GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Although what SRGTD has said is correct, it's also not really a thing anymore due to paintwork being baked to harden, rather than to just dry and so it's unlikely to be the root cause unless repaired by a bodyshop without baking equipment.

There's plenty of folk getting PPF put on their cars immediately after a repair being carried out, further depending on the ceramic coating, the majority are gas permeable so can continue to let gasses out, although still advisable to let it sit for a week or so before working on the paintwork.

You mention rewaxxing the area, so I'm going to assume that you used a ceramic infused wax instead of a ceramic coating.

They're likely just hard bits of waterspots (limescale), and hand polishing may not have been aggressive enough (Some of them are hard enough to remove even with a machine polisher!), let me know what products / pad you used to hand polish to help further.

Koch Chemie FSE is a quick detailer with waterspot remover in it as well, it can help and leave a lovely finish. But if you provide us more information we can help better before saying to throw money at the issue.

Koch Chemie FSE
https://www.mycarcleaning.co.uk/products/koch-chemie-finish-spray-exterior-fse?variant=38097831166145&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20041076128&gbraid=0AAAAAC7OoaGrOMQcPGyQ2QHrMdU9pTXXC&gclid=Cj0KCQjws83OBhD4ARIsACblj197tW_8UNN63dRmF7k2Gjr-nzTg2GqILcHUseqeqvWEeCvj3SAEdKUaAie3EALw_wcB

Bought a March 2023 Mk8 GTI in August 2025. The original 3-year warranty expired in March 2026, but there is still Approved Used warranty from the dealer up until August 2026.

The car will be due its annual service in June 2026. However, when the dealer warranty expires in August I intend to buy the All-in service plan at that point (which includes a further two years warranty).

So is it worth paying for the single service in June at like £330? Or just leave it until August when I have the service plan? I am only doing about 3000 miles per year anyway.

Bought a March 2023 Mk8 GTI in August 2025. The original 3-year warranty expired in March 2026, but there is still Approved Used warranty from the dealer up until August 2026.

The car will be due its annual service in June 2026. However, when the dealer warranty expires in August I intend to buy the All-in service plan at that point (which includes a further two years warranty).

So is it worth paying for the single service in June at like £330? Or just leave it until August when I have the service plan? I am only doing about 3000 miles per year anyway.

If your ‘water spots’ return after a few days, then I suspect the spots may not actually be water spots. I see from your signatures that your car’s is a mk8.5 so I’m assuming it’s new / relatively new. If so, then the spots may be the result of your car’s paintwork ‘outgassing’. Below is the AI explanation from an internet search I did;

A brand new car's paintwork that is "gassing" (or outgassing) can produce residues or surface imperfections that closely resemble the appearance of hard water spots or watermarks. While they look similar to the naked eye, the cause is the release of solvents/VOCs from the curing paint, rather than mineral deposits from water.

How Outgassing Causes "Water Spot" Appearance;

• The Process: New paint, particularly if a car was painted recently and covered or driven soon after, continues to release solvent vapours as it cures (outgassing).
• The Appearance: If these vapours are trapped (e.g., under a car cover, in a shipping container, or simply by cooling down overnight), the chemicals can condense back onto the surface, leaving hazy, circular, or spotty residue marks that look like mineral rings.
• Surface Texture: Sometimes, the paint itself can "bubble" or "pimple" at a microscopic level while the solvents force their way out, creating a spotted, rough texture that mimics acid rain or severe water etching.

Sorry, I don’t know how you would address correcting / removing these spots permanently so they don’t return.

Same here - the little tabs are way too brittle and easy to break off, both of my sticks were/are very hard to pull out even when warm.  To me the yellow plastic has changed compared to our other VW's with the orangey coloured plastic dipsticks.