Surface rust on RS6 rear arches.

[Greenslade]

Hi there, I used to come on here yeeeears ago, when I got my first Nogaro B5 S4 Avant,.....but forgot all my passwords and everything, so I'm starting again. I'm Zildjian on audisrs by the way.

Anyway, after 4 years of running my SECOND Nogaro Blue B5 S4 Avant, I've decided to take the plunge and go for a C5 RS6 Avant.

Had my eye on a few,....missed out on a couple.

Thing is, I've viewed two in the flesh, and was surprised to find that both of them have surface rust/bubbling/distortions on the rear arches,........with the first car being worse than the second.

Is this fairly common?

Does it spread/travel deeper into the body?

I noticed that both had some sort of clear film pieces over the lower arch sections,.....maybe a factory stone-chip guard affair? Do these hold moisture and make things worse?

I know these cars are 14-ish years old now, and I've also seen B5 RS4s starting to rot.

I'm a fussy git, and I might just be being a little paranoid about things. I've found just about the most ideal car and spec tonight, with this being the only real niggle. Great car other than that, and a damn fine gentleman of a private seller too.

Cheers

[Shoppinit]

Were they both the same colour?

I rarely see corrosion on an rs6 except for the roof channel which tends to bubble up.

I guess cars that are kept outside are going to corrode eventually.

It is a factory stone chip guard. I wouldn't have thought it'd make things worse though.

[kvxxy]

When I was going to remove the rear trim on the bottom of the boot lid, I watched a few vids on YouTube on how to remove it. The guy on the video who had broken a few C5 A6s' said he found most of them had rusted there because from factory audi used double sided tape and studs to hold the trim down. The problem with the tape was that is was a water trap and caused corrosion. I've not taken mine off yet but I guess it could be something we need to prepare for. Has anyone come across this on their cars? I know it's not very common to remove the rear trim unless like me you wanted to change it.

[Greenslade]

Were they both the same colour?

They WERE as it happens, yes!

I couldn't see rust anywhere else on the car though, apart from on one bracket jobbie in the engine bay.

[Greenslade]

audi used double sided tape and studs to hold the trim down. The problem with the tape was that is was a water trap and caused corrosion.

Yeah, that was my initial logic really.

The front lower parts of the rear arches were worst, under that clear film stuff. Over time, I guess the adhesive qualities fail, then the moisture gets in behind, and sits there.

I'm certainly not talking rust 'HOLES' or anything here though, and hopefully a few hundred quid should sort them out,.....aesthetically at least

[alpinab10]

Hi,

Just had my rear Arches & Dog Legs Painted for the same reason and cost me £1,200 but well worth it to bring the Old Lass back to looking good.

Mike

[Greenslade]

Yeah, that doesn't sound too ridiculous.

Hoping to get mine done for £800-ish though.