Replacement sill's for Z3 roadster

[Foggy]

Hi Folk's, have the dreaded tin worm in my Inner cill's, have seen the amazing video on Reddish Motor Sports about this problem and would like to know if anyone in the Manchester area can do a similar job ?? Most of the garages I have contacted seem unwilling or unable to take the job on at all. Any info appreciated .

 

[IanA]

Have you taken the outer sills off yet?
Is the car still taxed/MOTed ( in order to visit potential repairers)?

 

[Foggy]

Hi Ian, At present the car is complete and Mot'd for next 2 weeks. know someone ? regards Frank

 

[IanA]

Sorry, Frank- not in your area. At least with it legal you can tout it round to potential repairers.
Removing the outer sills which are not structural will let you/them see the scale of the problem.

 

[Foggy]

Thanks for that , It would make sense to do as you suggest. Regards Frank

 

[jonco]

Often the corrosion on the inner structural frame is only surface and can easily be treated. You need to get outer sill covers off to judge.
see https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-sill-removal-and-protection.67/

 

[Peewee]

Hi Frank, the outer cills are purely cosmetic and do not form part of the MOT. I submitted mine for an MOT without them fitted and passed without mention. I echo what Ian says, take them off, which will allow you sight of the inner (structural) cills and enable you to take the car around potential repairers.
Peter

 

[SV8Predator]

cills?

 

[RustyZ3Fan]

My experience has been that not only were the outer sills rusted, but the inner sills were in bad shape too.

If you can get the outer sills off (and back on again, bearing in mind the extent of the rust damage), I would advise doing this immediately in order to check the conditions of your inner sills.

 

[IanA]

Someone had gone to the trouble of welding up an outer sill on my 2.0.


Under that it wasn't so bad.

Below- after Bilthamber GE-OX, zinc primer and matt black aerosol.
Since then, my MOT man recommended further treatment on the underneath surfaces. I used Aqua-Steel and Universal Hammer Finish for that.

 

[Foggy]

The Inner sill's ( alternative Cill's ) are definitely holed the outers which I replaced 5 years ago are fine, so really need a good weld job done,
one week left on mot then stuck ?? not a good place to be . Thanks for all replies and suggestions

 

[RustyZ3Fan]

I doubt you will be able to get a repair done in the next week. The best people are likely to be booked up at least a month ahead. But if I am wrong, then great!
I would recommend checking out all the rust on your car, not just the sills, so you have a full picture.
Not at all convenient for you, but I rate Munich Legends (in Sussex)

 

[Foggy]

Thank you for that, It was the sort of reply I hoped to receive although closer to home would have been beneficial. Can not have every thing.
I will try to contact this firm and hope for a result, I replaced the rear T/link carrier 2 year back and have just bought a pair of T/links as one of mine is holed, will refurb these ! the sills are really the major problem. No that's not true - the major problem is my 80 years Regards Frank

 

[TriumphZ3]

My Z3 passed MOT yesterday despite horrendous corrosion at the front of each sill, worse on the driver's side - it really has spread alarmingly and I was worried about the horizontal surface of the floor just inside of the sills themselves, but the tester assured me it looks worse than it is and he would fail anything serious. I've priced sills (strange.... UK driver's side is £236 and passenger side only £147....) so will have to bite the bullet and replace them, whilst treating the metal in behind. BMW tell me they're selling seven sills a week from the main UK Parts Department which supplies the smaller branches like mine.
However the reason for this rambling is to ask: what is the repair like for that area to the RIGHT of the sills in the photo? Big worries or straightforward? That long panel with the spaced 'drains' or similar inboard of the sills seems to be rusting in behind.

 

[Foggy]

Hi, your mot man was right to pass the car as most of the rust is on the outer panel, I would very strongly suggest that you remove the outer and look behind it at the INNER SILL. ie. the area to the right in your photo, this is the structural part of the car and repairs here are difficult as there is no replacement parts for this any longer as far as I know, I would be very interested to know what parts you have been quoted for ??? if they are actual inner sill's where did you get the quote as I am desperate to find a pair of INNER SILLS myself. If I cannot get them I may be forced to scrap my car which would break my heart. Best regards Frank