Hello All.

I'm looking at this car that has the rust under the windshield.

Should I walk away, or is this simple enough to repair for a good shop? Any estimates on how much a shop would charge to fix?

 

Is the rust at the lower corners? That's the usual spot. Often by the tine you can see it, it's bad. Typically, you're looking at windshield out, cut out the rust, weld in new metal and repaint, then reinstall the windshield.

Anything is simple for a competent shop, but part of the trouble is you are needing multiple trades - glass, metal repair and paint. Many bodyshops won't do the rust repair, and a metal shop won't do paint. It's falling more to a restoration shop that can do it all. Good ones are not easy to come by.

 

I found one with lots of rust on the windshield and rear glass. Got the car for $3000 less than what it wouldve been since it does require some work. I didnt pull the front glass but the rear had to come out. Did lots of the work myself minus the color match. Its not structural.


No new seals, spot repair only. If the rust returns I will redo it and risk breaking the windshield.










The worst of it on the front.

 

The pics I posted are in reverse order showing the finished product then down toward its prior state. Its a common issue for the S3

 

Perhaps one day.

 

what does that mean?

 

Well, maybe one day in the future I'll be ready to really dip my toe into these S3 waters. Maybe one day I'll be willing to learn a new trick and weld on one of my cars.

Just not today. I saw that beautiful interior and let my mind run a bit, but I REALLY shouldn't have. I'm on crutches right now. I haven't seen the Jag I already own since Monday, and I won't be driving it for at least 7 weeks. I have a 71 Karmann Ghia in the garage with some rust that is begging for me to learn how to weld on it...

Your rust repair job looks amazing! That kind of thing just isn't on the cards for me right now BUT
Perhaps one day!

 

Save and get one thats already sorted out.

 

Take a look at Fitzee's Fabrications channel on YouTube. The guy is a body man and an artist in sheet metal. He has a number of videos on how to weld sheet metal and do rust repair. His whole ethos is how to do a lot with minimal tools. Most of the work he does is only with an angle grinder, some vicegrips, a hammer and his mig welder. I like that most of his videos are about a hour and take you step by step how to do things, and also show his mistakes and how to fix them. I've learned a lot about sheet metal from his videos.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6J...cru8XPWr3EvJnw

 

Another vote for Fitzee's Fabrications. I have watched many of his videos and it has given me the confidence to have a go with satisfactory results.