GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: AGB on 02 May 2011, 12:02
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It's that time of the year - the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the insect population is booming.
Got back from the Lake District on Friday after having done just over 1,500 miles and this is the state of my car. She has had a wash to lift as much off as possible since the pictures were taken but it's going to require some serious elbow grease with clay bar and my new Flex polisher to get her back to normal condition.
The roof bars are aluminium, no powder coating or anything and even my Karcher power washer applied millimetres away couldn't shift them. I've had to use a non marking scourer and a Fairy liquid/degreaser mixer to remove it. I'm just amazed at the amount of suicidal insect life that threw itself into my path. :grin:
(http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/8509/dsc9871lo.jpg) (http://img42.imageshack.us/i/dsc9871lo.jpg/)
(http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6757/dsc9872lo.jpg) (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/dsc9872lo.jpg/)
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Only bad thing about the summer! Spent a couple of hours polishing the car lastnight to aid removing them for the summer ahead!
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I found that out when i took my gti to Italy last year for some alpine roads. I found the best way to remove bugs off the car is to wet about 8 sheets of kitchen roll and press on top of the bugs. If left for about 5 minutes, the bugs soften up and then simply wipe off during the wash mitt stage of cleaning :nerd:
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^^^^^ Yeah do that sometimes, same goes for bird s**te!
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Nice to see somebody else with the Thule aluminium roof bars on a GTI :-) Mine will be getting their 1st use next weekend on a family holiday to North Wales. How's the ride/look with them fitted? Anymore pics? ;-)
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'GTI - Kills bugs fast'.
..... and you are still alive? ........ :evil: :laugh: :kiss:
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Nice to see somebody else with the Thule aluminium roof bars on a GTI :-) Mine will be getting their 1st use next weekend on a family holiday to North Wales. How's the ride/look with them fitted? Anymore pics? ;-)
@Kenny/Alan - Yep, I use the same trick. Makes the car look like it's gone and cut itself shaving. :grin:
@kgreenway - You went for the 754 and Pro Ride 591 combination? Good choice if you did. I had to get them in aluminium, the black ones were crude squared off pieces which looked like a home DIY project. You still notice wind noise above 50MPH though with the aluminium aero bars, especially when there are strong cross winds.
I'd recommend using the mounting clamps versus the T-bolts to affix them. They're quicker and you don't have to take the rubber insert off the roof bar, looks better on too but just be careful you don't drop them on your roof.
Don't leave your wheel straps on when you leave your car either. They're too easy to steal as there is no way of securing them and my dealer chucked in a couple extra for me for 'when it happens' as he put it. Apparently it's one of the most commonly required spares.
The vinyl paint protectors that you apply on the sill are a swine though and will distort once you tighten up the bars so my advice would be to do it when it's warm so you can flatten them out as much as possible.
Another shot of the bars below as requested. I've got the 591's mounted front to back and back to front to allow clearance for handlebars. You can slide the feet off and have both bikes facing the direction of travel but it doesn't really make much difference with two.
(http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3830/dsc9623lo.jpg) (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/dsc9623lo.jpg/)
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'GTI - Kills bugs fast'.
..... and you are still alive? ........ :evil: :laugh: :kiss:
You don't notice the blood on red paint.... :grin:
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least you got windscreen wipers, this was after an hour round the lakes
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/hyperbikes/HPIM0136.jpg)
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least you got windscreen wipers, this was after an hour round the lakes
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/hyperbikes/HPIM0136.jpg)
Ooof. You need F1 helmet tear off strips or someone riding pillion with some insect wipes. :grin:
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Chuff:
LOL. :laugh:
That helmet looked like a big bug. Did you realise this before you posted?
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'GTI - Kills bugs fast'.
..... and you are still alive? ........ :evil: :laugh: :kiss:
You don't notice the blood on red paint.... :grin:
I thought it was the lipstick you borrowed from your wife, dear. :grin:
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The front of my car looked similar to that this morning after about 300 miles of motorway driving.
I just used my foaming lance and covered it in snow foam. Leave it for 10 mins, then powerwash off. The snow foam softens the bugs up, and the majority of the big ones drop off as the foam drips. It also worked for the caked on bird poo from leaving the car parked under a lamppost for a week.
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The front of my car looked similar to that this morning after about 300 miles of motorway driving.
I just used my foaming lance and covered it in snow foam. Leave it for 10 mins, then powerwash off. The snow foam softens the bugs up, and the majority of the big ones drop off as the foam drips. It also worked for the caked on bird poo from leaving the car parked under a lamppost for a week.
I snow foamed the car on Saturday when I gave her a clean and it removed the bodies but there are still 'grease' marks where they've impacted. Possible that I didn't leave it on long enough because it was so warm, the foam was starting to dry even though I did it as late in the evening as I could. Are you able to actually get those marks off?
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@kgreenway - You went for the 754 and Pro Ride 591 combination? Good choice if you did. I had to get them in aluminium, the black ones were crude squared off pieces which looked like a home DIY project. You still notice wind noise above 50MPH though with the aluminium aero bars, especially when there are strong cross winds.
I'd recommend using the mounting clamps versus the T-bolts to affix them. They're quicker and you don't have to take the rubber insert off the roof bar, looks better on too but just be careful you don't drop them on your roof.
Don't leave your wheel straps on when you leave your car either. They're too easy to steal as there is no way of securing them and my dealer chucked in a couple extra for me for 'when it happens' as he put it. Apparently it's one of the most commonly required spares.
The vinyl paint protectors that you apply on the sill are a swine though and will distort once you tighten up the bars so my advice would be to do it when it's warm so you can flatten them out as much as possible.
Another shot of the bars below as requested. I've got the 591's mounted front to back and back to front to allow clearance for handlebars. You can slide the feet off and have both bikes facing the direction of travel but it doesn't really make much difference with two.
AGB, I did go with that combination indeed..Although this trip around will be attaching a box (Thule Atlantis 200). I hear what you're saying on the aero bars..I thought exactly the same with the black ones. The aero bars look so much nicer. Thanks for advice on the vinyl paint protectors, I'll see how I get on. Hope they don't mark the fresh Candy white paint.
The bars do look pretty mint though I have to say :wink:
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Roof bars and a GTI :sick: :sick: just don't look good.
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Roof bars and a GTI :sick: :sick: just don't look good.
Amanda, all we have to do now is to wait for a smart arse answer from Alex. :laugh:
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I applied Gtech G1 a few weeks back, and now the bugs clean off much easier, as someone said, foam it first to soften, good was with a mitt and once dried have another check for anything left over, usually another wipe with the drying towel does the job for me.
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Roof bars and a GTI :sick: :sick: just don't look good.
Amanda, all we have to do now is to wait for a smart arse answer from Alex. :laugh:
Tell me about it...Needs must when you have two infants who require half the house to be transported to our destination! Believe me they will only be on for the journey there and back!
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Roof bars and a GTI :sick: :sick: just don't look good.
Disagree - not sure why but I always think good quality roof racks can look kind off sporty in a funny sort of way! :undecided:
(http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab242/WITHCOMBEM/IMG_3149b.jpg)
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@kgreenway - You went for the 754 and Pro Ride 591 combination? Good choice if you did. I had to get them in aluminium, the black ones were crude squared off pieces which looked like a home DIY project. You still notice wind noise above 50MPH though with the aluminium aero bars, especially when there are strong cross winds.
I'd recommend using the mounting clamps versus the T-bolts to affix them. They're quicker and you don't have to take the rubber insert off the roof bar, looks better on too but just be careful you don't drop them on your roof.
Don't leave your wheel straps on when you leave your car either. They're too easy to steal as there is no way of securing them and my dealer chucked in a couple extra for me for 'when it happens' as he put it. Apparently it's one of the most commonly required spares.
The vinyl paint protectors that you apply on the sill are a swine though and will distort once you tighten up the bars so my advice would be to do it when it's warm so you can flatten them out as much as possible.
Another shot of the bars below as requested. I've got the 591's mounted front to back and back to front to allow clearance for handlebars. You can slide the feet off and have both bikes facing the direction of travel but it doesn't really make much difference with two.
AGB, I did go with that combination indeed..Although this trip around will be attaching a box (Thule Atlantis 200). I hear what you're saying on the aero bars..I thought exactly the same with the black ones. The aero bars look so much nicer. Thanks for advice on the vinyl paint protectors, I'll see how I get on. Hope they don't mark the fresh Candy white paint.
The bars do look pretty mint though I have to say :wink:
They won't mark, just make sure you've got them warmed as they sit over the sill and getting them to sit flush in the corner radius of the roof is a nightmare if they're not warm. It's fairly thick material and hard to get the air bubbles out of. Doubt you'll notice them on a white car.
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Roof bars and a GTI :sick: :sick: just don't look good.
Amanda, all we have to do now is to wait for a smart arse answer from Alex. :laugh:
I don't think the roof bars look that bad to be honest, they're not a permanent accessory and are less hassle than sticking two muddy mountain bikes into the body of the car. The aluminium versions look a hell of a lot better than the standard square bars that Thule supply.
@Asker - I don't supply a smart arse answer every time, just most of the time.
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Well I guess it's a case of "whatever floats your boat" really. TBH I just feel that if you are going to be trailing mountain bikes around the country the GTI is not really the kind of car to do it, a hot hatch with bikes on the roof :rolleyes: I mean that's gonna slow you down big time so defeats the object of the car really. But I shalll shut up now and admit ETTO. Just not for me.
Nice to have some friendly banter though.
Giz
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Well I guess it's a case of "whatever floats your boat" really. TBH I just feel that if you are going to be trailing mountain bikes around the country the GTI is not really the kind of car to do it, a hot hatch with bikes on the roof :rolleyes: I mean that's gonna slow you down big time so defeats the object of the car really. But I shalll shut up now and admit ETTO. Just not for me.
Nice to have some friendly banter though.
Giz
Agree with that..... get a jeep or f*eck the bike off :laugh:
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Well I guess it's a case of "whatever floats your boat" really. TBH I just feel that if you are going to be trailing mountain bikes around the country the GTI is not really the kind of car to do it, a hot hatch with bikes on the roof :rolleyes: I mean that's gonna slow you down big time so defeats the object of the car really. But I shalll shut up now and admit ETTO. Just not for me.
Nice to have some friendly banter though.
Giz
It's more practical than sticking them on the roof of the Porsche.
The GTI is a touring car unless Golf GTI stands for 'Golf Gizzy Travels In'... :grin:
No issue with slowing me down to be honest, cruising within motorway speed limits is perfectly fine. I'm not going to go flinging the car around A/B roads with the bikes on, that's for when the bikes are dropped off at their destination and the roof bars are off. :kiss:
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Well I guess it's a case of "whatever floats your boat" really. TBH I just feel that if you are going to be trailing mountain bikes around the country the GTI is not really the kind of car to do it, a hot hatch with bikes on the roof :rolleyes: I mean that's gonna slow you down big time so defeats the object of the car really. But I shalll shut up now and admit ETTO. Just not for me.
Nice to have some friendly banter though.
Giz
It's more practical than sticking them on the roof of the Porsche.
The GTI is a touring car unless Golf GTI stands for 'Golf Gizzy Travels In'... :grin: LOL :laugh:
No issue with slowing me down to be honest, cruising within motorway speed limits is perfectly fine. I'm not going to go flinging the car around A/B roads with the bikes on, that's for when the bikes are dropped off at their destination and the roof bars are off. :kiss:
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Well I guess it's a case of "whatever floats your boat" really. TBH I just feel that if you are going to be trailing mountain bikes around the country the GTI is not really the kind of car to do it, a hot hatch with bikes on the roof :rolleyes: I mean that's gonna slow you down big time so defeats the object of the car really. But I shalll shut up now and admit ETTO. Just not for me.
Nice to have some friendly banter though.
Giz
It's more practical than sticking them on the roof of the Porsche.
The GTI is a touring car unless Golf GTI stands for 'Golf Gizzy Travels In'... :grin: LOL :laugh:
No issue with slowing me down to be honest, cruising within motorway speed limits is perfectly fine. I'm not going to go flinging the car around A/B roads with the bikes on, that's for when the bikes are dropped off at their destination and the roof bars are off. :kiss:
Didn't realiise your other car was a Porsche, yeah that would look really daft. Anyway all the best to you, I'm done on the subject now I'm bored with it :grin: :kiss:
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Hi there - great to see someone with the same Thule setup.
Did you work out what to do with the black tubes that Thule supply :undecided:? The instructions show them pushing the door seal out of the way, but I suspect this is just a generic cartoon. I couldn't see how they help on a Golf. Any ideas?
The door seals have gone back to their proper shape this time but I worry that they'll split eventually...
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Hi there - great to see someone with the same Thule setup.
Did you work out what to do with the black tubes that Thule supply :undecided:? The instructions show them pushing the door seal out of the way, but I suspect this is just a generic cartoon. I couldn't see how they help on a Golf. Any ideas?
The door seals have gone back to their proper shape this time but I worry that they'll split eventually...
There are two mounting systems, the brackets (50552) or the T bolts (50335). To use the bolts, you have to slide the black rubber insert out of the aluminium bar and the bolt slides into the runner. The brackets slide under the bar and clamp with 50553 and 34357 and 50551.This is on the 754 aero bars, not sure about other variants but expect it will work in a similar fashion. Hope this helps.
(http://www.thulespareparts.co.uk/graphics/categories/co1lap.jpg)
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thanks! rather hard to explain the black tubes - they came with the "rapid fit" pack (1323). I'm sure they're meant to stop the door seal distorting around the metal part of the foot (ie the bit with the metal peg).... I'll post a picture when I can find one....
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Here's the relevant bit from the fitting instructions...
(http://star-www.dur.ac.uk/~rgb/black_tube.png)
...the trouble is the door seals aren't anything like the ones shown in the picture!
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Ps. I realise the picture is for a Mark V but my copy claims to apply to Mark VI as well ... I presume Thule just copied the instructions ...
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Ps. I realise the picture is for a Mark V but my copy claims to apply to Mark VI as well ... I presume Thule just copied the instructions ...
I know what you mean now, I also got them in the box. The Thule manual doesn't actually state that not all parts are needed and in the case of the ProRide 591, it doesn't declare that there are two mechanisms for mounting to the bars. The author of their manuals isn't the best.
The manual I have appears to only document exceptions to the install process as per the cut out diagram in your post. Fortunately, my father in law has a MKV GTI and I was able to compare the door seals (just to be sure) as I was more immediately concerned about water ingress than distortion. I came to the conclusion that they're simply parts of a universal kit that I don't need for my vehicle but it would have helped if Thule had documented this on their website as I appreciate that hard copy documentation will fall out of date.
I've had mine setup without those rubber door inserts and it works absolutely fine. I've also been through a storm with the bars on and didn't have any water leaks. I'm not leaving the bars on for extended periods, the most has been a week and the door rubbers have returned to form without a problem.
Hope this helps.
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Thanks - my conclusion too :smiley:
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my buddy was telling me the other day that he keeps a pack of baby wipes in the car and gives the front a quick wipe this time of year, yay or nay?
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my buddy was telling me the other day that he keeps a pack of baby wipes in the car and gives the front a quick wipe this time of year, yay or nay?
Not for me, if i were to keep something in the car to do that job I'd keep some quick detailer and a nice Microfiber cloth.
Jim
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my buddy was telling me the other day that he keeps a pack of baby wipes in the car and gives the front a quick wipe this time of year, yay or nay?
Halfords sell a sponge with a mesh on it. Combine that with Meguiars Insect Solvent (available in 5litre containers from The Ultimate Finish) in a spray bottle and it'll save you a lot of hassle. Any insect life that is baked onto the paint and are unmoved by shampoo, can be removed with clay which isn't abrahsive. You'll need to wax any areas that you've used a clay bar on though.
Baby wipes are probably alright but much like the Autoglym, probably only serve as conveniences until you can treat it properly. My GTI is black so it presents the most effective cooking surface in summer. :smiley:
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Do what my mother did to my dads first new car in 1984. She took one of those green plastic pot scourer thingys to it and got rid of all the flies- it got rid of most of the clear coat as well!
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Do what my mother did to my dads first new car in 1984. She took one of those green plastic pot scourer thingys to it and got rid of all the flies- it got rid of most of the clear coat as well!
I winced when I read that. Seriously.
A family friend had their gardener (in South Africa) clean their brand new Toyota Hilux last year. It was a bit muddy having been off road so the gardener decided that this required a serious cleaning product for the job. So he gets out some Handy Andy (South African ammonia based cleaner) which is brilliant in a bathroom on limescale. The guy then proceeds to pour this over the car, and then starts liberally washing (mud and all in the suds). The results were too horrible to even describe and the car had to be resprayed. A £30,000 top end Hilux with less than 200kms on it. Trashed. Moral of the story - never trust anyone to wash your car but you. :cool:
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Chrysler does it quicker! :grin: After just 110 miles driving from Orlando to Miami!
(http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/blaarp1/13052011152.jpg)
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WD40 is brilliant for targeted bug removal. :smug:
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WD40 is brilliant for targeted bug removal. :smug:
Be careful what you suggest Asker, suggestions like this will have more of an adverse affect on detailing fascists blood pressure than if you'd run off with their missus'.
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WD40 is brilliant for targeted bug removal. :smug:
Be careful what you suggest Asker, suggestions like this will have more of an adverse affect on detailing fascists blood pressure than if you'd run off with their missus'.
But it's a fact and now it seems to cause high blood pressure in detailers. Thanks for this extra information, Andy. Most useful as usual :grin: :evil:
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Chrysler does it quicker! :grin: After just 110 miles driving from Orlando to Miami!
(http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/blaarp1/13052011152.jpg)
I think that's an aesthetic improvement on the Chrysler personally.