Rust Spots On Bonnet

[simcom]

I have a metallic black C1 which is 8 months old and covered 4000 miles.

After cleaning I noticed there are about 8 tiny rust spots developing on the front of the bonnet.

Surely this can't be right on a car of this age.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

[Trotsky]

The C1's bonnet design is very vulnerable to stone chips with most of the curved surface exposed to the "firing line" of debris & with the winter salts the rust may have appeared more quickly if chipped.

 

Do they appear to be chips, or forming from beneath without any damage visible to the top paint coat ?

[techbod]

this is a doggy one ( can you claim against the warranty? NO ) its stone chips and all cars suffer from that but when you have warranty work done they should sort it without question while its under warranty as its there job and you will notice that when they add to the invoice ( pen stick ) to you and me that's a touch up paint <_<

[downsman]

I've just checked my bonnet, and I've got a chip which needs touching up, but hasn't rusted yet.

 

We've done 5000 miles, so you're unlucky to have so many. It may be that you are doing more motorway driving than me.

 

I suppose it might be worth getting some of that self adhesive protective film fitted to the bonnet.

[techbod]

clear bra as its called yank term? and not withstanding the warranty even though its very good but costly

[simcom]

Yes, all my driving is on the motorway but my 2 previous cars were a Ford and a Hyundai and I kept them both for 11 years and 100 000 miles and they suffered no such rust problems.

If I used to get a stone chip on these then the top layer of paint came off but the white bottom layer always remained so no rust ever developed.

I wonder if the C1 does not have the same kind of base coat protection.

Saying that the top layer of paint does not appear to have chipped off but I suppose the damage could be pin prick size which still allows the water in.

All the spots are on the curved surface at the front of the bonnet.

I'm going to see what the dealer says next week.

[techbod]

if the stone chip isn't dealt with and its metallic paint the chances are it will get behind the lacquer and lift it causing even more unsightly problems

[Trotsky]

A brief warning about Citroen's own touch up paint. The bright red dries to a darker crimson and stands out as a poor match.

Don't know about the other colours and how well they blend in.

 

It may have been a bad batch but an aftermarket paint would be a first choice for the red C1's.

[downsman]

Shame I didn't read this earlier, I've just bought some from Citroen :(

 

Having said that I didn't expect much of a match, because our metallic blue Berlingo touch up is an awful match as well!

[Martin_1973_uk]

I got the Halfords own for the silver C1 and it worked out ok. Better than leaving it as exposed metal rusts very quickly.

[ColinC1]

I have driven 18,000 miles in two and a half years and only have had one small chip on the bonnet.

 

I always check after each wash, and i fixed this double quick with a touchup paint before rust sets in, then used T-cut a few days later to blend it in.

 

My C1 red touchup paint stick bought when I purchaced car, was a perfect match... part 9993.45 rouge scarlet

 

As said above the C1 bonnet shape is very prone to stone chipping.

 

So why so few chips on my bonnet you ask ?

 

Well this is a standard question and answer for complaints about bonnet chipping, which is usually true in most cases.

 

OK, here is the answer and I have done more years of driving than I care to mention, so I know what i am talking about here.....I keep well back from the car in front.

 

90% of bonnet stone chipping is due to driving too close to the car in front, the other 10% is just unlucky sideways arc hits, not due to your own fault.

 

I am not saying that you are a close up driver, you have likely just been unlucky (don't want an argument), but the majority of chips are due to coming off the car in fronts back wheels and arcing over to owners car. Same goes for windscreen damage by flying chips.

 

ever seen a reps car after two years, I rest my case :rolleyes:

[downsman]

Good point Colin, being closer must make chips more likely.

 

It can happen further back though as you say. I was driving a Westfield some years back, and was on a newly laid road, so I dropped well back from the car in front. Suddenly, I saw a stone flick up about 30 feet high, and thought I'd get under it. As I got closer it dropped down, and I ducked. It hit the roll bar just behind my head and took a chunk out of the powder coating!

[simcom]

Time for an update.

I took my car to the dealer and they took some photos of the offending spots on the bonnet and sent them off to Citroen. They have agreed to respray the bonnet under warranty.

 

I should add here that no paint has chipped off the bonnet so these spots do not look like stone chips, which is why I guess they have agreed to carry out the respray.

 

Well I'm happy for now. I'll report back on the respray in about 3 weeks.

[downsman]

That's good news, I hope they do a good job for you :)

[simcom]

Well I've just got my C1 back after the bonnet respray and it looks like they have done a really good job. Fingers crossed I'll have no further problems with the paintwork.

[Guest Bugsey]

You can get a custom bonnet bra of ebay (black or different colours), cost £69 and i think that includes postage, could put on for motorway use and remove if need be.

:P

 

I have red C1, used citroen touch up kit and colour match spot on.

:angry:

 

Cheers

 

:(