Anti-Corrosion Warranty

[bss1978]

Guys,

I'll apologise fo the length of this one in advance!

I'm looking for a little assistance/advice. When washing my 54 plate A4 Avant last week I decided to refit the number plate because the sticky pads that were holding it on had lost their 'stick'. I've only had the car about a month so when I removed the rear plate I was pretty horrified to find a bubble in the paintwork about the size of a £1 coin.

I remembered reading something about an 12 year anti-corrosion warranty so I rung up my local Audi garage and they asked me to bring it in for them to give it the once over. I'd read up about it on hear first so I knew they'd do a paint depth test to see if it had previously been repaired/resprayed.

They whisked the car away into the workshop only to return it to me 10 minutes later saying it had been repaired.....when I pushed for more info (a depth reading or something) they were a little reluctant but eventually got the service manager to come and see me....he said the same but again seemed reluctant to give me a depth reading. He pointed to 3/4 streaks on the paintwork on the tailgate and said they were 'telltale signs it had been resprayed' (I'd always passed them off as water drips, damn british summer!!). I took him at his word and left (albeit in a bit of a huff 'cos he was quite offhand!). But if I'm completey honest I dont think they even bothered to measure the thickness of the paint, just took one look at it and made their decision based on the 'streaks'

Anyway, I looked at the car in little more detail today and it looked as the streaks were superglue the previous owner had spilled when refitting a number plate. I've removed the residue today and it now looks great. I've also had a second opinion from a friend who works in a bodyshop and he says that he doesnt think it has been resprayed (and if it has, its a superb job).

I'm thinking of returning to the garage for a second shot at a warranty claim.....Does anybody know under what reading the paint thickness needs to be? Does under 150 micron sound about right? Also, is it really worth approaching the garage again or would you go straight to Audi UK?

I appreciate that Audi don't owe me anything as I've only just bought the car, but I really don't think it as been repaired and it cannot be as a result of stone chip because of its location.

I just get the feeling I was 'fobbed off' and that annoys me more than the potential rust issue....:zx11:

[willwad82]

Guys,

I'll apologise fo the length of this one in advance!

I'm looking for a little assistance/advice. When washing my 54 plate A4 Avant last week I decided to refit the number plate because the sticky pads that were holding it on had lost their 'stick'. I've only had the car about a month so when I removed the rear plate I was pretty horrified to find a bubble in the paintwork about the size of a £1 coin.

I remembered reading something about an 12 year anti-corrosion warranty so I rung up my local Audi garage and they asked me to bring it in for them to give it the once over. I'd read up about it on hear first so I knew they'd do a paint depth test to see if it had previously been repaired/resprayed.

They whisked the car away into the workshop only to return it to me 10 minutes later saying it had been repaired.....when I pushed for more info (a depth reading or something) they were a little reluctant but eventually got the service manager to come and see me....he said the same but again seemed reluctant to give me a depth reading. He pointed to 3/4 streaks on the paintwork on the tailgate and said they were 'telltale signs it had been resprayed' (I'd always passed them off as water drips, damn british summer!!). I took him at his word and left (albeit in a bit of a huff 'cos he was quite offhand!). But if I'm completey honest I dont think they even bothered to measure the thickness of the paint, just took one look at it and made their decision based on the 'streaks'

Anyway, I looked at the car in little more detail today and it looked as the streaks were superglue the previous owner had spilled when refitting a number plate. I've removed the residue today and it now looks great. I've also had a second opinion from a friend who works in a bodyshop and he says that he doesnt think it has been resprayed (and if it has, its a superb job).

I'm thinking of returning to the garage for a second shot at a warranty claim.....Does anybody know under what reading the paint thickness needs to be? Does under 150 micron sound about right? Also, is it really worth approaching the garage again or would you go straight to Audi UK?

I appreciate that Audi don't owe me anything as I've only just bought the car, but I really don't think it as been repaired and it cannot be as a result of stone chip because of its location.

I just get the feeling I was 'fobbed off' and that annoys me more than the potential rust issue....:zx11:

Take it back to them again and ask them to show you their so called evidence of the re spray. also phone another dealer else where and ask them about the 12 year warranty, if your hunch is right ask for written confirmation.

[Alan02]

I had a very small rust spot on bottom lip of rear door, dealer did paint depth check out in the car park with me there. Mind you, he did go ALL along the side of the car to check !! Go back and ask for it to be done again and explain the streak marks.

[warp_speed]

Sorry to burst your bubble but they will try to fob you off anyway they can, I think the paint has to be below 200microns. Even if it's below this value the warranty is for anti perforation. You could argue that they could fix the problem now (cheaper) before it does perforate through the metal (expensive), but it generally takes around 12 years for that to happen.

In all honesty car manufacturers corrosion warranties are not worth the paper they are printed on and Audi are no exception. They could do it as a good will but on a 6+ year old car you have very little chance of that now.

Take it to an Audi approved body shop and get them to sort it out. They will give no guarantee either unless the panel is replaced. Never met a body shop that would guarantee rust repair since its difficult to cure rust once its taken hold they need to fully remove before painting.

Sorry had a bad experience with Audi and Audi customer services so I need to stick my boot in. :D

[faticus]

I`ve noticed rust bubbles on the front wheel arches of my 2002 avant .... not been to my local AUDI dealer yet but by the sound of it i better be prepared to to fobbed off !!!!!!!!!!!