Car hailstorm damaged in Wolfsburg - what next?

[CraigW]

I don't see why they wouldn't just transport the car back to the factory for repair considering they have a rail link from the port to VW. I'd be asking the question anyway just to establish who is actually going to be carrying out the repairs.

[matchboy]

Given that the OP dealer nicked my allocation of BW28 (MK branch is the biggest dealer in the group and therefore took priority for their first delivery), this is an interesting question as this should have been my car. What would I have done then? I think if VW can give you 100% assurance than any damage has been fixed with new panels etc I'd take the car. But I'd want a massive discount, minimum 10%. I don't think I could have waited for a new order - unless they'd fast tracked it maybe.

[Allya]

looks like this article answers a few of the questions - must have been some storm!!

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/498148/20130810/volkswagen-cars-wolfsburg-germany-auto-emden-hailstorm.htm

[monkeyhanger]

looks like this article answers a few of the questions - must have been some storm!!

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/498148/20130810/volkswagen-cars-wolfsburg-germany-auto-emden-hailstorm.htm

28000 cars, 3800 built a day - looks like they had a weeks-worth of production sat at Wolfsburg rather than getting out to Emden and waiting for a ship.

[CraigW]

looks like this article answers a few of the questions - must have been some storm!!

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/498148/20130810/volkswagen-cars-wolfsburg-germany-auto-emden-hailstorm.htm

Fair enough, I see it says they have employed external workers. It certainly appears as though they are willing to discuss compensation.

[JellyB]

I like the way the article seem to say "don't worry, VW will be fine because they have insurance".

All the unlucky customers get is at best further delays, most likely re-build delays and possible issues with external help being brought in to do damage assessments and maybe even repairs.

If my car had been there with its panoramic roof, I doubt that would have lasted very long given the photos of the hail in related articles. I know its safety glass but still, that gets everywhere nonetheless.

[linc-dub]

As said this is not the first time hailstorm has damaged VW cars in Wolfsburg - back in 2008 we had a company Golf that suffered the same thing and was put back into the factory for repair and came out good as new!  Must be an area for that kind of unusual weather!

[p3asa]

I don't see why they wouldn't just transport the car back to the factory for repair considering they have a rail link from the port to VW. I'd be asking the question anyway just to establish who is actually going to be carrying out the repairs.

I'm only guessing here but I don't think the factory would have the facilities to repair a car.
Its an automated system and I think they would struggle if a car wasn't following its recognised pathway.
From watching the various factory videos, I think the shell is dipped in its entirety before being painted so painting say just a wing or roof would probably be a major operation.

[Thom89]

I have repaired many cars over the last year or so, that where hailstone damaged in storms around Leicester, particularly the Hinckley area.
All the cars that I have repaired, needed new roof panels, though some were lucky, and I know got away with a Dent repair specialist doing "What they could" to thousands of lesser damaged cars!

The roof panel on a Mk6, has 2 swage lines that run from the windscreen, to the tailgate, either side of the car, and I'm sure that the Mk7 will be constructed in exactly the same way, as its only a face lift of the Mk6

These "Swage lines" are in fact precision joints, cleverly disguised, that are spot welded, and/or bonded to the "Cant rail" underneath...

To change a roof panel, you would need to remove the front windscreen, and the tailgate, and pretty much all of the interior, including the delicate headlining. Doors should also be removed to avoid grinding and spark damage to the trim, and glass... sparks hitting glass will permanently damage the glass, and will need replacing, this is very common in body shops, and is generally overlooked!

The steel roof panel would then need to be cut away from shell of the car, this would the reveal the remnants of the roof, that are spot welded to the Cant Rail, spot welds (Probably over a hundred of them) would then need manually drilling, very carefully to avoid drilling going through both panels... bonding sealer would also have to be cut manually from the car, then the fitting edges would be ground to bare metal, on the shell, and the new roof panel, so that a good electrical contact is made prior to spot welding... at this point your car has lost its anti corrosion integrity, that VW carefully builds into its cars in the dipping process!... you get the picture

If the roof needs replacing, then its a fair assumption that the bonnet would also need replacing, and the wings repairing etc etc etc... expect your new Golf to be fully repainted!

I would also question the turnaround times for repairs, this may be close to the waiting time of a new build...

Knowing what I know, would I want a Hail damaged car at any price, one thats been stripped out, cut apart, and fully painted. Answer, not on your life!

These cars should be repaired by VW, and then absorbed into the market through the likes of Hire car places etc

Thom

[JJH]

Interesting post Thom,

I agree, I wouldn't want one. The question remains, what to do with it? I'd be minded to ask for £2000 discount or order another.

BTW, the Mk7 Golf is all new, built on the MQB platform, not a facelift by any description.