Rost an den vorderen Kotfluegeln Golf IV | Posts 16+

Quote:

Should I insist on getting a new left fender?

I would try it. If you want to drive the car for longer, a new fender would be a better choice because 1. rust is difficult to remove and 2. the zinc layer is no longer present at the repair point. But without incurring costs, this probably won't be possible. If you have a light-colored second coat of paint (e.g., silver), the driver's side door should also be repainted when installing a new fender to avoid a visible color difference.

Okay, a quick update on my case:

The fender on the driver's side was replaced . It was probably beyond repair.
The fender on the passenger side was completely repainted (although there was only a very slight amount of rust).

I would have been completely satisfied if there hadn't been any spray residue left on the windshield.

It is supposedly made of foam that sits between the carrier and the fender (it absorbs moisture, which then causes the fender to rust from the inside).

Remove the inner fender liner and take out the foam.

Got a tip from a VAG mechanic.

I'm also having a problem with my rear hatch (Golf 4 TDI, year 2002). I can see very small bubbles forming at the bottom edge, and there's no sign of stone chips or anything like that. I think I'll take it to VW to have them check it out.

How long does it typically take for a goodwill request to be processed?

Best regards.

tom

It took me several weeks (6 to ), even though the service manager emphasized otherwise.
In my case, the waiting period turned out to be a positive thing, because the cold weather during that time caused the left fender to fail completely.

Hello.


"Did they check the service booklet when you were there? I have a service due soon that I want to do myself, but I'm wondering if that might cause any problems."

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"MFG" stands for "Mit freundlichen Grüßen," which translates to "Sincerely" or "Best regards" in English. It is a common way to end a formal letter or email.

They didn't specifically look at the service booklet, but I've been going to this workshop for years, so they know me and have everything in their computer system.

You could propose that everything would be completed at a single appointment (inspection and repairs) and, in the meantime, initiate the warranty claim process.
Once that's done, you can still decide whether or not to have the inspection carried out there.

My experience is that it's very helpful if the service manager knows you or knows that you are a customer there. Apparently, it seems to influence how much effort the workshop puts into the job.

However, if there is corrosion, you have a 12-year warranty.

Hello.

I was just at Volkswagen.

"There, the problem with the tailgate was already known. I then checked under my front fenders and found rust there as well. I'm curious to see how long it will take for it to get worse. Apparently, as mentioned before, it's caused by rubbing from the inner fender liner. Is there perhaps an alternative solution that doesn't cause this rubbing?"

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"MFG" stands for "Mit freundlichen Grüßen," which translates to "Sincerely" or "Best regards" in English. It is a common way to end a formal letter or email.

Hello,

After a minor incident involving a bus, I took a closer look at my car and discovered rust on the foam padding in the same area where it had already started to cause bubbling on the visible side. Fortunately, I had just read this thread shortly before, so I quickly went to my local dealer.
He mentioned that it might become a problem because of the other dent, but in the end, within 2 weeks, everything went through, and I received a completely new fender!

On the other side (for drivers), there are (still) no such problems...

Otherwise, the only rust I have on my car is on the A-pillar (stone chip damage). What's the best way to repair it?

And another thing: Regarding the fender issue, I noticed that a lot of dirt had accumulated between the inner fender liner and the rocker panel (about 10 cm high, mud, leaves, etc.). Is there no risk of rust developing in that area?

Unfortunately, the amount of dirt you're seeing between the inner fender and the body panel is fairly common on Golf IV models. The bodywork in that area is well-protected, but I verschandeln it once a year; it only takes four screws and a little bending to access it.

chli1976 wrote:

It is supposedly caused by foam that sits between the carrier and the fender (it absorbs moisture, and then the fender rusts from the inside). Remove the inner fender liner and take out the foam. I got a tip from a VAG mechanic.

Officially, the foam is supposed to remain in place for noise reduction purposes. However, it should be trimmed down so that it no longer touches the edge of the fender, leaving approximately 10mm of clearance.

Only diesel vehicles manufactured up to and including the model year 2004 are affected.