Walking back to my car today I notice there three round 'orange peel' circles on my offside front door. It looks like a kid playing football has hit my door three times and left a greasy pattern of the ball x 3.

Needless to say I was straight around my local dealer. They just shrugged their shoulders and told me to go to their Bodyshop to get sorted.

I'm sure this has been caused by the hot weather. Should not be happening on a new car.

I noticed this on my 2010 Scout, whilst washing the car a few weeks after I purchased it brand new.

I have to admit, I have not seen it since then, and I wash my car on a weekly basis. I put it down to 'residue' of the protective wax or padding they apply to the car after build, whilst it is in transit!

Fin

I went to the dealerships in house approved bodyshop and they are fobbing me off saying it has been caused by bird poo or 'other contaminants'. I know for a fact it is neither. I truly believe the paint is defective. They were reluctant to send a claim but i insisted they do. Here are some pics.

 

http://s5.photobucket.com/user/b19rak/slideshow/vRS

Thats not great at all, im worried now seeing as i have the same colour. Not noticed any thing yet but will be paying closer inspection from now on. how have you only just noticed was it ok before. I would have noticed areas that big when waxing etc? Is this a recent thing thats just occured?

Thats not great at all, im worried now seeing as i have the same colour. Not noticed any thing yet but will be paying closer inspection from now on. how have you only just noticed was it ok before. I would have noticed areas that big when waxing etc? Is this a recent thing thats just occured?

 

I've only noticed it. I'm sure it wasn't there before. However, its very easy to miss unless your looking for it (3 blotches) or look at it in a certain angle with the sun on it.

Result of a dockside repair? Different paint type./quality changing with age/heat

 

Lots of cars damaged in transit and have repairs before they even reach the dealer.

 

Bird **** wouldn't do that and even it it did it wouldn't be that shape. the damage would be long and thin dropping towards the ground.

Looks like it feels rough?  Looks almost like overspray doesnt it?  Regardless of what it is, teh paint shouldnt be doing that after a short while on a new car, Skoda should sort shouldnt they.

I've only noticed it. I'm sure it wasn't there before. However, its very easy to miss unless your looking for it (3 blotches) or look at it in a certain angle with the sun on it.

 

To be honest if you have your own Elcometer for measuring DFT in microns then i suspect you would have noticed it before now lol.

 

Skoda should sort that regardless. I have a few bird crap patches on the roof of my red car (red is particularly bad at paint wear) and it looks nothing like that. That to me looks like someone has used an airless pot gun to touch up some marks after the factory robots have already painted the car.

Did you have any GuardX or Protective coating applied by the dealer before you collected it?

Loads of new cars have this issue since they stopped using proper paint with nasty chemicals in it.

Loads of new cars have this issue since they stopped using proper paint with nasty chemicals in it.

 

Yep the paint is now water based i think and has low VOC's Thats why you shouldn't use T-cut or any polish with any cut in it.

Hi the 'in house approved body shop' are basically blaming me saying its bird **** or someone has rubbed up against it and/or put chemicals on it. I'm just waiting for the official response from Skoda before i kick off. Your help would be appreciated with regards to who and how i speak to if its not covered.

 

The whole point of buying a brand new car was for no hassle. If they do not repair this i will not be buying another Skoda and i'll make sure they know i'll be telling alot of media sources about. i.e here, Honest John, What Car etc....

Hi the 'in house approved body shop' are basically blaming me saying its bird **** or someone has rubbed up against it and/or put chemicals on it. I'm just waiting for the official response from Skoda before i kick off. Your help would be appreciated with regards to who and how i speak to if its not covered.

 

The whole point of buying a brand new car was for no hassle. If they do not repair this i will not be buying another Skoda and i'll make sure they know i'll be telling alot of media sources about. i.e here, Honest John, What Car etc....

 

I don't think skoda is the problem but your dealer might be a problem , Who is it name and shame!

Just tell them your taking it to a paint specialist to have it independently assessed then when its found to be defective paintwork your going to give them the bill. The threat of this will usually be enough to start taking you seriously. Its a double edged sword though because if their incompetent at anything other than selling cars (example rainworth motors) your car might come back in a much worse state than it went in with. These dealerships are franchises and are completely autonomous and Skoda HQ have no real power over them or the level of service they provide.

 

Out of interest whats your normal wash / wax routine try listing products as that might help diagnose. have you used any tar spot or bird poo removal liquids for example as some of these may only work on old style paint and may be an issue on new paint. Its odd that it seams localised in circular patches. Has anyone tried a claybar on the area to see if it is some contaminant that its been splashed with and is just stuck to the surface.

I don't think skoda is the problem but your dealer might be a problem , Who is it name and shame!

Just tell them your taking it to a paint specialist to have it independently assessed then when its found to be defective paintwork your going to give them the bill. The threat of this will usually be enough to start taking you seriously. Its a double edged sword though because if their incompetent at anything other than selling cars (example rainworth motors) your car might come back in a much worse state than it went in with. These dealerships are franchises and are completely autonomous and Skoda HQ have no real power over them or the level of service they provide.

 

Out of interest whats your normal wash / wax routine try listing products as that might help diagnose. have you used any tar spot or bird poo removal liquids for example as some of these may only work on old style paint and may be an issue on new paint. Its odd that it seams localised in circular patches. Has anyone tried a claybar on the area to see if it is some contaminant that its been splashed with and is just stuck to the surface.

 

This is the think, i get the feeling the dealer (bodyshop) is the problem. They told me in the report they will send to Skoda they will state it is a contaminant (caused by **** or oil/grease etc). they expect Skoda will decline to repair it. It's Listers Bodyshop Coventry BTW.

I had every intention of taking it to a paint shop for a second opinion.

 

Do i tell the Listers Bodyshop or Skoda that  it has been independently assessed and found to be defective paintwork?

 

I am no detailer but it gets washed with Simonz car wash from Costco. Never been clay bar'd and never had any accidents/paint repair.

This is the think, i get the feeling the dealer (bodyshop) is the problem. They told me in the report they will send to Skoda they will state it is a contaminant (caused by **** or oil/grease etc). they expect Skoda will decline to repair it. It's Listers Bodyshop Coventry BTW.

I had every intention of taking it to a paint shop for a second opinion.

 

Do i tell the Listers Bodyshop or Skoda that  it has been independently assessed and found to be defective paintwork?

 

I am no detailer but it gets washed with Simonz car wash from Costco. Never been clay bar'd and never had any accidents/paint repair.

 

Well im no brand snob and i can't imagine simoniz shampoo has anything in that would damage the paint. I was just checking to make sure you dont machine polish with something thats got a cutting agent in it. Clay bar wont harm your paint either as long as it not used incorrectly its like blue tack and basically lifts all the contaminants off the surface of the paint no pressure is required just a light rub. I thought it might be worth a go on the area to see if it feels different and if its some sort of clear contaminant thats stuck on the paint.

 

It could be something as simple as a chemical spill that someone has driven through and splashed it up the side of the car. Its a difficult one i think paint usually stays the same once it has cured i have never seen it change like this. If it was a defect i would have expected it to be visible from new so i can sympathise a little with the dealer in someway, although seeing as you purchased a new car from them i would have just expected them to take it on the chin and get Skoda to foot the bill as theres is no way i can think of that they can prove bird crap has caused it. And i would argue it should be resistant to the elements to a certain degree.

Should I take the independant report to the dealer, their bodyshop handling the claim or Skoda direct?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Should I take the independant report to the dealer, their bodyshop handling the claim or Skoda direct?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

depends on if its favourable or not i'd give your dealer first chance and if you get nowhere persue Skoda UK.

Did not have the protection applied. It's crap, I used to be a car sales exec.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Did not have the protection applied. It's crap, I used to be a car sales exec.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

Yeah I know but if they didn't apply it properly It can pool in areas and look like that or cloudy but im sure that's a paint defect or damage of some sort.

Is it possible the same bodyshop repaired it before you collected the car due to damage.

Want me to have a look on Sunday if you are going to the National meet?

Take PDG readings around the panel inc the defective area. That reading of 132 is quite normal so would say to me its not had a smart repair. Is the hazing in the clearcoat?

132 is a ilttle on the thin side in my experience.  Most VAG machines I have measured have been around 200 +/- 20 microns, when there has been no work done.

Update: I took my car to my trusted bodyshop bloke in Coventry. He agreed it was a contaminant, he asked me if the Listers Bodyshop guys had polished it to which i said no. Three of them just looked at it for 30 mins scratching their heads. He then quickly whipped it into the bodyshop. He got some wet and dry, went over the blemishes, then polished them out using some cutting paste with two different pads. Hey Presto, perfect paint work again. He said the top layer of laquer had been contaminated but easily could be easily polished out.

 

Listers Approved Bodyshop, Coventry. You really are a bunch of incompetents. 

Def fire off a letter and cc Skoda.