Road Runner

I'm concerned about what *I think* are rust bubbles. I just discovered these today. Pics below. These pics are from inside the trunk, underneath my rear parcel shelf. I was about to install my DVR system and was going to mount it up there. Otherwise, I would never have looked up under there. Who looks up at the underside of the their trunk roof???

Anyhow, I bought my 545 used - lease return from a dealer in California just over a year ago. At the time that I received it (bought sight unseen... I know... mistake, but it was so hard to find a manual trani with comfort seats and black interior period), I quickly discovered that 3 of 4 wheels were bad (2 looked like they'd hit the curb hard). Between that and the rusty bolt under the hood (pic below), I was concerned.

I had the car checked out by my regular and very reputable shop - their verdict was they did not see any frame damage, etc. and did not have any reason to believe it had been in a wreck. There was some slight wearing away of some soft metal on one of the suspension parts, which they thought was due to the transportation by truck. I never got that figured out, but it did not seem to affect the car (and still does not seem to). Overall, I think that is also strange but superficial.

So, here I have not bought a used car in years, but I got tired of bending over to BMW dealers. I saved $25k by getting a 2 year old car with what I wanted versus a new one. Now though I am really concerned about this new development. CarFax showed no problems from the start, but I don't know how valuable that really is.

What could cause this type of damage which I just discovered today? I know the car was originally purchase in NJ, but that's all I know for sure about its history. Build date was August 2005, so it's not a Katrina / Rita car as it would have been in the factory, on a boat, etc.

I'm concerned. Is this something significant, or just a poor factory paint job in humid August???

Thanks to all who respond.

kscarrol

Not an expert by any means, but in the photos, it looks more like a stain of some sort rather than actual rust. It almost looks like it could be wiped off. Did you try to clean any of the rust spot?

Road Runner

I should have mentioned there are two things in the photos... the brown spots, which I agree are prolly just some whatever stuff that got on there.

But then there are also some bubbles in the paint. As if moisture was trapped there during the painting process.

I'm not a painting expert, so I dunno.

Perhaps this is nothing, but I'd like to hear from someone who would know better than I.

kscarrol

Now I see what you're talking about! I focused on the brown stuff. Do keep in mind that BMW has a 10 or 12 year warranty on the body and paint against rust. Good luck!

BrianTx5

It is hard to tell from the photos but that does not appear to be rust bubbles. It looks like there might have been moisture or some sort of contamination on the primer coat when it was being top coated. After the paint cured the moisture or contamination left the bubble marks. I would not worry about it.

530ISPORT

under the hood does not get pantied like the rest of the car.... it just lQQks like condensation.... nothing to worry bout....

MiamiPhill

Hummmmmmm?

flyingpuck

Take it to the dealer or a reputable bodyshop and get their opinion. In either case this should not be YOUR problem!