Firstfives.org

Hi all,

I have done floor repairs on both the E21s I've had the pleasure of owning, so I kinda know that I'm getting myself into.

I bought an E12 because I wanted one and this one was practically being given away. I've had the car for a few months, and I just recently really started taking the car apart. The car was resprayed (the paint is all cracked and peeling) and now that it is spending all its time inside, I can see what is a paint chip and what is rust.

I found a crack/flap/seam about 2" long near the front driver's corner of the sunroof. Upon closer inspection there is a rust colored ring all round the sunroof with the worst parts being towards the front. I have not attempted to open the sunroof, but I expect everything to be frozen solid. I also suspect that this is due to it's sitting outside under some trees for the better part a decade, and that the sunroof drains may well have been clogged for longer that I've been alive.

Being from the Pacific Northwest, rust of this magnitude is out of the realm of my experience. E12s being what they are, I imagine it would be easier to just part it out and buy a new shell. However, I feel this car is special (lots of old school trick parts) and I would like to know what I my options short of roof replacement might be.

This car is a 09/1979 530i, by the way.

Thanks!

I wonder if it could be rusting from the inside given your description. Does it feel solid or like rust? On the west coast, rust isn't normally a problem with these cars, except the lower corner of the front doors where it doesn't always drain well. Without seeing it I'm not sure it could be saved, at least not without some very extensive work. Anything else rusty?