Buying a Bongo, could you look at this pic..

[LoopyLoo]

..and tell me if this is bad on the way of rust, or normal for the car of this age.
and if its relatively easy to fix or if its a cut out and reweld job

We live by the sea - so if it needs to be 'got sorted' asap, then I'll have to rethink whether I can go for it, as the price is already at the very top of budget.

I realise its difficult to give advice based on photos, but I really would appreciate any comments.

thanks



(and yes, it has got two batteries... )

[dave_aber]

Looks pretty minor, but it is obviously the start of the rusty arch story.

It's likely that there is trouble brewing on the inside of that arch lip as well. If you have a feel around, you'll find that there are 2 arch edges there, very close together. Rust forms on the inside between these 2 panels where the water tends to linger.

Assuming that your pic is of a rear arch - Remove the rear side panels (and seats if they are the foldy-up ones), and pour Kurust or equivalent down into the cavity area. It should come pouring out over the wheel, and onto the drive, so bin-bags at the ready. Once it's done its stuff, boil up some waxoyl and white spirit (mind you don't blow yourself up though!) and pour that in too, whilst it's hot and extra-runny.

Once it has all set, you can rub back and paint the wee rust spots that are visible in your photo.

Other places to look and treat are the inside bottom edges of all the doors, especially the rear one. Inside the sills also should get a squirt of the good stuff. A general spray over underneath with waxoyl would be a good idea too - look closely at the crossmember under the radiator

[dandemann8]

..and tell me if this is bad on the way of rust, or normal for the car of this age.
and if its relatively easy to fix or if its a cut out and reweld job

We live by the sea - so if it needs to be 'got sorted' asap, then I'll have to rethink whether I can go for it, as the price is already at the very top of budget.

I realise its difficult to give advice based on photos, but I really would appreciate any comments.

thanks



(and yes, it has got two batteries... )

It may have two batterie's but this dosn't mean the second one is a leisure battery, it could be the winter pack battery set-up which is totally different

[LoopyLoo]

Ahh. I thought if it had two batteries it meant it'd come from the wet North

Ok so if I go back to have another look at it, I'll need to look at the bits dave_aber mentioned.
Is a bongo specialist garage likely to be able to do the stuff you say, or would I have to do it?
its a new import by the way. Immaculate inside and under the bonnet. No rust on the cross members underneath drivers seat, it was all very clean.

[missfixit70]

It may have two batterie's but this dosn't mean the second one is a leisure battery, it could be the winter pack battery set-up which is totally different

I think that's what he was referring to - the fact that it's a twin battery set up, ie cold climate origin - therefore more prone to rusting

That doesn't look too bad to me, as Dave says have a good feel around the inner lip, beat them down on price a bit, if it's dealt with now as Dave says, it should be ok for a while IMO, but I ain't no bodywork expert, what age is it?

[missfixit70]

Ahh. I thought if it had two batteries it meant it'd come from the wet North

Ok so if I go back to have another look at it, I'll need to look at the bits dave_aber mentioned.
Is a bongo specialist garage likely to be able to do the stuff you say, or would I have to do it?
its a new import by the way. Immaculate inside and under the bonnet. No rust on the cross members underneath drivers seat, it was all very clean.

Beat me to it you've obviously done your prep work/research, check the cross member etc under the rad too. if you go for it, get it waxoiled proerly, inside everything, worth getting a compressor (I got one from Aldi for £80 with a 3 year guaranbtee - don't know how I manged without it ) & schutz gun & doing it yourself, it needs topping up/checking fairly regularly, the compressor will pay for itself in no time, doesn't have to be as messy as people make out

[LoopyLoo]

Its a 1996, N reg
otherwise reasonably ok bodywork wise, there's a dint on the door post but has been dealt with (albeit not very well as I can see it) but is relatively minor to get done properly I reckon (although I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination)

All the other Bongo Checklist stuff seemed to be ok - clean engine, expansion tank ok, started immediately first time, roof goes up ok, not mouldy and no smells. All electric thingummys work.

But i've had it drilled in by reading this site far too much to look for this rust and when i saw it, my heart sank..because this car certainly did tick all the boxes otherwise.

However, its at top of budget, I don't think he'll move much on price (clearly says he has no trouble shifting them..) and I need to find the cash for a towbar.

Think I might need to keep looking - but if they're all like this then this one is definitely the best one we've seen.
Saw two today with far more advanced stages of rust around the arches.

[LoopyLoo]

Ahh. I thought if it had two batteries it meant it'd come from the wet North

Ok so if I go back to have another look at it, I'll need to look at the bits dave_aber mentioned.
Is a bongo specialist garage likely to be able to do the stuff you say, or would I have to do it?
its a new import by the way. Immaculate inside and under the bonnet. No rust on the cross members underneath drivers seat, it was all very clean.

Beat me to it you've obviously done your prep work/research, check the cross member etc under the rad too. if you go for it, get it waxoiled proerly, inside everything, worth getting a compressor (I got one from Aldi for £80 with a 3 year guaranbtee - don't know how I manged without it ) & schutz gun & doing it yourself, it needs topping up/checking fairly regularly, the compressor will pay for itself in no time, doesn't have to be as messy as people make out

Thanks for your replies and advice. Husband has an uncle who owned an import not so long ago and has offered to waxoil any car we get - presumably we might have to lend him the Bongo occasionally in exhange

Having looked at a fair few now its the best one I've seen for its age. But again, just concerns over how fast it will spread, especially as we live 50yrds from the sea.

But I did see another one (not for sale) that was horrific, I felt quite sorry for the poor little Bongo all rotted away along its bottom half.

[dave_aber]

Seriously, that is very minor rust. It is worth sloshing the various chemicals around to stop it and prevent any more happening though.

One question though - has that arch been painted? It's difficult to say from the pic. If it's original, and that's the first sign of rust on a N reg then I'd be reasonably happy that it is as it looks - minor and curable. If it's been repainted then perhaps there is more to worry about. When you say top of the budget - how much are we talking about ? Depending on all the other factors - mileage, servicing, condition, etc, you should be looking around £4000-£4500 for an N reg unconverted AFT I guess

[LoopyLoo]

Seriously, that is very minor rust. It is worth sloshing the various chemicals around to stop it and prevent any more happening though.

One question though - has that arch been painted? It's difficult to say from the pic. If it's original, and that's the first sign of rust on a N reg then I'd be reasonably happy that it is as it looks - minor and curable. If it's been repainted then perhaps there is more to worry about. When you say top of the budget - how much are we talking about ? Depending on all the other factors - mileage, servicing, condition, etc, you should be looking around £4000-£4500 for an N reg unconverted AFT I guess

As far as I can tell, it hasn't, there's a bit on the other side of the arch that's had a poor repair job done on it (as its white, it looks like someones painted over it in tippex)..stupidly didn't get a photo of that bitbut its about 1-2" in size and its on the flat bit above where the bumper joins the arch.
The panel certainly hasn't been resprayed as there's been a few touch up of stone chips way above the arch.

asking price is £5500 Mileage I think is <75,000(miles)..serviced, years MOT, 6 months tax and 6 months warranty.
Interior doesn't look like anyone has sat on the seats.

[dandemann8]

Offer him £4500-£5000 cash and there's money to play with to do what need's doing to it

[dave_aber]

Hmm.. Sounds pricey. I suppose you have to factor in the rest of the package if it's a dealer - warranty, etc.

If the tippex repair is at the rear of a rear wheelarch on the flat, just above the bumper, you should be able to feel round the inside and see if there is a bump on the inner panel. This area is double skinned, so a rusty or damaged outer panel may well feel like a smooth bump on the inner panel. Still, sounds fairly minor too.

[dandemann8]

If you look hard enough and have the time you will find the right one at the right price, here's a topic posted earlier which sound's a nice motor at the right price.

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 69&start=0

[Tripewriter]

Rusty wheel arches are not a problem but you need to get underneath and tap along the inner sills with a toffee hammer or similar. Also have a look at the floor pan for rust, how does the exhaust look is it rusty too.