S4 front wheel arch paint problem

[magrillz]

Hi all,

Been a while since I've posted. Had a baby boy 17 months a go and strangely time seems to fly

Anyway, noticed when I bought my car that some of the pint was coming away from the inner front wheel arch area and always thought I would get t sorted one day but it was nothing major. Gradually this got worse and worse and started to work its way around the side of the lower wheel arch and even paint on the sill started to peel off.

I took the car to my local Audi dealer who measured the paint and informed me that the paint was thinner around the lower wheel arches indicating that the car may have had paintwork done at some point but that they couldn't be sure. I was 99% sure the car has not hd any paintwork done so they said I could take the car to Listers Bodyshop in Coventry as obviously they were the paint specialists.

So took the car over after booking in for a warranty check appointment and the chap advised it didn't matter that the paint was thinner in the lower area of the wings and this is quite common or normal. He then said that was not the cause of my problem and he was confident there was an issue that would be covered under good will from VAG. A few phone calls later and he confirmed I would get 100% good will for two new wings, a modification behind the wheel arch liners to avoid it happening again and both sills rubbed back down and re treated and painted.

Car went it for a week and worked completed. Really pleased I bothered to ask and thought I would let you guys know in case anyone else has the problem and is wondering what to do.

They said it's not a common problem however I'm sure a few of the 2009 and 2010 cars may have been affected from looking around on the net.

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos before but I'm sure you will know if you are affected as paint was litereLly flaking off if you rubbed it with your finger.

Cheers

 

[rum4mo]

I'd be interested in what your interpretation of "modification behind the wheel arch liners" was - just in case I need to do something.

 

[magrillz]

I'd be interested in what your interpretation of "modification behind the wheel arch liners" was - just in case I need to do something.

Hi mate, they were very vague to be honest, I tried to quiz them more and they said something about water building up behind the wheel arch somewhere so there was a modification which involved replacing some rusted bolts with a new style and re painting the area behind the wheel arch liner which obviously I will never see but still needed to be done. I'm sure he mentioned a block that acts as either a guide or mounting point which may have been retaining water as well. Very difficult to get exact details as I was always dealing with front of house who whilst very helpful don't seem 100% in the know and also I get the impression not many customers ask that many questions.

Will dig out the receipt to see if it mentions any more

 

[ub7rm]

Sounds like the same issue as my old mk5 golf had!

 

[rum4mo]

Also the 9N Polo, same Ibiza and Fabia, I would have thought that Audi would either "not have gone there" design wise, or there was some other issue as that issue I mentioned with the 2001> Polo, did not just happen just yesterday! ( if the truth is told, I knew nothing about that issue or find it caused any issues with wife's old late 2002 Polo over its time with us, ie late 2002 until August last year - though it was mentioned in Ibiza forum and I did not frequent VW dealer much with that Polo as it was a personal import.

Edit:- I have to say the smart money is on "having a look" behind the wheel arch liners as I'd rather stop any issues arising as opposed to getting Audi to cover it up FOC. If this is a possible issue, Audi should be reworking these cars when they next come into the workshop, as I think VW did for all its Polos that were still "in the dealership service loop".

 

[ub7rm]

Yes, you would have thought lessons would have been learned a long time ago. In fairness VW fixed my arches no questions asked and the modification was to remove a foam block that sits behind the arch and acts as a sponge to keep the area wet.

Making a mistake isn't stupid, stupidity is to keep repeating that mistake!

 

[benjie]

They are a filthy bunch of liars... it's common. Very common. That's why the 2012-on cars had a plastic cover over the rear part of the wheel arch. I bought them and had them put on my car after my flaking paint was repaired.

 

[GAS MONKEY]

Got any picks or part numbers bud ?

 

[benjie]

I haven't sorry, I just went to my dealer and he knew what I was talking about. I had them fitted by the body shop that repaired the paintwork and he said one little bit needed cutting off.

 

[GAS MONKEY]

Will ask next time I am in dealers, had a few guy telling me about this issue one guy told me he had 5 A4s over the years all went the same way ?
Thanks for the reply will look in to it

 

[JamesJ1974.]

Hi,

I found your S4 wheel arch paint thread on here as I have the same problem with my Advant Dynamik 2011 model. After reading your post I got in touch with Audi and they are happy to replace both of the front wings.

However I noticed that your Audi dealer put on "a modification behind the wheel arch liners to avoid it happening again", this is my problem, Audi in Crewe do not know what this is and have asked me to find out a part number? I dont suppose you know what they put on your car or ideally a part number?

Thanks, James

 

[benjie]

Hi James - The part numbers are 8K0 853 823 and 8K0 853 824, the product description is "Stoneguard.". Just go and look at a B8.5 (facelift around 2012) in the showroom and you will see a little plastic thing on the back of the arch behind the front wheels.

 

[benjie]

I didn't really look at them before they were fitted, but the body shop that fitted it for me said they had to modify it a little to fit, I think it was because there weren't some holes in my wheel arch lines for some clips to pop into so they cut them off..

 

[JamesJ1974.]

Thanks thats great I have relayed the information to Audi!

 

[benjie]

Cool, good luck! I can provide a picture if needed.

 

[magrillz]

Hiya, sorry for late reply, baby number two arrived on Tuesday so been an interesting week! They didn't fit the plastic liner as found on the B8.5. I asked about this but they claimed this was not the problem that it was to do with water build up behind the arches.
The body shop was Listers Coventry tel - 02476630300. Job no - 39239
The details on the job sheet are:
Prepared two new wings and sill mouldings. Take sills back to sound substrate and treat corroded areas. Secure threaded pins to wheel arch. Paint sills and new wings. Fit and align new wings. Modify foam blocks and arch liners. Apply wax protection.

It was the foam block mofication they seemed to think made the difference as the old ones were retaining water.
Don't know if you want to try ringing them to find out more. If they won't speak to you let me know and I'll try ringing them, just a bit crazy here at the mo with the new addition to the family

 

[rum4mo]

Ah, so it was these water deflectors that were being discussed, I reacted and bought them "at the time" - but they are still waiting to get glued/fixed to the wings, the locating raised pillars have been chopped off!

Maybe I need to get in there and see what the foam blocks need cutting away - some time.

 

[JamesJ1974.]

Okay so I got my car back from Audi yesterday. It has had 2 new wings and they have been painted beautifully, however after some head scratching I decided against have the face-lift model wheel arch protectors (8K0 853 823 and 8K0 853 824) fitted as they require two drill holes each side to fit them properly and it would void the 3 year new paint warranty. Shame as the paint will probably just chip off again in time, maybe even worse as its not factory paint? It has left me wondering whether I should get some paint protection film now while the paint is perfect? such as - http://www.premierpaintguard.co.uk/ have any of you guys ever used it?

By the way thanks for the original post Magrillz!!

 

[Meemo]

Okay so I got my car back from Audi yesterday. It has had 2 new wings and they have been painted beautifully, however after some head scratching I decided against have the face-lift model wheel arch protectors (8K0 853 823 and 8K0 853 824) fitted as they require two drill holes each side to fit them properly and it would void the 3 year new paint warranty. Shame as the paint will probably just chip off again in time, maybe even worse as its not factory paint? It has left me wondering whether I should get some paint protection film now while the paint is perfect? such as - http://www.premierpaintguard.co.uk/ have any of you guys ever used it?

By the way thanks for the original post Magrillz!!

I havent go that brand of clear wrap, but i do have 3m VentureShield on the front bumper which has self healing properties, plenty of places fit it. Had it fitted as after I had the bumper resprayed professionally, all my paint was covered in white stone chips just 2 months later, so had it sprayed again, left it a month to cure and then had the clear wrap, very pleased with it and glad to not have stone chips After market paint job I had done did not hold up well to british roads.