Stone Chips - Is this acceptable?

[BenRichards89]

Evening all,

Below are 2 images of the front of my car, one of the bonnet, and one of part of the bumper, showing significant paint chipping. I am considering contacting the manufacturer/local dealer about this.

I have owned the car from new, it is around 16 months old, and has just under 18,000 miles on the clock.

I know that stone chips are generally classed as wear and tear, but I think the amount showing on my car is unacceptable. I have owned several dark coloured cars and covered far more miles in them that never looked this bad.

I drive a mixture of A roads and Motorway, a 36 mile round trip to work daily with a trip to Wales every 6 weeks or so at 200 miles round trip. I do not tailgate.

Would you believe this to be acceptable if it was your car?

[Evanivitch]

That's pretty shocking, though they could probably argue a hundred things against you.

[finlo]

Modern paints are very soft/ste, look what bird crap can do in a few hours if left on.

[itcaptainslow]

Good luck in arguing that with the manufacturer-I'll be very surprised if they do anything!

[Sump]

They will use your correspondence as the Monday morning laugh.

[BenRichards89]

Thanks for the replies.

I know I would be trying my luck if I made contact. I just think this looks really bad on a car that is so new.

Sucks really when I spend hours trying to keep it in good condition.

I actually want rid of it as its been a pretty rubbish car anyway, just wanted to see if it was worth a shot getting this sorted before I did as I think it'll effect the very little amount that its worth!

Cheers, Ben

[zeDuffMan]

My Audi is absolutely awful for chips. Only had it since November and I must have 35-40 noticeable chips on the bonnet alone. I've given up trying to disguise them, have it booked in for a front end respray with a tougher lacquer coating to try and reduce the number I get.

It's not acceptable, but you'll never win the argument.

[itcaptainslow]

BenRichards89 said:

Thanks for the replies.

I know I would be trying my luck if I made contact. I just think this looks really bad on a car that is so new.

Sucks really when I spend hours trying to keep it in good condition.

I actually want rid of it as its been a pretty rubbish car anyway, just wanted to see if it was worth a shot getting this sorted before I did as I think it'll effect the very little amount that its worth!

Cheers, Ben

Unless it's something really specialist then the stone chips probably won't have much of an influence on the value, certainly not significant enough for the time/effort in getting them sorted.

EDIT-just clocked you're on mgr.org guessing it's the MG6? If it is-a/ I bet MG won't be interested whatsoever and b/ the stone chips won't have an impact on the value.

Shame as they're actually nice looking cars IMO and I'm told they're not a bad thing to drive. What's next on the agenda?

Edited by itcaptainslow on Sunday 22 March 23:10

[MarkRSi]

The Civic Type-R I leased a couple years ago was much worse than that after two years, with similar mileage/usage as you.

However when I handed it back it wasn't mentioned, so meh....

[BenRichards89]

itcaptainslow said:

Unless it's something really specialist then the stone chips probably won't have much of an influence on the value, certainly not significant enough for the time/effort in getting them sorted.

EDIT-just clocked you're on mgr.org guessing it's the MG6? If it is-a/ I bet MG won't be interested whatsoever and b/ the stone chips won't have an impact on the value.

Shame as they're actually nice looking cars IMO and I'm told they're not a bad thing to drive. What's next on the agenda?

Edited by itcaptainslow on Sunday 22 March 23:10

Its the MG3. Had lots of niggly problems with it and as an MG enthusiast its been a big disappointment.

I had an Audi A4 before this and thats what I intend to go back to as I miss it. Probably an A5 of some description this time.

[anonymous-user]

BenRichards89 said:

Its the MG3. Had lots of niggly problems with it and as an MG enthusiast its been a big disappointment.

I had an Audi A4 before this and thats what I intend to go back to as I miss it. Probably an A5 of some description this time.

I maintain that SAIC are only using the UK to sell the MG brand over in China. Why else would they release all cars there first, 3 years before the UK?

I own a ZR, want a 75 next. I did like the 6, and keep getting interested then losing it, but as you suggest, there isn't anything MG about them. Unless they rattle?

[BenRichards89]

Rattle? Oh yes. Like a good 'un.

[kuro]

Thats looks bad. My 13 plate astra is driven through some poor conditions on an 80 mile a day commute. I cleaned it this weekend and didn't notice it was any worse than when I bought it and im on 35k now. Not sure you will get any joy from the dealer.

[ZX10R NIN]

BenRichards89 said:

Evening all,

Below are 2 images of the front of my car, one of the bonnet, and one of part of the bumper, showing significant paint chipping. I am considering contacting the manufacturer/local dealer about this.

I have owned the car from new, it is around 16 months old, and has just under 18,000 miles on the clock.

I know that stone chips are generally classed as wear and tear, but I think the amount showing on my car is unacceptable. I have owned several dark coloured cars and covered far more miles in them that never looked this bad.

I drive a mixture of A roads and Motorway, a 36 mile round trip to work daily with a trip to Wales every 6 weeks or so at 200 miles round trip. I do not tailgate.

Would you believe this to be acceptable if it was your car?

This is down to poor paint the only way to remdy this is to have it repainted by a good bodyshop they'll prep it correctly & then put enough paint on so it'll be less of a problem or after it's done you could put a clear 3M wrap over it & that prety much stops the problem.

[VolvoT5]

I'm not used to newer cars having always owned sheds.... but if I saw that amount of stone chips I would be expecting the car to have done high mileage..... The only car I've owned as bad as yours had done 150k motorway miles.

So no I don't think it is acceptable at all. But good luck trying to get them to do anything - "they are all like that sir", "wear and tear", etc.

[r11co]

I remember once looking at a used ZT-T a few years back that was deep metallic blue. The front end had very similar markings to those. Seems the Chinese have continued the Rover tradition of using white primer under dark top coats.

[Jezzerh]

They'll just tell you to stop driving too close to the car in front.

[DonkeyApple]

Jezzerh said:

They'll just tell you to stop driving too close to the car in front.

Ultimately, however crap the work, they will be correct.

[JonnyVTEC]

The wifes Mini Countryman has a similar issue.

However its the black rear door cladding and rear of sill with stone pecking as the body doesnt sufficiently cover the tyres. More of a design flaw than than typical motorway rash IMO as the car itself is generating the debris to damage the plastic.

Only 12k miles but the grain plastic looks dirty regardless how much they are cleaned Tempted to appoach MINI and get them to fit mudguards and replace the trim. Nice that they are bolt on bits atleast unlike your bonnet.

[JungleJim]

Years back I had the front bumper of my 6 month old Ka replaced under warranty for excessive stone chipping.