Lacquer blistering on paint work!!

[jim_tdi]

Just took A4 into Audi dealership for paint depth test etc. The bodywork chap agreed that the nsf arch would need doing - replacement wing. So now awaiting Audi to confirm and away we go. I hope.

[Baldrick75]

Well, I took a trip into my local Audi dealer to ask the guy his opinion on the huge volume of laquer coming off my a4 2003 red bonnet and roof. He gave me the usual line of "3 years warranty", and blamed it on stone chips. I have had many cars before which have had stone chips but I have never ever seen anything like this before. I can slightly understand that a warranty on paintwork might not last forever, but surely this is a coming fault at manufacturing stage, and not just stone chips. Got a quote from a guy I know for 360 for bonnet and roof. Good price, but still pains me to have to ffork out this money, when it was a fault at manufacturing stage. If the guys at Audi had less staff tittering about offering you cups of coffee and trying to give you the lovely experience of their showroom, they might be able to help the honest buyers out there who have genuine faults. Rant over lol.

[jim_tdi]

I have had a similar experience - the service at Audi is appalling when it comes to warranty claims it would seem. I have some rust coming through on the o/s front arch. We all know from reading these forums and others that this is common and is a fault. It seems to be that a 12 yr anti corrosion warranty is quite straight forward: it comes with the car, car corrodes, manufacturer puts it right as per the warranty.

I met a guy from the firm that does the paint work for all the VAG garages in my area at the Audi dealership. Bog standard warranty claim he agreed, perforation from within on the arch. Did a depth test, took some snaps. Was told by the customer service person that someone would be in contact when Audi receive the photos and report. After one week I called to chase, the call rang off. Tried that a few times, then got through on an over-flow line to another office; the person there took my details and said they'd call - nada. So the next day I emailed the garage - someone called within an hour and informed me that I would get a call back that day. Nada. I then chased them two days later and low and behold the guy says the photos had just hit his desk and he was about to call. He informs that Audi have agreed it is perforation blah blah and have been good enough to offer 70% towards the repair which requires a new front wing.

At this point I asked him what the warranty was actually for - and if it was scalable why doesn't it say so? He informed that this was purely an act of good will as the wing is rusting from the outside in and not the inside out. After I stopped laughing I told him the offer was not good enough - if my Panasonic TV screen goes pop do I need to pay 30%? So he basically told me that's my lot, so I took the case further to Audi UK, who put me through to the warranty claims dept, who informed that they would investigate and get back within 24 hours - which is about 2pm today.

I contrast this with a colleague's Skoda. I spec (and I mean spec) of rust on the tailgate - called Skoda - they put him onto the local dealer...he took the car in....yes sir no problem its covered under warranty. One week later the car is in the garage for a new tailgate and he receives a courtesy car for four days. They also valeted the car and he got it back looking like new. I feel within my rights to pursue this with Audi as wear and tear, where I serviced the car (and indeed whether I did at all) has nothing to do with it - it is 12 yrs anti corrosion warranty and it should be honoured.

[sam.bird3]

Strange that Skoda do the work and Audi don't considering it's all under the same ownership! Maybe worth bringing that up with Audi.

[jim_tdi]

That will be a line I will use should they not offer me a full warranty repair.

[jim_tdi]

Spoke to soon - just the call - apparently they are not prepared to go about the 70% offered. After speaking to the Dealership they believe that this was possibly caused by the inner arch rubbing on the metal and causing water corrosion. I informed that is not acceptable and I want to take it further. They will refer it and call back Monday. I mentioned the comparison between what I perceive as good service at Skoda and me struggling with Audi....