Chemical protection against rust/corrosion

Squawks · 08-09-2006, 10:24 AM

For you guys out there who live in places with heavy snow - is the chemical armor protection (covering the paint, wheel wells, underbody, trunk, etc.) necessary? The dealers are telling me that here in the Northeast the acid rain is bad and on top of that, all the snow/salt during the winter season can cause bad corrosion on the paint and rust under the body of the car. Anything to worry about? Or do you all normally fork out the $900 (the dealer's price) for this 'chemical protection'?

F32Fleet · 08-09-2006, 10:35 AM

DEALER IS FOS!

Almost all cars are warrantied for 10yrs against corrosion. True upstate NY has it's fair share of acid rain, and good regime of applying most car care waxes/polishes will help you maintain the appearence of your car.

Zaino/Klasse etc etc are all great products.

There IS a product marketed under different names (eg 5 Star Shine) that is supposed to provide 5 yrs of "protection". I think the stuff is sold for about $30 and it is probably the same thing you dealer is applying to the car. I have yet to read any real reviews on the stuff since most websites that do product comparisons wouldn't want to compare a product that would last 5yrs against the other products which provide advertising dollars to the websites.

I wonder what the dealer would say if you asked him to warrant in writing that this "chemical protection" will not void any warranties. That would be funny.

Squawks · 08-09-2006, 10:40 AM

Socom - I actually told them about the corrosion warranty - their rebuttal is that the warranty is only valid if the rust/corrosion is so bad that there is actually perforation - e.g. a hole. Otherwise, manufacturers supposedly have no obligation to fix anything.

Josh49 · 08-09-2006, 10:45 AM

I don't even feel like explaining what a load of

that is.

espo · 08-09-2006, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh49

I don't even feel like explaining what a load of

that is.

Keep the car cleaned and waxed with a good sealent and you will have no paint problems for the life of the car.

Do a search on the forum for these "dealer add-ons" and you will notice a couple of key points. These kind of things have about a 80+% profit margin for the dealer. I bet it costs them no more than $50 in materials and labor to apply this "protection" and then they charge you $900!!!

Josh49 · 08-09-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by espo89

Keep the car cleaned and waxed with a good sealent and you will have no paint problems for the life of the car.

Do a search on the forum for these "dealer add-ons" and you will notice a couple of key points. These kind of things have about a 80+% profit margin for the dealer. I bet it costs them no more than $50 in materials and labor to apply this "protection" and then they charge you $900!!!

Why are you calling me stupid then? My argument would have been identical to yours...

I would have said to keep the car waxed, get an underbody blast at a touchless car wash every now and then, and wash off the salt/dirt when possible at a self-serve car wash. By no means pay $900 for absolutely nothing. I would have also called him a dumb sorority blonde if he actually fell for this..

You think you're hot sh!t because you have a mystic blue e90 with black and aluminum, don't you..

espo · 08-09-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh49

You think you're hot sh!t because you have a mystic blue e90 with black and aluminum, don't you..

No I think I'm hot sh!t because mine is a 6sp manual

DISCLAIMER: This is saying nothing about the manual/auto debate.... It is a JOKE and should only be taken as such. It says nothing about the posters feeling toward those that drive a manual and those that drive an auto. We are all good BMW owners!!!

Josh49 · 08-09-2006, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by espo89

No I think I'm hot sh!t because mine is a 6sp manual

Nice.. But I still don't understand why I'm stupid. I'm not the one donating an extra $900 to a dealership..

Josh49 · 08-09-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by espo89

No I think I'm hot sh!t because mine is a 6sp manual

DISCLAIMER: This is saying nothing about the manual/auto debate.... It is a JOKE and should only be taken as such. It says nothing about the posters feeling toward those that drive a manual and those that drive an auto. We are all good BMW owners!!!

It is sad we need to have disclaimers like this on our websites! So how's Buffalo? I bet you need all wheel drive, snow tires, no comfort access, definitely not leather, and definitely not an Audi!! Make sure to always drive with your xenon and fogs on while on the cell phone...

Squawks · 08-09-2006, 11:31 AM

You guys routinely hose down the underbody (or take it to the car wash with underbody sprays) to get rid of the road salt, then? Or should that not even be a legitimate concern?

espo · 08-09-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh49

Nice.. But I still don't understand why I'm stupid. I'm not the one donating an extra $900 to a dealership..

It's the smilely.... It's a funny way of saying, "Yes I agree with you.."

Josh49 · 08-09-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by espo89

It's the smilely.... It's a funny way of saying, "Yes I agree with you.."

Sweet thanks for the definition. Kind of confusing, but sure..

<== just telling you're the man..

Josh49 · 08-09-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squawks

You guys routinely hose down the underbody (or take it to the car wash with underbody sprays) to get rid of the road salt, then? Or should that not even be a legitimate concern?

Yeah, I definitely make a point to. The e90 if you ever get a chance look under it, they did a pretty good job of covering most the stuff with belly pans. Looking underneath you don't get to see much at all. All of the parts are probably either passivated, anodized, chemfilm'ed, etc. I couldn't imagine what a dealership would do to increase corrosion resistance even more. And I highly doubt they do anything. If I were you I would ask for a detailed list of what the $900 includes and report back to us. I bet they can't even tell you, and anything they say has already been done on every stock e90. WATD, they are treating you like a complete idiot if they think they can sell you that.. I personally would have told them where to put that $900 and demand some free bmw accs. and more money off the car to even consider doing business with them..

e90fanatic · 08-09-2006, 12:01 PM

that's a scam that most hyundai dealers rip their customers off for....high quality cars like bmw does not need these bs chemicals...

remmib · 08-09-2006, 12:07 PM

It's a good idea, but 900 are too much.

08-09-2006, 10:24 AM	#1
Squawks One of my two dachshunds: 56 Rep 663 Posts Drives: B6 A4 3.0 Quattro Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ithaca, NY iTrader: (0)	Chemical protection against rust/corrosion - necessary? For you guys out there who live in places with heavy snow - is the chemical armor protection (covering the paint, wheel wells, underbody, trunk, etc.) necessary? The dealers are telling me that here in the Northeast the acid rain is bad and on top of that, all the snow/salt during the winter season can cause bad corrosion on the paint and rust under the body of the car. Anything to worry about? Or do you all normally fork out the $900 (the dealer's price) for this 'chemical protection'? __________________ I'm sorry about my outlandish behavior - there's too much blood in my alcohol system.
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08-09-2006, 10:35 AM	#2
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3986 Rep 10,664 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	DEALER IS FOS! Almost all cars are warrantied for 10yrs against corrosion. True upstate NY has it's fair share of acid rain, and good regime of applying most car care waxes/polishes will help you maintain the appearence of your car. Zaino/Klasse etc etc are all great products. There IS a product marketed under different names (eg 5 Star Shine) that is supposed to provide 5 yrs of "protection". I think the stuff is sold for about $30 and it is probably the same thing you dealer is applying to the car. I have yet to read any real reviews on the stuff since most websites that do product comparisons wouldn't want to compare a product that would last 5yrs against the other products which provide advertising dollars to the websites. I wonder what the dealer would say if you asked him to warrant in writing that this "chemical protection" will not void any warranties. That would be funny.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2006, 10:40 AM	#3
Squawks One of my two dachshunds: 56 Rep 663 Posts Drives: B6 A4 3.0 Quattro Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ithaca, NY iTrader: (0)	Socom - I actually told them about the corrosion warranty - their rebuttal is that the warranty is only valid if the rust/corrosion is so bad that there is actually perforation - e.g. a hole. Otherwise, manufacturers supposedly have no obligation to fix anything. __________________ I'm sorry about my outlandish behavior - there's too much blood in my alcohol system.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2006, 10:45 AM	#4
Josh49 Major General 266 Rep 6,664 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (33)	I don't even feel like explaining what a load of that is. __________________ E90 325XI, MYSTIC BLUE ON BLACK/ALUM, STEP, NAV, PDC, CWP, XENON, SIRIUS, ALARM, MUD GUARDS, CLEARBRA, CHROME GRILLS AND TIPS, VALENTINE 1 (HARDWIRED), HO CERAMIC 40%, 161'S, REAR FOG MOD, LUX 4.0, BLACKLINES, OEM PEDALS, MTEC FOGS, GRUPPE-M REP INTAKE. 156'S AND RUBBER MATS FOR THE WINTER.
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08-09-2006, 11:31 AM	#10
Squawks One of my two dachshunds: 56 Rep 663 Posts Drives: B6 A4 3.0 Quattro Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ithaca, NY iTrader: (0)	You guys routinely hose down the underbody (or take it to the car wash with underbody sprays) to get rid of the road salt, then? Or should that not even be a legitimate concern? __________________ I'm sorry about my outlandish behavior - there's too much blood in my alcohol system.
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08-09-2006, 12:01 PM	#14
e90fanatic Absolute0 177 Rep 5,078 Posts Drives: Has a Roundel Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TO/HK/NJ iTrader: (6)	that's a scam that most hyundai dealers rip their customers off for....high quality cars like bmw does not need these bs chemicals... __________________ To procede or not to procede......
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08-09-2006, 12:07 PM	#15
remmib General 1596 Rep 29,217 Posts Drives: 2013 F10 520d M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norway iTrader: (0)	It's a good idea, but 900 are too much.
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