GTI / R32 side sills - colour coded . . . not for long . . . ?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I wonder if i'm better off taking the car to a reputable body shop rather than let VW do it.

At least if I pay VW to do it there isn't quite the incentive to do it as cheaply as possible, as they is when they get nothing out of it.

Difficult to say really.  Some stealer bodyshops seem to be pretty good, some seem to be $h!ittier than a field full of cows on laxative.  Unless you have personal experience, I'd give the money to a good trusted inde shop.

What really annoys me, is I know they can do a good job, 'cause they repainted my rear bumper after the parking sensors went on strike!

[wantmygti]

I'm going to discuss it with the dealer, who has been great so far. If they have any fear of peeling/bubbling/chipping I'll leave it for now. Thanks for the advice TT.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I'm going to discuss it with the dealer, who has been great so far. If they have any fear of peeling/bubbling/chipping I'll leave it for now. Thanks for the advice TT.

A lightbulb moment - 

If you take it to an inde body shop, you'll get no warranty, whereas if you get the stealer to paint it, it will be covered by the full VW paintwork warranty - I just knew somewere in my deepest recesses why I chose the stealer! 

Rgds

[Creepy Coupe]

I had mine painted exactly a year ago, and after 7400 miles it still looks ok, I did buy R32 side skirts though, as the bodyshop said they would take paint better due to them being of a different type of plastic.
When I picked the car up after they were painted, the sprayer said it took him a while to "key" the rear bumper.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Cheers, thanks for the reply.

I had mine painted exactly a year ago, and after 7400 miles it still looks ok,

OK, cool - do you have mud flaps fitted as well??

I did buy R32 side skirts though, as the bodyshop said they would take paint better due to them being of a different type of plastic.

Were the R32 skirts "pushed" on you, and was it the stealers bodyshop or an independent?  Did they say that the paint would peel from the original ones?

I was never offered the option of the R32 skirts  .  How much were they, if you don't mind me asking?

When I picked the car up after they were painted, the sprayer said it took him a while to "key" the rear bumper.

Did they flatten down the lower half of the bumper, or does it still have the grain effect?

Rgds

[Creepy Coupe]

Cheers, thanks for the reply.


Were the R32 skirts "pushed" on you, and was it the stealers bodyshop or an independent?  Did they say that the paint would peel from the original ones?

I was never offered the option of the R32 skirts  .  How much were they, if you don't mind me asking?

When I picked the car up after they were painted, the sprayer said it took him a while to "key" the rear bumper.

Did they flatten down the lower half of the bumper, or does it still have the grain effect?

Rgds

The body shop is an indipendednt, a little family firm I've used for a few years, my wife bought me the side skirts for a prezzy, but bless he see bought the normal golf GTi type (understandable) I took them to the bodyshop, who suggested I exchanged them for the R32 type, and explained why, so I swapped they at my local VW dealer and paid about another £10 or so, think the pair were £65.00.
They tried to flat out the rear bumper as my as poss, but it is still a little orange peel.


Not the best photo, but an idea.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

The body shop is an indipendednt, a little family firm I've used for a few years,

OK - always good to find a local inde somewhere who you can trust. 

my wife bought me the side skirts for a prezzy,

Awww 

but bless he see bought the normal golf GTi type (understandable)

Women - eh      LOL

I took them to the bodyshop, who suggested I exchanged them for the R32 type, and explained why, so I swapped they at my local VW dealer and paid about another £10 or so, think the pair were £65.00.

Strewth - that's cheap.  I thought you might have to sell a kidney or some other body part!!!    I had a Vectra GSi many moons ago, and damaged one of the factory fit Irmscher side skirts, and they were about £450 for a pair - unpainted  .

What was it like getting the old ones off and refitting the new?  On the standard Golf V, they look a pain in the ar$e - http://volkswagen.msk.ru/body/g5/g5_66-04.pdf

They tried to flat out the rear bumper as my as poss, but it is still a little orange peel.

Not the best photo, but an idea.

That looks fine to me, but yours is the dark grey, mine is the much lighter Reflex Silver, and the original grain shows up - I don't really mind, because it adds a little contrast to the rear end!

Cheers

[Creepy Coupe]

Strewth - that's cheap.  I thought you might have to sell a kidney or some other body part!!!    I had a Vectra GSi many moons ago, and damaged one of the factory fit Irmscher side skirts, and they were about £450 for a pair - unpainted  .

Know what you saying, I had a vectra SRi a few years ago, seam to remember a new rear box was in around £250 or so 

What was it like getting the old ones off and refitting the new?  On the standard Golf V, they look a pain in the ar$e - http://volkswagen.msk.ru/body/g5/g5_66-04.pdf

Sorry I didn't fit them myself, but I seam to remember there's a few clips and lot's of sticky tape type of seal around the outer edges.

IMHO, your replex silver will look good, although I'd be tempted to leave the lower centre section black, I bet that would contast nicely

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Know what you saying, I had a vectra SRi a few years ago, seam to remember a new rear box was in around £250 or so 

The routine bits for Vauxhalls arn't too bad actually, well for me anyway, as I get full trade on the bits, but all the Irmscher stuff, which is the official Vauxhall/Opel aftermarket styling and wheels are hideously pricey, but good quality, mind you.

Sorry I didn't fit them myself, but I seam to remember there's a few clips and lot's of sticky tape type of seal around the outer edges.

OK, no worries!

IMHO, your replex silver will look good, although I'd be tempted to leave the lower centre section black, I bet that would contast nicely

Yes, yes - I thought exactly the same the day we picked it up - sadly the deed had already been done.  Just like the lower splitter lip on the bottom of the front bumper should have been left black - the darn thing keeps getting scraped on ferry ramps 

[Creepy Coupe]

Yes, yes - I thought exactly the same the day we picked it up - sadly the deed had already been done.  Just like the lower splitter lip on the bottom of the front bumper should have been left black - the darn thing keeps getting scraped on ferry ramps 

I left mine black, and everybody ask's, "why didn't you colour code that at the same time"