Rust

[Rockpool]

Can anyone recommend a company who can sort the rust out on both rear wheel arches of my E240. It is a '54 model, but the rest of it unblemished, and is a great car. I'd like to get this repaired. I've attached an image of the problem. It's exactly the same the other side.
I'm in the Durham area. Thank you.

 

[charlysays]

Can anyone recommend a company who can sort the rust out on both rear wheel arches of my E240. It is a '54 model, but the rest of it unblemished, and is a great car. I'd like to get this repaired. I've attached an image of the problem. It's exactly the same the other side.
I'm in the Durham area. Thank you.

No but look for one which mostly does classic cars. Most bodyshops mostly deal with accident repair on new ish non corroded cars and will not affect a permanent repair on rust.
A permanent repair must:
Fully expose all rust on the outer and inner edge of the panel, this means taking out a margin of sound paint.
Remove corrosion deposits atleast to ST3 prep level- this can be achieved either by sand blasting (exceeds ST3), chemical means (citric acid pastes e.g bilt hamber deox gel) or mechanical means (needle scaler plus wire wheels plus DA sander achieves ST3+). Epoxy primers can tolerate some residual corrosion (see ST2-3 prep level) but any remaining corrosion is somewhat of a gamble on it remaining a permanent repair.
Prime corroded areas with a good epoxy primer (e,g lechler 29107, underbody areas jotamastic 90A wintergrade) BEFORE carrying out any surfacing using fillers etc or seam sealing.
Once painted, ensure a good cavity wax (e.g bilt hamber dynax S50) fills up the wheel arch seam from inside.

On outer panels I use a belt and braces approach and thoroughly needle scale, wire wheel, then use citric acid paste to ensure all the rust is completely gone. Then epoxy prime. Other original and pristine areas of the car will rust before the repaired area rusts again!

 

[Rockpool]

Thank you for your reply, I'm very grateful. A very thorough one too. I have in fact approached such a company recently. It was worth the visit just to see the fantastic classic cars they've restored. Still deciding what's best to do, but I'm very grateful for your in depth reply. Thank you.