Hey guys, I live in Chicago and have a 350z as my daily driver and I was trying to think of the best ways to prevent rust from happening in the future. Chicago is very very salty in the winter....My friend has used bedliner undercoating (for truck beds) and painted that on the side of his jeep to prevent it from getting rusted. It's a rubbery substance used to protect your car's body, it's pretty common I'm sure you've heard of it. He had to brush that on, but he told me I should get the thinner spray and spray under my fenders to protect the body from rust. I wouldn't be spraying the body AT ALL, just under the fenders where most cars rust first.

Anyway, do you think this is a good idea? Has anyone done this to a sports car before?

Thank you for your time.

 

Ar'nt the fenders coated from the factory?

 

I think you're right, they definitely have some sort of protection. Another layer wouldn't hurt, unless Nissan doesn't like it and for some reasn voids my warranty.

Any other opinions?

 

You'll be fine. If you get quality stuff it won't rust out. And you can't do anything to void your warranty unless that particular thing was the cause of the problem. It's a law. I'm actually debating doing my undercarriage just as an added precaution since I'm paranoid of salt.

Edit: Check out POR-15. That's probably what I'll use if I do it.

 

I just used a spray bomb with the rubberized bed coating on mine. I don't live in a state where they salt the road but, it did seem to quiet down the car some. You can't hear the pebbles hitting the wheel wells anymore. You still hear the rock hits slightly and ping of gravel on the alum lower arms though.

Just as long as you clean it really good beforehand and you don't lock in moisture no problems will be caused.

However, Nissan's paint process is quite extensive and that is why they have the rust through warranty.

 

I think our Z cars have a lifetime warranty against rust on body panels, not sure about the chasis though.

 

Poor idea. “Undercoating” is a scam that dealers ran 30 years ago. Expensive and worthless.

 

Please. Undercoating is far from a scam.

 

ha..umm, ok. I guess you don't know much about undercoating.

 

IMO, Undercoating, if your determained to get it, should only be applied when the car rolls off the Showroom Floor for a lasting bond

 

The Z has a rubberized anti rust coating applied to the underside from the factory. I can't imagine adding more would do anything except make your car heavier and perhaps quieter.

 

well, that's the point of it. anti rust, quieter, some blocks heat.

 

I used only about half of a 16oz can in the wheel wells. I think I can stand the extra 6-8ozs. of added weight. Lol !!! Weight, that's too much ....
I mean, a gallon of gas weighs in between 5.8-6.5lbs. So, a half a glass of water weighs more than what I added in weight.

It made a big difference in sound proofing and isn't nearly as heavy is what they put on the G35 for insulation material.

I agree you should do your undercoating new. That's what I did. But, if you can't you must really clean it well and maybe even scuff the surface for adhersion.

 

When I got my car It was an option at the dealer to get the car undercoated. I did it and I don't regret it a bit. And yes there is a waranty against rust on the body as long as it is from natural causes. Not body damage or dents and such. It's a 10 year waranty I think, I can look it up.

 

To be honest, if my car rusts and it's under warranty, what's the dealership going to do? Give me a new car?? Write me a check? I don't understand what they would do if my body had rust, just treat it? I'd rather prevent it. It's true the cars come with some undercoating, but it sucks.

Those of you who had it done, did you do it yourself? Is there a special place that can do it for you? My friend said he had to do it himself because shops refused to do it. Any tips or ideas on how to do it? Thanks for your input guys!

 

I do bodywork and have never heard of a person bring a car in for it. I'd just do it myself. Use POR-15. It's expensive, but it's brush on and absolutely some of the toughest stuff out there.

 

Hey, thanks for the reply. That looks like some good rust-preventive. I like the idea of brushing it on. More control on where you're applying it. I'll look into it. I can't do it yet unfortunately, it's WAY too cold outside to do anything, ugh I hate chicago sometimes..

 

The dealership had a contract with a place that did it for them. So far it's holding up very well and they did a good job.

 

Ah nice, but did you get your car done when it was new? I wonder if I still have this option on an '04 with 19K miles.