Paint and bodywork problems after only 2,000 miles

[markberriman]

Hi,

This is my first post, but I have been reading the forum since March whilst I eagerly awaited the arrival of my new sprint blue RS4. Obviously I was so excited when it finally became time for me to go and collect it from Tyneside Audi.

This car is only used as a toy as I have another day to day Audi A4 company car which I use to carry the shopping and dog.

So in nearly two months of having the car it has only been used 6 times, albeit one trip to Devon, Manchester and edinburger pushed the miles up to 2,000.

The car has already been in the garage twice to have stone chips removed from the bonnet and I spent hundreds on repairs in the first month.

When I ordered the car I paid £400 extra for the Autoglym paint work protection.

I went to wash the car on Sunday and was dreading finding more chips which I did, another two on the bonnet and about three on the front bumper. I also noticed the paintwork was not smmoth and inside the air vents on the fron sides it looks as though the corners were not painted. What would this car look like after 12 months of using it every day I dread to think?

Well just imagine my horror to find that the paint had peeled off about 2x1" on the front bumper. It looked like it had got sunburn and the cars skin was peeling off. I am absolutely gutted to say the least.

I have searched the forum and so far found no more complaints anyone else comment on this, what colour is your car, how many miles have you done, and did you pay for the paint protection?

You do not expect such an expensive car to have paint peeling off within two months of purchase. I also noticed spots on the roof where the paint had looked to have changed colour and no matter how much I polish it they will not budge.

Called the garage to explain to them how P*ss**d off I was and that I was not a happy bunny. I also said I would want compensation and I was told to contact Audi UK.

Apparently the garage will do nothing with it until Audi themselves have inspected it as it is a manufacturing fault??? How long is this car going to be sat in the garage now as I dropped it off on Saturday?

I know I do not use the car very often but I do not want to drive it when it looks like a 10 year old ford escort! You know what I mean, you expect it to look perfect and I have made sure every time it is used the bodywork has been cleaned and is in mint condition including having all the stone chips removed straight away.

I have on eon the bonnet which they cant shift and thney have told me I will need the whole bumper resprayed.

With another note my company car needed a new gear box after 1,500 miles and I am rapidly loosing faith in the Audi brand which is one which I was growing to love immensely. You know when you feel attached something/someone and then they let you down? That is how I feel now and I am tempted to go and visit my local porsche dealer and swap it for a 911.

I would really appreciate some good advice from everyone on this as I am seriously considering changing the car now because it looks as though it may have had a dodgy paint job. Before the car was dropped off at the garage I took some photos as evidence and once they are developed I will get them uploaded to the forum.

Please please please tell me what you think I should do with the car and with Audi, I am worried it has had a dodgy paint job at the factory.

Cheers
Mark

[tanoga]

Reject the car as "not of merchantable quality" and get a full refund. Don't delay as you do not have to prove anything in the 1st 6 months, after that YOU have to prove.

[SimonS4MTM]

Who carried out the original paint repairs for you? Was it an Audi approved repairer?

It seems that your problems are coming from the re-spray. Stone chips do happen, though I guess that there may be a problem with the original paint being too soft, perhaps a body shop owner can advise!

[Genocidalduck]

Not had any paint problems on mine. You sure it's not some idiot that has poured brake fluid or something corrosive over you car? Either that or it was a poor paint job done by Audi and managed to pass inspection. Cant believe you payed for the Autoglyn protection. I demanded it to be a freebie at my dealer. Which they agreed to. But then it's the only freebie i got.

[TWH]

Be it due to the paint job in the factory or the work done in repairing it, it's not acceptable on a brand new £50,000 car and you shouldn't put up with it. I'd want either a new car, or a full refund and go elsewhere. I'm sure a 911 wouldn't look to bad in its place

[SimonS4MTM]

Autoglym wont stop stone chips

[dhali]

My brother had the same problem on his brand new S3 a few years ago .He only had the car about two weeks when he started to notice the lacquer peeling on the front wing. He took the car back and after a bit of shouting and threatning to take legal action
the car WAS REPLACED with another NEW S3.
TAKE IT BACK!!!!

[markberriman]

I spoke to the garage and they are blaming the original repair job they did to the chips and have told me it is in the bodyshop. Even though I wanted it inspected by an independant body specialist. I think they may be tring to cover it over and hope I will go away. I told them I wanted it exchanged for a new one but it was met with mute reply.

Do I get my solicitor to get involved or do I call Audi UK? The dealer said that they have procedures to follow if I want a new car but they wouldnt tell me what they were. I did say I would accept another new RS4.

Can people with RS4's tell me how many miles they have done and the condition of the paintwork, regarding stone chips so I can have some evidence?

I will wait until they ring me back and tell them I do not want the car back and I expect a refund or replacement.

Thanks for all your help so far guys/girls and keep the comments coming as they will help me to figure out what to do. What would you be doing in you were in my position?

[SimonS4MTM]

I would say that the only issue you have is with the stone chips, unfortunately these are a fact of life.

Regarding the flaking paint, this is more than likely the fault of the body shop that did the repair.

I doubt that you will get an exchange car due to faulty paint work being carried out at your request, this is hardly the fault of Audi UK

[markberriman]

I appreciate this but to what extent should your car get chipped with 2,000 miles of moterway driving. I have just had the garage on the phone saying that the bumper repair caused the paint to flake off and they reckon it looks as good as new now. But they did say I had chips on the bumper front and rear, side skirts, bonnet, roof and windscreen and apparently quite a few of them. I have only used the car 6 times so what will it look like if I used it every day in 6 months time. I would be interested to hear from other driver who have more than 2,000 miles on the clock how many they have.

However they have not explained the blemishes on the roof where the paint has faided colour. They have told me someone from Audi UK will inspect it to see if it is anything wrong with the paint. Dont know how long it will take them to do that.

Since the last repair to the chips I have done 500 miles more and now there are loads more then they were after the first 1,500 miles.

[markberriman]

Oh and now they have found something wrong with the traction control and have to take the center console off to investigate further. This seems as though it is going to be a very unlucky car.

[SimonS4MTM]

I guess it may be possible for a car to leave the factory with sub-standard paint that is likely to chip easily. May also be something to do with the blemishes on the roof.

Good luck with it anyway

[dhali]

have you looked into protective paint film? im sure that would stop quite a few of those stone chips. The blemishes on the roof might be water marks which were baked on by hot sunhine ( i know this might sound strange but i caused the same problem on my previous ( VAG) car which was also fastidously maintained by regular washing and waxing. I once washed the car in very hot weather and foolishly did not dry it quick enough. this left watermarks (like hard water deposits) mainly on the bonnet and roof. What ever i tried i could not completly get rid of them. They would disappear after a good polish and wax BUT always returned. I know it was me who caused them as they were not there before i started to wash it).

[dhali]

mind you it was TORNADO RED!!!

[markberriman]

Apparantly auto glym will not protect the car from stone chips, just makes it look better when it has been washed apparently.