Colour peeling off rear diffuser

azibux1 · Oct 24, 2016

Hi all,

Warranty job or can it have been bumped somewhere without me realising?

Thoughts? Anyone has this?

It's on the left, just passed the exhausts

Thanks

Edit: can't upload a photo right now, it's failing, will try later

Jassyo06 · Oct 24, 2016

WTF....pic please mate....ps if its dented slightly...? looks like a wee collision ?

SW14NY'S · Oct 24, 2016

If there's no picture....it never happened

azibux1 · Oct 24, 2016

Here's the pic

Site won't let me upload for some reason so hopefully this link at the bottom works OK

No dent whatsoever (plus I'd expect the surrouding area to be damaged?). And definitely something coming off as opposed to something on it... As the pressure washer made it a tiny bit bigger :O

Maybe a stone hit it?

https://imgur.com/bG5u1Sn

Gordo77 · Oct 24, 2016

azibux1 said:
Here's the pic

Site won't let me upload for some reason so hopefully this works

No debt whatsoever. And definitely something coming off as opposed to something on it... As the pressure washer made it a tiny bit bigger :O

Maybe a stone hit it?

https://imgur.com/bG5u1Sn

Jeezus don't like the look of that. Didn't realise the diffuser could chip as easy as that.

SamR92 · Oct 24, 2016

azibux1 said:
Here's the pic

Site won't let me upload for some reason so hopefully this link at the bottom works OK

No dent whatsoever (plus I'd expect the surrouding area to be damaged?). And definitely something coming off as opposed to something on it... As the pressure washer made it a tiny bit bigger :O

Maybe a stone hit it?

https://imgur.com/bG5u1Sn

Looks a bit big for a stone chip, and in an uncommon location for one? (although I noticed a stonechip on my rear bumper the other day, no idea how the hell it hit the top of the bumper panel near where it joins)

Could it have been some little s**t on a skateboard?

mojo555 · Oct 24, 2016

I had very similar with my 2012 S3, the rear diffuser paint did the same, I'm pretty sure it was a known problem back then and was replaced under warranty

Flying Scotsman · Oct 24, 2016

Pressure Washer!...That could be the culprit with a paint chip and high pressure applied to the chip area.

GSB · Oct 24, 2016

I'd claim it as warranty, citing a clear lack of adhesion of the paint on that component.

azibux1 · Oct 24, 2016

Thanks all, nearest dealer is about 40 minutes so will ring them and send a pic maybe

Will keep you posted

azibux1 · Oct 24, 2016

To be honest until I saw this happening I wasn't aware it was actually painted, always thought it was a coloured piece of plastic naturally that colour

AudiNutta · Oct 24, 2016

Hm, that isn't a chip. The whole diffuser in that area looks quite thin on the paint. More like a manufacturing defect and regular washing etc, has taken the paint off. Was the car new? That looks like the aftermath of a poor paint job to me.

The grill on my A3 had patches where the finish was going dull, it was replaced under warranty no quibble and I dread to think of the cost for a full grill.

Get it down to Audi, their bodyshop guy will inspect it and I'm pretty sure as long as they can be certain it hasn't been painted then Audi should pay out.

azibux1 · Oct 24, 2016

Yeah is only a few months old and washed regularly (but never with any harsh chemicals)

Will give them a call tomorrow and see

AudiNutta · Oct 25, 2016

azibux1 said:
Yeah is only a few months old and washed regularly (but never with any harsh chemicals)

Will give them a call tomorrow and see

Yeah definitely give them a call. It will be a manufacturing defect. All that part of the diffuser looks thin on paint, it's not that difficult to see that. They might say you've bumped it, it might have just been contact with a plastic sign etc but to me, it looks like something has gradually rubbed away at it.

Let us know how you get on!

SJC · Oct 25, 2016

I had three / four areas on my car with patches larger than that. As you mentioned it could have been a stone chip and if jet washed a larger area comes off.

After I had a warranty job agreed to be completed. I tested a smaller area with the pressure washer lance and it did not effect bits that were intact. But did peel more paint off on an areas that were back to bare plastic.

azibux1 · Oct 25, 2016

SJC said:
I had three / four areas on my car with patches larger than that. As you mentioned it could have been a stone chip and if jet washed a larger area comes off.

After I had a warranty job agreed to be completed. I tested a smaller area with the pressure washer lance and it did not effect bits that were intact. But did peel more paint off on an areas that were back to bare plastic.

On your actual body work? Or diffuser?

SJC · Oct 25, 2016

azibux1 said:
On your actual body work? Or diffuser?

Diffuser. When I went in they said it would not be covered due to the age of the car (it was a couple of years old) however after the warrenty person knew he was in the wrong he approved it.

azibux1 · Oct 25, 2016

SJC said:
Diffuser. When I went in they said it would not be covered due to the age of the car (it was a couple of years old) however after the warrenty person knew he was in the wrong he approved it.

Cool

Just called them up and said I'd send a pic so will see what response I get

azibux1 · Oct 28, 2016

Update

- they said it looked like an external influence caused it, not covered, said they'd paint it for £80

- I explained why it doesn't look that way to me (smooth surface, thin paint etc )

- they said still not covered but they'd do it as a gesture of goodwill

pburv · Oct 28, 2016

azibux1 said:
Update

- they said it looked like an external influence caused it, not covered, said they'd paint it for £80

- I explained why it doesn't look that way to me (smooth surface, thin paint etc )

- they said still not covered but they'd do it as a gesture of goodwill

Always stick your heels in when it comes to claims .....They tend to give in rather than put up with a disgruntled customer....Especially when they know you are right.... :friends:

Show some pics when it's done... :yes:

azibux1 · Oct 28, 2016

pburv said:
Always stick your heels in when it comes to claims .....They tend to give in rather than put up with a disgruntled customer....Especially when they know you are right....
Show some pics when it's done...

Ha yeah seems to be the case

Email says it will be replaced (so not re-painted) so should be perfect hopefully

pburv · Oct 28, 2016

azibux1 said:
Ha yeah seems to be the case

Email says it will be replaced (so not re-painted) so should be perfect hopefully

Job's a goodun... :salute:

AudiNutta · Oct 29, 2016

Happy days, glad you got it all sorted.

It's really luck of the draw with warranty assessors I think. When I got my A3 from Bedford Audi, it had flat spots and was pitted like you sometimes see where bird poo has damaged the top coat. It wasn't this though. Bedford told me where to go with regards to warranty and that's when I were buying it, they offered to replace it for in excess of £1000.

I took it to Cardiff Audi, a 2 minute inspection and some photos and I had a new grill weeks later. I think it all comes down to who looks and how much they can be bothered to generate a claim and battle with Audi on your behalf.

I have a sneaking suspicion that they won't pay for that diffuser, it will be claimed from warranty. But little does that matter because you are having a new replacement, nice one!

lenny151 · Oct 29, 2016

Had the same in a few areas on my front grill will post some pictures up soon

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lenny151 · Oct 29, 2016

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lenny151 · Oct 29, 2016

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azibux1 · Oct 29, 2016

Yeah @AudiNutta would have probably tried a different garage if the first one said no

I assume they're replacing just the diffuser only, think / hope it's a separate part from the whole bumper

@lenny151 I'd definitely get that looked at!

lenny151 · Oct 29, 2016

Going to ring Audi on Monday see what they say will post when I have spoke to them

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StevenC95 · Oct 30, 2016

Got the same problem on mine, above the exhaust on the drivers side

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azibux1 · Oct 30, 2016

Mine is on the silver lighter coloured part above . . . But yeah, looks similar

I'm surprised so many people have the issue

AudiNutta · Oct 31, 2016

lenny151 said:
Going to ring Audi on Monday see what they say will post when I have spoke to them

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow yours is very bad! I see a pattern emerging here with this finish, Audi will accept that no questions.. they have to!! There is no evidence of impact damage, just water ingress that has led to the lifting of the surface.

AudiNutta · Oct 31, 2016

StevenC95 said:
Got the same problem on mine, above the exhaust on the drivers side

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Get that into Audi, tell them about claims being paid out on here and show evidence if need be. There is obviously issues with quality on these items, I will keep a very, very close eye on mine for sure.

lenny151 · Nov 1, 2016

Audi are saying there's nothing that they can do about mine because it could be due to stone chips

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azibux1 · Nov 1, 2016

Then there should really be some damage (even a tiny dent) in the plastic beneath the paint . . . It looks completely smooth to me?

lenny151 · Nov 2, 2016

exactly what I thought will try another audi near me see what they say

AudiNutta · Nov 2, 2016

lenny151 said:
exactly what I thought will try another audi near me see what they say

Keep trying, escalate it. If it was down to an impact like a stone then the finish would not simply flake off, it would show damage.

Simon L · Nov 2, 2016

Keeping me beady eyes on this thread ...............definitely fits in my pi55 poor customer service catagory.

Jeez, a blind man can see the paint is way too thin.................... :wtf:

azibux1 · Nov 2, 2016

Update on mine, part has arrived and appointment is booked for later this month to have it replaced

Confirmed they're replacing just the diffuser part and not the entire bumper

AudiNutta · Nov 2, 2016

azibux1 said:
Update on mine, part has arrived and appointment is booked for later this month to have it replaced

Confirmed they're replacing just the diffuser part and not the entire bumper

Excellent, glad to hear you got it sorted.

Yes they are totally separate parts, a few Torx screws I would expect and they will clip off.

azibux1 · Dec 5, 2016

Forgot to say this was all sorted

Colour peeling off rear diffuser

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