11 replies to this topic

[Colin cooper]

Hi all, i am not sure the actual name for the stuff (couldn't find it on mini spares), but you know the black rubber trim/cover strip that goes along the bottom of a mini, along the doorstep/sill, back to the rear arches.?

I was thinking that this seems to be a real water trap, all the minis i've had, when i've took it off to have a look there has always been some corrosion, paint or actual rust under the strip, or the metal lip has rusted out completely.

I was wondering if anyone has had any cunning plans to reduce or stop the amount of water being trapped behind this strip? Apart from taking them off completely and painting the edge black (which might look a bit naff) or I guess brand new ones would be better but still.....any thoughts?

cheers,
Joe

[mike.]

You could clean up the lip, paint it and then use silicone under the trim. So when you push it on it'll push the excess out and make a seal. Then you can just wipe off any excess.

[evansisgreat]

I plan on fitting sportpack side skirts which cover up this seam. But that'll only work if you've got sportpack arches.

[bobs]

The trim that links the standard rover arches?

If you don't want the mess of silicone, when refitting plaster inside the trim in grease, just normal grease then pinch the trim on the sill

Grease also dispells water and shouldn't harm the paint, will help re-fitment also without scratching the paint which is sometimes why it rusts there.

[AVV IT]

I have black aftermarket rubber trim which seems to be less of a water trap than the original plastic rover stuff any way. I tend to remove the trim fairly regularly, clean the metal edge & wash out all the dirt/ grime etc from the trim as well. I also usualy remove & treat any surface rust there once a year, when doing the annual waxoyl & underseal routine, then I spray a small amount of waxoyl along the inside of the trim before refitting it.

[Colin cooper]

i totally forgot i posted this thread

Cheers for the replies. yeah i thought about using silicon, you can even get black silicone. But then it would make it a real be-atch to get the trim off, and water and mould would eventually get behind and be more trapped than before. I think a bit of grease and regular removal and cleaning is the best bet

[minisilverbullet]

As posted above, there is an after market trim (i got from north west minis)which seems a tighter fit than the original rover item.

I caught the rust under mine just in time. I did plan on removing it every so often to clean and dry out. but the body shop who painted the car were more than adamant that the tighter fit of the new seal plus some black sticky stuff he had, where up to the job!

[Deathrow]

Do not use silicone under the trim!

Don't use any silicone anywhere on your car, silicone will play absolute hell with your paint, if you ever come to paint that area of the car again (which is possible if surface rust begins) you won't have a chance at getting it painted without a reaction .

I'm planning on using grease under mine, pack the trim with grease, install on the seam and then wipe off the excess that comes out.

[Colin cooper]

I have black aftermarket rubber trim which seems to be less of a water trap than the original plastic rover stuff any way. I tend to remove the trim fairly regularly, clean the metal edge & wash out all the dirt/ grime etc from the trim as well. I also usualy remove & treat any surface rust there once a year, when doing the annual waxoyl & underseal routine, then I spray a small amount of waxoyl along the inside of the trim before refitting it.

where did you get the aftermarket trim?

[bunch1980]

I got mine from minispares is more flexible than stock was and is not genuine part.

Not used it yet as Im not sure best way to treat rust that has occured because of this trim being there for so many years trapping water etc, is it likely water has run down inside the sill
box sections now also? at mo all seems quite solid just edge of sill where panels come together is is rusting and and some areas burst open where rust pushes it open!!

[Colin cooper]

cheers Bunch.
It might be rusted through but no way of knowing until you start poking around with a screwdriver. I have just had a sill/doorstep replaced. Originally i was just going to have a smaller section of it replaced, whoever when the guy started taking things apart and poking around we saw that the sill had rusted through enough to warrant a whole new sill.

Mine started out as just the lip had rusted off and bubbling paint...but also some numpty head (probably the place i bought the car from) had slapped a load of filler in a pushed the trim over it....filler cracks, water goes in....

personally i wouldn't start poking around unless your willing/or planning to get some work done anyway. Don't really want to be driving around with big holes everywhere..

Edited by Colin cooper, 20 September 2010 - 12:57 PM.

[bunch1980]

cheers Bunch.
It might be rusted through but no way of knowing until you start poking around with a screwdriver. I have just had a sill/doorstep replaced. Originally i was just going to have a smaller section of it replaced, whoever when the guy started taking things apart and poking around we saw that the sill had rusted through enough to warrant a whole new sill.

Mine started out as just the lip had rusted off and bubbling paint...but also some numpty head (probably the place i bought the car from) had slapped a load of filler in a pushed the trim over it....filler cracks, water goes in....

personally i wouldn't start poking around unless your willing/or planning to get some work done anyway. Don't really want to be driving around with big holes everywhere..

Thats the worry, they are original and no bodging i can see anywhere and I have poked underneath some all still seems solid but like you say cnat really tell unless i go overall though the sill area inside
and out looks good to me. I have some rust convertor stuff and some cavity wax so plan to inject this in sills through the drain holes and rear bins etc and either treat sill seems to or strip off paint some on sill trim and repaint etc.