Corrosion on front wing :(

[Ian W]

I noticed some pretty nasty corrosion on my front wing today. It runs about 6 inches around the very edge of the wing from the headlight area back.

I had the roof rails and lower doors repaired under warranty about 2 years ago but this wasn't here then.

Does anyone know if this is covered under warranty? I have a feeling it will be knocked back but i'm thinking its worth a go.

I've attached a pic but you can't see much

 

[MintyS3]

Cant see well. Depends if the paintwork has been damaged which allowed rust to start.

Luckily its a wing so can easily be replaced and painted cheaply and you would be unlikely to see rust on it again in its lifetime.

 

[jojo]

I had this on the driverside front wing, but you could see a stone of some sort had chip a paint off mine and it started the corrosion. Look closer to see if there is a stone chip of some sort, as S3's are not known to have corrosion problems with the front wings.

 

[Ian W]

I'll have a closer look tomorrow, I suppose there could be a stone chip underneath the wing which could have caused it.

Did you end up having to pay to get yours fixed yourself jojo or was it done under warranty?

 

[S3 Nattie]

Mine is the same. Its on the rim of the arch at the bottom. Bit annoying seen as these are meant to have a rust protection rubbish for 12 years

 

[Ian W]

Mine is the same. Its on the rim of the arch at the bottom. Bit annoying seen as these are meant to have a rust protection rubbish for 12 years

Yes i'm not best pleased tbh.

Didn't expect to be having to replace and paint panels when I bought an S3 !

 

[S3 Nattie]

I got my front bumper resprayed in October last year and its stone chipped like mad already. Took it back and all they said was its stone chips, they cant do anything.

If you do get the wing sprayed dont go for the cheapest. I have done it twice now and think I have learnt now, the hard way lol

 

[jojo]

Did you end up having to pay to get yours fixed yourself jojo or was it done under warranty?

Sorry, forgot to mention it, I paid to get it resprayed.

 

[chancer]

I got my front bumper resprayed in October last year and its stone chipped like mad already. Took it back and all they said was its stone chips, they cant do anything.

l

Not sure what you meant by that. Do you mean they can't prep and spray it for you? Obviously they can't prevent further chips and nor will they respray a stone chipped front bumper under warranty.
OP for the wing, this will most likely be a stone chip that has allowed water under the paint. I would fit a new wing and paint the panel to be sure of a lasting repair.
It's weird how these parts corrode. I have just removed, prepped and sprayed the part where the lock is on the tailgate. Loads of these corrode, but why? Audi of course wouldn't repair it. Total materials including the etch primer came to £66. Plenty of paint left over to do any other panels as well.

 

[S3 Nattie]

I got my front bumper sprayed out of my own pocket and it was less than 6 month and the bumper started getting stone chips again. Give it another year and it will probably be just as bad as before I got it sprayed.

Most places go on about there paint is better than OEM paint, thicker and resistant to stone chip but its rubbish. It took my car 8 years to get a point were I thought that's way to many stone chip but it has taken no longer than a year to get to the same level the OEM painted bumper took.

I know you cant really prevent stone chips but you don't except it to be back to what it was before within a year do you.

 

[MintyS3]

Aftermarket spray jobs tend to stone chip easily. They can either fire extra laquer on to try and stop this or apply a thin clear film on top although Im sure not all bodyshops will do this.

 

[chancer]

I don't think any paint is resistant to stone chips. Claims on paint thickness are perhaps to draw in business as the paint will be mixed to a certain viscosity to spray it. Was the respray done in water based or 2k paint? Stone chipping is nightmare and an ongoing problem with no real cure. Even if you take it elsewhere the chipping may re-occur. Certainly the dealer body shops are no better than most approved VBRA repairers. Not cheap to get panels painted either these days.

 

[S3 Nattie]

Ye I see what you mean. Not to sure how they done it. All I can remember is 2 pack primer and clear film lol.

I am really annoyed about it but like you say theres not much you can do about stone chips but didnt think it would be like it is so early.

Friend got his whole car resprayed ( VW Beatle ) and it looked mint when it was done but now it looks like he's been driving behind a gritter for 10,000 miles lol