Rusty Bodywork

[CoventryConvert]

Hi all,

Just a quick question regarding the dreaded body rot.

Some MG F's I have seen, including the one I am looking at (hopefully get the deal done this week ) have really good bodywork for their age.

Others that you see, for example on Ebay have rotted front wings, rotted sills and generally scabby wrecks.

Is there a reason for such a vast state of bodywork difference? Were some car years made from lesser steel or poorer paint finish?

I ask as the car I am looking at, on close inspection has a very, very small blood vessel like bubbling of paint on the front wing, lower edge near the bumper.

This patch is replicated on the other wing as well in exactly the same place.

So is there something common to both patches, like some water/dirt trap in the exact same position each side or some panel fixing that is prone to corrosion causing this spread on either side of the car, same position.

I am not put off the car, as this is the only body corrosion I have found. Even looked inside the rear wing panels and its perfect.

Thank you.

[Bigfootmgf]

Front wings are prone to rot on all cars. I think water and dirt get trapped there and probably not much paint !

[CoventryConvert]

Good Morning,

Many thanks for the reply.

I just thought it odd that the rust was developing in exactly the same place in both wings, a similar thing to images that I see online.

This rust is very early stage so should not be a problem.

[Bigfootmgf]

You can get replacments of most of the panels for a f if needed

[Larry Nicoll]

The first job I had done on mine was to get rust inhibitor professionally applied, Dinitrol I believe?

[talkingcars]

I have 2 mk1 1999 MGFs in HFF (BRG).

Both have done around 50k.

The 1.8i had serious rust on the front wings, the VVC doesn't.

The only difference I can see is that one was better looked after than the other one in its early life. It is even possible that the VVC was undersealed professionally.

[Dallas]

I have a early MK1 (N plate), there is rust on the O/S rear sill and corner of rear wheel arch, but no rust on the N/S sill and no rust on either wings.

I've noticed the later F's seem to have a lot more rust on both sills and front wings, I've also seen TF's with bad rusty scabby front wings.

I have also noticed a lot of F's and TF's being sold on ebay as MOT failures due to serious rot on the undercarriage front and rear etc, its worth checking the MOT history on the gov.uk site for rusty failures when looking to buy.

[talkingcars]

.....I have also noticed a lot of F's and TF's being sold on ebay as MOT failures due to serious rot on the undercarriage front and rear etc, its worth checking the MOT history on the gov.uk site for rusty failures when looking to buy.

In most instances it is the subframe mounts but people see the word "rust" and assume it is bad.

[andymac1966]

I've just replaced the front subframe on my 2003 TF and I don't think it's the first time it's been done. The one that came out didn't have much in the way of protective paint on it (on the areas without holes !). I've given the new one a few coating layers so will hopefully help. The front wings and rear ends of the o/s and n/s sills have also needed replacement or repair, but apart from that the body is sound. I've put waxoly into the sills, which will hopefully help.

Andy