How bad is this to repair? Yea here are a few other spots that I but this is the worst. Car has 112k kms.
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Rust repair
- Thread starter BoiseTDI
- Start date
Abacus
That helpful B4 guy
That’s not bad, I’ve done a TON of rust repair on these over the years. The worst part is you only see half of what’s there.
Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
That's not bad but it's probably going to be about 10% of the actual damage. What you see there won't be difficult to fix but it's what you can't see inside that rocker that is likely to be worse.
Steve
Steve
Thanks everyone. Ya that’s kinda what I was thinking @Steve Addy and @Abacus, I’m only seeing a portion of the total rust. This is a beautiful mk 3 tdi variant “joker edition” and the price is 2950 euro which I think is reasonable. At the same time, I also think I should just wait for a non rusted version to come up.
@Tdipwr11, agreed, if this was a a car I only wanted for a few years I’d do that. However I’d like to keep this permanently so if I was to repair it, it would be a cutout and repair permanently fix.
@Tdipwr11, agreed, if this was a a car I only wanted for a few years I’d do that. However I’d like to keep this permanently so if I was to repair it, it would be a cutout and repair permanently fix.
Abacus
That helpful B4 guy
That rust wouldn’t stop me from buying it. Get yourself a decent mig welder and repair it properly.
TDeanI
Veteran Member
While that is cut open to remove the rust, rust treat the entire inside cavity after blowing it out with water and compressed air. That repair is not that bad. I would cut and butt and weld in a repair piece instead of overlapping a new piece over the top. Hit it with some epoxy primer or self etching primer then top coat.
You are correct, it is better to start rust free, if you can find one you can afford. This would not stop me from buying this car if it was the only rust. I would look hard for more rust spots or repaired and covered spots.
You are correct, it is better to start rust free, if you can find one you can afford. This would not stop me from buying this car if it was the only rust. I would look hard for more rust spots or repaired and covered spots.
Thanks @Abacus and @TDeanI, I agree with both of you. There is actually a non rusted mk3 that looks to be a better overall value but it’s all the way in Austria. Time to travel to view these cars is what makes shopping in Europe so difficult, along with the language barriers.
I am curious about the whole welding process and don’t think it should be that difficult to learn. I am very detail oriented due to my career choice anyway and I think a guy can pick up some good “rusted” deals where others have given up on them. At the same time putting another classic back on the road.
Also,how much do you reckon an autobody shop would charge to fix that rust?(not including other spots)
I am curious about the whole welding process and don’t think it should be that difficult to learn. I am very detail oriented due to my career choice anyway and I think a guy can pick up some good “rusted” deals where others have given up on them. At the same time putting another classic back on the road.
Also,how much do you reckon an autobody shop would charge to fix that rust?(not including other spots)
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Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
I guess the question is whether you're buying for your personal use or buying as part of a business operation? (Acquire / resell)Thanks @Abacus and @TDeanI, I agree with both of you. There is actually a non rusted mk3 that looks to be a better overall value but it’s all the way in Austria. Time to travel to view these cars is what makes shopping in Europe so difficult, along with the language barriers.
I am curious about the whole welding process and don’t think it should be that difficult to learn. I am very detail oriented due to my career choice anyway and I think a guy can pick up some good “rusted” deals where others have given up on them. At the same time putting another classic back on the road.
Also,how much do you reckon an autobody shop would charge to fix that rust?(not including other spots)
Body shops don't like to do rust repair, and in fact many now won't touch it. The market for compensation is driven now by insurance claims and so shops will stick with insurance only work because they can count on getting top dollar for their labor typically with no issues about where parts are coming from, no delays (pre-covids) in getting parts and no question about when they get paid...it's all pretty standardized now for insurance.
And that means they don't really want to participate outside of the insurance claims industry.....so rust repair on a door sill (actually rocker) on an old Mk3 Jetta is going to take a specialist...and that'll likely be more money too. That's why many people who want a car like this just repair them on their own instead of involving shops.
Steve
Yes I understand that. I was just hoping for a ballpark figure so I can take that back to the seller as leverage. 
Ive never had to take a car in for rust repair so I have no idea what they would charge.
Ive never had to take a car in for rust repair so I have no idea what they would charge. 
vwishndaetr
Well-known member
Second image looks like its Memory Red. Which means it's the best color of all time. Which means it shall be saved.
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Second image looks like its Memory Red. Which means it's the best color of all time. Which means it shall be saved.
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Second image looks like its Memory Red. Which means it's the best color of all time. Which means it shall be saved.
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vwishndaetr
Well-known member
Ooo - looks more like Indian Red.
The things I would do to get a mk3 variant in the US.
The things I would do to get a mk3 variant in the US.
Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
A ballpark for this repair you're probably not going to get anywhere because there are so few that want to have anything to do with rust repair.Yes I understand that. I was just hoping for a ballpark figure so I can take that back to the seller as leverage.
Steve
How hard is wielding to learn? Im not hinking of grabbing this car and a wielding machine and fixing myself. Here are the other known rust spots.
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Abacus
That helpful B4 guy
Welding is very easy to learn with a good welder. Mine is a Hobart 120v with gas, and is the smallest I recommend. I also use Argoshield (75/25) for cleaner welds. I wouldn’t hesitate to tackle that project with a welder. The rest would also be pretty easy as it’s very minor.
Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
Yeah all those are signs of really bad corrosion...the really horrible stuff. On this car the 10% visibility rule applies IMO.
I'd be looking underneath the car for signs of more rust through.
Good luck
Steve
ya thats what Im afraid of. Well I offered him 2500 but I doubt he will accept.
I may just snag the B3 Passat with only 50k kms but no AC, instead for 3500. Looks perfect in every way.
I may just snag the B3 Passat with only 50k kms but no AC, instead for 3500. Looks perfect in every way.
Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
Don't get me wrong...I love the Mk3 Golf estate...I would love to have one here, even that rusted one, and it has the red I so I'm guessing if you brush on the block you'll find an AFN there...which means it's 110hp and should have the VNT from the ALH engines. Alternatively look under the rear mat to see what the build decal says about the engine....
I thought you had a B4V with AC option too? The red one?
Steve
Yes it is the 110. I dont think he will accept my offer though. Unfortunately the red one sold.
i really like the silver b3 though, it is extremely clean, not a sign of rust and only 50k documented kms. Ill find the video and post it.
Edit: Ok after watching the video again, there is some rust on the bottom toward the rear of the car.
i really like the silver b3 though, it is extremely clean, not a sign of rust and only 50k documented kms. Ill find the video and post it.
Edit: Ok after watching the video again, there is some rust on the bottom toward the rear of the car.
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Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
The silver car is lovely, and it's clearly in fantastic shape (except for the right quarter area), but it lacks many of the conveniences that were standard on US cars, like power windows (even though they can be a hassle), central locking etc. It would even appear to not have a tilt column either, and as you mentioned no AC. It also does not have the sliding parcel cover for the cargo area.
Does it at least have cruise control? I noticed that it also lacks the extra seat adjusters that all US B4 cars got. I can at least see it has a roof antenna.
Steve
Does it at least have cruise control? I noticed that it also lacks the extra seat adjusters that all US B4 cars got. I can at least see it has a roof antenna.
Steve