Should I accept damage to new car

[Burwood]

The photo below is the front face of the rear wheel trim. The black plastic (lowest 6-7 cm) is marred badly by road grime, sand, stones being flicked up. You can literally see the dirt line running along the lower white sills. The 'damage' to the black trim is 100% the same on both sides of the car. The car is 5 months old. Dealer suggesting i pay for new trim. I say it's a design fault and that the trim should be more recessed to avoid being a stone trap.

[kiethton]

It is what it is, damage caused through use and don't think it's unreasonable for a stone moving at +60mph to cause some marking to some plastic trim.

I'm with the dealer on this one unfortunately

[The Surveyor]

Sorry, you've bought a car which gets dirty, and gets a little more dirty in more exposed areas and you think that's a design flaw which the manufacturer should clean / replace for the life-span of the car.

I can't see this going the way you hoped.....

[AndySheff]

JHTFC.

[Burwood]

I've owned a lot of cars and never seen anything like this before.

[MrOrange]

But it's not a new car. How many miles has it done?

[essayer]

A few days of driving and the white part will be so dirty you won't even notice

[paintman]

Very common to see, front wheels throw up road debris & it hits somewhere along the side of the car - usually sill or front of rear arch - & the reason why Audi & others have the stick-on clear plastic shields in areas of high stone impact.
The early Ford Kas had major problems with it hitting the front of the quarter panel immediately to the bottom rear of the door aperture stripping the paint off & rusting setting in. Later ones had a small plastic shield which stopped the damage.

[Burwood]

paintman said:

Very common to see, front wheels throw up road debris & it hits somewhere along the side of the car & the reason why Audi & others have the stick-on clear plastic shields in areas of high stone impact.
The early Ford Kas had major problems with it hitting the front of the quarter panel immediately to the bottom rear of the door aperture stripping the paint off & rusting setting in. Later ones had a small plastic shield which stopped the damage.

Thanks for your comments. When you say stick on shields, do you mean, standard fit. What did Ford do about the Ka, say tough st? I think it should have shields as factory fit.

[paintman]

Factory fit.
For those vehicles that come with them pre-cut self-adhesive replacements are available from the relevant franchised dealer in the event of body repairs in those areas. Need to be slid into place over soapy water & the water then squeezed out with a rubber squeegee or similar. If you try to apply dry the adhesive is instant grab & you'll have lots of air bubbles trapped.
I've no idea what Ford did about the early ones.
Might be worth you having a word with one of the wrapping people to see if they can help.

[eybic]

How many miles have you done?

[Burwood]

6k. and before you say it-i don't think thats many at all

[Ahbefive]

Cars do innevitably pick up damage with use.

I can't see you getting anywhere with this.

[eybic]

Burwood said:

6k. and before you say it-i don't think thats many at all

It's not but if you consider that at an average speed of 30mph, that's 200 hours on British roads. A few scuffs from stones on plastic trim from 200 hours on our roads isn't too bad I don't think. If it was recessed as you suggest, the crap would hit the car somewhere else.

I certainly wouldn't consider 6k to be a new car either.

Also, you're slightly above the 10k a year average mileage which we supposedly do.

[XMT]

ok so lets say its a design fault.
what do you want out of this exactly?

Redesign the rear trim for you?
put on a new one every 6k miles?

Did you not view ANY other cars of the same type on autotrader, in the show room or real life, surely there is one out there that has more than 6k miles on it, did you check if they have the same issue?

if it upsets you so much, change the car

[TooMany2cvs]

XMT said:

Did you not view ANY other cars of the same type on autotrader, in the show room or real life, surely there is one out there that has more than 6k miles on it, did you check if they have the same issue?

This, with bells on.

Unless it's a newly-launched model, then claiming it's a design fault means it'll be present on every single car of that type with more than nominal mileage on.

Which suggests that you didn't do even the most basic research before purchase.

If it bothers you that much, then fit a pair of front mudflaps, if they're available, or get some of this and a pair of scissors...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0017SBH10

[steveo3002]

wear n tear , its just what happens

maybe consider some front mudflaps if you dont already have them , might deflect some of the stones

[VGTICE]

Burwood said:

Who wants to play "guess what car it is". I'm going to start with some kind of VAG, Skoda perhaps?

[KevinCamaroSS]

They are plastic for a reason. If they were metal the stones flicked up would inevitably chip the paint and cause rusting. Be glad it is doing what it is supposed to do, which is prevent damage to the metalwork.

[Flibble]

Burwood said:

6k. and before you say it-i don't think thats many at all

My car had a new bumper last summer, it was stone chipped within a week. 6k miles is plenty of time to pick up some wear from use. You're on a hiding to nowhere with this one.