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Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:38 pm
by arlurt
My car's going in next week for a new grill to sort out the rough finish that's appeared on the unpainted plastic of the existing one.

I asked them to have a look at the grill last time the car was in. There was no arguing, they agreed it wasn't right and said they'd replace it. I think what swung it was that the removable panel that covers the towing eye has no damage at all, but the grill that butts up to it is all pock-marked and rough. I hope it's a manufacturing fault and that they've sorted it out for the new ones...

Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:39 pm
by timboa
Just to update you, sourced the grill from my local VW dealer for £38. A mate of mine who's a GM at another dealer (not VW!) got one of his bodyshop technicians to fit it for £50 one Sat morning by removing the bumper....job done, all as good as new.

VW said all along that it would be 2hrs labour to fit at a cost of £75 per hour + VAT.

Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:26 pm
by Candy Monster
arlurt wrote:My car's going in next week for a new grill to sort out the rough finish that's appeared on the unpainted plastic of the existing one.

I asked them to have a look at the grill last time the car was in. There was no arguing, they agreed it wasn't right and said they'd replace it. I think what swung it was that the removable panel that covers the towing eye has no damage at all, but the grill that butts up to it is all pock-marked and rough. I hope it's a manufacturing fault and that they've sorted it out for the new ones...

Thats good news, mine is looking worse now! Still no chips on the paint though :) The only option may be to paint this part :? Arlurt, let us know how yours looks over the next few weeks. Hopefully the problem wont arise again...

Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:27 pm
by Candy Monster
arlurt wrote:My car's going in next week for a new grill to sort out the rough finish that's appeared on the unpainted plastic of the existing one.

I asked them to have a look at the grill last time the car was in. There was no arguing, they agreed it wasn't right and said they'd replace it. I think what swung it was that the removable panel that covers the towing eye has no damage at all, but the grill that butts up to it is all pock-marked and rough. I hope it's a manufacturing fault and that they've sorted it out for the new ones...

Thats good news, mine is looking worse now! Still no chips on the paint though :) The only option may be to paint this part :? Arlurt, let us know how yours looks over the next few weeks. Hopefully the problem wont arise again...

Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:38 pm
by arlurt
I like the idea of a painted front grill but am worried that if the plastic is as soft as it appears then stones will chip the inadequately supported paint off, and it will look even worse than it does with marked plastic...

The problem...

Image

Image

Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:05 pm
by arlurt
Front grill replaced under warranty, no ifs, no buts.

Thanks VW. :yes:

Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:53 pm
by albertz33
I have exactly the same problem, plastic seems to be wearing / looks like its been shot blasted! did VW replace it without a fight?

Re: Damaged Front Grill

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:58 pm
by arlurt
See above...

I think what really swung it was the panel that covers the towing eye fiximg point has no damage at all, (top photo), but the rest of the grill is badly scarred. They were fine about, but I'm worried that the new one will go the same way... I hope they'd just had a bad batch.