Aluminum running boards rust problem.

[hvisser4]

X5 4.8is. Reg March 2005.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Small spots of rust starts forming all over the surface of the entire running board (looks like chicken pox). The spots gradually gets bigger and bigger and it doesn't look very good.

One of the guys at the local dealer stated "off the record" that this is a "known problem" and his "demo is only a few months old and it's the same" . (after I bought mine of course!!!)

Now it is still covered under warranty and I'm getting mine replaced soon, but what happens when warranty expires?

Surely BMW has to do something about this to prevent it from happening. I don't see the running boards as a consumable (like tyres, filters, etc) so I don't expect to need to change it every 6 months.

[tcn2k]

How long are the warranty on these boards?

[vinuneuro]

I'm sure that those of you with the running boards can seal them some how to prevent this.

[rayxi]

I've had mine for 6 months and have had no problems. Aluminum doesn't rust, it oxidizes but aluminum oxide is white. Could the discoloration be mildew or similar? Is it humid in the UK most of the time?

[Hans_ACS]

The only possible way of avoiding these rust marks, is to clean these boards very frequently, certainly in the winter (salt etc). I clean my boards and wheels almost every 4 days in the winter. In the summer, just once a month. No marks at all. But I know they tend to form rust marks very quickly. I also doubt that these boards are 100 % aluminium.

[adrian.b]

I`m in the UK and I have the same problem. I only noticed it this weekend when I was cleaning it. I only installed mine 3 months ago and I`m not too impressed. I need to call in to the garage so I`ll have a word.

[somewhereinla]

Just an idea, but if the boards are in aluminium, they cannot rust. What it could be is metalic particles that are abundant on the road (could also be from your own brakes)and which will get stuck on your paint and possibly on your running boards. They usually start rusting very quickly and give the appearance that whatever surface is rusting. My advice... try using a clay bar and clay lubricant, which is the best way to remove those fine metallic particles.

[adrian.b]

Sounds logical to me, If I get time, I`ll see if I can make sense of this over the weekend.

[withidl]

The bad news is that aluminum WILL RUST! The good news is that the rust closes out the aluminum surface protecting it from further rust, but then the additional bad news is that it not very cosmetically appealing.

I have an ALL aluminum Airstream travel trailer which has a special clear coat covering it. Where the clear coat is compromised it will start to corrode (just another word for rust/oxidation) exibiting as a white-ish raised area. Unless the running boards have been protected by some type of clear coat you will constantly have to keep them waxed or use some metal polish to control the corrosion.

[staffop]

I posted the same problem in another thread recently. Someone has since said to me that the running boards are probably an aluminium alloy. If they could be got off the vehicle easily and separated from the plastic 'studs' which protrude through the metal, then the boards could be repolished and relacquered.
I don't know if anyone has ever done this or if the boards can be separated so I'm going to try some metal cleaner in the meantime.
I have a feeling that BMW didn't use a very durable lacquer when they made these boards. Whether or not this is universally recognised by BMW as a warranty replaceable item will be interesting to find out.