Cleaning and care of the body (Audi A4 B6)

Regular care at your Audi dealership will help it safety and is one of the conditions for accepting warranty claims in the event of detection of corrosion damage and defects in the paintwork of the body.

Car wash

The best way to protect your car from the harmful effects of the environment is to wash it frequently and preserve the paintwork.

The longer the dirt remains on the paintwork, the stronger its destructive effect. High temperature or humidity increases the effect. So, depending on the circumstances, washing the car may be sufficient once a week. But maybe a wash will be enough once a month with subsequent conservation of the paintwork. After the period of sprinkling the road surface with salt is over, be sure to thoroughly wash bottom.

Automatic car wash systems

The car's varnish is durable enough for regular car washing in automatic car washes.



When using an automatic car wash, it is sufficient to follow the usual precautions (close the windows and roof panel first). Factory-fitted antennas for radio, telephone/navigation system* are located inside the vehicle.

When equipping your car with special accessories, such as a spoiler, roof rack, radio antenna, etc., it is best to consult with the car wash personnel.

Hand wash

Hand washing a car requires a lot of water. First, soak and rinse off the dirt. Wash the car with a sponge from top to bottom. Use shampoo only in exceptional cases. Rinse the car with water. Dry the car with leather for cleaning the glass.

When washing by hand, first soak the dirt with plenty of water, and then rinse it off as best as possible.

Then wash the car with a soft cloth with a sponge, glove or brush for washing, without pressing hard on the surface. Start washing from the roof and then down. Shampoo use only to remove stubborn stains.

Rinse your sponge or washing glove regularly and thoroughly.

Wheels, thresholds, etc. are washed last. Use a different sponge to wash them.

Do not wash your car in bright sunlight - there is a risk of damaging the paintwork.

When watering your car with a hose in winter, do not direct the stream of water at the locks or door joints and other joints - there is a risk of freezing.

Do not use insect sponges, hard kitchen sponges, etc. - there is a risk of damaging the surface.

Only wet cleaning of headlights is allowed - preferably with soapy water. Never clean headlights with a dry cloth or sponge.

Washing with high pressure cleaning devices

If certain rules are followed, the car can also be washed with high-pressure cleaning devices.

Follow the pressure washer manufacturer's instructions.

Maintain sufficient distance from soft vehicle components.

When washing your vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the cleaner. This especially applies to pressure and spray distance. Keep a sufficiently large distance from soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulating materials. Do not use under any circumstances misdirected nozzles or dirty cutters.

Preservation of the coating

Good preservation significantly protects the car from environmental influences, as well as even minor mechanical damage.

The paintwork of your car can be treated with liquid wax as early as one week after delivery of your new car.

Protective layer preservative, which is a hard wax, is reapplied no later than it has clearly disappeared rolling effect drops of water from a clean surface.

Even with regular use detergent preservative in automatic washing systems, it is recommended to additionally apply a protective layer of hard wax to the coating at least twice a year.

Insect residues that stick to the front end and front bumper, especially during the warm season, are usually much easier to remove from the paintwork with freshly applied preservative.

Polishing

Polishing serves to restore gloss.

Polishing is only necessary if the paintwork has lost its attractive appearance, but it is no longer possible to restore the gloss using preservatives.



If the polish used does not contain preservative components, then after polishing it is necessary to preserve the paintwork, see above.

Do not use polishing agents or hard wax on matte painted parts or plastic components of the vehicle.

Decorative components and moldings

The decorative components and silver-coloured mouldings are made of pure aluminium (without chrome). This is dictated by environmental considerations.

To remove stains and plaque from decorative components, use neutral care products (with zero acidity (pH)), do not use chrome care products. Polish intended for the care of paintwork is also not suitable for the care of decorative components and moldings. In addition, alkaline intensive cleaners, often used before entering automatic car wash lines, can cause matte/milky stains to appear during drying.

Synthetic components

Synthetic components are subject to normal washing. If this is not enough, synthetic components can also be treated with solvent-free special products intended for the care of such products. Lacquer care products are not suitable for the care of synthetic components.

Damage to paintwork

Minor damage to the paintwork can be repaired with a paint pencil or an aerosol can

Minor damage to the paintwork, such as scratches, marks or stone chips, should be varnished immediately before corrosion occurs. Suitable for your car coloring pencils or spray cans are available at Audi service stations.

The original paint code number of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle's data plate, see. Vehicle Identification Numbers.



Carefully remove any rust that appears at the site of damage.

Apply to this area first anti-corrosion primer, and then varnish.

Window panes

Remove snow and ice with a plastic scraper.

Remove other residual deposits with glass cleaner.

Dry the glass with a clean cloth.

Do not clean the windshield with insect remover or wax. Otherwise, the function of the windshield wipers may be impaired (vibration of brushes).

Any remaining rubber, oil, grease or silicone can be removed glass cleaner or silicone remover. Wax residue can only be removed with a special cleaner.

Glass must be cleaned regularly, also from the inside.

To dry the glass, use a special cloth or leather for glass. Do not use leather intended for treating varnished surfaces to dry the glass, as the preservative residues will adversely affect visibility.

The rear window heating threads are located on the inside surface of the glass. Do not stick stickers on the rear window heating threads to avoid damaging them.

Rubber seals

Rubber seals on doors, hood, trunk, roof panel and windows retain their properties and last longer if they are rubbed from time to time with a special product designed for the care of rubber products (for example, silicone aerosol). After such treatment, they do not freeze even in winter and the doors open easier. In addition, do not allow premature wear of seals and loss of tightness.

Castles

In winter, locks can freeze.

When washing your car, make sure that as little water as possible gets into the locks.

Wheels with steel rims

Wash the rims and wheel caps during the car wash.



Cleaning your wheels will prevent brake pad wear products, dirt and road salt from being deposited on their surface.

Stubbornly adhering brake lining wear products can be removed acid-free wheel cleaner. Acid-based wheel cleaners can be harsh on the surface of the wheel bolts.

Regular treatment of disks with liquid hard wax prevents their premature contamination.

Repair damage to paintwork before rust appears (Section Repair of minor damage to body panels).

Light alloy wheels

Wash brake pad wear and road salt off your wheels at least every two weeks.

Treat clean wheels only acid-free a cleaning agent for alloy wheels.

Polish the discs thoroughly every three months hard wax.

To maintain the decorative appearance of light alloy wheels for a long time, they require regular maintenance. If wear products from brake pads and road salt are not regularly removed, these substances will begin to corrode the light alloy.

Treat the wheels with a special acid-free cleaning agent for light alloy wheels. Never leave the cleaning agent on longer than the time specified in the instructions. Acid-containing cleaning agents for wheels can be aggressive towards the surface of the wheel bolts.

Do not use polish intended for the care of paintwork or other abrasives. If the protective varnish coating is damaged, for example by stone impacts, repair the defect immediately.

Anti-corrosion protection of the underbody

Damage may occur during driving protective layer, therefore it is recommended to visit a service station at regular intervals - preferably before the start of the winter season and in the spring - to check and, if necessary, to repair damage to the protective coating applied to the underbody and chassis of the vehicle.

Preservation of body cavities

There is no need to check the preservation of the body cavities.

All cavities of the car subject to corrosion are treated preservative wax already at the manufacturing plant.

Such preservation does not require control and subsequent processing. In case of wax release from the body cavities at high temperature, remove it with a synthetic scraper and washing gasoline.

Care of interior elements

Synthetic components, artificial leather, linings and upholstery

Wipe synthetic components and artificial leather with a damp cloth. If this is not enough, these components can be treated only with special solvent-free products, intended for the care of such products.

Door trims and upholstery, trunk seals, ceiling, etc. are treated with special cleaners or dry foam and a soft sponge.

Genuine Leather

When handling and caring for it, it is necessary to observe certain caution and rules, which is due to the exceptionally high quality of the leather grades used and their special properties (sensitivity to oils, fats, dirt, etc.).

Avoid leaving your car in the sun for long periods of time to prevent the leather from fading. If your car is left in the sun for long periods of time, the leather should be protected from direct sunlight.

Use a protective cream regularly and after each cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, helps your leather upholstery remain elastic and breathable, and restores moisture. At the same time, the cream creates or renews surface protection.

Clean the leather every 2-3 months. Remove fresh dirt immediately.



Remove fresh stains from ballpoint pens, ink, lipstick, shoe polish, etc. as quickly as possible.

Skin tone care is also necessary. Use a special skin tone care cream to refresh the color in the appropriate areas.

Genuine leather trim

Normal cleaning

Clean the contaminated surface with a slightly damp cotton or woolen cloth.

Heavy pollution

Clean heavily soiled areas with a cloth dampened with a mild soap solution (two tablespoons of chemically neutral soap per liter of water).

At the same time, be sure to ensure that the leather does not become completely wet and that water does not penetrate through the seams.

After washing, wipe the leather with a soft, dry cloth.

Stain removal

Fresh stains on water based, (for example, coffee, tea, juices, blood, etc.) remove with an absorbent cloth or tissue. Remove dried stains with a leather care cleaner.

Fresh fatty spots (for example, butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc.) remove with an absorbent cloth or tissue, or, if the stain has not yet set, with a leather cleaner.

Dried grease stains remove with a grease-dissolving spray.

Special spots (for example, stains from ballpoint pens, felt-tip pens, nail polish, emulsion paint, shoe polish, etc.) can be removed with a special stain remover suitable for leather.

Skin care

Treat your leather with a care product every six months.

Apply skin care product extremely sparingly.

After leaving it for a while to take effect, it is then washed off with a soft cloth.

If you have any questions, please contact the service station for advice on the skin care program, which includes, for example:

• Cleaning and care kit;
• Skin care coloring creams;
• Stain removers for removing stains from ballpoint pens, shoe polish, etc.;
• Fat-dissolving aerosol.

Cleaning Alcantara® leather

Stain removal

Dampen a cloth with lukewarm water or diluted with alcohol.

Remove the stain by wiping it with a cloth towards the center.

Dry the cleaned area with a soft cloth.

Do not use skin care products.

To remove dust and dirt, you can also use skin care shampoo.

Dust, dirt particles in pores, folds and seams contribute to wear of leather and can damage its surface. If the car is exposed to the sun for a long time, the leather should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. A slight change in color due to use of the leather is normal.

Never clean Alcantara® leather with solvents, polishing wax, shoe polish, stain removers, leather care products, etc.

Never use brushes, hard sponges, etc. to clean leather.

Seat belts

Contaminated belts can be washed with a mild soap solution.

If the belt tape is heavily soiled, the automatic belt tape retraction mechanism may not operate properly. Allow the belt tape to dry completely before retracting it with the retraction mechanism.

Do not dry clean the belts, as chemical cleaning agents may destroy the fabric. Also, do not allow the belts to come into contact with corrosive liquids.

Replace belts if fabric, connections, belt retraction mechanisms or latches are damaged.