2003 Discovery - tiny rust spots on roof - paint problems?

All,

My 2003 Discovery SE with 17k miles has small rust spots appearing just
above the windshield and on top of the roof. The front face paint of
the hood also appears to be really hacked up.

Funny thing, I usually garage the truck and dont drive it a ton.

Land Rover America is rejecting the warranty claim -- even on rust,
since, the area manager claims the stones chipped the paint on the roof
down to bare metal and now its rusting. Land Rover America is claiming
its a result of normal ware and tear.

I can't believe an "luxury off road" 2003 car is doing this, and the
company is denying a claim.

Anyone else having similiar problems?

thanks

-Chris

Rust is, and it continues, and it gets everywhere, at least an aluminium
roof can't rust but the roofrack can. There are cars out there that have sat
on a car park for a year and are rusty when they are on the dealers
forecourt with a new registration.

If you buy a car for the looks you are always going to be distressed by such
things, but if you buy it for other reasons and realise that even if the
roof develops holes you can patch it, weld it, cover it in duct tape or
whatever you will ultimatly be more satisfied with your purchase.



--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes




<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> All,
>
> My 2003 Discovery SE with 17k miles has small rust spots appearing just
> above the windshield and on top of the roof. The front face paint of
> the hood also appears to be really hacked up.
>
> Funny thing, I usually garage the truck and dont drive it a ton.
>
> Land Rover America is rejecting the warranty claim -- even on rust,
> since, the area manager claims the stones chipped the paint on the roof
> down to bare metal and now its rusting. Land Rover America is claiming
> its a result of normal ware and tear.
>
> I can't believe an "luxury off road" 2003 car is doing this, and the
> company is denying a claim.
>
> Anyone else having similiar problems?
>
> thanks
>
> -Chris
>

> Rust is, and it continues, and it gets everywhere, at least an aluminium
> roof can't rust but the roofrack can.

No, the aluminium just turns to white powder shortly before holes
appear....same end result

> There are cars out there that have sat
> on a car park for a year and are rusty when they are on the dealers
> forecourt with a new registration.

Yes, and his has been shipped thousands of miles as well.

> If you buy a car for the looks you are always going to be distressed by such
> things, but if you buy it for other reasons and realise that even if the
> roof develops holes you can patch it, weld it, cover it in duct tape or
> whatever you will ultimatly be more satisfied with your purchase.

!! I realise that vehicle that come out of Solihull generally need
completely rebuilt at half the length of time of their Japenese
counterparts (which are disposable) but we're talking about a car which
is about two years old, not a twenty year old shed! It's complete
unacceptable that ANY rust is showing, especially on the roof.

If I'd spent untold thousands on a new LR only to have rust spots
appear within two years then I would also be very unhappy. Land
Rover's continual cover ups, build quality issues and design flaws
simply mean that Land Rover is losing what reputation they once had for
building solid vehicles. I don't understand the negative responses
towards new Disco TD5 owners (see Ian Mackay's posts) - IME some (well
cared for) Disco TD5's in particular can be real sheds and an
embarassment to Land Rover. Posts suggesting that owners learn to live
with their vehicle as it is doesn't help things, if owners can be
helped to resolve their issues then they're less likely to get rid of
their LR sheds and get other makes of vehicles.

Regards

William MacLeod

X-No-Archive: Yes
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> counterparts (which are disposable) but we're talking about a car which
> is about two years old, not a twenty year old shed!

Hey, don't knock 20 year old sheds! My 1984 110 has needed, from the
looks/from the invoices, 3 new doors, a few quids' worth of welding to the
chassis, a bit of hammerite on the pillars, that's it. I'm waiting for the
aluminium powder effect though, that sounds interesting )

> Land
> Rover's continual cover ups, build quality issues and design flaws
> simply mean that Land Rover is losing what reputation they once had for
> building solid vehicles.

I think it's either fashionable, or in the British mentality, to knock their
own. The reason you see so many people working on their Land Rovers all the
time? The reason you see so many dogs licking their b*ll*cks. 'cause it's
possible!

Most of the german/jap stuff is maintained to tighter limits, ie more
capital cost initially, more/quicker replacement of marginal parts at full
capital value, more disposal rather than repair, etcetera, covers most of
the perceived differences in 'functioning' time. Market share obviously
mounts up eventually too, allowing the giants to reduce cost that way.

Of course, I wouldn't be guinea pig for a new LR vehicle, particularly the
electronic kind, unless it was free )

Mark