the url only since they'll pagestretch.

Showing the whole thing along the edge of the wheelarch. There's a slight paler discolouration around the area as you can see.

http://i.imgur.com/TcvMMfM.jpg

Closeup

http://i.imgur.com/xV8PHHH.jpg

Along the lip

http://i.imgur.com/noraQdy.jpg

Would something like this be appropriate? Not the right colour unfortunately but it is at least genuine Ford part.

 

[Jez]

You paid to have a wing repaired on a mk1 focus?

On a car as common as this and at the vintage which it is, just buy a wing from ebay in the correct colour. I replaced a wing on a black 02 focus not long back due to a dent in it. I think the whole wing delivered (very easy to fit too, bolt on) was less than 50 quid. Perfect match as the wing is the same age as the rest of the car, too.

 

[Dogbreath]

Is a pattern panel a cheap replacement after a bump blueboy

A "pattern part" is one made by a third party manufacturer rather than the original manufacturer. They are cheaper (otherwise there would be no demand for them) but pattern panels often don't fit very well and they won't be galvanised like the original panels.