SuperMono
1st August 2015, 05:32 PM
Recently I replaced my D3 with a 2010 D4 which in itself is a good thing.
The D4 came with sidesteps which I wouldn't fit if starting from scratch or ordering new, but that's the joy of secondhand.
I don't know if the steps are factory or aftermarket.
Today I started to replace the sidesteps with the GOE sill protectors from the D3. I knew the steps were likely to have been storing dust, sand, water and mud, so probably some minor rust.
Wasn't hard to remove one of the steps, the frames were rusted through and just pulled off. The other the bolts holding the steps to the mounting brackets were well and truly rusted, nearing failure.
Under the mounting brackets (3 each step) the rust has lifted the paint and eaten through the coating on the body. Early enough to pull up with rust converter and paint, but another 6-12 months I think there would have been full penetrative rust meaning significant panel repairs would be required.
So my advice, have a really good look underneath your steps if you have them.
Worth noting that I can't find any other sign of rust on the car, only around the step mounting brackets and where the steps were allowing mud to collect.
When I removed the GOE protectors from the D3 there was no sign they had even been there, no build up despite plenty of time deep in Victorian mud.
The D4 came with sidesteps which I wouldn't fit if starting from scratch or ordering new, but that's the joy of secondhand.
I don't know if the steps are factory or aftermarket.
Today I started to replace the sidesteps with the GOE sill protectors from the D3. I knew the steps were likely to have been storing dust, sand, water and mud, so probably some minor rust.
Wasn't hard to remove one of the steps, the frames were rusted through and just pulled off. The other the bolts holding the steps to the mounting brackets were well and truly rusted, nearing failure.
Under the mounting brackets (3 each step) the rust has lifted the paint and eaten through the coating on the body. Early enough to pull up with rust converter and paint, but another 6-12 months I think there would have been full penetrative rust meaning significant panel repairs would be required.
So my advice, have a really good look underneath your steps if you have them.
Worth noting that I can't find any other sign of rust on the car, only around the step mounting brackets and where the steps were allowing mud to collect.
When I removed the GOE protectors from the D3 there was no sign they had even been there, no build up despite plenty of time deep in Victorian mud.