Rust Repair Advice

kil

I have a Nissan X-trail which failed for rust (Major) on the lower radiator support panel. An NCT fail for rust isn't something I've experienced previously.

Any advice on how to proceed?

Replacment part is about 100€ plus the cost of fitting or it something a welder could fix in place? is there any DIY option.

Thanks!

hoodie6029

You’ll just have bring it to body place, impossible to say online really. There could be more rust under the plastic. Let them give it an inspection and quote.

Hopefully they can sort you and keep it on the road.

kil

Thanks hoodie6029, I did get a price this morning based on the photos to a welder and he came back with €500-600 estimate. Looks like end of the road for the car :(

E

Whocare

Minor Enough definitely a small garage would weld a patch over it and bit of paint for under 100 euros I would Imagine

Dartz

The question is not "Is the repair worth more than the car?" It's "What sort of car can I buy with the repair money?"

If everything else is sound in the car and it's reliable, that's basically the equivelant a month or two's payment on the finance of a new car to put it right.

Buffman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122774563#Comment_122774563

That's a PFO quote because he doesn't want the work.

Anyway, you need some good metal on a piece to weld onto and it looks like there's little enough left on it. Replacement should be cheap enough and this sort of thing really shouldn't 'write off' an otherwise decent car.

You've already said above the replacement part is €100 plus fitting, that's a lot less than €600 so why not go for it.

A DIY option is to make up your own bracket out of some angle iron if you're able to.

JP 1800

If its an NCT repair that requires welding they will want to see the repair and it is a seam weld done properly. This will mean if a repair piece is put in the weld will be visible and primed so it can be inspected. Then the weld can be dressed and finished with paint. The new Cross member does that need to be welded in also?. The job will be more than just welding, the radiator will need to come out, cut out all rust,weld new metal treat and replace radiator with system bleeding. This is not a 100 euro job, I wouldn't even do that as a nixer for 100 euro.

JP 1800

IF it is a bolt in job you may be able to support the rad and remove the old support and replace with new. What age is the car and where are you located as someone here may be able to advise.

kil

Thanks for the input all. The rad support is a single piece that can be bolted in and fitted without draining the rad (if the rad is being supported). I took it to another bodyshop type place today and they said its a replace job rather than a welding job. The front bumper etc needs to come off which is going to add a lot of labour to the job alone.

Will get another 2 opinions on fixing it before making a decision.

JP 1800

Yes if its a piece that can be bolted in that would be the best way to go. Probably looking at 2 to 3 hours if everything goes smoothly, but coming up against rusty bolts and broken clips can add time to that.

almostover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122779450#Comment_122779450

If the issue can be fixed by taking out the old support bracket and bolting in a new one then just go ahead and do that. Especially seeing as the bracket is only €100. Surely 3-4 hours labour will cover the swap over, a front bumper shouldn't take too much unbolting to access it. You could have your car back on the road with 1 year NCT for €500. If there are no other major problems with the rest of the car then that's the best approach. You would buy nothing as a replacement car for €500.

If you want to upgrade car regardless, then that's a different story. But from a pure financial perspective, replacing that radiator bracket will be the least expensive way to get back on the road with a valid NCT.