It's a Wrap!

[Ian]

This has been spotted on Gumtree.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... 1003434192

Not only has it got a carbon effect "Vinyl Wrap", but it's an "N" reg vehicle with new-shape fixtures and fittings. Anyone come across a makeover like this before?

[Simon Jones]

It looks to be a project by BHP Imports: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-Bongo-F ... 43b60ef0ff

£500 cheaper on Gumtree than ebay. Interesting that its described as a 'Fresh Import' but then goes on to say: "This Van was imported for our Own "demonstration" use back in 2010."

[philpdr]

I bought some rear speakers off this guy last year whilst I was working in Newcastle.He had a converted Bongo on the drive and another being done up in the back garden.Dealt with his wife,very pleasant lady,and got the speakers and brackets for a really good price.

[stuc]

Looks good, not too far from me if anyone is interested and wants me to have a look for them.
Just want to be nosey actually.

[MountainGoat]

The chap who lives opposite me has a vinyl wrap business, he does buses, lorries, trains and vans. Do you really think that wrapping an old Bongo is a good idea or is it just another way of hiding the rust?

Tony

[The Great Pretender]

The chap who lives opposite me has a vinyl wrap business, he does buses, lorries, trains and vans. Do you really think that wrapping an old Bongo is a good idea or is it just another way of hiding the rust?

Tony

Or maybe a way of stopping it?
Rust is an iron oxide, the result of a chemical process: the interaction between a metal like iron (Fe) and Oxygen (O) while in the presence of water (H2O) or moisture in the air. It is a transfer of electrons from Iron to Oxygen. In the reaction, Iron is oxidized, which means it loses electrons (a gain, because losing negative particles like electrons results in an increase in positivity +). The Oxygen molecules gain electrons and therefore are reduced, since they have gained negative particles. The rust particle itself is most commonly FE2O3. Other elements like electrolytes, calcium , acid, or salt, by itself or as salt-water, can speed up the process. Water functions as the electrolyte, something that frees electrons.
Essentially what happens is that the freeing of the Iron electrons breaks the iron down: the water provides oxygen to the iron, iron electrons are freed, and the freed iron particles combine with the oxygen (from water) to make iron oxide (Fe2O3).The freed iron and oxygen combine and are essentially swept away (think of rust flaking off) in this electrochemical flow.
So should the Bongo be baked as is done after 2 pack painted to dry it out before wrapping?
No moisture and no oxygen= no more rust..................Maybe

[Simon Jones]

The biggest problem with the Bongo as far as I can tell is the rust (especially on the rear wheelarches) comes from moisture inside the van. It also tends to occur at seams and the edge of panels where the paint is thinest. I've recently stripped everything out so I could Waxoyl inside all the relevant bits. You could see condensation forming around the outside of the wheelarch lip in a line where it meets the inner arch, and it was same inside too. The paintwork inside and under the van is paper thin such that you can scratch it off with your finger nail, so it won't take long for rust to take hold once it's worked it's way to the bare metal.

Vinyl wrap will help protect against stone chips, but once it's been damaged its not the kind the kind of thing you can touch up very easily and I'd imagine would soon look unattractive after a few scuffs and scrapes in the supermarket car park.

[stuc]

Great explanation from the Great Pretender , but as explained after that you will never stop the moisture or air getting to the internals, and most of the bongo rust is due to poor sealing and coming from the inside out.
When I was at Mazda there was a big warranty issue with wheelarches on the 3,6 and RX8, I went to a meeting with Mazda uk who said the fix was to seal the outer edge of the wheelarch which would make it airtight and stop the corrosion getting worse. I pointed out that the inside of the quarter panels was not airtight and the corrosion would continue, we were basically told to do as we were told and that would be good enough for the customer. Even when they were quite bad we were told again to grind the outers off, prime them and paint them, which looked ok but did not stop the rust as it was between the skins. This process allowed enough time to see the vehicle through to the end of it's warranty period.
I do like vinyl wrapping though as it quick, cheap and a good finish unlike some vehicle paintwork done by so called professionals.