Lacquer peeling

tatts

tatts

tatts

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Joined
8 Oct 2005
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1,894
Location
Cumbria
I have a 64 Audi a5 with a bumper that is shedding lacquer. It started in a patch about the size of a 5p before I had 3 patches, one of which now as a stone chip in it.
I took it in to the dealers within a few days and contacted Audi direct only to be told the stone chip would have caused the lacquer to peel so not covered under my bodywork guarantee.

What's my best option here? First I've ever heard or seen of a chip causing this.
 
Take it back to the dealer as it isn't acceptable for the lacquer to peel off.

I take it the other two patches don't have stone chips in them?
 
Worth trying the "don't expect this from a premium brand such as Audi - never had any issues with my xyz brand".
While individual dealerships can be difficult to deal with, the one thing that I noticed during my Audi ownership was that they are keen to maintain their premium brand image.
 
Jokester said:
Take it back to the dealer as it isn't acceptable for the lacquer to peel off.

I take it the other two patches don't have stone chips in them?
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Nope the other patches don't have any stone chips. They are getting bigger too.

Tried the quality brand etc, contacting them direct and got the response (along the lines of) "the technicians at the dealer are qualified to access so we have closed your case"
Paying 36k for a new car, this is the last thing you expect. It's my 3rd new car in 5 years from them too.
 
Stone chips do not cause the lacquer to come off anyway, otherwise every car in the country would have the problem. There is an issue with the finish and you need to speak to the service manager about it.
 
Get a professional Paint outfit to diagnose the issue. Then take report to Audi. Looks like they playing their get out of jail free card by the stone chip.
 
Diagro said:
Get a professional Paint outfit to diagnose the issue. Then take report to Audi. Looks like they playing their get out of jail free card by the stone chip.
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Thanks I'll look in to it

Jokester said:
Able to post pics?
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I'm away at the minute

Finglonga said:
Stone chips do not cause the lacquer to come off anyway, otherwise every car in the country would have the problem. There is an issue with the finish and you need to speak to the service manager about it.
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This is what I thought, I will go back in and ask why all the other cars with stone chips don't have peeling lacquer
 
Dale V said:
They're far from a premium brand, imo.
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Yep, Audis are just a Golf or Passat in a frock these days. I think the era of them being a "premium brand" ended a long time ago. There isn't much between them and a SEAT, except for the interior and body shape. Parts, paint, engine, etc are all the same.

But anyway, I don't think there is a lot you can do to fix the lacquer without re-spraying the whole panel. There's a risk it just wasn't sprayed properly to begin with and will just continue to peel around the area you fix :/
 
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It's good, but I don't think it's the best. I'd probably say Lexus are as good now, Merc are probably better. Both being better in the reliability department as well :p
 
Nasher said:
Yep, Audis are just a Golf or Passat in a frock these days. I think the era of them being a "premium brand" ended a long time ago. There isn't much between them and a SEAT, except for the interior and body shape. Parts, paint, engine, etc are all the same.

But anyway, I don't think there is a lot you can do to fix the lacquer without re-spraying the whole panel. There's a risk it just wasn't sprayed properly to begin with and will just continue to peel around the area you fix :/
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I got rid of a top spec Passat and bmw while having this A5 and I can confirm the Passat is nowhere near the same sorry. From comfort, to build quality to the way it drives, not even close imo. Same with A4 vs Passat but then I don't buy basic models.
 
Diagro said:
Get a professional Paint outfit to diagnose the issue. Then take report to Audi. Looks like they playing their get out of jail free card by the stone chip.
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indeed, laquer peel shouldn't be an issue on any car, i wouldn't expect it on a 17 year old skoda i sure as hell wouldn't expect it on a brand new audi.
 
You get it a lot on dark coloured cars in very dry and sunny places (saw it a lot in Las Vagas). But you wouldn't expect it in the UK on anything except a very old car with poorly maintained paintwork, or a dodgy respray :/
 
Nasher said:
Yep, Audis are just a Golf or Passat in a frock these days. I think the era of them being a "premium brand" ended a long time ago. There isn't much between them and a SEAT, except for the interior and body shape. Parts, paint, engine, etc are all the same.

But anyway, I don't think there is a lot you can do to fix the lacquer without re-spraying the whole panel. There's a risk it just wasn't sprayed properly to begin with and will just continue to peel around the area you fix :/
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They've always been based on some VW or another though, so not sure how their status ended long time ago. They are certainly not a special brand and models like A3 and A4 are not special in anyway, the A6 is a nice car in terms of material quality. But overall a very over rated brand that have convinced everyone that they are premium through clever marketing.
 
lemonade said:
They've always been based on some VW or another though, so not sure how their status ended long time ago. They are certainly not a special brand and models like A3 and A4 are not special in anyway, the A6 is a nice car in terms of material quality. But overall a very over rated brand that have convinced everyone that they are premium through clever marketing.
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What makes a premium brand/car ?

Audi is very good build quality wise, it is not cheap and probably never will be, people see it as premium etc.. so why would say a jaguar be premium compared to Audi?
 
I think it's hard to quantify what premium is, I also think calling a brand as a whole premium is misleading because some of the models in the range can be anything but premium, some rest on previous laurels. Last gen or two 3 series was really iffy car, cheap nasty interior, but still perceived as being premium. In my books it's anything but, go up the range and the cars are premium, as you would expect at those price points.

Also interesting to note, it seems like most discussion over 'premiumness' tends to revolve around interior material quality. What about the rest of the car?
 
grudas said:
What makes a premium brand/car ?

Audi is very good build quality wise, it is not cheap and probably never will be, people see it as premium etc.. so why would say a jaguar be premium compared to Audi?
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They aren't as well built as people think, not the run of the mill models anyway. There are numerous known issues with VAG engines (ignoring the fact they lied about emissions and have to recall them all), overall reliability isn't great on Audis and they rank down near Fiat on the reliability index. They are great at making them look good on the surface with expensive upholstery and bodywork and maintaining their image.

A petrolhead's idea of "premium" is something with solid mechanical and good performance, the interior is just a bonus.
 
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