Rust on Approved Used car
Discussion
Recently picked up a G31 and after the first wash I noticed corrosion on the tailgate, in the corners where the glass hatch shuts. Dealership are refusing to do anything about it. It's a 2018, 66k miles in great condition overall. I appreciate it's not a new car, and i accept stonechips but rust?! Surely this isn't right for an Approved Used car from a main dealer?
I'd welcome input on this. The dealership has also messed up two attempts at refurbing the wheels to a decent standard and both times they've come back with corrosion still present, and most recently the wheels haven't been balanced correctly.
I'm absolutely gutted tbh. First purchase from a main dealer and the most I've ever spent on a car. Had exactly the same issue on a 7yr old E39 Touring back in the day and the dealer rectified it without hesitation.
TIA
I'd welcome input on this. The dealership has also messed up two attempts at refurbing the wheels to a decent standard and both times they've come back with corrosion still present, and most recently the wheels haven't been balanced correctly.
I'm absolutely gutted tbh. First purchase from a main dealer and the most I've ever spent on a car. Had exactly the same issue on a 7yr old E39 Touring back in the day and the dealer rectified it without hesitation.
TIA
That is completely unacceptable! BMW have a 12 year anti corrosion warranty, and clearly the location of this rust cannot be due to stone chips, so a faulty preparation.
Stand your ground, and have it repaired by them or reject the car - also taking into account the farce of them repairing your wheels.
Stand your ground, and have it repaired by them or reject the car - also taking into account the farce of them repairing your wheels.
When I saw the post I assumed F10 with the door corrosion. Interesting to see similar corrosion on a G model. Wonder if it's common, or if not common to this model perhaps is accident damage.
Either way I'd expect a dealer to repair without hesitation, considering it's a recent purchase.
Either way I'd expect a dealer to repair without hesitation, considering it's a recent purchase.
The dealer won't do jack about that I'm afraid, because........
I don't think 'good will' exists anymore, but you could try the nicey nicey approach first. What you said in your first post about it being your most expensive car to date and you feel upset by it and let down by the brand might oil some sympathy wheels.
It is piss poor imo, but get it sanded back and painted over asap before it spreads and you'll quickly move on from it.
BMW's super duper amazing 12 year anti corrosion warranty wording said:
All new BMW cars registered from 1st January 2004 are covered by a 12-year anti-corrosion Warranty against perforation by rust.
The Warranty does not cover corrosion caused by neglect, accident damage, stone chips or other external influences.
If pushed, they will simply say "Well it's not perforated and we don't know what external influence caused it".The Warranty does not cover corrosion caused by neglect, accident damage, stone chips or other external influences.
I don't think 'good will' exists anymore, but you could try the nicey nicey approach first. What you said in your first post about it being your most expensive car to date and you feel upset by it and let down by the brand might oil some sympathy wheels.
It is piss poor imo, but get it sanded back and painted over asap before it spreads and you'll quickly move on from it.
Sad state of affairs isn’t it.
This is the response I got:
“This is something that wouldn’t be covered – this falls under age related marks as the car is 6 years old and over 60,000 miles.
On a case where this wouldn’t be acceptable would be on a car that is 6 months old and done 5000 miles.”
Honestly I think it’s outrageous, I am lost for words. £27k I paid for that car…
This is the response I got:
“This is something that wouldn’t be covered – this falls under age related marks as the car is 6 years old and over 60,000 miles.
On a case where this wouldn’t be acceptable would be on a car that is 6 months old and done 5000 miles.”
Honestly I think it’s outrageous, I am lost for words. £27k I paid for that car…
My Dec 2013 F30 had the rear arches repaired under warranty in 2023 because of the paint bubbling. Earlier this year they replaced the front wings because of the same issue. All done without any quibbling from the BMW repair centre. I managed to spot the bubbling early on so it was clearly not caused by stone chips etc. From my experience, if the paintwork is all original I’m surprised they are being so stubborn?!
If OP likes the car I'd try another dealer. Had my F10 repaired under warranty but it took some effort as both sets of dealers were liars and tried to tell me the car had had paint as the thickness was too high. I got another assessment which showed it was spot on, asked one of the dealers to show me what thickness the paint was, they obliged, and miraculously the paint was ok. No explanation except perhaps batteries were faulty (bs). Then it took about 3 months of emails and chasing before it was done. Got a hire car.
Contrast that hassle to the e46 boot floor I had done, at nearly 10 years old and 107k miles. One of those same dealers took the car,inspected, got repair approved and had me a hire car for a week.
BMW not what the used to be.
Contrast that hassle to the e46 boot floor I had done, at nearly 10 years old and 107k miles. One of those same dealers took the car,inspected, got repair approved and had me a hire car for a week.
BMW not what the used to be.
Don’t bother with the dealer principal. Straight to BMW Warranty Customer Service. The dealer has had their chance.
Posted it before but I had a problem with a window regulator in a Golf. Told by the service receptionist that the warranty had been declined by VW. I rang CS and there was no record of the claim. A very short and one sided conversation ensued and the car stayed at the dealer and was fixed that day.
I can only assume that as they could have charged me more for the job than VW, they took a chance and failed.
Posted it before but I had a problem with a window regulator in a Golf. Told by the service receptionist that the warranty had been declined by VW. I rang CS and there was no record of the claim. A very short and one sided conversation ensued and the car stayed at the dealer and was fixed that day.
I can only assume that as they could have charged me more for the job than VW, they took a chance and failed.
flight147z said:
On the wheels - assume they are diamond cut? If they are give up on the refurb and just powder coat. Diamond cut wheels look great brand new but deteriorate and it's a losing battle trying to bring them back to new
They are indeed diamond cut. I know they are a bit of a liability in terms of life expectancy but this is how they came back to me after the second refurb (within a few weeks of each other) after I had specifically pointed out corrosion behind the spokes...All signed off by the bodyshop manager apparently, along with the rust on the tailgate
flight147z said:
On the wheels - assume they are diamond cut? If they are give up on the refurb and just powder coat. Diamond cut wheels look great brand new but deteriorate and it's a losing battle trying to bring them back to new
Agreed. Diamond cut is a terrible idea for wheels and will always corrode and you only have a few refurbs before they won’t cut any more then it’s a one colour powder coat or paint finish….my 22inch Rangie wheels need doing now and they can’t do another cut. Not kerbed just corrodedsortedcossie said:
my experience of BMW wheel refurb is that they don't refurb, they reface the face of the wheel and re-lacquer. They won't have had them dipped and stripped back.
I was told they were being acid-dipped this time! Had to go to a specialist refurb place for second visit as the first place said they couldn't be cut again APPARENTLY 
bramley said:
Sad state of affairs isn’t it.
This is the response I got:
“This is something that wouldn’t be covered – this falls under age related marks as the car is 6 years old and over 60,000 miles.
On a case where this wouldn’t be acceptable would be on a car that is 6 months old and done 5000 miles.”
Honestly I think it’s outrageous, I am lost for words. £27k I paid for that car…
That isn't an age related mark, it's corrosion! Marks rub off, corrosion doesn't. Was this person a moron or something? It isn't acceptable at any point during the 12 year "Anti corrosion" warranty, let alone 6 months/5000 miles, but as with most warranties, it's always a fight isn't it. This is the response I got:
“This is something that wouldn’t be covered – this falls under age related marks as the car is 6 years old and over 60,000 miles.
On a case where this wouldn’t be acceptable would be on a car that is 6 months old and done 5000 miles.”
Honestly I think it’s outrageous, I am lost for words. £27k I paid for that car…
Honestly, dealers really are useless, incompetent and indifferent, which is why I never go anywhere near them unless a recall forces me to.
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