Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,

I am very new to this and looking to purchase our first Camper van, in fact purchase our first car more than 3 years old! I have been doing some research but was hoping you may be able to help here.

We have found a vehicle which looks great, needs a little tlc and has had obvious welding works carried out but a few questions we could do with being answered.

Firstly there is quite a large weld/patch around the petrol fill point. Is this a normal place for rust? Is there more i should be checking around this area? It looks clean now but it has obviously been prepared.

Secondly i noticed on the previous mot's a lot of points about vehicle structure corroded, i guess this means rust in not good places but my concern was when i looked at the dates between them the welding/patching was done in what i think is exceptionally quick time! I am just trying to get my head around whether the works were carried out or if this is a case of someone going to a different garage and getting a "better" MOT? the mot history is as follows
 12 Apr 2021PassMileage:
 160,228 miles
30 Mar 2021FailMileage:
 160,200 miles
 Failure Notices

• Nearside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill and step (6.1.1 (c) (i))
  
• Offside Outer Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))
  
• Offside Front Inner Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))
  
• Offside Front Floor excessively deteriorated (6.2.4 (a) (i))
  
• Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
  
• Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
  
• Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
  

I hope this makes sense to people and any help would be great.

Many Thanks

A competent panel fitter would have a pair of sills and a step done in that time easily. 

Only to know how well si to take a look. 

Good Luck.

Rob

You can check where the mot was done but you’ll need the number off the v5.
It could have been repaired in that time.
Do you have some good photos of the repaired areas ? If do post them up in here.
Have a read of the wiki at the top of the page for things to look at when buying.
There’s plenty of places for rust to get a hold- trailing arms and arm mounts, ( fridge) panel , jacking points, above the front bumper, window surrounds and as you mentioned around the filler cap.
Pictures would really help.
David.