Crome window trim problems

Stewarty · 04-04-2008,11:35 AM

Hi All -I have recently bought a 55 A4 Avant Sline 2Ltr Diesel, which i noticed after buying that the crome trim along the bottom of the door windows is loosing its shine. The car is still under warranty and when i visited my local Audi dealer they informed me that this 'milking effect' (as they described it) was not covered under warranty. They also intimated that is by no means the first time they have seen this. I have, however noticed that a number of members in this forum have suffered from the same issue and was wondering if anybody has taken the problem to Audi and been successful in persuading them to sort it out.

**El Guapo** · 05-04-2008,02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Stewarty

Hi All -I have recently bought a 55 A4 Avant Sline 2Ltr Diesel, which i noticed after buying that the crome trim along the bottom of the door windows is loosing its shine. The car is still under warranty and when i visited my local Audi dealer they informed me that this 'milking effect' (as they described it) was not covered under warranty. They also intimated that is by no means the first time they have seen this. I have, however noticed that a number of members in this forum have suffered from the same issue and was wondering if anybody has taken the problem to Audi and been successful in persuading them to sort it out.

Come on mate they are not going to do anything under warranty really are they? How do they or you know what has been used to clean the trim with? Maybe it was not looked after at all? There are too many variables really for them to admit liability I think. But if you don't ask you don't get I guess!.

Stewarty · 07-04-2008,11:37 AM

Yea, fair comment, suppose they have to look for any way out they can. But a premium brand car demands premium dealers! - yea right. The strange thing is that not all the crome strips are milky, some parts of the strips are ok and the crome strips around the upper part of the door windows are unnaffected. You would think that dodgy cleaning products and not faulty car parts would be a little less choosey about the parts of the crome to attack!

**GH20TDI** · 07-04-2008,01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Stewarty

Yea, fair comment, suppose they have to look for any way out they can. But a premium brand car demands premium dealers! - yea right. The strange thing is that not all the crome strips are milky, some parts of the strips are ok and the crome strips around the upper part of the door windows are unnaffected. You would think that dodgy cleaning products and not faulty car parts would be a little less choosey about the parts of the crome to attack!

I have exactly this, but only on the passenger side (and only at the bottom). The car was a demonstrator and at the time I bought the car I thought it was just water marks that would come out - no such luck! Point is that whatever caused it was done by the Audi dealer (or it is just defctive!).

I've had the car for three years now and it has not got any worse (or better).

Stewarty · 07-04-2008,01:36 PM

I think the problem is more widespread than it appears or perhaps its just that my warranty period runs out in Sept and panic is setting in!

**jonbaker** · 07-04-2008,01:39 PM

Join the club! i've discussed this with other members on here previously. Mine is exactly the same, only the lower chrome along the windows, the rest is fine. They blame it on products but like you say, why isn't the rest effected?

Mine is like watermarks but it's actually 'in' the chrome or aluminium or whatever it is. It is impossible to remove, you either have to live with it or get it replaced (not cheap!)

A real bummer as when your car is gleaming this realy does spoil it

Post back if you find out anymore info on this subject

Stewarty · 07-04-2008,02:43 PM

Has anybody you know of made an approach to Audi UK for an Official response? It did seem a bit strange that as soon as i said what the issue was in the dealership the abrupt response was 'its not covered under warranty' before i had even broached the subject of a warranty repair.

**jonbaker** · 07-04-2008,04:25 PM

Not that i know of, but it would be interesting to write to them to get an official response supported by all the members on here that have suffered this problem. It's obviously something that they are well aware of and haven't put right at least back to when my car was built in 2001. It shouldn't go like that from just standard cleaning products, there must be a fault with it. But what is really strange is that only the bottom chrome framing goes like it, very weird.

I wonder if any b8's will suffer this? i'm not sure about other audis only heard about it on the a4.

**paul b** · 07-04-2008,10:39 PM

I don't know if any of you have tried writing to Audi, I don't know their address, but Stuart the forum owner could get hold of that for you.

Paul

Stewarty · 08-04-2008,09:57 AM

Not sure if these details are right, but:
Top Man - Jeremy Hicks
Address - Yeomans Drive, Blakelands, Milton Keynes MK14 5AN
Quick search of the fount of knowlege that is google returned the above. Will need to research an expert in the process of manufacture of these components - any ideas where to start and what subject area it might be listed under?