22 replies to this topic

[AndrewJ530]

Because life's not fair, that's why they rust .

[mab01uk]

Mini's rust at about the same rate as all other cars that were designed in the late 1950's did (some were even worse like the Austin/Morris 1100/1300 range) but the Mini was the only one still in production 40 odd years later. I remember my mum bought a brand new Ford Anglia in 1966, only 4 years later it had rust holes in both front wings but that was not unusual then and there was no such thing as a rust warranty. Modern cars are designed without mud and dirt traps, the wheel arches and much of the underside is shielded with black plastic arch liners and panels, the vunerable steel is galvanised and box sections are injected with waxoyl type rust proofing. None of this could have been done to the Mini without a major redesign and adding to the cost of what, in its later years, was becoming an expensive to produce, low volume, almost hand built car by modern standards. The variations in rusting over the years also happened in Fords and Vauxhalls and is caused by different quality steel and or poor storage and protection before use. If you go on a trip round the new MINI factory production lines in Oxford, like I did recently, you will also see that every spot welded panel joint is now bonded with a weld through sealant pre-applied by robots, which increases the weld joint strength and prevents any water ingress starting rust in the body seams.

Edited by mab01uk, 06 February 2010 - 03:53 PM.

[Ethel]

Years of practise.

[benb12]

Just the way cars used to be, not as long ago as you might think. My nan bought a Sierra Sapphire new, in the late 80s/early 90s I think. About 3 years later the doorskin was flapping where it had rusted.

[Trail of Dead]

In the late 1970's/early 1980's in the states we got a VERY bad shipment of Steel from Japan. So don't think Japanese vehicles didn't rust as bad! I've seen Toyotas and Subarus rotted soooo bad you could kick them gently and panels would fall off. My Dad had a 1979 Dodge Ramcharger that had been built with some of the inferior Japanese steel and it had some pretty bad rust issues. As far as the Minis rusting so bad....I HATE it cause they are so hard to find in EXCELLENT condition. I mean truly excellent condition, as you can find one where the previous owner says it is great or "excellent" only to find out something was bodged on it somewhere!

I think Dexter is going to need some boot floor work as there is a TON of seam sealer towards the boot hinge panel (on the floor) on the inside of the boot. I suspect he is rotten under there. I saw a Mini shell one time that had been COMPLETELY powder coated! Powder coating has excellent anti-rust qualities. I have a pair of "Lone-Star" extended A Arms for my Yamaha Banshee that are at LEAST 9 years old and they are rust free! All due to the powder coating process. Powder coating involves "chemically" cleaning the metal, and then drying it in a special way. Then of course the powder itself is like a polymer that basically encapsulates the surface. Add in some Rhino Liner type undercoating on the underside (liberally) and the inside (VERY liberally) and you should have a Mini that will last forever.

I am going to luck out as I am taking Dexter back to the states where he will live out the rest of his days in a comfortable dry climate.

Edited by Trail of Dead, 06 February 2010 - 04:58 PM.

[taffy1967]

I'm old enough to remember seeing rot box Fords, Vauxhalls and Triumphs on the road. The cars weren't that old at the time, but rust was the main reason they lived a short life.

Most people didn't care because they replaced their cars every 2 or 3 years if they used them a great deal. But those who had garages and were meticulous about washing and servicing their pride and joys was the reason I also saw older models that still looked like new. Albeit rarely.

So Minis were no different and in fact they probably rusted far less than most cars of the 1960's and 1970'. It was just the rear subframe that everyone was paranoid about.

Fast forwards to today and no motor manufacture wants to see one of it's products on the road full of rust or holes. But with an engine full of electronics it means it'll probably live a short life when the ecu and lamba sensors pack in. So that's why most cars seen in scrap yards today look like they really shouldn't be there.

So yes the fact Minis rust is very annoying and seems unfair. But it's an ancient design (still a very clever one though) and Rover could have filled every box section and door bottom up with Waxoyl. But they didn't because it wasn't cost effective and yet an owner could pay to get it done (or do it themselves) and still be quids in.

Plus it's almost 10 years since the last original Mini rolled off the Longbridge production line.

Washing machines are much the same too. The old analogue washing machine could last a decade or more, where as the electronic circuit panelled versions today expire after less than 5 years on average. Then it's far cheaper to buy a brand new replacement, than order a new circuit panel.

So much for progress eh?

Edited by taffy1967, 07 February 2010 - 02:09 PM.

[Surfbluegarage]

as i say to everyone that says they have rust.. "its a mini what did you expect" haha not to put a crap spanner in your works.. i have to deal with rotten minis everyday at work so think ya self lucky uve just got your rott to contend with haha
anyways didnt rover downgrade the gauge of steel used in later minis aswell as the crap quility stuff imported from japan??
its all fun and game isnt it haha

[taffy1967]

as i say to everyone that says they have rust.. "its a mini what did you expect" haha not to put a crap spanner in your works.. i have to deal with rotten minis everyday at work so think ya self lucky uve just got your rott to contend with haha
anyways didnt rover downgrade the gauge of steel used in later minis aswell as the crap quility stuff imported from japan??
its all fun and game isnt it haha

I believe the Mini shells were lighter and of a different grade from the MK3 onwards (October 1969 on) after BL took over? But it wasn't so much the thickness, the quality of the steel actually improved so it didn't need to be of the same grade/thickness?

Either way Minis have always rusted, my first Mini which was a 1975 MK3 Mini 1000 had lots of it too when my Dad bought it in 1981. 1960's Minis also rusted.

So later examples were no better or worst really. Although mid 1980's metallic silver Minis seemed to rust the most.

As for storing the shells outside. Yes they did around the mid 1980's (probably why they rusted so badly at the time), but then they kept them inside instead. When they got that overhead bridge thing between the painting process building and the main construction area?

Edited by taffy1967, 07 February 2010 - 02:54 PM.