Rust on UK imports

waxon-waxoff

As many people will know, the councils in the UK are generous with the salt in winter. With so many used UK vehicles making it over here there must be plenty of issues with rust on the underside of cars.

In the past i had repairs carried out on a car that originated in the UK. Straight forward job usually but it took longer than expected, and so cost more, as bolts etc were badly rusted. This car was well serviced, spotless bodywork and interior so you would never suspect it was crumbling underneath. I should have learned but i went and bought from the UK again. Its six years old now and ive just noticed rust spots appearing underneath. So is most of the stuff being imported from the UK rust buckets?

mickdw

Yes Ive seen some genuine cars owned from new in uk with serious rusting problems at around 6 to 7 years old

Anan1

I'm not sure how much difference it makes, but I was advised to always have the underside of UK imports powerhosed on arrival here. Although apparently we use salt too.

Rot is common on cars in the UK, not so much body work on modern cars but subframes and whatnot will corrode quite badly. A lot depends on how regularly the car was washed.

-Corkie-

I thought that problem was from yesteryear. I didnt realise it could happen with a modern car..I thought the day of the toyota corrosion was gone...:)

-Corkie-

-Corkie- wrote: »

I thought that problem was from yesteryear.

Buy a late 90s E classs

bmw535d

i have a 97 uk shogun and underneath is its fairly bad with rust compared to the 89 jap pajero i had.

opinion guy

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm not sure how much difference it makes, but I was advised to always have the underside of UK imports powerhosed on arrival here. Although apparently we use salt too.

haha this year it was salt, sand, coal, cement, whatever they could get their hands on :P

si_guru

bmw535d wrote: »

i have a 97 uk shogun and underneath is its fairly bad with rust compared to the 89 jap pajero i had.

Because you Pajero was in Jap.. not coz in was in Ireland!

BrianD3

Have a look through the UK Car Mechanics magazine. They have regular articles which mention and show moderate to serious rust on modern cars. They have a regular column devoted to Mercedes rust. But many models 8-15 years old can suffer rust. Nissans, Land Rovers, Fords and others. Especially Fords.