VW Customer Service (corrosion)

[gav69]

Hi folks,

Visited local VW today regarding corrosion on wings, sills and boot release and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by customer service I received. I had read that you have to be quite brazing to get this done under warranty. Had the paint checker thing not revealed my arches being repaired in past then everything would have been repaired without quarral. Bit gutted but sills n tailgate will do for now.

Out of curiosity does anyone know how much it would cost for 2 new wings fitted from VW? I didnt wanna ask as I was pushing for everything free.

Cheers
Gav

[dav1e]

Hi I recently purchased a mk5 couple of weeks ago in fact. It wasn't until the other day when the light was shining on the front wing that I could actually seen what appears to be very slight bubbling on the middle of the arch bout 3". The other side is the exact same. The paint isn't broken and Im not sure if it is rust or paint imperfection. I take it you just went to your local VW - was this where you bought the car? I don't have the warranty docs as I am the third owner - car is 8 years old would I need them/what is the corrosion warranty period? It is a shame as the rest of the paintwork on the car although 8 years old is like new.

[doylebros]

I just went to the local Dealers - they tested the paint thickness on both front wings (reading of 95 showed up) on his hand held paint thickness tester.

Next he check the roof, bonnet and tailgate thickness, then he said when's the next time your vehicles free for three days and you'll be responsible for percentage contribution roughly £200 inc vat.

That's my claim history.

[dav1e]

great thanks for that = think ill pay my local vw dealer a visit

[gav69]

Hi Davie,

I didnt purchase car from VW just local garage. It is also 8 years old. I got it about 8months ago and the boot release has went shockingly noticeable since then. As for the arches mine 1 side worse than other but halfway around bubbling. Really bad under arch tho.

Like Doylebros said the guy used handheld paint checker on various areas looking for 90's - 110. Couldny believe it when he got a 942 on 1 arch and 341 on the other!!

He said he try push it to get them done also because wings look original but have audit coming up so unlikely.

Could be doing with one of those paint checkers next time I buy a car!

[MAT ED30]

It should be free under the paint warranty I know mine was 100% free to fix

[warby]

I gave up on getting my gti done, the dealer was being incredibly difficult about even having a look at it.    It needed both wings, both sill tops and the boot floor was rotten. Thankfully its not my problem anymore and the edition has no rust or rot anywhere 

[dav1e]

Hi went in today to my local VW garage where I didn't buy it. The lady was nice enough and put the car reg into her computer and said she wasn't sure about the length of the corrosion warranty as some of the older cars ie mine some were 6 years anti corrosion warranty. However she said to bring it in tomorrow as the VW chap who deals with these claims would be visiting and he would take some photos and they would try a claim to main VW group and see how it goes - here's hoping!

[gav69]

Think the reason the guy promptly appeared with binder and camera being nice was that I think he thought I had been sent down to bodyshop by manager. Repair centre being about a mile away from garage. Poss thought I was an irate customer ha. I just asked for bodywork manager as advised by a member on here.

I dont know about that 6 years corrosion warranty Davie as it clearly says in manual that
"Perforation rusting will not occur on the body during the first 12 years following delivery. However, should this type of damage occur it will be repaired free of charge."

Think the lady was trying to fob you off. My arches wont get done as it states they wont touch due to being repaired.
Hope you get it sorted. Heres hoping I do too 

[dav1e]

Update - well I saw the guy today that inspects the car as promised - he was very good and when I said where the paint was bubbling he said right away that it was due to the inner wing fault, looked at it and confirmed without taking photos or measuring paint thickness. He did however say that due to age of car VW would only be prepared to pay half for two new wings plus respray plus blending in of both front doors and bonnet - total £800 so I would have to pay £400. Sort of result I suppose and he authorised the claim form which he said will take 2 weeks before car can be taken in. Hope this helps others wanting to claim.

[MAT ED30]

This is bull sh1t its covered under the anti corrosion warranty and its a known fault they don't have a leg to stand on its part of the terms they sell the car so get em told your not paying a thing and if thats a problem speak to vw uk and if you don't get anywhere seek legal or threaten them with legal action. Don't  pay a thing simple its a nice cop out saying you need to pay towards it

[gav69]

Thats pants man! I'd no be paying nowt if I were you. Absolute joke.
I was prepared to buy new wings for mine if he was correct saying mines had been repaired previously but £800!!
Should be wearing a ballaclava! Robbn sw1nes!

[Scottymon]

I'm surprised no-one has taken VW to book over this, if they have we need info on it, as it will serve as Legal precedent for the rest of us.

[dav1e]

i might try and have another go at them tomorrow as I see an earlier thread where everybody seems to be getting theirs done free of charge and a courtesy car - it seems very unprofessional that vw have not sent a directive to every dealer so that that the deal is the same across the board.

[dmac1969]

I think VW have changed their stance on repairing this , since the thread started previously. I got my 2005 GTI sorted FOC in Summer 2012 , but now apparently they only pay 50%. Nervously watching the 2008 car I replaced it with for the first sign of rust!