From the warranty handbook....
What is not covered?
Replacement parts and labour will be paid for with the following exceptions:–
Routine servicing (all parts replaced associated with routine servicing are excluded)–
All bodywork, glass (including heated) and seals –
Wear and perishable items as follows:–
All adjustments, cambelt timing, diesel timing or cleaning–
Batteries –
Brake frictional material–
Bulbs and fuses –
Clutch frictional material– Coolant pipes and hoses–
CV boot gaiters–
Exhaust systems including diesel particulate filters (although catalytic converters are covered for internal failure only)–
Non-manufacturer’s original parts or second hand parts–
Tyres and wheels–
Unencased drive belts–
Upholstery, interior and exterior trims–
Washer pipes and vacuum hoses–
Wiper blades, arms and washer jet
Wiring and connections (including HT leads and aerial coaxial cables)
So looks like they have covered themselves.
There are 2 ways to interpret that list:-
1. Read as you have read it, literally taking it to read all wiring.
2. Read the wiring comment as a sublist of excluded "wear and perishable items as follows". Under that context, i'd expect HT leads (as given as an example) to be perishable/consumables and excluded from coverage, but I would not expect wiring looms to be defined as perishable items.
I do think that the dealer is misrepresenting the intentions of coverage as written.
The trouble is, with dealing with VWUK in dealing with your case, it's a one sided argument. Dealership make a statement (often not telling the whole truth) and VW UK warranty decision maker does not allow you to make your case in response before they make their decision. The poor sap at the end of the phone who you vent your dissatisfaction to has no involvement in the decision making process and usually knows f**k all about cars.
In a small claims court situation, as said before by someone else, the goods are expected to last (at least 6 years for a substantial purchase). The car's wiring looms aren't consumable/serviceable items, they should last.
You can have the same argument with Currys for your £1500 telly that came with a 1 year warranty and died in year 2. They'll send you away with a flea in your ear but consumer law expects it to last 6 years and you can take them to the small claims court for a slam dunk win.