Weather ate my paintwork...
Discussion
...or alternatively why I won't be ordering another VAG car.
Over the last ten years I've driven three Audis, two new and one ex-demo (the current A6). My A6 was registered in January 2010 and I bought it in August 2010 with 6k on the clock. Current mileage is 59k. In that time it's had it's fair share of stone chips on the motorways and in June I got my local Chips Away guy (Barry Peck - Leicester, did a superb job by the way!) to fix these. While looking round the car he noticed some bubbling on panels on the rear doors that I'd missed.
At this point my assumption was that this was a paintwork defect because as you can see, there is no damage to surface of the painted area - all the damage is from behind. Thus I took the car to my regular dealer near where I work for a large midlands based Aero Engine maker. They assessed the damage and told me that apparently these panels are Trim and not paintwork and therefore not covered by the paint warranty but by the main car warranty. Sir could have them replaced if sir wished at a cost of £195.24 per panel. I enquired if there was any goodwill from Audi or the dealer but was told there was not on this issue. Undeterred I wrote to Audi UK to find out whether they thought this was acceptable on a £40k car 6 months out of warranty. Today I was finally (3 weeks later) given some feedback:
It is not possible to overturn the decision of the warranty department once it has been made. It is believed that this damage has been caused by external influences such as weather, climate or damage not due to a manufacturing defect. As these panels are trim, all we can do is ask if the centres, which we fully empower to make such decisions, feel willing to contribute in this case.
So there you have it... Audi paintwork on trim is apparently not weatherproof. You have been warned! I am not going to pursue the servicing dealer for contribution because it's not their issue that this has happened. (plus if it's going to cost me £400 I'd rather a tradesman I trust got the money).
Now do I think any other manufacturer would have behave the same? Probably, to be honest. Do I think other manufacturers might have been more willing to keep the custom of someone who has been driving their cars for 10 years and spent the best part of £90 with them? Yes I think they might have actually. But then I'm one, not a whole fleet so perhaps not. Either way I thought I'd comment on the situation. /rant over (1/10 - no swearing)
Over the last ten years I've driven three Audis, two new and one ex-demo (the current A6). My A6 was registered in January 2010 and I bought it in August 2010 with 6k on the clock. Current mileage is 59k. In that time it's had it's fair share of stone chips on the motorways and in June I got my local Chips Away guy (Barry Peck - Leicester, did a superb job by the way!) to fix these. While looking round the car he noticed some bubbling on panels on the rear doors that I'd missed.
At this point my assumption was that this was a paintwork defect because as you can see, there is no damage to surface of the painted area - all the damage is from behind. Thus I took the car to my regular dealer near where I work for a large midlands based Aero Engine maker. They assessed the damage and told me that apparently these panels are Trim and not paintwork and therefore not covered by the paint warranty but by the main car warranty. Sir could have them replaced if sir wished at a cost of £195.24 per panel. I enquired if there was any goodwill from Audi or the dealer but was told there was not on this issue. Undeterred I wrote to Audi UK to find out whether they thought this was acceptable on a £40k car 6 months out of warranty. Today I was finally (3 weeks later) given some feedback:
It is not possible to overturn the decision of the warranty department once it has been made. It is believed that this damage has been caused by external influences such as weather, climate or damage not due to a manufacturing defect. As these panels are trim, all we can do is ask if the centres, which we fully empower to make such decisions, feel willing to contribute in this case.
So there you have it... Audi paintwork on trim is apparently not weatherproof. You have been warned! I am not going to pursue the servicing dealer for contribution because it's not their issue that this has happened. (plus if it's going to cost me £400 I'd rather a tradesman I trust got the money).
Now do I think any other manufacturer would have behave the same? Probably, to be honest. Do I think other manufacturers might have been more willing to keep the custom of someone who has been driving their cars for 10 years and spent the best part of £90 with them? Yes I think they might have actually. But then I'm one, not a whole fleet so perhaps not. Either way I thought I'd comment on the situation. /rant over (1/10 - no swearing)
Chris Hinds said:
Today I was finally (3 weeks later) given some feedback:
It is not possible to overturn the decision of the warranty department once it has been made.
Not possible, my arse. They just have to fecking do it. What it is with car manufacturers these days and their "can't do" attitude? Yet another reason why I can't be arsed buying a modern car.It is not possible to overturn the decision of the warranty department once it has been made.
Make that £90k - I haven't been driving dinky toys! 
mybrainhurts said:
So they develop cars in the desert and the arctic, but don't bother with car washes? What could possibly go wrong?
presumably they have done market research that shows that 95% of German car owners don't wash their cars? (In Germany car wash you!)... the EU is probably developing a set of icons to appear on the bumpers of cars to show what conditions and productions you are allowed to wash them in.I must admit I find it truly astonishing some of the issue's I've heard with 'Quality' brands that are just brushed off. Ford are not my favorite car company at the moment, but when I had my MK1 focus they had no issue with respraying a 75K 8 year old car in areas where the bodywork had started rusting due to design faults (doors under the wing mirrors). Admittedly I'd assumed that having not heard for weeks it was a no and had it done at this point but they were willing to do it FOC.
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