Perhaps a bit late given the age of our Mk1 Superb cars, but washing and waxing the car throughout at least twice a year (just before and just after the salted road season, also known as "winter" :p ) does help reduce bodywork corrosion.

 

While a lot bad has been said about automated car washes, the tunnel/conveyer ones coat also underbody in thin layer of wax/polymer (usually under heading "ultimate wax" or whatever). Considering the cost of car, it is a lot of protection for the money (usually under a tenner), not to mention most of leftover road salt gets removed during underbody wash.

 

After 8 years, my Superb has no corrosion on the bodywork, but I have been (successfully) fighting corrosion of just about everything else underneath the car and in the engine bay with multiple salvos of zinc spray cans. Zinc spray is easy to apply and protects very well, when it wears out you can top it up with very little effort. 

Edited 8 August, 201411 yr by dieselV6

I am not the original purchaser either, and I don't even have the car serviced at dealership.

Find a dealer with their own bodyshop would be my advice as they have some interest in performing the work.

Should be picking mine up (at last) tomorrow.  It has been away almost 4 weeks now...!

Got the car back today.  Paint is a pretty good match, new wings, boot and door.  Everything seems to work.  The bonnet release was a bit sticky - turns out the A-pillar plastic trim on the inside of the car wasn't clipped back on properly, and was fouling on the release handle.  Good result all told for a free warranty paint job on a 9 year old car.  

 

Glad to have the old girl back

G'awd bless 'er and all who sail in her! 

 

You can presumably post up 'after' picks to go with the before ones........  [drums fingers]........

 

Gaz

Here is one of the wings post replace and spray:

The boot after replacement:

 

Various other gratuitous car pron pics

 

Niggles... am I picky considering I just got £2k of free paintwork done?

 

Pretty sure this is the wrong badge (should be a black TDI)...  Is the red one synonymous with the 2.0 of death?

Looks like a tin opener was used to get this trim out (it prys out super easy from below...)

And said tin opener I believe did this too:

 

Anyhow, overall a very positive result.

Looking good Jim - nice gratuitous glam shots 

 

Once upon a time, the red DI denoted it was the 130PD engine, although as we all know these badges come from the VW (Varies Wildly) parts bin. 

 

Gaz

Yeah, I'm just imagining it... the old mind playing tricks.  It looks like the old badge's red had faded in the sunlight - found an old photo.

Old badge:

New badge:

 

So they're off the hook on that count...  Anyhow, very pleased as I say.

Argh... just found the boot release switch on the boot is now broken - has a weird feel to the switch mechanism, neither key position allows it to work.  Looks like I'll be paying a visit then...