VRS TDi Facelift Estate - arch / sill rust

Hello all

My first post so sorry it's a negative one

First I need to say that the car is a great drive and has been really looked after mechanically - full service history, early belts/pump change, brand new disc/pads/tyres all round. Interior is great apart from a bit of drivers seat bolster wear. I also think it may have had a slight remap but I am ok with that. The clutch may need doing in the next 6k miles but that is it.

My 2010 race blue VRS TDi estate FL has some minor arch rust bubbling on all 4 arches and the front/underside of the side sills - the side sills being the worst. The arch bubbling is no more than 2-3cm long and less than 1cm back from the edge of the arches in its worst areas. The side sills are the worst with some paint flaking off on both sides extending back approx 12cm from the leading edge. I bought the car from an independent dealer in Scotland just before lockdown. Foolishly I got a flight up there from the Southwest after asking lots of Q's and getting pics before I went - I spotted the undeclared rusty bits when I got there and got them to further reduce the price on the car by £400 but hadn't realised the full extent of the cost to fix it at a body shop. I've been quoted £200ish per corner for a trade-spec job or £2k to fully do the sides and tailgate, panels off, etc!!!!!!!!. I must add that since getting the car I removed the screwed on rear dealer plates to find multiple screw holes in the tailgate from previous plates being screwed on that have all got rust around them now too - the worst being the original plate square apertures that have a radius of flaking paint of about 4-5cm. The tailgate quote is £200ish for a trade job or all in as part of the £2k quote for more extensive repair. Obviously I am not going down the 2k route as the car I paid £6k for her.

My solution is to degrease, strip + sand back, Bilt hamber hydrate and then paint a letter-box shaped section myself to do the numberplate issue - can anyone recommend a product / technique for filling the cavity through the holes please as I am sure there must be fluid/rust in there now from the open holes? I normally stick plates on if the bumpers or rear end parts are metal!

The car is pretty low mileage (60k) so I intend to keep it for a couple of years and I am fully versed in car detailing, minor maintenance, etc but I have never done any bodywork before. I would be prepared to jack the car up, take the arch liners out and treat the rear side of the panels, arches, etc. but still think I would need a bodyshop to do the exterior.

I'm getting to the main point........

to get the best job done would I be best sourcing something like these to replace the rusted areas and get some peace of mind going forwards and will these parts fit my VRS facelift estate?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-OCTAVIA-2-2004-2013-FRONT-WING-REPAIR-PANEL-SET-OF-2-PAIR/274365245696

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-2-2004-2013-Limo-und-Kombi-Voll-Schweller-Reparaturblech-Rechts/264502137507?hash=item3d958e52a3:g:nPUAAOSwGbhdus8D

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-OCTAVIA-1-1996-2010-FULL-SILL-REPAIR-PANEL-ROCKER-PANEL-SET-OF-2-PAIR/273810616852?hash=item3fc0627214:g:KnAAAOSwijBduuBO

I don't think I would get any comeback from Skoda re: anti-corrosion as the panels aren't perforated and I think the car may have had some minor paintwork before (ie, keyed correction) as there are some tell-tales but it is structurally untouched

If anyone can recommend a bodyshop in the Bath/Bristol/Reading area please let me know

I can post pics too if that helps with advice being given

Thanks for any advice fellas - much appreciated