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Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:45 pm
by bam_bam
So I've just got an answer from Whetstone Audi on the paint warranty incident that I'd opened with them before xmas.
The answer: no.
I went there in person, the chap said "what it is... it this, the plastic trim rubs against the roof panel and caused the paint seal to break causing corrosion. Unless the panel s rusting from the inside out, Audi won't cover it."
To which I replied "but that channel has corroded due to bad design". He said "I see what you're saying but the wording of the Audi paint warranty doesn't cover that".
He suggested that I take it up with Audi customer care.
This going to be fun.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:41 pm
by Shoppinit
Someone at Audi UK is about to get a sore anus.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 5:55 pm
by chunky79
I have read on this forum that folks have had theirs done under warranty. Plus, a neighbor of mine had his passat done last year for the exact same reason, and it's the same year as yours.
Sorry if I've caused any heartburn over this

Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:26 pm
by RustyBucket
Had mine done last Xmas - had the same conversation with the dealership and went to Audi customer care who agreed to make a good will gesture - whole job was about £1000 through a VAG approved
Shop (run by Mercedes) and Audi paid about £700 towards it.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:47 pm
by bam_bam
RustyBucket wrote:Had mine done last Xmas - had the same conversation with the dealership and went to Audi customer care who agreed to make a good will gesture - whole job was about £1000 through a VAG approved shop (run by Mercedes) and Audi paid about £700 towards it.
Do you know what the process was? Do you have a sunroof?
I've just bought a standard sunroof to get rid of the pointless solar roof. I figure if the interior headlining needs removing to get the roofrails off, then it'd be an ideal time to slot the new sunroof in.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:04 pm
by RustyBucket
No I don't have a sunroof and mine's a loon but they didn't do the whole roof, they just did the corroded bits and blended with the rest of the roof so I imagine they won't need to take the sunroof out unless you ask them to

Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:14 pm
by bam_bam
They're charging £1000 just to blend the roof, WTF?!?!
You could get the whole thing resprayed for £3k.
I was thing about the roof rails as it's an avant, I assume the headlining would need to be dropped to removed them, making it easier to drop in a new sunroof.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:17 pm
by Shoppinit
Yeah, it does. Shouldn't be too hard to swap the roof.
You gonna leave the rails off?
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:08 pm
by smiler75
bam_bam wrote:They're charging £1000 just to blend the roof, WTF?!?!
You could get the whole thing resprayed for £3k.
I was thing about the roof rails as it's an avant, I assume the headlining would need to be dropped to removed them, making it easier to drop in a new sunroof.
You dont need to drop it for a railremove...
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:37 pm
by RustyBucket
I've just checked the invoice and I paid 156 ex vat which was 30% so total ex vat was about 520. Sorry I think the 1000 was what Audi said it could cost depending on what was involved but that was the figure that stuch in my head :O
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:42 am
by chunky79
smiler75 wrote:bam_bam wrote:They're charging £1000 just to blend the roof, WTF?!?!
You could get the whole thing resprayed for £3k.
I was thing about the roof rails as it's an avant, I assume the headlining would need to be dropped to removed them, making it easier to drop in a new sunroof.
You dont need to drop it for a railremove...
Yup, you only drop the sides to remove the rails. Takes around an hour each side to change the rails, and the main head lining stays at attention.
I'm not too keen on the look of the avant without the roof rails, I looked at mine when I changed mine over and thought it looked plop. Doug took his rails of the green B5 and turned out to be very split opinion if I remember.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:52 am
by bam_bam
I've bought a spare set of rails as I'm looking at chopping them down, a la B8 S/RS. I was also toying with the idea of high gloss black optics.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:55 am
by chunky79
Mmmmm, nice idea. Not a fan of the high gloss, but it could look good on that colour.
So, you let rip at Audi UK yet?
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 8:57 am
by bam_bam
Not yet, I'm flatout entertaining toddler_bam at the moment, he's got chickenpox. This will be my 2nd day at home with him. I've built some very intricate wooden train tracks but mostly, I'm going in-fucken-sane.
Re: Bubbling roof channels
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:39 am
by Shoppinit
Don't go high gloss. It'll look trailer park.