Stupid question #127 - what is this stuff?

[Stupidlikeafox]

On the very lower side sills of my A3 there is a sort of bumpy, almost reinforced textured bit which is sort of rubbery/squashy to the touch. I'm fairly sure it's supposed to be there since it's on each side, but what exactly is it for? Is it just to protect the lower sills from stone chips off the wheels or something?

Pics enclosed:






Cheers ears.

[Pixel Pusher]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underseal

This?

[snotrag]

Its just the stonechip protection. Found on loads of cars.

Rubbery coating underneath the top coat of paint, resistant to knocks, dinks etc, usually self healing.

[Stupidlikeafox]

Cheers chaps, thought it would be something like that.

[B Huey]

Anti-climb paint for midgets?

[Stupidlikeafox]

At this height it would be more like pixies!

[funkyrobot]

Yes, but watch out for the ones with ladders.

[drophead]

MX5's have quite abit of that paint on the bottom of the doors, pity the underseal underneath the car isn't up to the job!!