Author Topic: BUYING GUIDE Mk3 Golf Rust  (Read 66356 times)

Offline mad4vws

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 628
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #10 on: 17 April 2011, 21:23 »
 bloody hell , was it worth welding that sill and those plastic arches are a waste of time but good at hiding the rust if you selling a car ,as for the floor never seen 1 rot as much as that  :shocked:
BREAKING VW GOLF'S
Mk2/ MK3'S ALL DAY LONG. PM FOR ANY PARTS!!  ON 07813936583

Offline thai-wronghorse

  • Serious forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 7,325
  • mk1 Seat Leon FR TDI
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #11 on: 17 April 2011, 21:43 »
Im baffled how this car ever got it's past few MOT certificates?

Offline pgn

  • Just got here
  • *
  • Posts: 4
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #12 on: 17 April 2011, 22:08 »
I believe that at least some if not all later RHD Mk3s weren't made in Germany. They came from South Africa so maybe the steel quality or something in the protection or application isn't so good. My '95 has just a tiny blister above the screen on the passenger's side and I suspect this originated from a bit of damage when the screen was changed.
1995 Golf 8V GTi
1998 Passat 1.8T Sport
2009 Scirocco 2.0TSI GT
1981 Audi Coupe GT5S
First 3 owned from new, Audi since 1983

Offline B-chi

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 588
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #13 on: 17 April 2011, 22:12 »
Mine has wrotten inner and outer sills and a hole in the floor.

I thought the later mk3s were galvanised to help stop this?

Offline thai-wronghorse

  • Serious forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 7,325
  • mk1 Seat Leon FR TDI
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #14 on: 17 April 2011, 22:13 »
Galvanized but used a thinner gauge steel i believe.

Offline Wayne

  • Sir Postalot
  • *
  • Posts: 32,051
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #15 on: 17 April 2011, 23:01 »
Im baffled how this car ever got it's past few MOT certificates?

Easy enough, sills and arches are covered so will always hide horrors, it is why I was glad to remove them on mine.

I believe that at least some if not all later RHD Mk3s weren't made in Germany. They came from South Africa so maybe the steel quality or something in the protection or application isn't so good. My '95 has just a tiny blister above the screen on the passenger's side and I suspect this originated from a bit of damage when the screen was changed.


Nope all were made in Germany and shipped to South Africa some were supplied as kits however.

Mine has wrotten inner and outer sills and a hole in the floor.

I thought the later mk3s were galvanised to help stop this?

Thinner / poorer quality steel.

Offline thai-wronghorse

  • Serious forum addict
  • *
  • Posts: 7,325
  • mk1 Seat Leon FR TDI
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #16 on: 17 April 2011, 23:39 »
Even so, that floor is well fooked!

Offline madmanmart

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 938
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #17 on: 18 April 2011, 19:53 »
This is an extreme example of all the rotten Mk3s I have broke, hence why I did this guide.

Also this Mk3 will never see the road again.


Mk3 Golf 3dr GTI 16v
Mk3 Golf Cabriolet TD
20vt Corrado track car project

Offline B-chi

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 588
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #18 on: 18 April 2011, 20:01 »
So later mk3 = cheap steel and rust
Early mk3 = not galvanised and rust

Im not going tohave to get a mk4 am I lol.

Offline Wayne

  • Sir Postalot
  • *
  • Posts: 32,051
Re: Mk3 Golf Rust Buyers Guide----Sticky?
« Reply #19 on: 18 April 2011, 21:53 »
So later mk3 = cheap steel and rust
Early mk3 = not galvanised and rust

Im not going tohave to get a mk4 am I lol.

Early mk3's were better :smiley: