cisconj

Hi all,

So i have a 1998 es300 i picked up for $2000. Has 135,000 miles on it and it runs really nice. It has some rust on the wheel well i think its called if i am not mistaken. The price i have gotten to repair has been $1000 to patch it up and $3500 to fix it the right way. Does this sound about accurate? Do i have any other options at this point besides driving it until the quarter panel falls off.

97-SC300

iTrader: (17)

Sounds about right. I would not mess with it. That car is not worth that kind of repair bill. Odds are the entire underbody is rotten being an old NJ car (rust belt). Your BEST fix is to sell it and buy another es300 from a southern state that's never seen salt. Every ES300 here in Chicago of that generation has quarter panel rust and in various other places.

cisconj

Wow that sucks. I really like this car, but oh well.

speedkar9

$1000 isn't bad to sand, bondo and repaint the quarter panel.

But if you don't want to spend that kind of money, the most you can do is spray some touchup paint on the exposed rust, and keep the vehicle washed (especially after road salting). That way the rust is covered from the elements and the salt can't eat directly at the metal. It will slow down the rusting, but not stop it completely.

cisconj

Would anyone recommend some rust inhibitor before the paint?

cisconj

I have recently found someone who has offered to do a patch for $300. I know it wouldnt be anything significant but anything that can hold off the rust for a while. I was also wondering does anyone know if it is a do it yourself type of job? I saw some videos on youtube and from
what i gather its cutting out the old rust, using some bondo, sanding, primer and paint. I will try to take a picture of the rust today and post.

WILLYumD

Anything is a DIY job if you've got the tools (sandpaper, a mask, bondo, primer, paint, etc), the time, the research (YouTube), and the motivation.

Saving $300 is a great motivation for me.

Maybe you could use some undercoating, too, considering your region.

nsghtbrwry

I have a 2001 Honda Insight, and us Insight guys often retrofit Chevy Aveo springs that, while being stiffer than the stockers (and thus working better for our oversized go-karts) , tend to rust, even here in inland California. Some midwest guys put me on to Fluid Film, a lanolin-based spray which they apply as an undercoating in areas with salted roads. Works a treat, and I started using it (bought from Amazon). Going on 20k miles and not a peep of rust.