A8 Paint problem

[daveenty]

Anyone had issues with rust on the A8s?

Just washing it (2007 A8-S8) today, and found several what can only be described as rust spots. Not through to the metal, but paint bubbling up in several areas.
The main ones are on the front wing edge where it meets the driver's door (also the door itself), the roof rails and the rear offside door under the chrome trim by the window.
I thought that this didn't happen with aluminium?

This was one of the reasons I left Mercedes and went to Audi.
I managed to get an appointment with the bodyshop on Friday morning, so hopefully it'll get sorted, though rather surprised that this has happened in the first place.
I've had a Google round and it seems that early A3s were prone to it in the roof rails, but can't find any reference to the 8s.

[Dr G]

MK1 TT roof rail prone to bubbling, C6 A6s on the very front of the sill where paint gets chipped and the little triangular 'cheater' trims on A8s (rear doors) but beyond that nothing I can think of. We see pretty high mileage A8s all the time and corrosion just isn't an issue.

[Dilligaf10]

A8's are aluminium so they should not rust! Could be some sort of airborne corrosion, bit bizarre idea but has it been anywhere where steel filings or grinding sparks could have hit the car.

Strange theory but that is my contribution.

[daveenty]

Thanks guys, replies appreciated.
It's not been anywhere out of the ordinary really, only got 34,000 from new (I bought it nearly 3 years ago with 18 on it), it's garaged every night (and most days) so I haven't a clue really.
Couple of quick phone pics below to let you see what it's like: -

Door (left) and front wing.


Roof rail.


As stated earlier, it's going in to Audi to be assessed on Friday, just hoping that we can come to a reasonable solution, but I'm certainly not very happy with it as it is...

[ukdennis]

I thought that the A8 (space) frame was aluminium but the panels (eg door skins) were steel.

[Dilligaf10]

Panels on mine are aluminium

[ukdennis]

By Jove you're right! Trusty magnet doesn't stick on any panels. I've learned something new today.

Cheers,

Dennis

[daveenty]

Well, if it's alloy, then why has it gone like that? Oxidisation I'd assume, possibly spot welds on the seams?

Anyway, Audi can't look at it now this week as their man is on holiday. Still, at least he had the courtesy to phone me to let me know.

It now goes in next Friday. Any idea of what happens next? I would assume that it's a picture thing sent off to Audi who will then give me 600 reasons on why it's my fault and it can't be fixed.

To be honest, I'd much rather take it to my body guy anyway, as I know that the job will be done to my satisfaction, though I don't suppose that this will be acceptable to them.

Many thanks to all who've replied.

[anonymous-user]

Alu will rust (oxidise), but aluminium oxide is pretty much inert, so if it starts it tends not to progress as iron does.

We have some similar patches on the edge of the boot lid of our D2 A8. Been there a while but nothing much is going on with them. I remember being pretty pissed off when I first saw them, but now I just look though them.

On a much newer S8 I would probably have a different view though.

[daveenty]

Just a quick update.

I went into Audi Bolton with it this morning. It was supposed to be last week but the guy phoned me to tell me he was on holiday.

Anyway, he was very professional and courteous, recorded the mileage, registration and year, then took loads of pictures showing the damage alongside his paint depth gauge reading and a piece of paper with my chassis number scrawled on it.

Since my original post I've found another couple of tiny bubbles, as I've been going over it very carefully, so they were duly recorded as well.

Apparently it now goes to the warranty department at the dealership to get left on a desk for a week or so, then to Audi's own place for probably the same treatment.

The guy I saw said he'd never seen it on an A8/S8 before, though has come across similar on other marques. He also implied that it should be sorted out by Audi as a goodwill gesture (warranty on paint is only 3 years, car is now 5) though it's not his call.

I guess it's up to dreary grey people in some office now to decide if it's worth it to them to keep their customer happy, or let me go down the road to someone else instead when it's due to be replaced.

Fingers crossed I suppose, will have more info this time next week hopefully.

[daveenty]

Another update.

Got a phone call around lunch time from the Audi chap, so just a month after the initial viewing.

Apparently it got as far as Audi warranty department in the dealership and was rejected due to the age of the car.

The guy who phoned was almost apologetic, though it's now out of his hands.

It has been suggested that I get in touch with Audi UK Customer Service, so this has now been done with a polite enquiry via a form on their website.

I'm hoping that it will stay polite, though I feel disappointed and more than a little surprised that the dealer didn't do anything more about it.

Is it just me? I don't like rust spots all over a five year old car, it's taking me back to my Mercedes days.

[Dilligaf10]

Bodywork corrosion on a 5 year old prestige car should not be acceptable.

You would "reasonably expect" it not to happen and those are key words in any complaint procedure.

Personally I would go back to Audi and say that they may like to review their decision as it is meant to be their flagship model.

Good luck

[blueg33]

Dilligaf10 said:

Bodywork corrosion on a 5 year old prestige car should not be acceptable.

You would "reasonably expect" it not to happen and those are key words in any complaint procedure.

Personally I would go back to Audi and say that they may like to review their decision as it is meant to be their flagship model.

Good luck

I agree, that is totally unacceptable. Defective workmanship is covered under the SOGA and the test is one of reasonableness. If a good fails within a time scale that a reasonable person would condiser to be early, and you can demonstrate a fault at manufacturing then you may be able to persue it. Did you buy the car from an Audi dealer?

[Dr G]

I'm a little surprised that it took them a month to tell you that but some dealers are definitely better than others with unusual complaints.

Approaching customer care is definitely the right thing to do. Audi have people to deal with exactly this sort of thing.

[daveenty]

blueg33 said:

Dilligaf10 said:

Bodywork corrosion on a 5 year old prestige car should not be acceptable.

You would "reasonably expect" it not to happen and those are key words in any complaint procedure.

Personally I would go back to Audi and say that they may like to review their decision as it is meant to be their flagship model.

Good luck

I agree, that is totally unacceptable. Defective workmanship is covered under the SOGA and the test is one of reasonableness. If a good fails within a time scale that a reasonable person would condiser to be early, and you can demonstrate a fault at manufacturing then you may be able to persue it. Did you buy the car from an Audi dealer?

Thanks for the moral support guys, I'll leave it with their customer care for the time being, and I did mention in the web form I sent off that it was not something I was expecting from Audi's flagship (which it was at the time).
It wasn't bought from an Audi dealer, though had full Audi service history when bought (this is something I've kept up) and still has under 35,000 mile on it.
To be honest I used to wash and dry it thoroughly twice a week, polish once a month minimum and generally take good care, as I like to with all my cars.
Since this episode though I've just lost interest.

I'll leave them a few days and find out what (if anything) they're prepared to do about it.

Dr G said:

I'm a little surprised that it took them a month to tell you that but some dealers are definitely better than others with unusual complaints.

Approaching customer care is definitely the right thing to do. Audi have people to deal with exactly this sort of thing.

To be fair to the guy who did the initial inspection he was off a few days on holiday, then we had the extended Jubilee weekend, though I think a large dealership being dependant on one person is a bit much. Apparently he does the VW side as well.

Hopefully customer care will look a little bit deeper into it.

[lengster]

If its never been painted or repaired then its a straightforward case of corrosion imo

[daveenty]

lengster said:

If its never been painted or repaired then its a straightforward case of corrosion imo

Certainly not to my knowledge, and is/was very straight.

The only paintwork I had done was on a sill (hit a piece of wood on the motorway in the first week I owned it) but nowhere near most of the scabby bits which are just in random places. Especially the roof ones.

[Dilligaf10]

Sounds like the primer was not sprayed/dipped properly.

Could understand door edges getting little nicks when opened onto something but roof as well. It does seem to point to manufacturing defect.

[daveenty]

Had a phone call from Audi customer care late this afternoon.

Very pleasant lady basically asked the standard three questions: -

Q1. How long have I owned it.
A1. 3 years
Q2. Did I buy it from a dealer.
A2. No
Q3. Has it got Audi service history.
A3. Yes, Full

She's now told me that someone else will get back to me tomorrow about the problem, so hopefully it may get resolved amicably.

Will post when I know more.

[Dilligaf10]

Hopefully it will be good news.