Body and subframe — maintenance (Audi 80 B3)

The condition of your car's body is very important because it affects its resale value. It is much more difficult to restore a poorly maintained or damaged body than to repair a mechanical unit. Hidden areas of the body, such as wheel wells, engine compartment, are equally important, although they do not require as much attention as the rest of the body.

The most important thing in car body maintenance is to wash it, preferably with plenty of running water. This removes all the dirt that sticks to the car. It is important to wash it so as not to scratch it with sand particles. Wheel arches and the engine frame need to be washed to remove dirt that retains moisture and promotes rust. It is best to clean the body in damp weather, when the dirt softens.

It is good to clean the car with hot steam periodically, except for cars with a protective coating based on wax. This will show what repairs and replacements are necessary. Cleaning is needed to remove the accumulation of oil dirt. This method is not suitable for cars with a wax protective coating, otherwise it will be removed. Such cars should be serviced before winter, when the bottom can be washed and the wax coating restored. A completely new coating must be applied. It is also injected into doors, window sills, body sections, etc., as an additional guarantee against damage by rust, where such protection is not provided by the manufacturer.

After washing the body, wipe it with leather and chamois to avoid stains. A layer of car polish will help protect it from chemical pollutants in the air. To restore the shine of the paint, use a polish/cleaner such as Turtle Extra. For metallic paint, a special soft cleaner is required to avoid damage.