Author Topic: I have bubbling on my wheel arches  (Read 2853 times)

Offline Mark Hateley FF

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I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« on: 28 April 2011, 21:26 »
Noticed this recently and decided to go back to my dealer about the problem.


My car is a 2005 model GTI and I love it to bits and after speaking to the Service Manager who wil have to speak to the Area Manager for my local branch things seem to be hanging in the balance to see if im going to be out of pocket.


He claimed that on the offside may have been involved in damage before thus invalidating the warranty work. He said that it seems to be not sitting correctly and the paint is thicker at one part. I honestly couldnt see it and I was my car alot of the time and would have picked up on this.


So anyone had this problem and what was the outcome?





2005 Golf Gti Black, 18 " Monza's

Offline Phil1980

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #1 on: 28 April 2011, 22:02 »
Sounds like they are fobbing you off, see if anyone else has pics of the notorious front arch corrosion.  If it matches your bubbling, I would be taking the car back to the dealer along with a folder of photos of other golfs with the same issue.  VW customer service is appalling.
MK5 2005 GTI, BLACK, 3 DR, 18" MONZA II, XENONS

Offline AlanD

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #2 on: 28 April 2011, 22:45 »
Defiantly sounds like they are fobbing you off. Keep fighting this as it they should be paying for this (I assume its not been in an accident?).

Offline dan_apps

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #3 on: 28 April 2011, 23:24 »
what a crock of sh!t! how can they say the paint looks thicker in one area thus it has been replaced! your paint thickness will vary all over the car even when it came from the factory!
mate you need to get stuck into this area manager or whoever you are dealing with as they are definately fobbing you off!
what are the shut lines like on that side of the car where the arch joins the door, bonnet and where the bumper fits? do they match the other side?

Offline Mark Hateley FF

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #4 on: 29 April 2011, 18:36 »
what a crock of sh!t! how can they say the paint looks thicker in one area thus it has been replaced! your paint thickness will vary all over the car even when it came from the factory!
mate you need to get stuck into this area manager or whoever you are dealing with as they are definately fobbing you off!
what are the shut lines like on that side of the car where the arch joins the door, bonnet and where the bumper fits? do they match the other side?

There is a difference at the join. Ill try and post these shorty to see what im meaning.


I did ask how he can spot this without the paint meter, he did get taken back a bit due to this, maybe he wasnt expecting me to say that. Still im un unhappy camper. Arnold Clark, Arnold Shark more like.


2005 Golf Gti Black, 18 " Monza's

Offline Mark Hateley FF

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #5 on: 29 April 2011, 18:53 »






There seems to be a gap at the door at the Driver side.


2005 Golf Gti Black, 18 " Monza's

Offline AlanD

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #6 on: 30 April 2011, 08:48 »
Well here are my gaps. Doesn't look too dissimilar to yours :undecided:




Offline JC

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #7 on: 30 April 2011, 08:50 »
how dirty  :sick:

Offline AlanD

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #8 on: 30 April 2011, 09:24 »
Its the poxy f**king pollen, I cleaned it not that long ago for Brands and now its got a layer of yellow pollen all over it :angry:

Offline Snoopy

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Re: I have bubbling on my wheel arches
« Reply #9 on: 30 April 2011, 15:21 »
That gap varies wildly on every mk5 and mk6 i have seen.
As i have looked at over 200 of them now and im not joking, as i thought mine had a paint issue in that join but it seemed there all like mine but i kept checking as needed reasurance :grin:
Some that gap is small some like mine its wide. It seems to vary even on the same car from side to side, its normal im,  after seeing so many.
Its something most people would not have ever looked at unless there was a problem like you have now.
Mk6 GTI  &  Mk1 GTI 
34 years of GTI ownership.