mud flaps!

[sawood12]

That is darn expensive isn't it. I'm toying with the idea of getting the car resprayed as i've got a bit of rust coming up on my drivers door, obviously my front wings need some attention, my nearside sill probably wants some attention and the very rear underside of the car right behind the wheels. Oh, and my front PU could do with a blow over to cover up stone chips. I'm thinking that by the time I get that little lot done i'd have probably spent equivalent to half a respray and end up with a car whose bodywork resembles a patchwork of different shades of red. If I get a full respray then the cost of the wings would be on top. The cost of fitting them would be fairly cheap as i've spoken to a few bodyshops now and they reckon it's not a big job to replace a wing - a bolt off and bolt on job. However a £1000 bill on parts over and above the respray - and after all that i'd probably get some of that plastic film stuff to protect the front i'm looking at a significant bill.

I reckon £3k for a decent glass out respray
£1k for new wings
£1k for the plastic film stuff
So that's £5k without all the other odds and sods that usually come from the blindside.

 

[Hilux]

I don't think that will last very long at all

Why ever not??

If all the rust is cut off and new metal welded on and prepped, painted and sealed etc it will last for ever.

The trick is to do it OFF the car. I reckon most bodyshops do it on the car hence the `no guarantee` syndrome.

 

[sawood12]

The problem is you are welding on materials that are not galvanised. While it is true that our wings have corroded it has taken 15 - 20yrs for it to become a problem. You can reckon on a number of years in single figures for a non-galvanised material in that area if driven regularly. Though acid etch primers have come a long way over the past few years it is a big ask in that particular area.

No bodyshop i've ever spoken to are prepared to guarantee any welding work against corrosion. There are simply too many variables and things outside of their control. For some major work they may give you a token 6 months or so but in reality that is not really of much use to you.

However given the cost of new wings it seems the only logical choice. Unless you go for something like pattern wings. Sub standard quality I know compared to OEM but has got to be easier and better than patch repairs? You could also get them galvanised.