Rust Repair: 1987 BMW 535is

 
Happy Friday!  It’s a beautiful day, one perfect for a Cruise-In!  We hope you’ll join us this evening starting at 6pm!  Bring a chair and your favorite snacks!

The voting continues on the IndyChannel.com’s A-list!  If you haven’t voted yet, you’ve still got time!  Cast your vote here and help us win Best Repair!  Thank you!

It’s been another warm and busy week!  While I was in and out of the shop this week, this is what I captured…all with a common theme…RUST!

This 1986 BMW 325es 5-speed with just over 383k miles on the odometer came to us for a post-purchase inspection.  On the list of work to be done: front subframe, control arms, control arm bushings, sway bar links, steering coupling, tie rod assembly, engine mounts, oil pan gasket, rear subframe bushings, differential mount, and last, but certainly not least, an alignment.

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Remember that common theme I mentioned at the beginning of this post?  Well, this is one rusty subframe!

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Take a closer look…what a hole!  Thankfully, the new owner made it safely home after buying this bimmer in northern Ohio!

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

You may recognize this royalblau-metallic 1987 BMW 535is from the blog.  This bimmer always gets so many compliments when it is here, as well as many inquiries about being for sale.  Unfortunately, it is not for sale.  And once all rust repairs are complete, this 5-series will be even more coveted!

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

She’ll get betting a new front fender…

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

…since there was a bit of rust made its home along the rocker:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

 

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

A look at the repair area on the driver’s side:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Time for a close-up:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

To tackle this area, Reggie removed the front seats and console, pulling back the carpet to expose the pesky rust.  Fun fact: While removing the interior, Reggie found that this bimmer had been pre-wired for heated seats.  Cool!

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Once the rust was exposed, Reggie pounded with a hammer to knock soft areas loose to see just how big of an area he’d be dealing with.  Below you can see the hole on the driver’s side from the inside (left) and from the inside (right):

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

As for the passenger side, the faulty area was quite a bit larger, as seen from the outside (left) and inside (right):

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

A torch was used to help remove sound-deadening material.  Regardless, it would need to be removed since welding through it just won’t work.

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

The rocker panel on the passenger side is also being repaired:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Another view of the affected area on the passenger side once the rust was removed:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Here is the driver’s side rocker panel:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

And corresponding view once the rust was cut out:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Just a few of the tools for this job!

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

This area is almost ready for a patch panel!

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

First, Reggie pounds the repaired area to achieve as smooth a surface as possible:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

 

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

The plasma cutter makes quick(er) work of cutting out a panel for the driver’s side:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Reggie lines up the panel and gets it held into position so he can spot weld and then weld it into place:

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

 

Reggies MotorWorks | Repairing BMW, Audi, Mercedes

 

Be sure to come back next week for more on this project and more around the shop!   If you keep tabs on our Facebook page, you may have seen progress on these repairs throughout the week as well as a custom hose reel and peek-a-boo hood!

Have a great weekend!

 

Written by Reggie's Motorworks

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