harminder Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 OK I hope this post will put my mind at ease a little.. I brought my car around 4 months back.. Everything was fine and then around 6 weeks ago I noticed a small bubble in the paint at the bottom of the rear arch! Got worried and then started looking more closely at the paint and noticed another 2 smaller paint bubbles on the other side of the car in exactly the same place (bottom of rear wheel arch).. I have also noticed a very minor bubble starting near the roof of my car (in line with bubble on the drivers side rear arch).. Now I understand that Audi have a 10 year anti-corrision warranty but I am pretty sure that this is worthless with audi fobbing me off with some excuse or another.. I dont think the paint work has been repaired as it looks original and also its strange that both sides of the car have been effected in same place? Now I am seriously getting worried and I cannot see no easy way out of this... Do I have a case in order to fight Audi, especially with the car being 5 years old and out of warranty? What steps can I take in order to get Audi to pay out? Also does anyone know how much the repairs are likely to cost? Just in limbo at the momment.......I am even considering selling the car and hope no one will notice the rust bubbles? Just need some help and guidance from you guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 As long as the rust is not caused by external damage (stone chips etc) then I can;t see how they'd wriggle out of it) Take it in to you local stealer and see what they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo283 Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 These anti-corrosion warranties are a nightmare. Mazda offer a similar service, but when I spoke to my dealer about corrosion on my old 323F, no chance was he paying out! I think that in order to keep the warranty, a log of chips/damage etc should be taken on a plan of the car in order for the warranty to be valid, but I can't remember the last time I saw one of those!!! Your best bet is to give it a go. There's no harm in asking. Perhaps try a couple of dealers in your area. If you have any receipts/MOT's/service print outs from the previous owner, it may be worth digging them out and giving the garages a call. In theory a main dealer should have a log of any work taken out to each car, in which case any repairs could be on file? Good luck!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 know it sounds silly but do you have any chips etc, i certainly think its worth polishing the car making it look very well cared for , spotless... then take it in.. cos tehre is no way you can say its mistreated if it looks stunning .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 I know that audi are going to say that car has had some sort of paint work in the past and so the warranty is not valid.. Even though I know they will be talking shite the problem is I have no way of proving that a paint job has not been carried out.. I will try them and let you know what they say.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Then again, they might say you chip invalidates the paintwork warranty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Some of the warranties are only if there is an acutal hole that the bodywork has been perforated or now. As others have said give it a go but I doubt you are going to get anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 We once got a door and bonnet replaced on a Fiat Panda - all under the anti-corrosion warranty. Didn't stop it rusting in other places after the warranty expired, though! I also had a suspicious blister attended to on my RS6 - it turned out not to be corrosion, but contamination under the paint. However, the whole tailgate was resprayed. I would have no hesitation - get the car in to your dealer and insist that they sort it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 Harry, Botang aka Matt is probably the bext man to speak to. His early D2 A8 4.2 quattro Sport developed major paint issues which - after a lot of agro - was sorted by Audi in the form of a full respray iirc. His A8 looks fab' as a result. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Well went to Audi dealer.. Two people came out and one said straight away that the bubbles appearing on the bottom of the rear passenger arch were caused by stone chips.. She reckons that stone chips have caused the paint to come off slightly and thus allowing water to get in and hence the bubbles.. Same issue on the other side... OK I thought...........they may even me right (since each bubble does have a slight pin point dot where the paint appears to have come off).. Well then, I said, that may explain the bubbles at the bottom but what about the one in roof....(just along the grove where a a roof rack would fit in?).. They basically had no explanation for that one.......that could not be stone chips! He then went along the lines of a paint job being done.........but then later admitted this was very unlikely or the job would have been top notch! In the end they both tried to fob me off by saying that I should see how I get on over the winter in more harsh conditions and too keep an eye on it!! Just wandering if perhaps the bubbles are caused by contamination rather than corrision......would this be an easier fix?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 sorry just dont accept that , you would 'see a stone chip' and it would have to be to bare metal to cause it, go back and say you have been talking to audi uk and that it should be honoured... keep trying they are just trying not to fork out on the work.. if not just go to 10 other dealers , someone will fix it ! dont worry+++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 [ QUOTE ] ..it would have to be to bare metal to cause it, [/ QUOTE ] ... and it would have to have damaged the galvanised surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Why should you wait and keep an eye on it? Its rust, sort it dealer! Its not going to go away, the best you can expect is that it doesn't get much worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] ..it would have to be to bare metal to cause it, [/ QUOTE ] ... and it would have to have damaged the galvanised surface. [/ QUOTE ] OK never knew that.. Even had the guy from Chipsaway have a look and he two agreed that they probably are caused by stone chips but rust should never settle in that easy..!! OK going to go to another dealer next week now that I have some come back to the stone chips excuse...! Also get them to explain the rust bubble on the roof!!! If anyone has any further responses to excuses they may use then would be most appreciated!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 If you want to retain your sanity give up now. I wouldnt wish my paint/corrosion warranty experience on anyone even though they did the rectification work in the end (at a cost of over £6800 to them). Ian is right they have done a nice job, but it was still a nightmare. You will find that for them to honour the corrosion warranty the rust has to come from the inside of the car. In my case the exterior paint surface was intact, 20 different areas on the car including in door shuts, bonnett edge the inner B pillar all without question could not have been stone chips. I had a paint experts report to that effect and Audi still said it was because of stone chips. The pannels that were eventually sent back to Germany but im never likely to know the exact cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 To be fair you are probably right, I think it will be a lot of stress for little reward... Had a quote from Chipsaway to restore the bottom section of both rear wings and then 'blow them in' to match the colour. The guys seemed to think it would do the trick for the time being but was honest to say that he could not be 100% sure it would cure the problem in the long term!! Gave me an honest price and said he would take care of all the chip marks to the front of the car.....prevent any further possibilities of rust setting in.. Someone convince me its worth holding onto the car becuase in the long term these issues are only going to get worse?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 just get audi to sort it , but it should be covered ! how much was the quote from chips away ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 Guy reckons to repair the bottom section only of both wings and also to cover a deep scratch on passenger side door (also paint needs blowing over) then he can do it all for £250.. This will also include him sorting out all the stone chips to the front of the car.. Reckons car should look ok and paint should match otherwise he will not charge me for it.. I am tempted but then wondering if in 6 months the bubbles come back will it really have been worth it?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 my experiance of rust on my Golf was to get it cut out 100% or it will come back the following winter, if you are only going to keep the car say 6months go for it , it will mean its unmarked when you sell it , but for the poor bugger that buys it he will have no chance of getting it done form audi , i really would take it down that route , or at least see if they will pay the £250 from chips away as a compromise ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 At the minute the bubbles are not too noticeable (most people would not notice).. I am going to probably wait a few months and keep a very close eye the areas concerned.. If they get any worst and look like they are spreading quickly then will get it done by Chipsaway.. If on the other hand the bubbles are the same I will prob sell the car as seen.........will not mention it but will not hide it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soapsuds Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 [ QUOTE ] If on the other hand the bubbles are the same I will prob sell the car as seen.........will not mention it but will not hide it... [/ QUOTE ] you should sell all cars as seen!!! Be wary of leaving it and 'keeping an eye on it'..... It might be rusting fom the inside out and you wouldnt see it! Trust me - i have a Starion and i know these things....!!! (if you are silent you can actually hear it rusting.....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 [ QUOTE ] just get audi to sort it , but it should be covered ! how much was the quote from chips away ? [/ QUOTE ] Tom its really not as easy as that, warranty does not cover stone chips, as HH said in a previous post the wings could be chips as there is a bit of paint missing this indicates it proberbly is caused by chips being left untreated. I'm trying to give the best advice I can and from my experience the chances of Audi repairing the car are about 1% on what Ive read so far. Its best to get it repaired and the affected areas treated which will give it the best chance possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henke Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 Hi Harry, I'm experiencing paint problems with my 2000 A4 1.8T Quattro although it seems to be only on a fibre glass panel that houses the boot lock...I have a picture here on my thread in the A4 section here Is it a similar bubbling effect/reaction as yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 Henke - WOW! Yours seems to be a lot worse than mine.. At the minute mine is appearing as two or three bubbles but they are not joined....if that makes sense? I will get some pictures up (hopefully by saturday afternoon) so you can compare for yourself... Know how you feel though mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted September 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 OK I have tried to take some pictures of the bubbles but to be honest they have not shown to well due to the angle of the arch.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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