Garage Cabinets, Garage Storage, and Garage Organization

2005 BMW X3 and took it to the BMW service center at Checkered Flag BMW in Virginia Beach Virginia.  There are plastic pieces along the A-pillar against the windows that have corrosion coming through the paint.  Identical corrosion is located on the molding on the passenger doors on the rear of the window.  In both cases it has come through the paint and is starting to show streaks down the side of the vehicle.  Understand the corrosion is just on trim not on the body of the car.

The car was purchased out of the showroom at BMW Seattle and only has 23,000 miles.  This car has never been off-road and has never been driven in snow.  It stays washed and cleaned except for the cheer-Os my girls cover the back seat with.

I have had a shotgun style of excuses and deflections from the BMW service center examples:

First Advisor excuse “That’s not rust, your car just needs to be cleaned.”  OK, it did just come out of shipment and has water spots from rain.  But I don’t think washing it will fix the corrosion that is coming through the paint.

Second Advisor excuse attempt “Those parts are plastic so they don’t rust” Yes he is correct plastic does not rust.  But the clips that are holding it on look like they are corroded and are coming through the paint.  My advisor quickly moved on to the next defense.

Third Advisor excuse attempt “You were overseas so the warranty does not apply” I explained I was stationed in Hawaii and since 1959 it has been a state.  My warranty book says it’s covered.  

Fourth Advisor excuse attempt “So you bought it in Hawaii, then it is not covered under BMW North America” I explained that we got it in Seattle.  Again I tried explaining that the warranty does cover Hawaii and Puerto Rico.  My advisor quickly went on the next line of reasoning.

Advisor now says "this rust was caused by environmentals and won’t be covered” I asked for a definition of “environmentals” and was told acid rain and acts of God.  

It was explained to me that if this was a problem that I would have to take it up with the guy who can make that call.  But he is on vacation and won’t be back for a couple of weeks.

The warranty manual does not define what enviromentals are.  So I called BMW North America for a definition. According to them it's a grey area and the dealership makes the call based on if BMW North America is willing to pay them back for it.

I had a similar problem with my roof rack and it was replaced under warranty (at a different BMW service center) without any complaining by the dealer/BMW.  

Does anyone have any advice on how to work with a dealer to resolve a conflict?  Because I see one coming shortly.

Anybody have a definition of environmentals?  This BMW loophole could be used to deny any warranty body work i.e. have you ever driven through rain, sorry BMW does not cover "acid" rain damage.  Have you ever driven your car to the beach?....BMW does not cover saltwater, paint cracking.... BMW does not cover damage from sunspots.

I need advice.  I paid almost 50,000.00 for a car that I will have to pay to have the trim replaced at the ripe age of 3 years.  

Matt