[spucktacular]

Hi all, is some level of rusting normal for winter driven BMWs? I have a 2020 x4m that is my daily, though extremely low mileage (20,000m in 4 years). Car was purchased brand new, cared for with love and always parked indoor. However I live in Montreal Canada where they throw down salt by the metric ton. Around town it’s one thing but any road trips in the winter result in a completely blanketed surface of the worst salty muddy, nasty shit you could never imagine living in warm climates.

I’m not overly paranoid, this isn’t a McLaren f1 being kept forever. However I’d like to keep it for a while and regardless, I want to maintain it well. Tonight I was swapping my winters for the summer shoes and decided to scrub down everything within reach. I’ve read that BWM sprays the body with anti rust, but not the suspension components.

1) is this bad (0-10) ie just aesthetic or a problem that will result in full blown rusting of the structural strength, is this part of the course (I’m assuming yes for norther climates). Most of the pieces showing corrosion are really thick, so for now I’m pretty certain it’s got to be mostly cosmetic.. however

2) what do I do? Long term will these parts continue to rust until they fail structurally? People mention having a can of primer on hand when swapping wheels. Does one have to sandblast those piece down? Or can the corrosion be stopped with a spray down?

This isn’t Jay Lenos garage and one of his collectibles, but I do want to ensure the maximum lifespan of this car if possible.

[Th3Walrus]

Purely aesthetic. When I see stuff like that, I grab a small paint brush and brush on Tremclad rust paint.

[spucktacular]

A few more pics.

[MADBMWX5MC]

All very normaly, but Th3Walrus has a great suggestion.

[95wildtt]

Rust = Car Cancer