I cant Belive It

[Ringman]

as some may recall i recently bought a new used car (2003 model with one previous owner and 25,000 miles at the time) a few months ago and all was well with it untill a week ago i had my older brother detail my car up (wash wax buff, basicly make it shine like when i first bought it) and he opend all my doors to clean the interior out, when he noticed on the bottom of the door underneath the pannel it was rusting already:eek: not good, but then as he was going around he noticed that it was like that on all of them. He said that it looked like it had been going on for some time.

i was pissed that i didnt see that when i was looking at the car before i bought it, because i would have had the dealer fix that before i signd the paperwork. So i thought aww F*** thats not gonna be cheap and figured when i take my car in for scheduled maintence i would get an estimate from my dealer on the repairs, as i knew it wasnt coverd on my warrenty, and it would be an out of pocket expense.

So i made the appointment and took the car in for the oil change and mentioned the doors and wanting to get an written estimate for repair, well this is where i start to get really impreased with the service from my dealer.

They said they were going to give my car a 16pt inspection at no charge, a free car wash, and on top of that i was given a courtsey card when i bought the car that was worth a free oil change. So im thinking sweet, not bad all this for free. So im sitting in the customer lounge when the guy from the service dept comes in to tell me my car is ready, he says he has good news, they are going to fix my doors for FREE all i have to do is make the appointment with the body shop and they will not charge me.

I can't belive it, i wasnt expecting much because its been about 4months since i bought the car and i dont have any sort of extended warranty (although i have been thinking about it) coverage just the leftover factory warranty and thats not even much there. they have defintly got my business from now on :worship: :worship:, i told my parents about what theyre doing and they have said thats conivnced them to buy their next car there.

the only bad thing is heck its not even that bad but ill have to leave the car there for a few days, but i have rental on my insurance so ill just get a rental car from the dealer and let them bill my insurance.

http://friendsforever.foren-city.de/images/smiles/a084.gif

[Kiwi]

if its just surface rust you donthave too much to worry about, it will cost to have it removed and the panels repainted but it will save in the long run, make sure you dont let them stop at the primer, you need to have it completely sealed just like the rest of the fender

check that the door rubbers are on correctly (all the way around), water tends to pool in the bottom of the door (theres a little mini ledge) if they are out of whack, have that fixed because otherwise your going to have a problem every winter.

if they have to do extensive rust removal or it is structural rust (and factory warrenty doesnt cover it (make them check if the paint was sealed properly in the first place)

consider buying new or second hand doors rather than them repair it with "poo" as my brother calls it, the metal filler they use

he painted cars for 5 years for a panelbeater and he says the "poo" they use is called that for a reason, as in, if you get in an accident you'll be in the shit, its not as strong nor as safe.

woops I spaced out and didnt read the last paragraph of your post

YAY for good, beyond the bar service!!!

[Ringman]

thanks for the advice kiwi.

here are some pictures i just took with my cell phone.

http://images3.pictiger.com/thumbs/69/3001603fd78eafb37b19ee7bf4474c69.th.jpg (http://server3.pictiger.com/img/481480/picture-hosting/08-16-06-2017.php)

http://images3.pictiger.com/thumbs/cf/fecd3c35faebce9ee1e6fda8bc8831cf.th.jpg (http://server3.pictiger.com/img/481481/picture-hosting/08-16-06-2018.php)

http://images3.pictiger.com/thumbs/97/402a14e879610954ee9b1955958dd797.th.jpg (http://server3.pictiger.com/img/481482/picture-hosting/08-16-06-2019.php)

[Kiwi]

it looks like surface rust so it shouldnt be anything to bad

just make sure the surface is treated with a rust inhibitor and sealed properly

beautiful colour buy the way, cars always look 100 times nicer in red :)

[Tanasi]

What kind of car is this? I know that GM got some bad steel a few years ago and also didn't properly treat it for rust, so it's a GM product you could be infor quite a mess. The second picture looks like the bottom lip of the skin has rusted off, is that the case? If so insist on they reskinning the doors. I'd also really check out the rest of the car especially the wheel-wells, around the truck and hood, basically anywhere water and crap might collect.

Kiwi, as a builder of show-quality cars I've found that you've got to use some bondo otherwise you'll never get the body straight. If you've got more than 1/32" then you've messed up and need to move some metal. I'm currently working on a 1970 Ford Torino CJ. I have the chasis, motor, tranny and rolling stock done. I have to make some replacement body panels, someone to make a vinel-top and vintage tires/batterys.
Anyone know where I can find a herd of naughas?

[Ringman]

What kind of car is this? I know that GM got some bad steel a few years ago and also didn't properly treat it for rust, so it's a GM product you could be infor quite a mess.

its a 2003 oldsmobile alero. and yes it is a Gm prouduct, it was manufacutured in canada according to my reocrds

[Sphinx]

:lol: I used to drive an Alero, except it was black.
Hope everything turns out ok with it:D

[Mr. Rager!]

A lot of times, there are warranties that cover rust built into the factory warranty. I bought a newer car last just a couple of days ago, the kid who owned it before me had warranty rust repair done on it.

[Ringman]

I used to drive an Alero, except it was black.
Hope everything turns out ok with it

didnt you love it though? yeah every thing will be fine, i have a few other things on the body that need some attention, mostly because a frigginn moron of a 16yr old bumbed into my drivers side bumper with her car, fourtuantly she had a rubber bumber and it just scuffed up mine and chipped a little piece of paint off.

this happend yesterday while over at a friends house, my car was parked in the parking lot of their appartment complex when she came speeding down the road with her drivers side door open and her boyfriend standing on the side, when she came to pull into a parking space she misjudged how far away she was and bumped my car :rant: :mad: :pissed:

i let her off easy as i didnt call the cops. mostly because of the lack of damage i wasnt too worried about the paint chip as i was going to get some touch up any way for other small spots. and i could easily have the black marks buffed off the body.

any way now that im awake id better call the dealerships body shop and make my appt for next week.