Does warranty cover pitted / corroded exhaust tips?

pierreluigi88

pierreluigi88

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I've had real trouble cleaning the exhaust tips on my car, so thought I'd have a proper go this weekend. On close inspection, I've noticed that the finish has come away and they look terrible.

The car is 8 months old. Do you guys think the warranty will cover this? Has anyone else got a similar problem?

Cheers.
 

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Well you can try, but Exhaust is counted as one of the wear and tear parts, then they'll probably default to being your fault for using something unapproved to clean it with.

Always worth a shot!
 
I thought as much! Will give it a try though to see how far I get.
 
Obviously a bit late for you in this instance, but if you wipe the tips with WD40 or similar when you clean the car they're MUCH easier to clean.

I do it each time I clean the car, takes 2 minutes and keeps them as good as new.

Hopefully you'll be able to get them swapped out and add the step above to your cleaning regime!
 
R.A.G said:
Obviously a bit late for you in this instance, but if you wipe the tips with WD40 or similar when you clean the car they're MUCH easier to clean.

I do it each time I clean the car, takes 2 minutes and keeps them as good as new.

Hopefully you'll be able to get them swapped out and add the step above to your cleaning regime!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip (!) - it's gone in today as there's a campaign on it for a replacement pipe or something, so the warranty guy is going to have a look at the exhaust. Finger crossed!
 
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Let us know how you get on and any info you can get on the campaign??

Warranty or wear & tear, they should last longer than 8 months!
 
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The problem is chrome plating isn't resistant to the acids produced by a car's exhaust and common to many makes of cars http://www.babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=46062 If they had just used stainless steel instead of trying to make them shiney it would have been fine. However only body panels have a warranty against corrosion but the dealership might replace them as a goodwill gesture..
 
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pierreluigi88 said:
Thanks for the tip (!) - it's gone in today as there's a campaign on it for a replacement pipe or something, so the warranty guy is going to have a look at the exhaust. Finger crossed!
Click to expand...
How did you get on?
 
TripleD said:
How did you get on?
Click to expand...

Just got the car back and they won't cover it - the warranty guy said he could show me other cars of similar age with exhausts in the same condition. The docket says "Standard signs of corrosion due to vapour / liquid coming out of exhaust. Not warranty". Oh well, it's what I was expecting - a replacement would be pretty pointless as they'll be the same in 6 months anyway.

The campaign by the way was "20Z6". I thought there would be more detail on the paperwork, but that's all it says. There's nothing on the internet about it at the moment.

So, as they really are quite tatty, I'm going to replace the tips with stainless steel ones. I've looked here, and although it's for S4, the two pictures don't seem to be for the same exhaust system - looks like twin x 1, single x 2 but not quad:

https://audi.7zap.com/en/rdw/audi+a4+s4+avant+quattro/a4q/2016-736/0/075-75040/
Edit: ok I think this is B8 (It said "Europa Year 2016" so thought that meant B9!)

Any ideas if I want 60mm, 80mm or something else? (I know I could measure it but I don't know whether this refers to internal / external / pipe / trim diameters).

Also, anyone got any good suppliers or links to suggestions? I want to get as close to stock as possible.

I suspect there may be a few of us needing to do the same over time, so I'll happily be the guinea pig if you guys can help me source them :)
 
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TripleD said:
;)
Click to expand...


I actually went to order one of these but on the site it now states that it's only available for saloons without sports diff... Being an Avant WITH sports diff, means that I have to wait unfortunately. They did say it would be launched for all models 'in the coming weeks' but that was back on the 27th July so I'm not holding my breath.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. I really would love one of those Millteks, but just don't have that kind of cash at the moment - one day maybe!

One thing I did note while trying to find the original part, is that it might actually be stainless steel underneath. I had assumed it was just some sort of chromed alloy. If that's the case, I might be able to have them dechromed back to SS, then polished or something. That can't cost too much and then keeps it as factory standard as possible.

https://store.audi.co.uk/single-lef...trim-for-audi-a4-and-a5-models-8w0071762.html
 
I expect you can have the chrome removed in a acid bath, I guess the fact that the chrome pits from the exhaust acids demonstrates it is plated, then a powder or ceramic coat could be applied. I remember reading about a S3 owner who did this...
 
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cuke2u said:
I expect you can have the chrome removed in a acid bath, I guess the fact that the chrome pits from the exhaust acids demonstrates it is plated, then a powder or ceramic coat could be applied. I remember reading about a S3 owner who did this...
Click to expand...

Excellent, cheers @cuke2u, I will investigate this.
 
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Any update on this or anyone else having issues?

My S4 is 4 months old and I keep it clean regularly with particular attention to the exhaust tips, always cleaning and polishing with autosol, however noticed on the last clean the chrome plating is starting to pit badly!

Had this on my S3 and disappointed it’s happening again.

Seems pointless getting replaced as likely to happen again, what are the options in getting these re-plated to something that won’t become pitted?

I’m interested in an aftermarket exhaust but seen few options and although something a bit louder would be nice I don’t want to go too much beyond stock sound and the tips to look fairly OEM.
 
Anyone thought about or done black chrome tips?...

8625E8E1 C851 4077 AF33 7B7AF501411B
 
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Mine were already looking a bit pitted and like they’re about to start chipping when I took it off for the Milltek. Not great after no more than a couple months of ownership.

As for swapping the tips, they’re all welded on in multiple points and the pipe diameters aren’t all the same so it makes it a pain for trying to buy a bunch of aftermarket tips to put on...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Daggerit said:
Mine were already looking a bit pitted and like they’re about to start chipping when I took it off for the Milltek. Not great after no more than a couple months of ownership.

As for swapping the tips, they’re all welded on in multiple points and the pipe diameters aren’t all the same so it makes it a pain for trying to buy a bunch of aftermarket tips to put on...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Yeah it’s a pretty poor show!

I’m booked in tomorrow with Audi as I’m not happy at all and want this noted, whether there’s a re-call or known issue I’m sure they’ll just put down to wear and tear but after just 4 months this is bad!

I was thinking more on the lines of getting them re-chromed in a dark chrome rather than after market tips or just a whole new exhaust...but not sure I want the expense of the latter just yet.
 
......errrrrr! I actually hate quad tips. When under the back, doing the valve tweak, I looked to investigate an alternative to the quads and am sure the tips are welded on to the pipe, both top & bottom. This is easy for Audi, of course, because in production the whole drivetrain, incl. exhaust is lifted up under the complete body. Hence, may not be possible to remove the tips whilst the exhaust system is still on the vehicle??
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/724337-S4-quot-active-exhaust-quot

Rik00073,- Yes, and SWMBO says, particularly with BE's, the black should be satin (cerakote), gloss is too 'loud' and matte is to 'dirty'. Also that tip will probably require muffler replacement with a single centre out style.
 
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Yes my Audi dealer also mentioned that the tips are welded and if replaced would be the whole back end of the exhaust system!

However they advised the part would need to be ordered from Germany and to send them some photos of the tips, so seems open to consider the claim?

However, seems I’d only have the same issue months down the line as I’ve taken good care of the chrome tips since ownership so not much more I can do to prevent the pitting/flaking?
 
Unfortunately not much can be done about the effects the acids contained within the exhaust emission have upon Chrome plate and even if they are replaced they will pit all over again. This has been a subject debated time and time again without any resolution within Audi forums. It might be that Audi should be better off not chrome plating the tail pipes and leave them to go black and rust like other, cheaper, brands do...
 
cuke2u said:
Unfortunately not much can be done about the effects the acids contained within the exhaust emission have upon Chrome plate and even if they are replaced they will pit all over again. This has been a subject debated time and time again without any resolution within Audi forums. It might be that Audi should be better off not chrome plating the tail pipes and leave them to go black and rust like other, cheaper, brands do...
Click to expand...
It’s annoying and disappointing to say the least, my 5 year old Golf Gti Edition 30’s pipes were as good as new when I sold that as were the pipes on the SEAT Leon FR I traded in for my S3, this also suffered the pitting...poor show Audi!

Enquiry put in with my local Milltek supplier.
 
Riko0073 said:
Yes my Audi dealer also mentioned that the tips are welded and if replaced would be the whole back end of the exhaust system!
Click to expand...
...and how idiotic is that!!!!
Not cost effective if Audi has to replace tips on a number of vehicles.
It's an Audi, so why not some quality eg. polished stainless steel.
 
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SMI77 said:
...and how idiotic is that!!!!
Not cost effective if Audi has to replace tips on a number of vehicles.
It's an Audi, so why not some quality eg. polished stainless steel.
Click to expand...
Yep agreed.
 
Riko0073 said:
It’s annoying and disappointing to say the least, my 5 year old Golf Gti Edition 30’s pipes were as good as new when I sold that as were the pipes on the SEAT Leon FR I traded in for my S3, this also suffered the pitting...poor show Audi!

Enquiry put in with my local Milltek supplier.
Click to expand...
I can't speak for otther experiences, but Audi's are not alone with the acids produced by car exhausts causing corrosion. This is a chemical reaction and can't be altered and Chrome is particulary susceptible. Some of the pollutants can actually be increased by efforts to reduce other ones, and very short journey's where liquids cannot not be evaporated by a hot exhaust..
Experiences from a merc owner http://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/chrome-exhausts-and-diesels.72710/
BMW owner http://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=70989
 
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So my local dealer have just advised...

We have ordered in the tailpipes and awaiting delivery of the parts, once we receive the parts we will contact you and have the vehicle scheduled into the workshop.

So they have accepted the warranty claim for the pitted pipes so great result, however I’ll probably have the same issue a few months down the line!

Very impressed with Norwich Audi though and their reaction to my complaint.
 
It's a very good, if not unusual, result. Although the new ones will very quickly go the same way as the old...
 
cuke2u said:
It's a very good, if not unusual, result. Although the new ones will very quickly go the same way as the old...
Click to expand...
Yes agreed, I’ll just have to wipe them over more regularly between washes I guess!
 
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So S4 in with Audi today to get the rear section of exhaust replaced under warranty.

Such a waste of money for Audi really and shame the tips can’t be removed or actually use better materials in the first place!

Will see how long these tips last but I’m probably going to be obsessing over them even more than I do now!

Again we’ll done Norwich Audi as can’t fault their service so far.

Nice new Q5 2.0 Diesel as courtesy car to chug around in today.
 
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Chrome tips on my 2.0 TFSI are also looking like they are pitting so not exclusive to the S4 but not all that surprised as I'd not cleaned them for 5 months.

Ages ago I had a replacement exhaust rear section on a Merc CLK after being rear-ended and it had decorative chrome tips whereas the original didn't. They were attached with a screw but the metal around the screw would crack due to heat expansion of the exhaust and cause the chrome tip to fall off - can you imagine someone innocently jettisoning one of those at you on the motorway? Probably a good thing the Audi ones are properly welded on.
 
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cuke2u said:
Just a thought, ECS do exhaust tips for the A4 B9 https://www.ecstuning.com/News/Audi...=JRiggsbee&utm_campaign=audi_b9tips_1_26_2018 They state the original ones are clamped in place.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about other B9 models, but I can guarantee that the S4 versions are welded in approx. 20mm long sections in multiple positions so there's no way this would work for it. My B8.5 3.0tdi also had them welded on in the same fashion. I don't know if Others have different mounting methods but I don't recall ever seeing an Audi exhaust tip that was clamped rather than welded on.

EDIT: I'll also add that not all of the outlet pipes are the same diameter (they're actually oval) under the chrome trims on the S4 either, making doing something like this even less of a possibility unfortunately.
 
In fact ECS don't list tips for the S4/S5 on that page I linked to, I was thinking more for us humble A4 owners..
 
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cuke2u said:
In fact ECS don't list tips for the S4/S5 on that page I linked to, I was thinking more for us humble A4 owners..
Click to expand...

Gotcha! I can't comment on them specifically because I've not seen them. I don't know if someone is willing to poke their head under the car and take some photos to find out how exactly they're mounted?
 
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