Looking to buy a mk3 side trim trouble!

[phoenix]

Hi guys. Haven't registered long on here. I'm currently looking to buy a MK3 gti. Since last saturday I've looked at around 8. 3 of them had on one side of the car the black trim that goes right the way across had come away from the body or was coming away, as if the glue had come unstuck. I've had a couple of the owners saying £120 per pair, £25 each, how much are they really? It seems to be a common problem. How do you remedy this and is there a DIY solution to prevent it from happening. It really is putting me off. Also I've been reading some articles and it seems the 16v model is far better than the 8v, is this so and should I really go for the 16v. I guess I'm a typical bloke and really getting impatient, but my age is telling me to be sensible and wait for the right one...lol. Also how different regarding maintenance is the VR6 compared to a GTI, is there alot in it cos I'm tempted by one of those.....decisions. 
Thanks guys!! 

[EvilScotsman]

the side trims on the gti arent glued on, they have sliding studs on a track which get rubber nipple shaped covers on them and these plug into holes along the sides of the car. The nipples deteriorate, and the clips break but they are replaceable and you dont need to replace the trims themselves.


The 16v has 150bhp and the 8v 115bhp. The VR6 is the same on maintenance except where the engine is concerned as its a tight fit with no room to work on it but then you dont want to repair engines anyway unless its a must.

Standard servicing is similar in nature and cost. Some VR bits are slightly dearer but most are the exact same part as used on the gti 

[phoenix]

Thanks for that! 
With regards to trim. I had a look at a car yesterday and it seemed rotten underneath the trim. Is this something that would happen if the trim was left unattended and was it the actual body of the car that was rotten and in fact the trims purpose was now a cover up? 

[EvilScotsman]

erm, take a look at these. One is my car wi the trims on, and the next is the same car 1 week later wi the trims off...



Trims off to treat bubbles...



and found this..



It looked quite good before that.

[EvilScotsman]

the arch had been bodged and glued back on wi black mastic 

[phoenix]

Oh dear. I bet you were mortified. What are your plans now then?

[EvilScotsman]

ach a steel arch panel is only £14 so i'll get it welded on and sprayed in - shouldnt be dear   

[phoenix]

It seems I've got my trims mixed up. had a look at another car today and it is in fact the lower trim (sill) that a few I've seen have sections that are coming away from the body. Again is this easy remedied? I saw a nice 16v today and it looked great apart from the black duct tape he'd used to hold the trim in place. I must admit it looked better than just left but it would need to be done properly. Any ideas?

[EvilScotsman]

euro car parts sell all the trims and the dearest bit is about £40.

google "euro car parts" and go to the first site with the same url