Further to the above does anyone have any pics of how and where the rust starts?
I don't just think it's the wheel arch liner rubbing on the wing. Apparently there are some sponge inserts which cushion the liner against the wheel arches. These get soaked with water and dirt that slowly corrodes the bodywork. Not sure if anybody out there can confirm this?
At the end of the day VW clearly know it's a problem as they are prepared to cough up for most of the cost. I guess they are taking the view that only a small number of owners are going to complain so not worth a national recall and huge costs to redesign and refit wheel arches.
Best thing to do is most probably take out the liner and check to see if there is any rubbing, then try and modify them based on what you are seeing.
Try a search these have been talked about many many many many times before.
Oh and a side note about the foam sponges This is whats in the
MK6 They made it even worse with the mk6 they added
another sponge in there that is open cell that soaks up water. Its
NOT fitted in the
UK MK5Heres how much water is in the NEWsponge on a mk6 after it had not been out in the rain or washed for over 2 weeks.
A nice recipe for rust to start right there imo....
Photo of that larger sponge thats
not in UK Mk5 golfs but in Mk6 UK golfs.
^
Thats NOT in the UK MK5The photo below is of the other sponge thats in the mk6 but iirc
also in the mk5 at the top of the wing and braces the wing its also at the location rust starts....