Premium car...built out of cardboard?!

[AudiMan9000]

My prized new possession, a 2020 Audi Q3 has suffered a large indentation to the boot interior from a heavy object such as a pram resting on a corner that juts out above the wheel arch. It has caved it in. It seems the boot in made out of some kind of cheap cardboard. Is this normal or yet more cost cutting? Is there a way I can pop it back out into place?

[Pit Pony]

Whatever it's made of its not fit for purpose, if things rolling around in the boot break it.

[hammo19]

Sometimes a hair dryer on the hottest setting works. Worth a try if it’s that thin.

[anonymous-user]

hammo19 said:

Sometimes a hair dryer on the hottest setting works. Worth a try if it’s that thin.

On plastic maybe, not sure this works on cardboard...
Most interior trim can be removed quite easily, so best way would be to remove it and then furiously punch it back into shape from the rear.

[Etretat]

Audi, premium car???!!!!

[Skyrocket21]

Get your vacumn cleaner with just the pipe thing, attach to dent turn on and pull. If that dosen't work get a bigger vacumn cleaner.

[AudiMan9000]

Yes it’s been one disappointment after another. Various irritating problems I won’t bore you with (for now!).

Maybe a plunger would work?

[Jimmy Recard]

It's an Audi so quality probably wasn't to be expected

Cardboard was a pretty common way of making interior panels on cheap cars 30-40 years ago

[Miserablegit]

It’s an Audi so it won’t be cardboard you peasants.

It will be recycled plant and wood-based fibres.

[carinaman]

On a positive note it may be recycled cardboard.

[AudiMan9000]

Here is an image.

[Riley Blue]

Remove the trim, push it out, replace the trim. I've done it on three or four cars, easy-peasy. Should it have happened? Probably not but the fix is easy.

[AudiMan9000]

How do I remove the trim though? I have no experience of this.

[Shaw Tarse]

AudiMan9000 said:

Here is an image.

If that is a genuine Audi boot mat then you will be covered by their warranty
If it's not, then you are stuffed

[AudiMan9000]

What’s the boot mat got to do with it? The damage is higher up and not caused by a protective rubber mat.

[A1VDY]

Like most mainstream manufacturers the backing of boot mats and wheel arch covers are made from fibreboard just covered in a cheap carpet, all vag products are the same. This is why if they get wet the backing disintegrates leaving out of shape covers with loose carpet attached.
The only thing you can do is remove the wheel arch cover (easy job) and look to see if the 'dent' can be pushed out. It's likely though the backing will be split. If it is, some contact adhesive like evostik may sort it.
Tbh though, it's in the boot, no ones going to see it..

[A1VDY]

Skyrocket21 said:

Get your vacumn cleaner with just the pipe thing, attach to dent turn on and pull. If that dosen't work get a bigger vacumn cleaner.

A lovely girl I know could sort it, she can suck a golf ball through a hose pipe..

[AudiMan9000]

I just think is it too much to ask for a boot that keeps its shape when you put a buggy in it in a £35k premium family SUV.

[DonkeyApple]

AudiMan9000 said:

How do I remove the trim though? I have no experience of this.

Imagine the general ability of the bloke who fitted it, then imagine if you could do that job backwards.

There might be a YouTube video to help but you do want to be removing it and just pushing it out from the inside. Agree with an earlier post that a hairdryer might soften it so that it comes out more neatly.

[Riley Blue]

AudiMan9000 said:

How do I remove the trim though? I have no experience of this.

I can't see with the boot mat in place but once that's removed and the carpet underneath lifted you may be able to reach under the side trim and push the dent out; I can't be certain without seeing it but that's what I've done in the past.