White Roof - Rusted !

[nobbyclark]

Hello all. I was giving my EB/W MCS its monthly wash this week and I noticed a lot of small red dots on the roof. I thought they were just detritus picked up as legacy of commuting along the M4 to Reading for the past month. However, on closer inspection it's rust. And it isn't just at the front of the roof - it's pretty much all over. If it was just the front, I'd put it down to stone chips. Has anyone else experienced this?

The car was registered in Sept 02 and has done less than 15k miles. I wouldn't say I am the most regular car-washer, but I have a 7 year old Discovery which is far less pampered and is comparatively rust-free.

I will be taking the car to a dealer in the next few weeks and will keep you posted.

[ButtonIt]

OMG Doesn't sound good. Keep us informed mate

[CurtP]

More than likely it's not rust from the steel of your car but iron dust you've picked up. A clay bar should remove it without too much hassle.

I've had this happen on my old IB/W MCS and my Arctic white Formula. I knew that it couldn't be my car rusting on the Formula - most of it is plastic/composite!

[minisoopercooper]

hopefully it will be the above - especially as the roof on your car has double the amount of paint on as the rest of the car. They spray the whole car the main colour then mask off the roof and spray that again in the contrast colour - in your case (and mine) white. So in theory it should be the most rust free part of the car! If it is rust you have a 5 year body and paint warranty so the dealer will sort it out.

Love the title of the thread by the way - thats what made me read but I Just can't help myself...........
..................... Love shack, baby Love Shack (B52's)



Paul

[scooperman_uk]

i had a similar thing happen to me, it looked like rust but it was actually bits of rust / orange / iron ore coloured debris that was smeared on my bonnet. it came off the rear of some crapheap of a car that i was following home one day. due to speed they gave the impression of rust spots. scary tho. anyway even if its rust spots, go back to your dealer with it, such a thing as paint warranty.

[ScottyB]

Thats pretty serious if it is actually rust all over the roof.

Good luck having it sorted - its highly unlikely that its rust to such a bad extent - unless your list of MINI modifications includes a submersible ability - in which case, the salt water may have eaten it up

[Duckie]

I had something similair on my other car, come to find out (especially if you drive on salted roads) it's pretty normal... Wash it, then wax it it may take a bit of an effort, but I buffed them all out one afternoon, and after that if you keep a regular coat of wax on the car (especially in the winter) you'll prevent it from happening again. At least it worked on my other car (which is a 2002 as well)

Good luck and let us all know what the outcome is.

[PaulMc]

As mentioned above, it is not rust! The roof is plastic!
A clay bar will remove the deposits.

[ButtonIt]

Quote: Originally Posted by PaulMc

The roof is plastic!

Are you sure?? I'd double check if I were you, you don't drive a convertible do you?

[nobbyclark]

Thanks for all the responses. And well done for working out the B52's reference. I shall let you know what the dealer thinks.

[scooterboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by PaulMc

The roof is plastic!

Hmm, my magnetic XM antenna sticks to the roof awfully well. Must be a very "metallic" plastic...