Side trim bits?

[The_Hawk]

See this bit:


When you open the front door fully the bit on the door hit it here:


There is a two fold problem:

1. It marks the trim on the door.
2. It knocks the bit off the quarter panel, in fact I have already lost one (and replaced it).


Is this a common fault. Anyone else noticed the same issue?

Is there any suggestions on how to stop it happening, or, failing that, how to avoid the trim piece falling off through some sort of different mounting.

For the moment I'm keeping a very close eye on it and have put a little Sikaflex behind the one that I have replaced which being a rubber glue should give a little to hopefully keep it there.

[DaveMack]

Something to limit how far the door opens, Hawk?

Dave

[The_Hawk]

Yeah, I only had a quick look but there wasn't an obvious missing bit that would do that.

I'll haev another look when it's light out

[rayray086]

That's weird, mine doesn't do that. At the furthest point that it can open, I'm very clear of that trim.

[The_Hawk]

Both sides do it, so it's ulikely that BOTH sides are sitting wrong, but you never know.

Will have to compare cars next time I'm next to a VR6...

[cOS]

maybe sagging doors?

my door saggs. creaks too.

[golfvr6]

looks like your trim has been painted - yes? maybe in replacing, it hasn't been pushed back in properly or missing the plastic locating pins.
those small pieces have plastic pins that should push into the holes in the guard

[rayray086]

Just to continue on that, they're easily broken too. Mine are currently held on by what's left of the 'pins' and also double-sided tape.

[The_Hawk]

Yep, I don't know that the passenger side one (the one I lost) has the entire pin assembly... which is why the Sikaflex came out

As for not being in 100%, the door actually seems to be trying prise the part off when you open it all the way, so if anything, the extra give it might have would help it stay on rather than pop off. (or just snap?) I will just have to remember to be somewhat careful and/or be ready to replace them when I loose them.

As for being painted, it's a 96 VR6, so they should be. Yes the front bumper appears to be an earlier model, something I want to get painted to match... eventually. For the moment some decent AutoGlm bumper care has it looking not too bad, but still not the painted look. I'm holding off on paint until I can afford to do it right since I need to touch up the front quarters and the passenger side doors too. Again, the bits that need fixing aren't too bad at the moment, so I'm not in a big rush...

[jonesyGT]

Just a thought, but Id measure center wheel front to back & compare to another car. From what you've described I think that its had a hit in the front & not been repaired properly. Hence the front of the car is a couple of mm closer to the doors than it should be, causing the rubbing. Hope not but just a thought

[The_Hawk]

Just a thought, but Id measure center wheel front to back & compare to another car. From what you've described I think that its had a hit in the front & not been repaired properly. Hence the front of the car is a couple of mm closer to the doors than it should be, causing the rubbing. Hope not but just a thought

I know my car was in an accident at some point in it's past. But a number of people have looked it over and can't point at any repairs, so whoever has repaired it has done a damn good job. Also the problem is exactly the same on both sides so it's pretty unlikely that the car had a dead set front hit that damaged both sides equally.

Still, however unlikely, it's always possible. I will have to have a closer look at some other vehicles when I next get a chance and see how different they are. It may just be one of those common faults in the later model Mk3's.

[golfvr6]

mebe - the front guards are not oem thus the tolerances are slightly out??