Rusting wheel arches and stone chips

clockwork.satan

clockwork.satan

clockwork.satan

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Joined
22 Jul 2015
Posts
325
Location
Edinburgh, Scotland
Hey guys,

I've got a 2006 Audi A4 S-Line which has infuriatingly started to develop rust bubbles around the wheel arches and there are a few other bits and bobs that have started to appear around stone chips that were touched-up a while back.

I'm trying to save some money by not putting it into a body shop or something to get it done professionally and have looked at some youtube vids to see how to do it myself, but the thought of doing this still makes me nervous as the car is a fairly unusual shade of metallic red - and I worry that it will be difficult to do without the painted area standing out like a sore thumb.

Have any of you done rust and repair jobs yourselves - how easy is it to do? Or could you recommend some (cheap-ish) companies that could do it for me?

I'm looking to trade the car in at some point over the coming year so want it looking good so I get maximum trade in!
 
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trade it before it gets any worse, like you said it will be a hard color to match if you do it your self, and if you pay someone, it would cost more than its worth
 
Haze said:
trade it before it gets any worse, like you said it will be a hard color to match if you do it your self, and if you pay someone, it would cost more than its worth
Click to expand...

I'd love to, but It's going to have to wait 6 months at least as I've got other stuff I'm trying to hack away at paying off before taking on another finance agreement. I suppose a trade-in is a trade-in and since it's an Audi which (other than the rust) is in great condition I should still get a couple of grand for it.
 
A decent 2006 A4 must be, what, 3-4k? You're probably looking at a couple of hundred quid to do smart repair type job, you could have the whole bloody car resprayed and only have spent half of what its worth! Some of the "advice" around here is comical at times.
 
This is a problem on a lot of cars. It happened to my Focus ST as well. Luckily Ford put plastic trim over the worst trouble spots on the current Fiesta ST.

Only way to fix it properly is take it down to bare metal and respray it before rusts right through. Then protect it with something (vinyl wrap maybe) :/
 
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If you're looking to trade in do you really think the money spent now you would get back on trade in?

Paint doesn't cure rust, its probably more work than you think.
 
My Evo is in for similar at the moment.

image_zpsvszizbch.jpeg


image_zpsk4sq6mqq.jpeg


The body shop is doing all the inside of the arch and the door sills and matching the rear door and wing. It's costing £600 but my car is worth about £12k and that's it done. I'm getting some clear vinyl type stuff to cover the areas too which should help.
 
Evo8 said:
My Evo is in for similar at the moment.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/YarisPower/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsvszizbch.jpeg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/YarisPower/Mobile Uploads/image_zpsk4sq6mqq.jpeg

The body shop is doing all the inside of the arch and the door sills and matching the rear door and wing. It's costing £600 but my car is worth about £12k and that's it done. I'm getting some clear vinyl type stuff to cover the areas too which should help.
Click to expand...

That's bad - I'd want the old arches cutting out and new ones welding in to sort that. A rub down, even to bare metal, and respray will just see it back in a year, unless you can find an old guy good at lead filling.
 
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I fully trust the place that's doing it and I'll be sure to report back and get some pictures up. I suggested new arches and the guy said it's not necessary.

I'm going to get some clear film to try and protect they areas in the future. I could get mud flaps but I'm not a fan.
 
I had some bubbles appear on my '55 A3 wheel arch. Audi didn't cover the whole cost but gave me 70% off. Came to £120 iirc, with courtesy car too.
 
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